My '84 GS750EF - Pics at last!

[Macmatic]

This is my GS750EF.

I've been lurking and asking a few questions here for a couple of years but due to other projects (like opening a small business) I didn't have time to get to work on her until last spring.

Right here at the top I want to thank Sargent Cycle Products for making me up a great seatcover for my stock seat. Great to deal with and I plan to have them redo my Katana 550 seat when I get to that point.

Since I took these pics I leveled out the turn signals and the temp registration is no longer under the windscreen.

I've also added three thin dark grey stripes to the side panels to match the tank and fairing color and painted the fairing "gills" to match. Its really a very dark metallic grey, not black. The gold and black Suzuki and GS750EF lettering was on the bike when I got it. I added the grey and resprayed the tail, fairing lowers, right side panel (from a blue bike) and added the stripe to the tank. Blending in around the existing lettering was an adventure for my first shot at painting a bike but I'm really happy with how it came out. Oh yeah, I replaced the foam and wire ties on the grips with real foam grip covers. :roll: I used these mirrors, they work well and hold position up to at least 105mph. :twisted:

This bike is made up of parts of four bikes, at least.

'84 GS750EF - All the plastic save one side panel that I got on ebay, wheels, seat pan, center stand, side stand, foot pegs (all of 'em), tank, forks, bars/controls, carbs and airbox, exhaust header pipes (Stock) and wiring

'83 GS750ES Engine. "shorty" fairing lowers from the ES painted to match the bike if I want to go more naked. (And this is the bike I was going to restore!)

'83 GS750E Frame and title. The ES owner never turned up the title before I lost him back in CT (I had this in the garage for about six years before I worked on it) and the EF was sweet talked across the border with no emissions papers and with the promise that I'd do time if I tried to register it.

'83 GS750ES off ebay, right side cover.

'?? Hayabusa. Canisters and mid pipes mated to stock header pipes with 'busa adapters. (I'll get around to posting pics in P-Mods soon, really!)

So it isn't REALLY and EF on paper or even an '84 but I think its close enough.

Since I finished her in early October 2005 I put about 500 local shakedown miles on her, changed the chain and sprockets (530 -15/45) then road down to Atlanta from Upstate NY just before Thanksgiving where I left her in a safe garage until I get back down there myself in about a month.

All in all I'm really happy with this, my first bike. I've got lots more to learn I know but I rebuilt or refurbed everything from the front calipers to the speedo drive to the shock preload adjuster to the tail light and I'm proud every time I look at her.

I hope you like how she looks, (all) comments welcome!
/\/\ac

P.s. I'm going to post a new pic ot two of how it looks now once I get back in the same state. What do you think, do I stand a chance at bike of the month?

 

[dig dug mx6]

I really like that exahust setup. That looks really sweet

 

[Guest]

WHOA!! Really nice job Mac, beautiful bike. I really like the exhaust system. Ray

 

[kevan]

Very nice job. I would like to hear more about the seat fix. Did they install the cover? Any modifications to the original foam? Did you send the seat to them? Is the seat cover waterproof?

Kevan
1984 GS750
182,000kms

 

[Macmatic]

Very nice job. I would like to hear more about the seat fix. Did they install the cover? Any modifications to the original foam? Did you send the seat to them? Is the seat cover waterproof?

Kevan
1984 GS750
182,000kms

Thanks! She came out just about exactly how I wanted.

The best part about that seat is that it cost me $20 total and they installed it! You see they didn't have a pattern yet for the GS750ES/EF so they made me one, FREE! I just paid to ship them the seat.

I had them trim down the tail of the seat a little bit to make it blend in with the tail cowl better. The stock seat seemed to stick up about an inch or more above it... looked like the wrong seat to me!

I chose their Carbon FX material and its very waterproof and looks great. The first leg of my ride to Atlanta was 250 miles down i-81 in the rain and then a few more hours of sitting in the rain during the night (dry in the AM) the seat was nice and dry in the morning. I was wondering about that so while the bike warmed up (and after I checked it out) I pulled the seat and kneeled on it on the ground. Not a drop came out.

