1981 GS450E Rebuild

[drivera84]

Hi pete...like I said before, I cant wait to see those ON the bike!

Just wanted to tell you that you?ve inspired me to go ahead and try to do my own paint job (when I finally get that far that is.....).

[Flyboy]

Looking wicked Pete, and from the looks f it, you are in for minimal sanding to get rid of the orange peel as well, those bits are going to shine beautifully, congrats again.
Does the sun never shine on the cursed little athol you live on, damn, I am busting to see them in all thier glory???

[Hoosier Daddy]

BRAVO! Isn't it great how clear makes the metalics "pop"?
I can hardly wait to see a pic of it out in the sun!!!

[Collo]

Looking good, Pete! What are you doing for a tank badge?

[Guest]

Hi pete...like I said before, I cant wait to see those ON the bike!

Just wanted to tell you that you?ve inspired me to go ahead and try to do my own paint job (when I finally get that far that is.....).

Me neither! Definitely on the home stretch now and I'll need to have the tail piece and tank on to work out the seat foam shape, so they'll at least be temporarily on the bike in the next week or so I would imagine

Glad to see my work is inspiring you, always makes it worth while when you see others spurred into action

Looking wicked Pete, and from the looks f it, you are in for minimal sanding to get rid of the orange peel as well, those bits are going to shine beautifully, congrats again.
Does the sun never shine on the cursed little athol you live on, damn, I am busting to see them in all thier glory???

Cheers Stan! There's definitely some orange peel there but I won't know how much until I get some sun pic's...

We actually had some sun this avo but I didn't get a chance to pop them out for pic's... they call Queensland the sunshine state... sometimes I wonder why

BRAVO! Isn't it great how clear makes the metalics "pop"?
I can hardly wait to see a pic of it out in the sun!!!

Mate it sure does! Makes a huge difference... and yeah neither can I, I need to see it properly!!!

Looking good, Pete! What are you doing for a tank badge?

Cheers Collo! The plan is to do something with the originals and put them back on...

[rustybronco]

I'll let you be the judge of that Dale...


Personally I think they came out a bit smoother...

Pete, I can only judge by what I can see in the reflections. to me it looks quite a bit smoother than when you first started clearing those pieces, but that could also be attributed to you being a bit more confident with your new found talent.

imagine what you could do now if you had proper equipment... knowledge is a wonderful thing isn't it?

[Guest]

Pete, I can only judge by what I can see in the reflections. to me it looks quite a bit smoother than when you first started clearing those pieces, but that could also be attributed to you being a bit more confident with your new found talent.

imagine what you could do now if you had proper equipment... knowledge is a wonderful thing isn't it?

I had another look tonight and while I can see what I believe to be orange peel, I reckon you're right and it is quite a bit smoother that the first lot...

And yeah knowledge is definitely wonderful and good equipment... well... haha yeah that sure would've made a difference! Not to mention a proper speed hardener for the primer

At least I got that gun pretty well cleaned up in the end...

Thanks again for all your help Dale, although I'll probably need more to make sure I don't ruin it while polishing... haha

I hope to have some sun pic's done real soon...

[Guest]

So I didn't actually do anything productive tonight except for a huge clean up of my work area in the garage so I've got somewhere safe to put all the parts once I take down the temporary booth.

These are the stock badges I need to clean up somehow yet and decide what to do to make them do justice to the rest of the paint job:



And the fruits of my labour tonight have all the original stuff I won't be using stacked neatly in a useless corner, and the area under the work bench organised with room for all the painted parts as well:



I've also started the hunt for a replacement H4 type 7" headlight and hope to get the brake disc and pads real soon too...

I believe I'm on the home stretch now

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wish I could be more help with your parts search... all my past vendors are here so shipping would kill any cost savings I could find you... Find an Emgo dealer there in Oz, they have 7" H-4 headlamps in vaious shapes, chome and black.

[mlc216]

I believe I'm on the home stretch now

I thought for sure you were riding this bike by now? haha need me to come over there and help? I've never been to that big island of yours...

[Guest]

Wish I could be more help with your parts search... all my past vendors are here so shipping would kill any cost savings I could find you... Find an Emgo dealer there in Oz, they have 7" H-4 headlamps in vaious shapes, chome and black.

Yeah things like headlights tend to bump the shipping price up. It's fine if I'm ordering a bunch of small stuff with it because that makes it justifiable, but just a headlight can be a killer.

Come to think of it, I noticed Emgo pods in the dealer I sometimes go to, could be worth a call! Thanks for the tip

I thought for sure you were riding this bike by now? haha need me to come over there and help? I've never been to that big island of yours...

Mate I wish! Sure, bring a headlight, brake disc, tyres, and a sewing machine to make a seat cover with you

[mlc216]

Mate I wish! Sure, bring a headlight, brake disc, tyres, and a sewing machine to make a seat cover with you

I have all that stuff... but I'm fairly confident none of it would pass your inspections over there!

[Guest]

I have all that stuff... but I'm fairly confident none of it would pass your inspections over there!

Hahaha bugger! But yeah I gotta go get this thing a safety certificate and everything so it all has to be good.

Mind you, if they don't like my braided brake line I'll need to put the dodgy rubber one back on to pass the safety inspection, how's that for stupid?

[mlc216]

Haha yeah I read something about that earlier in your thread. You guys should be getting into spring time pretty nicely by now right? So you'll have your bike good and ready for summertime?

[Guest]

Haha yeah I read something about that earlier in your thread. You guys should be getting into spring time pretty nicely by now right? So you'll have your bike good and ready for summertime?

Yep definitely into spring! That's why there's all these clouds about haha

But yes I'm hoping it's rideable before Christmas so I can go for a Christmas ride for the first time in nearly 10 years