77 GS400 to Cafe Project

[pete]

Ok, here's my opinion... take it with a grain of salt...

Tyres are good, tail piece is fine, but the white compared with the finish on the tank in their current state makes the tail look too big and bulky.

You're missing something bulkier up the front to offset the tail, and a bikini fairing along the lines of the Laverda inspiration in your first post would do nicely to fix that

[Charlie G]

I think the tires look fine but that rear hump could use some work. Either get rid of the bottom or cut the top down some.

I agree. Too big.

cg

[cowboyup3371]

I think the tires look fine but that rear hump could use some work. Either get rid of the bottom or cut the top down some.

So for the first time since May last year, my 400 is back on its wheels and on new rubber (Avon Roadriders 90/90 front and 100/90 rear both 18"). With the rubber on the rims I can now determine where I can put the seat without the wheel fouling the tail and from there install the battery and an electrics tray. Having put on what I thought were the largest tires I could get on the rims and maintain clearences with forks and the swing arm, I could have gone larger on the back. Glad I did not though as Im not so sure I like the look as it stands now. The tires look somewhat over size or out of proportion. Ive seen it on other cafe's...there just looks like too much rubber...What do you think?





The two above images look OK but its the one below, the one I see when I look at it is where the proportions appear wrong


Perhaps I've been looking at it too long, but with tires on it just does not look right.

Mark

I was told that a custom bike is not a custom unless welding, cutting and grinding are involved. So this weekend, cutting and grinding was involved on my project. I was cutting the old passenger foot peg brackets down as I will only be using them to hold the pipes and a PO had altered their original shape on one side when the bike had gone down.

So with one cut done, the second and final cut was completed. As the unwanted part hit the ground it was followed by a stream of murky colored water for what seamed like a few seconds (likely only 1 or 2) in that time my mind raced to Oh $#!t what have I done to err, this is not a water cooled machine. Guessing that Suzuki QA had the friday afternoon off when they welded my frame up and there was a water ingess point that had colled rain and wash water over the last 35 years



Unwanted metal + fluid


Mark

Looks like a hammer and a helmet lock.

I was told that a custom bike is not a custom unless welding, cutting and grinding are involved. So this weekend, cutting and grinding was involved on my project. I was cutting the old passenger foot peg brackets down as I will only be using them to hold the pipes and a PO had altered their original shape on one side when the bike had gone down.

So with one cut done, the second and final cut was completed. As the unwanted part hit the ground it was followed by a stream of murky colored water for what seamed like a few seconds (likely only 1 or 2) in that time my mind raced to Oh $#!t what have I done to err, this is not a water cooled machine. Guessing that Suzuki QA had the friday afternoon off when they welded my frame up and there was a water ingess point that had collected rain and wash water over the last 35 years



Unwanted metal + fluid


Mark

I also just found out there *might* still be a stage 3 Dynojet kit available for my 450.... waiting with baited breath to see if the local distributor can still get one and how many limbs I have to donate to get it...

Pete, would an 83 kit fit your 82? There are 4 for sale on the US eBay for $85!

Mark

[pete]

Thanks Frank. Seeing the overall form and shape emerge over the last few months certainly keeps me going through the less glamorous phases of the project when you are just restoring metal surfaces and nothing seams to change. Things coming together at a faster rate now.

Other than getting the motor breathing easier with the pipes and K&N's + the suspension upgrades done, I have no other performance upgrades planned. Now if a pair of Yoshi cams appeared on eBay..........

Mark

Mark I gotta tell you I'm happy with the small gains my pipe and K&N's have given my 450. The 2 into 1 seems to have dropped the sweet spot down about 500 - 1000 RPM's compared to stock and she definitely breathes easier and rev's easier than I remember, and she's not even jetted right yet.

Now, Yoshi cams... mmmm... that would be some fun!

I also just found out there *might* still be a stage 3 Dynojet kit available for my 450.... waiting with baited breath to see if the local distributor can still get one and how many limbs I have to donate to get it...

I always like the look of a bare frame.

Isn't there a Country Song that starts with that line?

Inspired and subscribed. Very nice work.
What performance mods to the engine planned?

Thanks Frank. Seeing the overall form and shape emerge over the last few months certainly keeps me going through the less glamorous phases of the project when you are just restoring metal surfaces and nothing seams to change. Things coming together at a faster rate now.

Other than getting the motor breathing easier with the pipes and K&N's + the suspension upgrades done, I have no other performance upgrades planned. Now if a pair of Yoshi cams appeared on eBay..........

Mark

I always like the look of a bare frame. it kinda inspires you and just the frame looks cool even without a gastank on it.

[Frank Z.]

Inspired and subscribed. Very nice work.
What performance mods to the engine planned?

[pete]

Pete, thanks for your detailed answer. My rims are both 1.85. Agree that anything wider than 90/90 on the front and I'll be struggling with a fender or chafing the bolts that hold the fender to the fork legs. I had been considering Avon Roadriders and they do have a 110/80 that may help for the rear wheel.

I just ordered an Acewell speedo/tach for replacement gauges so that I did not have to worry about messing with the speedo reading. I was going to calibrate the speedo against the speed indication from the TomTom GPS. I'm my truck the GPS reading is always 1 mph Lower. See if someone will lend you theirs for a day so you could confirm your indicated speeds.

Thanks again
Mark

You have a 1.85 front? Must be from a 550 or 650 or something...

The 100/90-18 front is ok width wise, it's the extra diameter of the tyre that I think might be the problem. It's definitely significantly taller than the 90/90...

I've tried using my work iPhone to check the speed but the iPhone is far too slow with the Speedometer App to be of reliable use.

At this point I'm thinking my wedding anniversary present in March should be an Acewell...

And yeah, these rims definitely require tubes...

I still had to use tubes....my rims wouldn't hold valve stems unfortunately....

Ah, that was what I kind of thinking. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Mark

I still had to use tubes....my rims wouldn't hold valve stems unfortunately....