750 cafe project

[beergood]

I've been in the process of a hellacious move, so not much new to report.

However, I did create a thread in the gs stories section a while back:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=106202

 

[beergood]

Sometimes I am an idiot

Sometimes I am an idiot

Last week I moved the bike to the new pad. Rode it there, and it was really dragging.

The day was nice, so I popped it up on the center stand and decided to get my hands dirty. I still had a lot more boxes to move, but the thought of that was just downright depressing.

Turns out my second cylinder was fouling plugs at idle and just flat out wasn't working. A little tweaking and I got it running more reliably. I still need to do some idle tuning/syncing/valve checking. A friend of mine is a pro wrench, and I am waiting for more stable weather and to be done moving, then over a case of beer we are going to give it a thorough workout. This was close enough to satisfy most riding urges.

Anyway, I rolled it off the stand and tried to start it up again. Completely dead.

I was blowing the main fuse at the turn of a key. It was getting dark, so I decided to hang up the wrench for the night and try in the morning.

The next day the first thing I did was walk down to the local hardware store and buy 3 boxes of fuses. The owner lady gave me an interesting look. I told her that I was planning on eating them like candy.

The next three hours were spent systematically removing components to find the short. I ended up with the rear cowl/seat assembly on the lawn, the tank on the porch, side panels on the driveway (they make great nut/bolt holders) and the bucket hanging from the wires.

No love to be found. Nothing I tried seemed to matter.

I absolutely hate admitting defeat and hiring a pro. I would almost rather eat glass.

But, I had no further choice.

So as I was gathering up my tools and replacing parts I noticed the horn. It never occured to me to try removing that. I pulled the two clips off, stuck one of my last fuses in, and shazamm!

It's always the last place you look.

I felt like an idiot.

*** I am still having another electrical issue, Which will be part of a longer post involving the 200 mile ride I did last Sunday.

 

[philofab]

burns

burns

I was just reading about you burning your hand. When I first got my GS1000 I didn't know much about bikes. The bike would run but very, very badly. So I started checking header pipes to see if they were hot. checked #1... a little warm but it wouldn't burn you. #2... cold. #3 warm again, but couldn't burn you. All this time I had careful not to burn myself but just flicking my wet finger on the pipe to see if it was hot. At this point I decided for whatever reason the pipes must not be hot yet. So then I grabbed #4 like it was part of a jungle gym. Yea, that sucked... I can still hear my skin sizzling. Apparently a GS can run on one cylinder, #4.

 

[Zooks]

GS horns are famous for pooping themselves, particularly when they get wet. I had a Katana once and the horn would only work when it rained.

 

[beergood]

I know this might look like I am trying to bring a dead thread back to life, which I kind of am, but I thought I would give a little status update.

I think I chased down my electrical issues. At least I haven't had any troubles in over a month. I still intend to rebuild/greatly simplify the harness over the next winter.

I still want to go to pods and re-jet, but I have been having too much fun riding it to take it out of commission for wrenching. I have talked to a couple other buddies that have done this, and am trying to schedule a time that is convenient for some of us to get together for a round of tuning. Another friend has the parts to fab up some rearsets (he works for a dealership, and occasionally salvages some parts), and I should be getting in touch with him about that sometime next week.

As far as the bike is concerned, it's been running great (could use some fine tuning on the idle circuit, which can wait for pods). There have been a few little gremlins here and there, but hell, it is almost 30 years old. I got a little slow oil seepage from the left side cam cover while the engine cools (probably put about a quart in every two months), nothing that can't be wiped up quickly with a rag, and not severe enough to leak onto the ground.

I've been using it as a daily commuter for over a month now, and am in love with her.

Some small changes since last posts:

The 78 on the rear never sat well with me, so it's gone.

Repositioned the bar ends, took some getting used to, but I like the new, narrower look they give the bike.

Zip tied an old courier bag onto the side. I am thinking about fashioning some sort of soft-side saddle bags, and this is sort of a proof of concept. Need to work on the design, but it is proving to be immensely practical.

Over the winter I am making plans to overhaul the engine and drive train. While I do this I am thinking about a new color scheme. I love the current red and silver, but I am thinking about going with a more traditional Zuke scheme. White and Blue.

Here is one possible idea. Powder coat frame white. Tins blue with white accents. Possibly black out the engine. I think it would be tough to keep it clean, but I think it might look cool. Other wise, flip the frame, tin and accent colors. Then again, I might do nothing, because...

