Ideas for making a GL good looking

[UncleMike]

Lookin' good. Any chance you can lower the front any more?

Actually, maybe it's just the handlebars that are too high. But I'm only talking in relation to your original photoshop.

 

[Cajun Cycler]

I also have a GS650L that I am working on..

Here's what I have done so far:

Lowered the Front Forks.
Added fairing.
Chopped some of the rear fender off.
New paint both engine, tank and side covers.
Polished cases.
Recently removed grab bar and replaced with wider one of the GS750T model.

Things to do..

Work on seat.
New mirror on the way.
Etc.


-Tim

HO MY GAWD I BE IN LUV! THIS IS WHAT AN L IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. An what the heck is wrong with beautiful deep lusterous CHROME??:shock:

 

[gs650girl]

Finally!!!

Finally!!!

Hi there Isaac, I wandered across this site about a month or two ago and was looking for ideas on how to make my gs good looking...little did I know that I would find someone doing the exact same thing to theirs!! I've been trying to register on here for some time now to tell you how much help it has been to see how yours is turning out, but the site did not let anyone register till recently. Anyways, I got my gs in october and it's my starter bike. I actually got it on ebay for cheap. So then the plan was to chop it to make it look cool, and it acctually does look somewhat good now! When I get a chance I will post some pics of the progress. Boy does taking off those awful turn signals and taillight make a big difference! I also cut off the megaphones on both sides of the bike and will be putting turn downs off of the straight pipe, it sounds rather cool now! Then I chopped both the front and rear fender, the front one comes to a point in the front and the back of it I left the way it is, the rear fender I cut shorter and made it also come to a point. After doing that I realized that it still just didn't look right in the back so I'm going to weld the shocks to a different place on the bike so the bike will be lower. Putting different handlebars on it made a world of difference, especiallly comfort wise. It still needs engine work, but I'm going to have someone do that for me, and I'm also going to have a seat made for it. Right now it has the original two tone maroon paint but eventually it will have a blackish gray color to it. It is missing both side covers however, did you ever find a place that carries anything for these bikes? It seems like I can find something for all the other gs's but not the 650gl. Thanks for some of the ideas!\\/

 

[sidd]

Looking good man, you're almost there! I would say maybe do a bit of sculpting of the foam on your seat, get the lower bars suggested in your origional post, and then think about painting the wheels black.

Sweet bike, keep up the good work!

 

[d'Eddio]

I also have a GS650L that I am working on..

Here's what I have done so far:

Lowered the Front Forks.


-Tim

Tim,

Could you tell me how you lowered your front forks? Is it easy to do, or does it take a mecanic to doe it?

I'm wanting shorter rear shocks and I want the bike to stay levelled.

Thanks in advance,

d'Eddio

 

[RotaryRodder]

loosen the tube clamps and slide it up a bit, just make sure they are even.

 

[mtalneck78]

how about this?

 

[ron bayless]

i HATE THE STOCK EXHAUSTS ON MY 1980 GS 1000L.i WONDER IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS GREAT IDEAS FOR MODIFYING THE STOCK ONES.MY BIKE SOUNDS LIKE AN EVINRUDE MOTORBOAT WHEN IT STARTS UP.HATE THAT SOUND.DONT WANT TO SCREW UP THE BIKE BY LEANING IT OUT TOO MUCH.I LOVE THE LOOK OF THE GS THIS GUY IS WORKING ON.MORE REAR FENDER IS NEEDED IN MY OPINION.ONCE WE GET OUR FORWARD CONTROLS FINISHED, I WILL POST PICTURES AND HOPEFULLY SOME PEOPLE HERE WILL WANT SOME.WE HAVE HAD A TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TIME FINDING A MACHINIST TO MAKE THE SPLINED COUPLERS FOR US.THE PRELIMINARY PHOTOS I POSTED A COUPLE WEEKS BACK DO NOT LOOK ANYWHERE AS GOOD AS OUR FINISHED ONES WILL BE.I SEE THE RIDING POSTION AS WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR. YOUR FEET ARE COMFORTABLY IN FRON OF YOU,NOT UNDER YOU.

 

[speedy400]

I like my 850l, i got it stock 1 year ago and built and painted everything myself.-darren
check it out here-
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=88207

 

[cruisinflatout]

Looks real good man and I like the comments to the hardcore GSer's. They seem to get a little freaked out when anyone does something unique to a GS.

I can agree that making it a wannabe something isn't cool but I don't think you're doing that - you're just making it yours and good on ya for it!! :mrgreen:

 

[chicagogsx]

Great looking modifications Isaac!

Was curious as to if that is a flat black paint job? Just primer perhaps?

Did you do it yourself or take it somewhere?

 

[Ishamael]

I think the bike looked better before the photoshop job, but I love the L style.

The "mods" take away all the stuff that makes the bike cool.

 

[highmileage]

Sorry, I don't understand lowering a bike that's going to be ridden (I like ground clearance for cornering).

And I doubt that your rattlecan black treatment of the engine will last very long (and it will look like crap without constant touch-up).

And I like to have a little bit of storage somewhere on the bike.

But then, this is what I ride everyday...

And yes, it's a 1000, not an 850 ;-)

BTW, folks, if ever you want to sell your radically modified bike, you are going to have to find a buyer with the same taste as yours. This will greatly limit the number of folks interested and almost always makes your bike worth much less than if you had left it alone.

