GS1100- "Project NimRod"- Shafty

I was one of the "its to nice to cut crowd"

I'm not picking on ya... However that's a Nice Bike you're going to cut up... If you become "One" with the bike, there's no need to throw it around. It will do what you tell it to.

Seriously man that is a very nice looking machine. Even for an L. Also being that big and being a shafty, it's gonna make a very awkward cafe. Some people here have Cafe'd the big bikes before, but they were far from pristine as yours is when they started cutting.

If it was my bike, and I wanted a cafe, I'd sell it and buy a GS1000 in slightly worse condition and then also have some extra cash for cafe goodies.

But it's not my bike. It's yours. You can cut it up if you like.

Looks good so far. Don't let the "it's to nice to cut up" crowd ruin it for you.

I think I was "Mis-Labeled" by Zipcode68147

If you read Awalls first line he explains it's his first Cafe project.

Having worked at a project shop I would never tell anyone to not cut a bike up, and to just be weary what you may encounter along the way.

I actually encouraged this customer to "Cut" this bike up. It was stock.

And Awall you're doing a Fine Job..

I need to find one more mounting point at the rear of the removable bum stop and cover everything in black vinyl. All I have to do to take my baby for a ride is remove the two allen screws on each side at the front of the bum stop and bam...more seat.

I used the camping mat foam for the base of the seat. That many layers doesn't compress a whole lot...even under my load. Hope it will be comfortable...though riding a cafe racer isn't supppost to be comfortable.

The tail light is actually a trailer light from advanced auto. I hope I am achieving an old school/vintage look and not to custom and hot rodish.

Played around alittle with the sharpie too. My black stripes will come down the center of the bum stop and I was playing with what I might do with them when they reach the tail light. I might just let them die and not do this type of design.

Worked on tail and headlight today. I decided to mount the tail light under the bum stop and cut a half hole instead of mounting it behind and outside the stop.

Playing around with the paint program. I want a vintage look for my paint. I might go all white (maybe silver) with these type of stripes and framing in black. I want to continue the stripes through the bum stop and add a Suzuki madalion on the tank.

Thanks Hoosier. I will keep an eye on the shims but I don't believe they are going anywhere. They are tight and I also sanded the inside and outside so that they didn't have the glossy surface. The clip ons have bitten pretty well into them and still have about 1/8" left to tighten them up.

I do know that lowering the front end might require the rear end lowered. I am 6'1" and 260lbs right now. When I sit on the bike I make it squat a bit..haha. So once I'm road testing everything I will adjust the rear. Also the CB tank is slightly longer so the riding position shifts rearward by about an inch or so..however I am leaning forward due to the change in the handle bar location. I need to ride the thing and work suspension out for my build and ride style...can't wait.

I appreciate all the good comments and suggestions. Remember, if anyone needs any parts I now have two boxes of odds and ends that I've stripped off. PM me if your interested

Watching now, missed it in the beginning. Glad I caught up with it! I too am one with a liter up shafty cafe'...and wanted to provide two-up if the wifey wants to go along.(although mine's not a Suzuki).
The only concerns I have is the PVC pipe wallowing out with use and the fact that you have lowered the front tubes but not the rear. This changes the geometry and has been know to change the stability. To avoid this you want to lower the rear equal to the front. See if you can find some 1" shorter rear shocks.
Other than that, keep it up!
Oh and one more minor issue, it's a "Bum Stop" in Britain your butt is called your bum and the seat style is named because it stops your bum from sliding off the back. LOL

I appreciate the comments. I will try my best to document everything I can. I'm enjoying it.

It's looking good!

I'm glad your building this monster cafe. I think it looks really good. I was one of the "its to nice to cut crowd" originally but your doing a really good job on this build.
Kudos and keep up the good work.

Dimensionally the tank has approximately the same measurements at the front...just more square. Obviously the back is different than the stock tear drop tank. I might add reliefs for the clip ons to allow for greater turn radius. I am debating knee dents. The tank really doesn't need them for riding position..and I would just be for looks.

I remove a portion of the mounting plate at the trailing end of the tank that has the large mounting hole in it. I will probably use the side mounting holes for the main mounting points.

The bike now has the squarer look that I wanted. I didn't want the cruiser style tank and hope with the right paint scheme Ill acheive that vintage look. This CB tank is a 5 gallon and I don't know what the stock tank holds. For the seat I'm using blue camping mat foam that I got from Walmat for $5. It is stiff and weather resistant.

Even the petcock sits in the right location. Will have no clearance issues. The petcock is a non-vacuum so I will need to cap off the carb vacuum outlet. I don't mind the constant turning on and off that this will add to my routine.

In this pic the petcock is still sealed off from when I tried the di-electric rust removal.

Well here is the bike with the addition of the cb tank. I was suprised to find that with relatively little work that this tank fit the bike. I had to rework the inside of the tank alittle bit to allow room for the coils which was the only thing keeping it from settling into the stock mounts. I did rework the mounts alittle to make it sit lower on the frame. I also did alittle pounding at the rear of the tank to make it sit lower on the back bone where it will meet the seat.

Good to see that you're attacking this project in one swell foop.......you're creating the 3D version of your mental image, likely changing as you go along.....I love the project, myself. You're also leaving seeds of creativity for the rest of us...thanx...

I like the way this is looking. Keep up the good work.