New-2-Me '80 GS750L

[FreshStart]

looks great i love the brats, but a common factor i see in almost all brats is the hoop in the rear of the frame, but i noticed you did not add one. whats your plan to clean up the rear? as the hoop help the eye move around the lines of the bike.

 

[SVSooke]

Nice,does look like a glossy version of the way mine turned out.Same paint?

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

looks great i love the brats, but a common factor i see in almost all brats is the hoop in the rear of the frame, but i noticed you did not add one. whats your plan to clean up the rear? as the hoop help the eye move around the lines of the bike.

The rear treatment was a puzzler for a while, then I took the stock rear fender and rolled it forward and liked the look... so I kept the rear frame horns to mount it. Will be fabbing up a seat to tie it all together

SVSooke,
Nope, Rustoleum Metallic Charcoal 244228....
The stainless appliance epoxy we talked about said for best results to apply to bare metal and I already had the etching primer on.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Better outdoor pics as promised.




AND got 4 coats of that VHT epoxy paint on the fork lowers... it's still not too warm out, so once they dried to the touch I brought them in to cure over night.

 

[SVSooke]

Nice frame.Glad I was the tipper in your choice

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks for being one of the ones that clinched it for me! Once I saw yours I knew I didn't want to go with the black. I think now my parts that I changed to black will accent it instead of getting lost. The swinger, rear brake rod, and 4 engine mounting plates are getting the same metallic gray treatment. I'm debating on the triple trees, may go black like the forks, gray like the frame, or polish them.... :-k

 

[scaylabs]

Hey Hoosier, I came to check out your "L" build! It's looking great!!
I envy your ample workspace, if I stripped the frame like you did I'd probably have to move the washer and drier out of the garage just to store the parts!

I see that you are keeping the frame horns like me (I called them fender struts, which one is it?). Check out this build. He also reused the stock fender but cut off the horns, maybe you can too. I have to keep them because I need to carry a passenger on that fender.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Glad you made it over to check mine out! That bike you linked is quite a Bobber! I hadn't found that one in my searches yet. I planned on lowering some but those shocks he used are LOW.
The little 32 x 24 pole barn shop was built last fall for my projects. Sure is nice to have room to move around along with the extra storage. our two car garage was getting full.
As far as the build goes, My plans are 12" shocks when I can find the funds and dropping the tubes in the triple tree the same amount (1 3/4"). The reason I kept the frame extensions out the back on mine is my seat plans are for something long and low, more along the Bratstyle than the solo pad. I plan on building my own along these lines... should help with the look I am after.

 

[SVSooke]

Looking though stuff,any updates?

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Well funny you should ask! This week has been rather slow going. Wednesday I did a 4 wheel brake job on a car to raise bike funds... does that count?
I was able to mask off the SuperTrapp and take the header outside and sandblast it with play sand. Not only does this remove the rust from the Kerker pipes but it also leaves the remaining chrome with a nice texture for paint to stick to. A can of semi-gloss 1200 degree Bar-B-Q paint later, I have a good looking exhaust.



I let it cure for a few days then unmasked and hung it in the rafters of the shop for safe keeping until I am ready for it. Earlier I sat down and compiled a list of OEM side cover bolt sizes using the microfiche on line at flatoutmotorcycles.com after finding out the key to factory part #'s showing their size here at TheGSResources. (Pretty slick I might add!)
I took that list to the local Fastenal and ordered a complete set of zinc plated allen head bolts for the side covers. 30 bolts, all for less than $10. Three were not available in the exact length, the two 6x95's and a 6x85 mm. So I got 100's and a 90 and last night threaded on a nut, measured them to the correct length, put tape on for a guide then cut 5mm off each & sanded the edge with my Dremel. Last step was to then unscrew the nut to make sure the threads were OK.
Todays task list includes final cleaning of the triple tree and misc bolts then paint with the epoxy black I got... lets see how well that works out.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

today was a success, worked out just the way it was planned. Spent to morning at the wire wheel de-rusting misc fasteners. Cleaned everything with rubbing alcohol and sprayed some more of the VHT Epoxy black. This stuff cured to a nice sheen, almost a semi-gloss on the fork lowers and seems durable enough so I decided to try it on the triple tree, ign switch, chain adjusters and a boat load of nuts, washers and bolts. Still need to flip all the washers and get the backsides and the ends of the bolts but everything looks good for now. Going to change the build name to "OVERKILL!"

 

[SVSooke]

If that's overkill what am I doing?

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

If that's overkill what am I doing?

Let see you got a bunch of bikes, a wife that is not only supportive but a participant... I'd say "Livin the dream"!

Actually the name goes along with the Motorhead theme of "BOMBER!" Goldwing I finished last season. Been a fan of theirs since back in the EARLY '80's

http://www.youtube.com/embed/3VNUyjRRjxM

 

[SVSooke]

Sweet think I'll use that

 

[zero]

nice build so far! I just picked up a 1980 gs750 too....I will be sure to steal some of your ideas. lol

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks Zero, have at it! I need to finish up the engine so I can get it back in the frame and then I can bolt on the some of these pieces I have done...
Been too cold and damp to paint the engine, all these smaller items I can bring in the house for warmth.

 

[Big Rich]

Aha! Subscribed now......

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hopefully not a repeat for ya BigR

 

[Coopster54]

Dang...This thing is gonna be 100% brand new or refurbished in some way or another. Is there any part of this bike you aren't changing/repairing?
I like that brat bike from your "motivation folder". The one at the top; Black and silver "god speed" one. I might borrow that paint job someday!

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks Coopster, I did do a compression test with positive results, no external leaks and the miles are low enough to warrant not tearing too deep into the engine, just a major cleaning and repaint. Of course I'll do a major tune-up with a valve adjust and the carbs are going to get a complete rebuild ... but other than the engine internals she is completely apart getting a total refurbish or replacement!
I'm really looking forward to doing another seat with ideas rolling around in my head. The fiberglass cloth, resin and cover material is bought. Don't know if I have enough 1" foam left over, so I may to find that again.