I know that I get approached almost everytime I ride my bike as to whether I would consider selling it - the only mods I made to it are the bars, grips, mirrors, expandable bag, and seatcover. Just a thought for you to consider.

 

[tracy borchert]

don't worry

don't worry

Don't worry about your "mods" Speedy, If thats what you like then go for it, Nice paint on your tank. It will take alot to keep up on the black on the motor though. I've done some "mods" on my bike over the years, but then again I've owned mine for twenty years. I've had to because I couldn't see myself getting rid of it.\\/

 

[ron bayless]

Sorry, I don't understand lowering a bike that's going to be ridden (I like ground clearance for cornering).

And I doubt that your rattlecan black treatment of the engine will last very long (and it will look like crap without constant touch-up).

And I like to have a little bit of storage somewhere on the bike.

But then, this is what I ride everyday...

And yes, it's a 1000, not an 850 ;-)

BTW, folks, if ever you want to sell your radically modified bike, you are going to have to find a buyer with the same taste as yours. This will greatly limit the number of folks interested and almost always makes your bike worth much less than if you had left it alone.

I know that I get approached almost everytime I ride my bike as to whether I would consider selling it - the only mods I made to it are the bars, grips, mirrors, expandable bag, and seatcover. Just a thought for you to consider.

99% of riders customize their bikes.finding someone that wants a customized bike should pose no problem.

 

[blue1100]

beautiful bike tracy. i've been thinking of painting my car a similar color.

 

[speedy400]

Sorry, I don't understand lowering a bike that's going to be ridden (I like ground clearance for cornering).

And I doubt that your rattlecan black treatment of the engine will last very long (and it will look like crap without constant touch-up).

And I like to have a little bit of storage somewhere on the bike.

But then, this is what I ride everyday...

And yes, it's a 1000, not an 850 ;-)

BTW, folks, if ever you want to sell your radically modified bike, you are going to have to find a buyer with the same taste as yours. This will greatly limit the number of folks interested and almost always makes your bike worth much less than if you had left it alone.

I know that I get approached almost everytime I ride my bike as to whether I would consider selling it - the only mods I made to it are the bars, grips, mirrors, expandable bag, and seatcover. Just a thought for you to consider.

Your entitled to your own opinion, but I will say...
I did everything professionally, no rattle can here, professional engine high temp paint, this stuff wont flake off... I've had the paint on alreddy for almost a year, no chips, or rubbing off. As for lowering, It hugs the road just as good if not botter than stock, although it handles diffrently, it isnt worse by any meens.
I have back rest that I custom made to fit to slide into into the little patches on the top of the seat at the top of the step up, and I have spider web bunjee that I have strapped on enough to go on 3 day weekend rides without any problem. And finally money wise. I bought the bike stock for 800, and put about 1000 into and many hours of course. So total cost=1800. I have had over a dozen tell me they want to buy it if I ever sell it. Most offer 4-5 grand, one I had offer 6200... no joke. Tracy, I love the color, whats the color exactly? Just curious. Thanks:-D -darren

 

[tracy borchert]

color

color

Your entitled to your own opinion, but I will say...
I did everything professionally, no rattle can here, professional engine high temp paint, this stuff wont flake off... I've had the paint on alreddy for almost a year, no chips, or rubbing off. As for lowering, It hugs the road just as good if not botter than stock, although it handles diffrently, it isnt worse by any meens.
I have back rest that I custom made to fit to slide into into the little patches on the top of the seat at the top of the step up, and I have spider web bunjee that I have strapped on enough to go on 3 day weekend rides without any problem. And finally money wise. I bought the bike stock for 800, and put about 1000 into and many hours of course. So total cost=1800. I have had over a dozen tell me they want to buy it if I ever sell it. Most offer 4-5 grand, one I had offer 6200... no joke. Tracy, I love the color, whats the color exactly? Just curious. Thanks:-D -darren

Thanks Darren, the color is House of Kolors ( candy tangerine with a silver base coat) it takes on a different shade depending on the light,sun or shade. It turned out pretty sweet, I'm proud of it.Thanks guys.

 

[speedy400]

Thanks Darren, the color is House of Kolors ( candy tangerine with a silver base coat) it takes on a different shade depending on the light,sun or shade. It turned out pretty sweet, I'm proud of it.Thanks guys.

Sweet, I have the same, but blue candy. Its a pretty tough process to apply but man does it look awesome in the end. Rock on-darren

 

[chicagogsx]

BTW, folks, if ever you want to sell your radically modified bike, you are going to have to find a buyer with the same taste as yours. This will greatly limit the number of folks interested and almost always makes your bike worth much less than if you had left it alone.

I know that I get approached almost everytime I ride my bike as to whether I would consider selling it - the only mods I made to it are the bars, grips, mirrors, expandable bag, and seatcover. Just a thought for you to consider.

I don't think most people's top concern about their bike is it's resale value, especially those who take the extra time to personalize it to their own taste.

Keeping your bike bone stock because you love it that way is one thing..

...but if you're doing so simply due to the fact that you're concerned about it's resale value, then your concerns obviously lie more heavily on you getting rid of it someday...and you really don't seem to be too attached to it in the first place.

Kinda reminds me of buying comics as a kid...there'd be the kids who would buy their favorite comic and read it everyday, drag it with them everywhere they went, you know..actually enjoyed it....then there were the kids who'd bring them home from the store, wrap them in a plastic cover, seal them up, and store them in a safe place away from direct sunlight... because someday they could resell it.