My OFFICIAL "Broken Promise" thread.

[Macguyver]

Looks good!
It almost has that old enamel cookware look to it. Should look very nice on the bike.

When you find your digital camera could you please post up some pics when you get it installed?

Keep up the nice clean work Bill!

 

[AF_Bill]

Funny you should say post a pic on the motor. Well, here it is (again from cell phone). NOW I've got a problem. Do I paint the engine covers or paint them to match. I really can't decide. I did polish one of the caps just for fun. Have to go to my local parts guy and get just one (it fell off on a ride to Ocean City last year).

Again, what do ya'll think. Paint the covers or polish the hell outta them.

 

[AF_Bill]

FINALLY got to ride today. Upper 50s in MD and clear. When I stopped to get smokes, I checked the valve cover and found out that its still leaking. And that the paint seems to be melting a little bit. BUT on the plus side, all the gauges work perfectly. And the super bike bars are perfect!!!!!!! I love the way they feel. I'm so much more relaxed when my feet are on the controls and highway pegs.

So now I'm waiting for her to cool down and dive into her again.

 

[Macguyver]

Looking sweet there Bill,
I am kind of worried about the leak and the "meliting a little" spot though.

If it were my bike, I would paint the rest of the engine covers to match, to bring the overall look of the bike together. Your bike, so what do you think?

Keep it going! I hope you enjoyed the ride!

 

[AF_Bill]

Thats pretty much what I decided Mac. All the covers painted will look so nice together. And I think that the primer wasn't high temp. I went the cheap route on the primer. So I think I need to get some GOOD high temp NAME BRAND primer.

 

[Macguyver]

Too bad about the primer.

Too bad about the primer.

Thats pretty much what I decided Mac. All the covers painted will look so nice together. And I think that the primer wasn't high temp. I went the cheap route on the primer. So I think I need to get some GOOD high temp NAME BRAND primer.

Your local auto supply store should be able to order in high temp engine enamel primer in a spray can for you. One can should be plenty to do all of the covers.

One good thing about redoing it is it should take less time since you have had some practice!

Keep us in the loop, keep up the great work, and need I say....Pics Please!

 

[Tim Tom]

Engine Paint

Engine Paint

I ran into a similar problem when i painted the valve covers on my '73 Triumph Spitfire. I didn't use high tech engine enamel the first time and it would off gas and smoke every time the motor ran. Eventually it ended up cracking because of the heat and i had to re-do it.
Moral of the story, check the heat tolerances on your paint and clear coat the first time around lol.

 

[AF_Bill]

OK!! So I have figured out (with the help of Macguyver) how to solve my "melting paint" issue. I got the correct HIGH TEMP primer and flat black base coat (500 degree). Mac, again thanks for the tips and tricks ya gave me. I'll be playing around with the paint later today.

On another note:
I've been lookin around on craig's list, ebay, and here for another GS. BUT this one is for my dad. He bought a 74 Honda CB350 last year to ride and he wants a bigger bike. He's lookin to get a GS550 cuz he likes the way my 650 is turin out. SO i've been checkin ads and all and keep comin across 1000s and 1100s. Most have no pics, which sucks. So I was using the gallery to show my dad. I can across a pic of an 83 1100GL that's got a Harley rear fender conversion done to it and I F-in LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanna do this to my 650 now. It just looks SO sweet. Does anyone know if this guy, BJ Halterman, is still on the site and still has the bike? I'd love to see pics of how he made the seat and fender work. Here's the link to the bike I'm talkin about.


http://www.thegsresources.com/_scripts/gallerydispwnd.php?RegID=751

 

[Charlie G]

AF Bill,

I've seen another bike done with that Harley rear fender on e-bay in Oregon. Must not be to hard to do. If your considering that route, you might like the front fender off a 650e. Check one out in the gallery. I bought one off e-bay, had it chromed. Bolts right on. You need to get the brake hose clamp/brackets from the e as well. Good luck.

Charlie G

 

[TomE]

They do a lot of the Gold wings over at the Naked Gold wing site that way. I bet that the Harley fender is bolted at the turn signals and has a second set of bolts attaching to whatever the original fender bolted to over the swing arm.

The seat likely bolts to the fender and there might be a bent 1/8" thick metal strap attached to the underside of the fender, by the turn signal bolts, that the seat bolts to. The bolts would go from the bottom up into nuts fiber glassed or welded to the seat pan.

