the rebirth of Beergood's 750 cafe

[n1elkyfan]

That is definitly One sexy bike you have there.














P.S. Whens the next repaint.

 

[80GS750]

hey beergood that thing looks sick!!!!

i like the colors better than the red honestly...

 

[beergood]

P.S. Whens the next repaint.

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been looking at other colors. I am starting to think about a really dark color, possibly with some flake in it. But, yesterday was the first day that I really rode it since the move, and I think that I am enjoying the gray enough to let it sit for a while and put on some miles.

Last night I rode out to a friend's bar. The bar is kind of a dive in a questionable area, and a lot of colorful people hang out there. And there are often plenty of bikes parked out front. Last night I was the only bike for a while (the bar scene was pretty dead). Around 11 a guy walked in with a checkered Triumph jacket, triumph helmet, and when he got up I noticed he had a red Triumph t-shirt on. So I wasn't too surprised to see a new Bonneville parked out front. I guess the guy really likes Triumphs (so do I, but there is no need to go crazy about it).

The thing had the full cafe treatment going on, and I gotta say it looked pretty nice. But it also looked pretty out of the box. Remember when Plymouth came out with the Prowler. It was kind of like a hot rod, if you were afraid of getting your hands dirty and you absolutely needed a factory stereo and AC.

So, as I was checking his out a couple other people were comparing his bike to mine. I don't want to brag, but I got a lot more Kudos than his bike did. One person made mention that his looked like he just drove it away from the store.

Well, I guess I did mean to brag a little.

Next in the works are spoked rims. A fellow GSR member is helping me out there, and when I get them you will hear mad props being fired in his direction. Also, I recently acquired a drill press, so I think the sprocket cover and front disks might spend a little time under a bit.

As always, thanks to everyone for the kind words.

 

[Bad Kaw]

beergood,
Excellent work; I'm not a period-esque person, but I do appreciate the work of those who are. And as I was looking at your bike I was just thinking about 'spoke wheels'; but I'm not about to tell someone who has accomplished-what-you-have what to do...that being said I think the spokes are really going to pull it up to that next level.
Great bike, great work. I really enjoy watching you work your craft...oh, and had I been at that bar, the check-book Triumph would have gotten the head-nod and your bike would have gotten the kudos...no surprises, eh? :-D

-KR

 

[ChrisLaw]

Very nice bike. I have a '78 550 that I recently acquired and your bike has officially become my benchmark for my build. If you don't mind me asking, since your old thread is dead, what was your method for making your first seatpan/tailpiece? I'm curious because I have quite a bit of free bondo/fiberglass laying around I would like to use, but I just can't think of any way to make a proper mold.

 

[beergood]

By saying the old thread is dead, I meant that I wouldn't be adding new content to it, however, you can still read it (link is in my sig).

I start explaining my process on the first page. It was an interesting method, and it had its flaws, but it created a serviceable tail section. I think the second seat that I created, which is in this thread, ended up with a much better result.

Best of luck and feel free to ask me any specific questions you may have.

 

[ChrisLaw]

Cool, I just read that whole thread and I had thought about doing it that way. I'm currently using the stock tail piece hacked up and a makeshift steel seat pan but I may go a similar route like you did. You've got me convinced that Clubman bars are the way to go as well.\\/

 

[TheCafeKid]

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been looking at other colors. I am starting to think about a really dark color, possibly with some flake in it. But, yesterday was the first day that I really rode it since the move, and I think that I am enjoying the gray enough to let it sit for a while and put on some miles.

Last night I rode out to a friend's bar. The bar is kind of a dive in a questionable area, and a lot of colorful people hang out there. And there are often plenty of bikes parked out front. Last night I was the only bike for a while (the bar scene was pretty dead). Around 11 a guy walked in with a checkered Triumph jacket, triumph helmet, and when he got up I noticed he had a red Triumph t-shirt on. So I wasn't too surprised to see a new Bonneville parked out front. I guess the guy really likes Triumphs (so do I, but there is no need to go crazy about it).

The thing had the full cafe treatment going on, and I gotta say it looked pretty nice. But it also looked pretty out of the box. Remember when Plymouth came out with the Prowler. It was kind of like a hot rod, if you were afraid of getting your hands dirty and you absolutely needed a factory stereo and AC.

