1979 GS750 - The Beast has begun!

[Benjisus]

Hey Everyone!

I picked up my summer project yesterdaya 1978 GS750 and I've been reading through threads here and im starting to become so antsy to start on the bike!

And that is where you guys are going to come in

I need some recommendations on where to start with the bike! I will post pics of its current state, however, it is mostly stock except the previous owner put pods on the bike (And i dont think he had it rejetted so it runs pretty rough).

I am wanting to go the Cafe Racer look but haven't completely decided on anything yet. But anyway, on to where I would like to begin.

I want to chop the back end, replace brake lights and turn signals, possibly remove the turn signals from the rear completely. I am not very good with a welder, however a co-worker is so i may go to him to have the bike chopped, but I was wondering if you guys would recommend custom making a seat? Or if you know of any where that I can buy a cafe racer style seat. I found (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2FastMoto-C...ash=item2efc463c29:g:Q-sAAOSw-0xYj6yW&vxp=mtr) but dont know how easy it would be to make it fit.

Wow.. this is becoming long.. Ok last question. I want to empty out the area where the battery currently sits. I have seen a lot of people use a battery like (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9LPIAC) and putting in a new regulator. Does anyone have any recommendations on the easiest way to transfer over to a battery like this? I hate electrical just like everyone else so im trying to do as little as possible.

Thanks for your help in advance!!

- Ben

 

[susukeegs]

31 people clicked on this thread and no replies?? I'll say it - save her. She survived 38 years, let her remain in original condition. Chop a Harley, or something....

 

[dorkburger]

Get it running safely and properly first, then ride it for a while. You may find you like it as is. If you're out to get attention, a clean vintage bike will get plenty of it. If youre dead set on a cafe bike, do it right - its more involved then just chopping off the back, adding a hoop and bum stop seat.

Here is a cafe done right.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?244558-79-GS750-Cafe&highlight=

 

[allojohn]

Gawd, when is this cafe craze going to end? You want a cafe? go buy one, there's plenty of fcuked up examples out there.
But if you really have to do it go here.

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Yeahh i figured it out the hard way lol, mine went from cafe to street fighter/Muscle bike thing/abomination lol

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Although i dont regret what i did and i most certainly will do it again... but with better execution, fab skills are a must and a CLEAR VISION OF WHAT YOU WANT. Flat skateboard seat and knobys isnt a cafe and clip ons and flat seat isnt eather. I gave up the cafe look because well unless you're running a pre unit triumph in a featherbed frame you're not building it right. MY OPINION. Just get to know the bike and develop in your mind what it should be. Also there are much better places to get cafe style parts than eBay. Dimecity cycles for example. Follow cafe pages on Instagram.. man those are some quality bikes.. for real. Ok rambling done. Hahaha seriously good luck and welcome!!

 

[Guest]

Agreed with everything said above, these GS's and the majority of the inline 4 UJM's are better suited for road race/restomod builds anyways if you are eager to customize. For example:http://www.michaelsmotorcycles.com/1978SuzukiGS750712/175.JPG

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Agreed with everything said above, these GS's and the majority of the inline 4 UJM's are better suited for road race/restomod builds anyways if you are eager to customize. For example:http://www.michaelsmotorcycles.com/1978SuzukiGS750712/175.JPG

Thats a gorgeous bike right there!!

 

[allojohn]

Agreed with everything said above, these GS's and the majority of the inline 4 UJM's are better suited for road race/restomod builds anyways if you are eager to customize. For example:http://www.michaelsmotorcycles.com/1978SuzukiGS750712/175.JPG

Thats a gorgeous bike right there!!

Dead right, if you're going to mess with it upgrade the important bits and make it a better bike.

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Personally if you're going to do that, go with a brat style.. i think they look better with jap bikes IMO

 

[roeme]

Yup, do not begin any project with chopping, ever - unless you've done numerous bikes already and are able to do a project of the same standard like the one dorkburger linked. I think at this point one knows what one's doing.

Get it running safely and properly first, then ride it for a while (...) If you're out to get attention, a clean vintage bike will get plenty of it. (...)

