GS675RM (Retro-Mod)

[Guest]

For reference that's comparable or better than a '90s Ducati 750SS. I'm not saying a 750SS is a speed demon, but I'm hoping with how light and nimble this bike should be I can surprise some people on it. The truth is, I don't need 140hp and the ability to do 70mph in first gear (I might not need it, but part of me does lust after it...)

and idk... I have a soft spot for a good streetable ride that is a bit of a sleeper. Most people wouldn't give it a second look next to a new gsxr, but it might surprise them a bit.

I hate to break it to you, but the GS is neither light nor nimble compared to any newish sport bike. Enjoy it for what it is, but don't ever fool yourself into thinking that it is at all equivalent to bikes that are 30 years newer.


Mark

 

[huntb]

Pretty ignorant thinking everyone wants a liter+ bike. I love my 650, the power to weight is great and it handles amazingly. With the 673 swap into that 550, as light as that bike is, it will be fun as hell to ride (and still do 120+)

 

[Player B]

I hate to break it to you, but the GS is neither light nor nimble compared to any newish sport bike. Enjoy it for what it is, but don't ever fool yourself into thinking that it is at all equivalent to bikes that are 30 years newer.


Mark

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. And I actually agree with you. I have no dreams of out racing a new sport bike on this. If speed was all I wanted I would just get a new bike. Most new ones seem easier to handle at 70 than they do at 30. I don't need the temptation to do something stupid.

When I'm done she should be significantly lighter than a stock 550, have better suspension, better brakes, modern rubber, and 40% more horsepower than stock. This is what I meant by surprising people.

I think the average poster on gsr would look at the bike and know it's not stock. But I wouldn't expect the average joe to be able to tell.

Am I spending a lot of money on upgrading a 550 when I could be upgrading a gs1000? Sure. But the 2+ grand I didn't have to spend on a donor bike can be put into the build instead. As long as she goes over a 100mph I'll never see max speed. Just trying to make something that will be fun getting there.

This is only my second build and will be my first major engine work. The 550/650 swap seems like a good introduction.

Thanks for joining along with my journey everyone.

 

[Spyder]

You will never please them all. You are doing very impressive work. Some of us really dig the "sleepers". The whole point to life is if you like it, get it. If it's not available, build it. Keep up the good work. Watching intently.

 

[81GS850]

Hey I love the build thread! That beemer is sweet... (have you heard that yet? haha) I have a question though, how did you swap the gsxr600 front end. I know where an 07 front end is but I thought the neck bearings were different than my 850. Did you swap the entire triple tree in or use your upper and lower brackets and stick the forks in there?

 

[huntb]

Hey I love the build thread! That beemer is sweet... (have you heard that yet? haha) I have a question though, how did you swap the gsxr600 front end. I know where an 07 front end is but I thought the neck bearings were different than my 850. Did you swap the entire triple tree in or use your upper and lower brackets and stick the forks in there?

http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion

 

[81GS850]

http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion

I've looked at that. Drop down doesn't work for me. But I've came across an excel sheet with all the different sizes and a gs550 and a gsx750 don't have the same bearing sizes. That's why I was specifically asking him how he did the swap.

 

[Player B]

Hey I love the build thread! That beemer is sweet... (have you heard that yet? haha) I have a question though, how did you swap the gsxr600 front end. I know where an 07 front end is but I thought the neck bearings were different than my 850. Did you swap the entire triple tree in or use your upper and lower brackets and stick the forks in there?

I went with All Balls and bought new races and bearings. The original races were a pain to remove, but I did get them out eventually. The lower Triple and stem are the stock GSXR units. I replaced the upper with a unit from cognitomoto.com The stock upper worked fine, but I wanted to mount superbike bars and didn't feel comfortable mounting them to the original upper b/c it is fairly thin.

I went to all balls and came back with the following part #s that would make the 2007 gsxr forks I have fit your GS850. The two kits come with bearings, spacers, and races.

http://www.allballsracing.com/99-3540-5.html

http://www.allballsracing.com/99-3519-5.html

hope that helps!

 

[Player B]

Did a final dry fit of everything before I paint the frame. Lots of pictures coming up.

Steering Stop bolted on to the upper triple tree

This one is looking up. You can see the tab that was already on the frame that I'm using as the positive stop

From the front with the bars turned all the way

Looking up with the bars almost at full lock

 

[Player B]

Rearsets and spacers

And a couple of the whole bike

Maybe I can add 1 item to the list as to why the 550 may not be ideal for me... I'm pretty big. 6'3" 220lbs. But I think I got the stance and seating position right. Feels good.

