Suzuki GS400L 1980 - cafe racer project

[Mugge]

Last year I decided I wanted to build a cafe racer. I ended up buying a Suzuki GS400L from 1980 to start out from. In december 2016, I began taking the bike apart. I have split everything - the engine head has been taken apart and I have honed the cylinders and so on. The project is not done yet. It has been on its way for the last 6 months, but I'm getting close. Hopefully it will be done within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm almost done doing all the wiring and the then I have to mount the new pipes, power filters and ajust the carbs accordingly. I'll post some pictures so you can see the bike I started out with and how i kooks now. I have to say that this is my first attempt of rebuilding a bike and I have done everything myself (welding, painting, enginework etc) but it has only been possible because of this forum and youtube ;-)

 

[Burque73]

Hey Mugge. I started to cringe reading your post and looking at that first pic of what you started with. It looked to be a decent little L. What you've done so far looks really good, nice job!

Looks like you're having fun too.

 

[Mugge]

Thanks, Roger. Yeah, I'm actually having a lot of fun - for the most time ;-)

I wanted to start out from a decent looking bike to begin with. I was afraid I would loose interest had it been a bike I had found in a barn that could not start etc - that the project would have too many obstacles on it's way - it's good to know your own limitations. However, with the knowledge I have gained on the way, today I would not be afraid to start out with a scrap bike found in a barn.

 

[steve murdoch]

Excellent work, Mugge.
Hard to believe this is your opening salvo in custom bikes.

 

[mrhedges]

I don't really get the "cafe" racer fad but I do really like what you are doing. I really like the colour. Looks like a 70s custom van. I guess personally I would have switched out those awful stock handlebars and rode it as is, but hey it's not my machine.

 

[gustovh]

Very nice.

V