If you have a big vice and a small sledge hammer, you can beat the strap to the right curve without too much trouble.

That fender does look good!

 

[AF_Bill]

SO it looks like this is a more common mod than I thought. Anyway, when I stopped at a bike shop to grab an oil filter, I got another idea. Instead of using a Harley rear fender, why not try a Suzuki cruiser rear fender (IE Blvd). SO I'll be headin to my regular bike shop to pick through the fender isle.

 

[Macguyver]

OK!! So I have figured out (with the help of Macguyver) how to solve my "melting paint" issue. I got the correct HIGH TEMP primer and flat black base coat (500 degree). Mac, again thanks for the tips and tricks ya gave me. I'll be playing around with the paint later today.

Anytime Bill,
I am glad I could help. Soooo, where are the pics???

 

[AF_Bill]

They're comin. I also painted the smaller RT side engine cover. Looks good too w/o the metal sticker. If the lazer engraver was workin here, it would have something on it instead of nothing.

BTW, Mac, once all the covers are painted, OMG its gonna look SICK!!!!!!!

 

[AF_Bill]

Today was SO GOTDAMN beautiful I just had to ride. LOL But before I do, something was buggin me. I've had the luggage rack on my bike since the day I bought it. I use the crap outta it on long trips but not really on daily rides and such. So I went ahead and took it off. WOW! What a differance in looks. I've seen a bunch of other GS's w/o it but never thought about mine. So I'm now rethinkin my idea about installin a newer BLVD fender. Maybe just a newer set of mini turn signals and custom taillight instead of the whole fender swap.

 

[Steve]

... I can across a pic of an 83 1100GL that's got a Harley rear fender conversion done to it and I F-in LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanna do this to my 650 now. It just looks SO sweet.

If you had a 650L, it would look better with the fender mod and be much easier, as it already has a separate chrome fender. Your bike has the tail section and light assembly that would have to be reconfigured, not to mention that the straight-ish lines of the seat and bodywork would not flow gracefully into the curves of the Harley or Boulevard fender.

Just a thought.

.

 

[AF_Bill]

SO I had a near death experiance today (dumb B*tch runs a stop sign and pulls out in front of me), I parked my lil G and decided to do a lil work. Pretty much just but the side cover badges on and then I pulled apart my rear turn signals. Here is the end result of the turns. I like em!

 

[AF_Bill]

Well, this looks like it might be my last or one of my last posts in the build thread for a while. I leave next week for a while for work. Wish I could take my G with me but that ain't gonna happen. Thanks to everyone for checking it out, the comments, and suggestions.

Remember, rubber side down, shiney (or flat in Mac's case) up.
AF Bill

 

[Macguyver]

Well, this looks like it might be my last or one of my last posts in the build thread for a while. I leave next week for a while for work. Wish I could take my G with me but that ain't gonna happen. Thanks to everyone for checking it out, the comments, and suggestions.

Remember, rubber side down, shiney (or flat in Mac's case) up.
AF Bill

So do you have someone bike-sitting her for you?
I am sure there would be plenty of offers to run her up and down the block/state/whatever for you.

As far as the luggage rack goes, much better without IMO. I too had one on my bike, and it was the first thing removed. Cluttered up the rear end too much. If I really need to haul enough cargo to need the rack, I'd rather strap it to the seat.

Try and have a little fun while you are away from your bike, but not so much that it gets you arrested, and we will be here for you when you get back.

TTYL

 

[AF_Bill]

So do you have someone bike-sitting her for you?
I am sure there would be plenty of offers to run her up and down the block/state/whatever for you.

Actually I do. My dad is gonna fire her up every now and then. Not sure if he'll take her out for a run but if he does, I hope he don't drop it puttin up the center stand (like he did with his CB 350).

 

[AF_Bill]

Just a quick lil update. Sorry no pics.

I ordered new tires last week from motorcycle superstore (Shinko Tour Masters) and was told they came in today. Hope to have either my dad or best friend have them installed.

Still away from home (little over 2 months left) before I can get back and play. I'm getting a list in my head of parts to order so I can have them all ready and waiting for me when I get back.

Heres what I'm thinkin:
Do-it-yourself braided steel brake lines
Fresh Paint (motor and tins)
Exhaust or mufflers
MAYBE-harley Fat Bob tank (or a bigger tank period)

OH, and the most important thing of ALL........................................ the PERFECT pin up girl for the tank LOL. J/k