Then again, I make the r80 look a little small too...

 

[Toasty]

Wow that steering stop is very clever, the bike is looking great so far. It must be nice to have access to a mill, I would love to be able to fabricate stuff like that!

 

[Guest]

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. And I actually agree with you. I have no dreams of out racing a new sport bike on this. If speed was all I wanted I would just get a new bike. Most new ones seem easier to handle at 70 than they do at 30. I don't need the temptation to do something stupid.

When I'm done she should be significantly lighter than a stock 550, have better suspension, better brakes, modern rubber, and 40% more horsepower than stock. This is what I meant by surprising people.

I did misunderstand and you seem to have realistic expectations for the bike. It's certainly going to be much cooler than any stock sport bike you see on the road.

You will never please them all. You are doing very impressive work. Some of us really dig the "sleepers". The whole point to life is if you like it, get it. If it's not available, build it. Keep up the good work. Watching intently.

I wasn't dumping on the work or the project, just suggesting OP have realistic expectations on the outcome. He is doing a great job and will end up with a very nicely hotrodded classic.

Steering Stop bolted on to the upper triple tree

Very nice, clean and neat.

Rearsets and spacers

Also looking very tidy.

Then again, I make the r80 look a little small too...

A little bit, maybe. :biggrin:


Mark

 

[81GS850]

Man that's amazing! Thank you very much. The drop down list is working for me now. I didn't realize you could use different balls and races. This makes me excited. I want to go the same direction as you but with my gs850. Rearsets and all.

 

[amxsteve]

I only see one bolt holding the rearset spacer. What's stopping it from turning? Absolutely love the steering stop.are the riser bolts holding it in place. Wish I had access to a cnc mill and the knowledge to use it, or maybe just a buddy like you. Wanna be friends?

 

[Player B]

I only see one bolt holding the rearset spacer. What's stopping it from turning? Absolutely love the steering stop.are the riser bolts holding it in place. Wish I had access to a cnc mill and the knowledge to use it, or maybe just a buddy like you. Wanna be friends?

The spacer is threaded and is bolted from the backside to the bracket I welded onto the frame. On my phone now so I can't post more pics, but there's one of the bracket a page back or so. So it has the axle and two bolts holding it in place.

Yes I did use the riser bolts to mount the steering stop. It needed spacers anyways as the thread doesn't go all the way down to the triple tree. Two birds with one stone on that one.

I guess that you could call me lucky as I use solidworks on a daily basis at my job and have access to manual mills and lathes. The office is only a year old so we don't have a full time machinest in house yet and there is a perfectly good haas cnc sitting there unused!!!!

those parts ended up being a little too organic for my skills with the mill. I ended up going to a quick turn machine shop we use when the dimensions don't have to be very precise. I made sure to make the parts so they would only be 1 set up in the cnc and they came out to a reasonable price. Can't wait till we get somebody in house and I can pay for labor with a case of beer

 

[Guest]

Bike is looking real good.
Love the solid work drawings and final product, I wish I was able to do similar things.

And to add I did not mean to offend anyone with the 550 why question....
Keep the pictures coming its nice to see creative work in progress.

 

[Player B]

First coat of paint down on the frame.

Using this stuff

Used it on the BMW and I'm a big fan. Any touch up needed blends seamlessly with the original coats. I'll flip it over in a week after its fully cured and lay another coat down and make sure I have 100% coverage. I have put multiple coats down quicker than suggested by the can before, but it is easy to screw it up. If you lay down too much too fast, the solvent (or whatever else is mixed in with the paint) will attack the original layer if it isn't fully cured and it will start to bubble. In the meantime I will start laying down some paint on the other parts that need it.

 

[amxsteve]

First coat of paint down on the frame.

Using this stuff

Used it on the BMW and I'm a big fan. Any touch up needed blends seamlessly with the original coats. I'll flip it over in a week after its fully cured and lay another coat down and make sure I have 100% coverage. I have put multiple coats down quicker than suggested by the can before, but it is easy to screw it up. If you lay down too much too fast, the solvent (or whatever else is mixed in with the paint) will attack the original layer if it isn't fully cured and it will start to bubble. In the meantime I will start laying down some paint on the other parts that need it.

That's one of the few paints we can still get up here. I may give it a shot on my cowasaki frame even though I could get it powder coated for about 150. This one's a budget build. Looking forward to your completed project.