This I can confirm. All I did to my running 550 so far is maintenance/upkeep, and replaced the indicators with smaller aftermarket ones. At least once a week I got compliments, made friends and had friendly conversations. ...and sometimes girlfriends telling their gixxer/streetfighter boyfriends about this "very nice looking red bike over there".

 

[thebrandonbeezy]

Yup, do not begin any project with chopping, ever - unless you've done numerous bikes already and are able to do a project of the same standard like the one dorkburger linked. I think at this point one knows what one's doing.



This I can confirm. All I did to my running 550 so far is maintenance/upkeep, and replaced the indicators with smaller aftermarket ones. At least once a week I got compliments, made friends and had friendly conversations. ...and sometimes girlfriends telling their gixxer/streetfighter boyfriends about this "very nice looking red bike over there".

That last part happened to me one time on my tc185 which i did an oe resto on in 2014.. the dude couldn't figure out why this chick liked my 185cc dirt bike better than his big loud zx10 lol

 

[Benjisus]

Get it running safely and properly first, then ride it for a while. You may find you like it as is. If you're out to get attention, a clean vintage bike will get plenty of it. If youre dead set on a cafe bike, do it right - its more involved then just chopping off the back, adding a hoop and bum stop seat.

Here is a cafe done right.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?244558-79-GS750-Cafe&highlight=

Thank you for the advice! I was definitely planning on getting it running properly, its already pretty close just some small work on the brakes, carbs, and electrical. Im definitely not doing anything on my bike for attention, mostly for personal experience and doing what pleases me with the bike.

 

[Benjisus]

Gawd, when is this cafe craze going to end? You want a cafe? go buy one, there's plenty of fcuked up examples out there.
But if you really have to do it go here.

Well that was a warm welcome... and thanks for the link, really cool site.

 

[Benjisus]

Although i dont regret what i did and i most certainly will do it again... but with better execution, fab skills are a must and a CLEAR VISION OF WHAT YOU WANT. Flat skateboard seat and knobys isnt a cafe and clip ons and flat seat isnt eather. I gave up the cafe look because well unless you're running a pre unit triumph in a featherbed frame you're not building it right. MY OPINION. Just get to know the bike and develop in your mind what it should be. Also there are much better places to get cafe style parts than eBay. Dimecity cycles for example. Follow cafe pages on Instagram.. man those are some quality bikes.. for real. Ok rambling done. Hahaha seriously good luck and welcome!!

Thanks for all the input! I'm really in no rush to get this bike to the point I want it because I know if I try and have an expected finish date, it wont get done right. I looked into dimecity cycles and that place is awesome!

 

[nvr2old]

You don't have to chop the back of the frame off to make a cafe'. Why everyone thinks that has to be done is beyond me. Cafe' seats and tails can be modified to fit w/o ruining the stock frame that maybe someone would prefer in the future. You will find a lot of negative cafe' answers on this site. But you will also find people who love cafe' bikes..me in particular. They require a bit more to make everything work, where as a restoration, although requiring skill, is putting back together parts that were made to go together. A good cafe' requires forward thinking along with fabrication skills, welding skills, aesthetic skills to make it all flow from front to back. A vision. A nicely done cafe' bike is a beautiful thing..one done badly..isn't. I've seen a lot of cafe's start with all great intentions, then end up sitting there, chopped up, and worthless. I'll look forward to your progress.

 

[Benjisus]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to stop in and give some updates regarding my build. First things first, it has been a few months now since the bike has left the back corner of my garage, but this has allowed me a lot of time to think about my build.. And have decided this bike just doesnt deserve to be torn apart.. These are great looking bikes, so I don't want to risk ruining that. So hopefully that heals any bad feelings you all had of me.. haha

So far I have rebuilt the Stator, carbs and front brake.

And here is what I still need to get completed over the summer:
Replace exhast gaskets and put on new exhaust
Valve adjustment
Carb synch
R/R Replacment: I recently bought a new battery. I know I need to replace my R/R, would an SH775 work for this? (I am not good with electrical at all, but have been reading through prosplayr's tutorials and getting somewhat of a grasp..)
Front brake bleed and brake line replacement
Oil change and filter replacement

Once those are done.. this puppy should run like a champ. Im not sure how long this will take me, but im ready to take my sweet ass time!