The girlfriend has lamented that my bike is a one seater, and she would like to be able to ride on the back. So, I pitched this idea: A friend has a really clean 79 1000 that he is thinking about selling. I would like to get it and turn it into a sort of distance cruiser (the 750 gets a little uncomfortable after 250 miles). I don't want to go the full windjammer tiered seat route, I would like a sporty euro bar type thing.

Anyway, I already have two bikes, and we are looking for a house right now, so I didn't really give this a great chance of going down. I have tried to talk her into learning to ride the 500, but she isn't interested. She saw the 1000 and actually went for it, so I just might be getting a third bike and a new project for the winter, only time will tell. I have been blessed with a truly good woman.

 

[spyug]

That's one good woman and a keeper i'd say. I keep on getting not so subtle hints to sell one of the two as, "you can only ride one bike at a time". She doesn't have any interest in riding either although she did enjoy the bike show last fall.

I like the style of the bike and you've done a good job. The colour I could live with but I'm more of a blue, white, silver, black kind of guy.

Have you thought about selling it and the 500 to finance the 1000? You'd free up some cash for the downstroke on the house (brownie points), have a new project to work and have a big bike to take sweetie for a ride whenever she wants.

I see good things happening for you\\/

Cheers man,
Spyug

 

[80GS750]

how do you like those clubmans? i am working on a 1000 project that i would maybe put these on.... i love the way they look but have never rode with them... it looks like you have them positioned right so they wont kill you.

you daily drive this? the bars are that comfortable? most of the guys here say they cant deal with the bars for more than about 20 mins.

let me know how you like them day to day driving....
i may seriously do this...

 

[80GS1000]

Looking sweet! What do your co-workers think of the bike?

 

[beergood]

I find the clubmans to be comfortable. The angle of the grips is about the same angle my hands make if I partially extend my arms out on front of me, so it is a pretty natural position. The only trouble with them is the more aggressive riding position it puts you in. I have done a couple long rides (100-200 miles), and you get similar aches to those you would get water skiing. But, like any activity, your body acclimates to it. The most I get is a little stiffness in the lower back and wrists, and if I punctuate the trip with a few stops I have no problems. But I can foresee troubles as a get older and don't quite snap back the way I used to. Then again, I also ride road bikes, and last summer I rode by a guy that had to be 70 years old, looked like mole man from the Simpsons, and was still chugging along on an old Bianchi. So there is aways hope.

As far as commuting is concerned, I am a partner in an IT consulting firm and we have clients all over Metro Detroit, so almost no two days are the same. I will generally put 30-50 miles in on any given day. The first few times I walked into a client's carrying my helmet I was ready for some weird looks. I was armed with a load of justifications about mileage, fuel dependency and environmental responsibility, however, most of the people I have dealt with think bike commuting is a good/cool idea, and are a little envious. And most people like the bike, my partner's young son thinks it is pretty sweet.

I do get stopped a lot in parking lots by people asking questions about it, which starts the whole 'I built/modified this and this and this' story, but I am far from tired of telling it. Which is why I would have a really hard time selling it. I have toyed with the idea of selling the 500, but it was my first bike, and I have a soft spot for it. I had originally kept it because a few friends expressed interest in learning to ride, and I was going to loan it out as a trainer, but they have yet to step up. My new justification for not selling it is that I can't find the title, and we all know what a hassle getting a new one would be. Better to just keep it. Besides, you gotta have a backup bike.

 

[t3rmin]

This is still my favorite cafe, ever. Kudos again.

 

[Fanning]

Well I just finished reading this thread. First off, wow man, your bike is beautiful. I've always kind of like cafes better never was up in arms about them. But your bike on the other hand has won me over. I really love the color scheme, I think the exicution is amazing. I love your first paint job too, but the scheme is cleaner and more raceish. I'm toying with the idea of modifing my bike, when i get it back from my mechanic friend, but I'm 100% sure of my path. Seeing your bike has, possible swung me into a cafe. So I end up in that path I thank you for it.

 

[Mike_H]

oh yeah, Gotta keep the woman around. Incidentally, that how I ended up with a Warrior. My wife decided that I wasn't going to ride once we have kids, (which I respect). I decided that I was gonna get another bike this year and she picked out a cruiser, so she could ride with me Worked out well, cept for the whole finishing the other project thing. Poor neglected Suzi, sitting all by herself in the garage. Get yourself a newer bike, sell the 500 and keep the 750...You'll be load happier in the end

 

[bhppy101]

beergood

The 750 till looks good! Love the seat!!

