1981 GS450E Rebuild

[Guest]

Finished up the bending tonight and started trimming the bits to the right size. I left them all long so I had extra length to get the bends right with.



If I can somehow work out how to wire all the frame work together fairly solidly, then I should be right to tack it together after learning how to weld even if the bike's off at Tranzac.

MLC... you may be onto something with the gloss black... you put me on a line of thought I had once before a while back... gloss black but with gun metal grey accents like the mudguards and maybe the knee indents in the tank... I'll try to get it into the GIMP and see how it looks, but I'm pretty useless with the colour side of things.

 

[mlc216]

I think everything I build will probably end up black haha. It's hard to beat a clean gloss black paint job with mild earthtone accents. TIMELESS.

 

[Redneck]

You know I have to admit I was not really sure what a "scrambler motorcycle" was suppose to look like so I googled it and the first thing I found was a very good looking woman standing in front of a motorcycle.... not really sure what the bike looks like but if it attracts those kind of women I am in.

Paul

 

[Guest]

I think everything I build will probably end up black haha. It's hard to beat a clean gloss black paint job with mild earthtone accents. TIMELESS.

Hahaha yeah it is definitely a timeless classic... Must say I loved the colours on your first 450...

You know I have to admit I was not really sure what a "scrambler motorcycle" was suppose to look like so I googled it and the first thing I found was a very good looking woman standing in front of a motorcycle.... not really sure what the bike looks like but if it attracts those kind of women I am in.

Paul

Hahaha in that case I'm gonna be in some deep poo with the wife! Whoever thought a scrambler would do that? Haha

In case you're still not sure, A scrambler is really an old school off road racer when there was no such thing as motocross nor purpose built bikes, so they stuck knobbies on road bikes and lifted the exhausts up for ground clearance... at least that's how I take it anyway...

Naturally I'm not going knobbies, this is more aimed at a street scrambler style, which is more like an old school motard... sorta... without the long travel suspension etc...

 

[mlc216]

Pete, you should definitely run some mild knobbies. Enduro type tires or something... That will make it look mean for sure.

 

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Pete, you should definitely run some mild knobbies. Enduro type tires or something... That will make it look mean for sure.

Shinko 705 .

 

[Guest]

Pete, you should definitely run some mild knobbies. Enduro type tires or something... That will make it look mean for sure.

That thought has crossed my mind, but I so far haven't found a set that fit my wheels and I only seem to be able to get a rear, the fronts tend to be 19" plus. I haven't looked all that hard yet though and was just gonna get BT045's... might rethink that though if the whole scrambler thing is actually gonna work.

Shinko 705 .

See ^... couldn't see a 705 that suited the 450E front, and the closest rear appeared to be a 120/90-18 and I'd really prefer to stick with a 100 or 110...

Will definitely look further though, and it gets complicated by the fact that none of the tyre shops here have a true online presence, so I can only ring and find out what they have...

 

[Redneck]

Well that certainly explained why you wanted the big clearance look on the rear tire. I think I want to save that picture I found...lol. Try googling "Scrambler Motorcycle" search images. Just make sure the wife is not around...lol. The model is wearing clothes... unfortunatley...but man I think I am in love... Dooh this is why we don't post while at home with the wife..

Back to your build though on the ductail make sure you run a cross piece of wire at each curve point or else it will be harder to make the mesh come out smooth and evenly conformed. In the bottom of curves you will want to use butt-welds also, to keep the curve smooth when you mesh. "JB Weld" may work to temporarily hold things together till you are ready to weld. Heck it may just be all all you need, when you get the fiberglass on it will provided all the strength you need. You may not even need to weld.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Well that certainly explained why you wanted the big clearance look on the rear tire. I think I want to save that picture I found...lol. Try googling "Scrambler Motorcycle" search images. Just make sure the wife is not around...lol. The model is wearing clothes... unfortunatley...but man I think I am in love... Dooh this is why we don't post while at home with the wife..

Back to your build though on the ductail make sure you run a cross piece of wire at each curve point or else it will be harder to make the mesh come out smooth and evenly conformed. In the bottom of curves you will want to use butt-welds also, to keep the curve smooth when you mesh. "JB Weld" may work to temporarily hold things together till you are ready to weld. Heck it may just be all all you need, when you get the fiberglass on it will provided all the strength you need. You may not even need to weld.

Paul

Haha I must confess I Googled that straight away when you mentioned it

I think I have all the rods necessary to ensure the mesh gets the support it needs while curving and bending, but it's a bit hard to explain that properly without seeing what's in my head, and I haven't found a way to scan my brain yet

I attempted to wire it up tonight but the only wire I have is too thin and when I twist it to put enough tension on to hold the rods securely it just breaks off, so I need to get some slightly stronger wire to do it that way.

I'd really like to get it laid out correctly while I still have the bike here if I can to make sure it's all oriented correctly before welding.

As for the JB Weld, well that's certainly a thought, dunno if we have it over here though but I'm sure there's something equivalent.

 

[Guest]

And going by a quick Google search, I should be able to get JB Weld at Jaycar, K-Mart, and maybe Autobarn... a few possible options there

That could be just the answer I needed thanks Paul!

 

[Redneck]

Muuaahhhaaaa... I am corrupting Pete...:evil: Glad I could be of service. I mean about the JB Weld.... okay and the corrupting.