/\/\ac

 

[Billy_Oliver880]

Nice job dude....I like it.

 

[Hoomgar]

Sweet man, very nice.

 

[BuffB]

Very cool dude 8)

 

[moto_dan]

Very Nice. Love the seat. BTW where did you score the luggage rack? And yes I believe your bike can easily qualify for BOTM.

 

[Clone]

I LIKE THAT FAIRING :!:
That is the same rack I got, but you also have the back rest. I would like one of those, IIIII''''mmmmm rrreeeaaallyy tall!! :wink:
8)

 

[Desolation Angel]

Cool bike!

 

[JayH]

Very nice pictures Mac!

 

[shaftzuki]

You've done a great job with her!! She's definitely a "looker" ... 8)

 

[bgmart450]

Very nice! You did an awesome job. I'd put that up for BOM in a heartbeat!

 

[ricardo]

Awesome bike, my vote BOTM

 

[LW_Icarus]

I really like how it turned out, great looking bike, and that exhaust almost looks like it should be factory. feels good to have her done, doesn't it ?

 

[Macmatic]

I really like how it turned out, great looking bike, and that exhaust almost looks like it should be factory. feels good to have her done, doesn't it ?

Oh man... you know it! Its great to have a nice looking and riding bike but even better to have turned every bolt and really made it your own.

I screwed around with a bunch of different ideas on the exhaust before I went back to the simple plan which is where I should have gone in the first place! I've got another bike I hope to have on the road next summer and when that happens I'm going to go back and "fix" a few things on this bike and install some flatslides. One of the things I want to do is remake the exhaust with some other pipes I've have in order to get the angles better where they mate up and move the mating point forward a couple of inches to where the 1&2 and 3&4 pipes turn into one on the OE exhaust. I like it how it is but now that its all together I'd do it just a little different.

Clone & Moto_dan

I got the rack right here on TGSR a couple of years ago, it was the first part I bought for the bike! I think I paid about $25 for it. The backrest/rack works great. When I rode to Atlanta I had Cortech Tourmaster saddlebags over the sides and a milk crate like box strapped down to the rack and I still got 42-48mph, even "cruising" with traffic at 90mph in SC!

I have a scrap windscreen that someone painted black, on the OUTSIDE and I'm going to mount that up and try my hand at forming a new lexan windscreen. I think I'm going to screw some balsa to the screen and sand it to a new profile and then use that as a buck to mould a lexan sheet over. I'd like something a little more rounded and maybe, just maybe something that blocks a little wind from something other than the gauge pod. Its too bad about my scrap screen though, it looks like it was really nice and clear before they painted it. Grr.

Thanks for all the great compliments! I'm either going to submit the 2nd pic down or wait until I can get a pic of the bike the way she is now.

/\/\ac

 

[dig dug mx6]

The more I look at your bike the more I want a rack with back rest like that. What is it and where did you get it.???? I'm gussing they are not made anymore just like everything else for these bikes

 

[QuaiChangKane]

Hey, Mac - just an FYI, I have a 4-2 exhaust from a '91 GSXR1100 that bolts right up to my '83.

The mufflers stick out a bit farther to the sides than I like, and the header hangs a little low. It actually bolts into place at the factory center stand mounts, though.

I wanted to bring it up as an option if you're looking to source a header - I got the entire setup for about $80.


I'm going to use the header to make a custom twin high-mount shortie setup for my "E" when I get around to it, but I'm going to get the headers shortened about an inch in the process.

It's a bit heavy, but it's a nice stainless unit. Just wanted to pass along some cross-compatability info....


And sweet work on the EF!!


-Q!

 

[Guest]

Hey Mac, I wonder if you could wet sand, with a very fine paper, that black painted screen? Might work might not, but from the sound of it you wouldn't be out much. Ray