 

[beergood]

Not my best mod

Not my best mod

I lost my taillight. If anyone missed it, here is the thread about it:
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=111635

Anyway, while ordering a replacement light, I went a little order happy. I now have jets, pods and an o-ring kit on the way. I hope that everything will get here by the weekend, so that I can build it up.

I will keep you all posted.

 

[LeeGS550E]

The bike looks great. I lost my licence plate a few weeks back on my thumper, but was able to find it. Luckily a good samaritan hopped out of his truck at a stoplight and informed me that it fell off, and told me where to look. So I can relate, mostly.


On another note, can you tell me where I can get a "Support your local deadbeats" bumper sticker? I've been frantically trying to find one for days.

 

[beergood]

The deadbeats are a local car type club that a buddy of mine belongs to. I mentioned somewhere on this forum about the "Broken Dream Cruise" that my pals and I grill at. The event is sponsored by them.

They are mostly tattoo artists, regular artists, musicians and hot rodders.

http://www.motorcityhotrod.com/BDC2004.html

At the next event, I will see if they have any more stickers, and if so I will forward one along.

 

[kinch]

Man, that is one nice ride. Well done.

 

[LeeGS550E]

On another note, can you tell me where I can get a "Support your local deadbeats" bumper sticker? I've been frantically trying to find one for days.

Ok, I'm going to admit that at first I was making a joke about the sticker, because I thought it was funny how it was so perfectly placed in the picture, and I saw humor in saying that I've been frantically trying to find one for days. I wasn't really that frantic.

But, after you offered,

At the next event, I will see if they have any more stickers, and if so I will forward one along.

That would be rad. That looks like an awesome car club. Kind of reminds me of Kar Culture Deluxe magazine, which my neighbor gets, and I find way cool. kind of an oldschool vibe, primer coupled with chrome. I would sport that bumper sticker with pride. :-D

 

[beergood]

I have some good news, and I have some bad news

I have some good news, and I have some bad news

Got the correct parts in today, and started to work on the carbs.

I noticed a while ago that I have a problem with the number 2 cylinder. It doesn't idle, but it seems to run fine at speed.

I replaced spark plugs, swapped plug cables, and did all sorts of mixture screw adjustery.

While cleaning the carbs today I took out the fuel mixture screw on the second carb, and noticed that it was missing it's tip. I found it firmly wedged in the jet. Bummer. I tried to poke it back out with a needle, but no dice. It's in there pretty good.

I'm kind of disheartened about that, but since it has been running with a sealed idle jet for a while (probably the whole time I've owned it) I decided that a little longer won't hurt anything. It's not like it's going to burn up the engine, because there is no combustion.

I put the rest of the new jets and o-rings on, and the new pods and took it for a spin. It pops a little at low rpms, but that disappears once it heats up. Maybe I will step down the pilot jet. Once everything is nice and warm it pulls pretty strongly through the whole curve (it pops every so often, but that is rare). But damn does it pull better at high revs. And the sound is a lot nicer.

So I will start watching the sale forum and ebay and such for a set of carbs.

Oh yeah, my speedo stopped working on the way home. Tomorrow I get my "new" taillight, and I am going to be doing some other body type things, so I will look at that. If it doesn't pan out I will just replace it with the tach that I have in the basement.

Pics tomorrow.

 

[beergood]

Alright, some pics and more mods:

Alright, some pics and more mods:

First off: I broke my speedo cable. I would like to think it is because my bike is just too damn fast, but in reality it was probably just old. So after spending 30 minutes tearing the basement apart I remembered that my tach is behind the seat in my truck.

So that is the gauge that I am going with now. To be honest, I always kind of wanted to use the tach anyway. I might get a small digital bicycle speedo and mount it somewhere.

Also, with the new pods, I decided to lose the side covers. They always kind of cut into my thighs anyway. So I picked up some scrap steel from a client and fashioned some new covers. Ideally I will move battery and electronics into the tailpiece over the winter, then I think I will forgo side covers entirely.

Original Covers

New Covers in progress:

My faithful assistants, who have yet to be trained enough to get me even the simplest of tools, or even a beer out of the fridge.