 

[davidduarte]

That thought has crossed my mind, but I so far haven't found a set that fit my wheels and I only seem to be able to get a rear, the fronts tend to be 19" plus. I haven't looked all that hard yet though and was just gonna get BT045's... might rethink that though if the whole scrambler thing is actually gonna work.



See ^... couldn't see a 705 that suited the 450E front, and the closest rear appeared to be a 120/90-18 and I'd really prefer to stick with a 100 or 110...

Will definitely look further though, and it gets complicated by the fact that none of the tyre shops here have a true online presence, so I can only ring and find out what they have...

you definitely want to stick with a 100 or 110 on the rear. With a 120 you run into clearance problems with the swingarm and the brake torque arm, which makes it a pain in the rump to adjust the chain. Maybe it's just that the Barracudas suck, or that the Dunlop D404's I replaced them with are much better, but either way, I like the way my bike handles better with the smaller rear (now a 110). I would have put a 100 on the rear, but there aren't a ton of 100/90-18 rear tires out there.

 

[Guest]

Muuaahhhaaaa... I am corrupting Pete...:evil: Glad I could be of service. I mean about the JB Weld.... okay and the corrupting.

Hahahaha I'll just not say a word about it

Thanks again for the tip though, if I can get to Jaycar I can apparently get the real deal JB Weld, otherwise I can get Permatex Cold Weld from Supercheap which sounds similar, but there's also a better local auto shop near here that I'll try as well (not online).

you definitely want to stick with a 100 or 110 on the rear. With a 120 you run into clearance problems with the swingarm and the brake torque arm, which makes it a pain in the rump to adjust the chain. Maybe it's just that the Barracudas suck, or that the Dunlop D404's I replaced them with are much better, but either way, I like the way my bike handles better with the smaller rear (now a 110). I would have put a 100 on the rear, but there aren't a ton of 100/90-18 rear tires out there.

Yeah I remember you saying that in one of the tyre threads, which is why I'm keen to stick with 100 or 110, and yeah 100's are very rare indeed!

So far it's still the BT045's I think as I know I can get them here in Aus, but I need to look further at dual sport tyres to suit the scrambler style. If I can get 95/5 road/trail then I shouldn't be compromising road handling, and I do really like the look of the Shinko 705's on Salty Monks Bajazuki but I can't find a 90/90-18 front...

 

[davidduarte]

check these out, although I'm not sure if you can get them down under:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co.../Shinko-244-Dual-Sport-Front---Rear-Tire.aspx

They are available in 3.00-18 and 3.50-18, the original equipment size for the 450E.

 

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Take a look at those Yamaha XS650 street trackers. I think those tires will fit your build well but I don't know the brand. Not sure if it comes in your size either.

http://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-street-tracker

 

[Guest]

check these out, although I'm not sure if you can get them down under:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co.../Shinko-244-Dual-Sport-Front---Rear-Tire.aspx

They are available in 3.00-18 and 3.50-18, the original equipment size for the 450E.

Yeah I did some further searching after I logged off the forums this morning and came across those when doing a search for 3.00-18's. They seem to be 50/50 road/trail though which I feel may be a little too dirt biased for what I want. Also, they're only L speed rated which is 75mph or 120kph which is borderline too.

IRC also have a dual sport but seems to be a little too dirt biased as well.

It's very frustrating as I can seem to get a rear tyre in whatever I like, but not a front...

Take a look at those Yamaha XS650 street trackers. I think those tires will fit your build well but I don't know the brand. Not sure if it comes in your size either.

http://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-street-tracker

Hmmm... have a look at those USD forks... me thinks they'll be much too modern rim sizes to suit But thanks for trying

 

[Guest]

Well, I've done even more scouring now and it seems the only dual sports in the right size for the front are the 50/50 ones from IRC and Shinko.

I did however come across the Dunlop TT100GP and Pirelli City Demon tyres and both appear to have a more classic style tread pattern.

The TT100GP's are for classic racing as well as for period looks, and are available in the OEM sizes (3.00-18 and 3.50-18).

The City Demons are for town and country and all weather conditions. They're also available in the OEM sizes as well as current sizes (90/90-18 and 100/90-18).

I think one of those two could be the go seeing as I can't seem to find a good road oriented (enough) dual sport tyre...

On a side note to all this, I picked up some JB Weld today too

 

[Guest]

And just before I head off to bed, here's my idea of paint for the moment.

Sorry about the crap GIMP work, tried to do some light/shadow on the tank but failed miserably, so you'll just have to imagine...

Basically, gunmetal grey on the guards and as a first base on the tank, then mask off a Suzuki S emblem and most of the knee indents before a gloss black top coat on the tank, panels under the seat, and duck tail.

Then I plan to attempt to make some knee pads out of rubber matting to stick in the knee indents, which is what the extra black area is in there.

Whaddya think?

 

[Redneck]

I like it brother.. think that will look sharp. Keep it going.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Cheers Paul! I'm kinda likin' it too actually, now I have something to aim for...

At the moment I'm hanging out for Friday to roll 'round coz I wanna see it on the back of a ute on the way to Tranzac...

In the meantime I have my JB Weld so I can at least get the rods together for the duck tail I hope.