T8's 750 Cafe Racer Project

ALLLLLLright folks! After a looooong and not so prosperous holiday season and start of the new year I finally have an update on the project. I have slowly been collecting needed parts and information and here's what's new. I ordered bearings from AllBalls as suggested and to my surprise the tolerances were just about perfect! So new tapered bearings CHECK. After installation of the new bearing races I threw the new fork on just for a mock-up and it fits great! A bit short but after starting another thread I think I have found a good solution (cap extenders). Also I have purchased an aluminum rear swinger with some odds and ends. Pics to come soon! Nothing crazy just a glimpse of some progress. Also I have decided to do the tail out of fiberglass after all. So as of right now my goals are to figure out a rearset situation, get some clip-ons, start and finish body shaping, and hopefully figure out a wheel situation.

T8er,

Sent you a PM about those parts you were interested in. Let me know what you want to do. Have a happy and safe holidays.

Hey thanks Hoosier. I checked will Allballs and they have a couple bearings I THINK will work. The dimensions are the same but the tolerances have to be super close so I hope it all works when I get the parts. Update after the holidays. Thanks for all the help!

[Sci85]

I never thought of using tie downs to hold the bike. Dang you guys are so clever!

Check with allballs bearing. They have a fork conversion table here to find their tapered roller bearing kit http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconvertion

Welcome to my garage haha. It's a small rental space at the apartment complex but it will do! The school's shop is where all the welding and metal work takes place. Between the two I have most the things I need.

Also reshaped the tail to more closely match my rendering

Ok so on some down time I had today I was able to get some kinks worked out on the fork situation. I ground off the steering stoppers. I need to make a new one that fits the gsxr bottom tree clamp stoppers.
Started the other day by getting the frame hung up in the garage


I believe they're called races (please correct me if I'm wrong) inside of the headset. . Anyways I removed them because their inner diameter was too small to fit the gsxr steering stem through.


I just used a 3/8 extension with a socket and rubber mallet to pound them out gently




Now they are out and ready for something new. This is where I need help!! I have heard good things about roller bearings and getting things to fit with them. Basically I need ideas on what bearings and hardware I should use to get the GS and GSXR stuff to mesh. Any recommendations??
Here is a picture of the two different units so you can get an idea of the size difference. The heights are just about exact so the only difference is the GS steering stem is 1in straight until the top and the GSXR stem is 1 3/16in at the widest points. I should have taken more measurements before I asked for help but I just thought I'd give it a try. Let me know any measurements you might need to give me some suggestions. Thanks!


(EDIT): AllBallsracing.com has conversion charts for just about every swap imaginable. Know the bearing OD and ID on top and bottom to make most combinations work. Some swaps may require shortening or lengthening of the stem for bearings to properly seat.

[pete]

I like where you're heading with this so I'll tag along for the ride

[salty_monk]

You'll need some adapters to fit that Alloy swinger....

The forks should be a straight bolt up with a bearing change maybe...

Haha oops about the chop topping! As for the forks I do believe they still had the RSD forks until 2001 and then they discontinued them. I went with the RSD's because they are 10mm bigger in diameter and add strength plus they help retain some of that old school look still. I always thought it looked kind of funny to have a USD fork on a cafe racer. ANYWAYS today I had class but was unable to go so instead I worked in the garage on getting the front end off the frame. Got the old fork and bars off and got a good idea of how I'm going to get the giant gsxr fork in that little stem. Took a little time and reshaped the foam tail to get it closer to the look in the rendering. I'll post pics tomorrow of the progress and getting the new fork on. Thanks for the support guys. An alloy GS1100 swinger is in the works as well so I'm excited to get all the suspension worked out before I pull the motor.

Taggin along over here also...Looks like fun.
I'd like to spend a semester with your Prof!

chop topping

That made me chuckle

[Sci85]

Yeah nice job so far. I look forward to doing a cafe bike some day so will be watching this one with interest.

Sci85

nice work!

subscibed

I like the rendering. Looks cool,can't ait to see your bike finished.