The finished "Road Clam" bike pics

[Road_Clam]

Well, it's 99.9% finished. I just need to tweak the fit of the vintage fairing just a bit to get the windscreen to look even. The Ford Cobra metallic burgandy paint looks spectacular in the sun. The pics in my basement do absolutely no justice to the vividness of the paint. I think my "old school/new school superbike" theme came out just the way I wanted. What do you guys think?

 

[ddaum]

Great Job!!

Great Job!!

8O 8O 8O
HOLY MOLEY!!
Duuuuuude, that's gunna turn some heads!
Nice job!
Let's see some outside pics, oh, and submit for Cover photo of the month...

 

[Jethro]

Dang! That thing looks too nice to ride! But you need to get in the Meetingplace forum and join some of the local rides that are forming up this year!

 

[bj]

Excellent!

 

[Superfly]

Holy Crap!

Now that is a great looking bike, the paint... the pipes (I really like the pipes) and it is so clean & sleek looking...

If you ever get a chance to take a pic without the fairing, please post it, because I am a really big fan of the 1100's.

 

[beby99]

Nice...that paint makes it look fast just sitting there. 8)

 

[crag antler]

Very nice.
Even with the silver motor;-) :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job

 

[MichaelHoward]

Absolutely Awesome Friend!!!:-d
One Beautiful Beast you have there!!

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

The bike looks great man!8)

 

[Road_Clam]

Very nice.
Even with the silver motor;-) :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job

Ohhhh, the agony of internet comments, you make me cry. Therefore in retailiation to your "blackish" comments, I will be forced to stuff you in the first corner at about 70 mph when we ride up (or down) the Route 1A "coastal" road that connects Hampton to Portsmouth. Be prepared to eat some "shoulder sand" LOL
Rich

 

[ccratin]

Sweet! Like the wheels

 

[8trackmind]

Nice job.:-D
Tell me more about the paint.

 

[Guest]

My Goodness, that's nice. The wheels really set it off. Ray

 

[Road_Clam]

Thanks guys!!
The paint is '04 or '05 factory Ford Mustang Cobra "Red Fire" burgandy metallic, that closely mimics the stock GS1100E color. It does however have a deeper "wine" colored hue, and has a more vivid metallic presance (when in the sun). In a dark room, it really looks no different than the stock color. I think only a true GS guru, will be able to tell the paint isn't stock.

As for the wheels, I completely blasted the black paint off, then polished the rim perimeter, and then emery "brushed" the tops of the casted "webs" . Then clear coated the wheels. I personally think they look awesome. I prefer a "brushed" machined look to my bikes components, as opposed to highly polished (and it's FAR less time consuming)

 

[Jethro]

Originally Posted by crag antler
Very nice.
Even with the silver motor:wink: :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job


I was gonna say that. It's not often that a silver motor looks 1/2 as good on the 1100E's. This one however looks about 3/4 as good as the black motors!!!

 

[Atilla the Bunny]

Originally Posted by crag antler
Very nice.
Even with the silver motor:wink: :razz: ,just kidding.
You did a hell of a sweet job


I was gonna say that. It's not often that a silver motor looks 1/2 as good on the 1100E's. This one however looks about 3/4 as good as the black motors!!!

I'd say 7/8 as good as the black. :-D And the sound, if the motor runs as well as the body looks, Geesh, I miss my GS!

Congratulations, that is a sweet bike!

 

[Mike_H]

absolutely Gorgous...BTW...Is the paint name Red Fire? Thats a stock Ford Dark Metallic Red, I'm thinking about using it on my bike. If it is, your bike sealed the deal.

 

[Road_Clam]

absolutely Gorgous...BTW...Is the paint name Red Fire? Thats a stock Ford Dark Metallic Red, I'm thinking about using it on my bike. If it is, your bike sealed the deal.

Mike,
I am not sure as to the exact name the paint is called. My friend Bruce (who restored my bodywork) of Paul's Auto Body in Salisbury ,MA explained he custom mixes almost all his own colors. He had a freshly painted '04 or 05 Ford Mustang Cobra in his shop, that I immediately fell in love with as far as the look a was trying to achieve with my GS. There was a 5" long crease in the tank, that Bruce was able to "spoon" and remove. I can't even tell it was there, I am totally impressed at how perfect the tank looks.

I was able to round up a few buddies, and a 12 pack, and ease my bike out of my basemment. (YES, I absolutely removed ALL the bodywork in case we dropped the bike somehow!!). Man It was WAY more challenging to ramp it UP the stairs, than it was to ramp it down. I had no problem getting it down, but I had a problem with the guages hitting the top of my bulkhead steel frame, so I ended up ratcheting down the front forks for clearence. My bike is in the bike shop as we speak to get the minor engine running issues panned out, as I simply don't want to deal with the crappy running engine anymore (I persanally screwed something up, as it ran good before I started my resto). We have a technician that is a true GS guru. The guys at the bike shop are absolutely amazed how well my bike turned out. (most of the tech's are in their late 30's so they all have affinities for early 80's muscle bikes). I am sooooo itching to ride this bike!!!!!!!!!! I'ts hard to believe I been restoring it for over 7 months.

 

[Guest]

Nice job! Your hard work certainly paid off. Be proud! :-D

 

[jimcor]

I prefer the natural aluminum engine look to black, but I've seen plenty of black engine treatments that look great. It's just a question of what you leave aluminum or chrome that really makes a black engine look great, it's all in the details. JMHO. That "Road Clam" is a really pretty machine!