So, as I was checking his out a couple other people were comparing his bike to mine. I don't want to brag, but I got a lot more Kudos than his bike did. One person made mention that his looked like he just drove it away from the store.

Well, I guess I did mean to brag a little.

Next in the works are spoked rims. A fellow GSR member is helping me out there, and when I get them you will hear mad props being fired in his direction. Also, I recently acquired a drill press, so I think the sprocket cover and front disks might spend a little time under a bit.

As always, thanks to everyone for the kind words.

That Triumph cafe bike is the Thruxton. Basically the Bonnie with a bit more power and some cafe type frills. Neat bike, I want one, just cos i think its sexy, but its by no means a cafe in the true sense..

 

[80GS1000]

Gotta like the blue/white paint.

 

[beergood]

That Triumph cafe bike is the Thruxton. Basically the Bonnie with a bit more power and some cafe type frills. Neat bike, I want one, just cos i think its sexy, but its by no means a cafe in the true sense..

No, this wasn't a Thruxton model, it was a Bonneville, I checked the badging. He just had the dealership guys jazz it up. He didn't have the thruxton clip-ons either. He had a set of mustache style bars that I gotta admit did look kinda cool.

As for blue and white, I am starting to lean back to that. But I am thinking about doing the tank white with blue accents.

 

[beergood]

Alright, 95+% done

Alright, 95+% done

Here are some pics. I am going to let them do most of the talking:

 

[beergood]

 

[beergood]

 

[beergood]

*puddle not from bike

Still to do:

Chain conversion
Snap-on seat cover
New rear tire
Spoked Rims (someday)

 

[jed.only]

nice scooter, sir.

 

[GS750cafe]

How are those EMGO pod filters working performance wise? Seems like most folks on here prefer the K&Ns or the box...

 

[ChicagoBob]

Beergood, can you post some pics in a GSR album? My office blocks Photobucket, so I can't see any of them now.

 

[beergood]

America will universally agree on the "Ground Zero" mosque long before this board will reach a consensus on box versus pods.

Here are my thoughts (for what they are worth):

Box proponents usually claim that the box is easier to maintain and the bike performs better. After dealing with carb issues, electrical issues, oil leaks, brake problems, broken clutch cable, exploding wheel bearings, broken studs...etc. if I were interested in ease of maintenance, I purchased the wrong bike long ago.

Also, if you have had to get at the carbs as often as I did the first few years, you would develop a deep hatred of that air box. Wrestling that thing in and out ate at least half the time I spent working on the carbs. And unlike most other work that have had to repeat on the bike, it never got easier. I never figured out a trick, it just didn't like to go in or out. So sayonara a-hole.

As for performance, there is a period of adjustment to get it right. So if you are shy about rejetting and carb tuning, keep the air box. But once it is done correctly, I feel that the bike is quicker. I cannot back this up with any hard numbers, and any perceived performance gain could exist entirely in my mind, or be the result of other mods.

Finally, considering the final look of my bike, the stock box was just a non-starter.

Onto the K&N versus Emgo debate.

Are the K&N filters better? Yes. Yes they are. Armani also cuts a pretty nice suite. I've driven a Ferrari a couple times, it wasn't too shabby. I hear first class is a nice way to travel. The bubbles in a bottle of Dom are nice and small.

My point is, I spent $600 on my bike, and I have maybe put another $500 into it. I might put 1000 miles on it a season (I use it for around town driving). It's also not my only hobby/responsibility, so dropping $120+ on a set of filters that will last forever (as opposed to my Emgos, which will probably only last a decade at current use levels) just doesn't make sense. I just can't justify my filters being worth 10% of my bikes gross worth. I've never had a set of K&Ns on it, so I can't say for sure, but I don't believe any real performance gains would justify the price. If I could find a set for around $50, then I would probably go for it. I wouldn't say that I am a cheapskate, but I am frugal.

 

[beergood]

 

[ChicagoBob]

Very nice, inspired GS build. I like how you handled the tank with the filler door removed. I never liked that door, but couldn't think what to do with the space left when it is removed.

May I ask what you used for throttle cables? Did you shorten yours, or use cables from another model?