1982 650E Rolling Cafe Build.

[DrunkenChekhov]

Progress! Well, kind of anti-progress. But you have to go backwards to go forwards, right?


Turns out when the guy milled down the steering stem to fit his KZ he rendered it useless to me. No one sells just the steering stem for the CBR, only the stem and lower triple combined. Awesome. And, unsurprisingly, no one makes a bearing to convert a KZ stem to fit a GS. Guess I'm going shopping...


Also put my new tank and not so new cafe tail on for mockup. Looks MUCH better. Can't wait to get everything put together.

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Everything just mocked together, with another terrible late night photo. That front wheel looks so damn small. Hopefully when I get new, meatier rubber, it'll help the appearance and the ground clearance.

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Progress! Front end is on for good. Made some headlight ears and painted them, had a bearing race machined to fit the oddball size lower bearing, hid all the electronics for the most part, and all that fun stuff.

I'm diggin it.

 

[wally]

nice! that tank almost looks like it could do with an old John Player Special Mild gold logo to match the gold lines!

 

[Stahlgrau333]

What kind of tank is that?

 

[boontonmike]

What kind of tank is that?

Looks to be the 550/650 with some knee dents banged into it

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

I was told a 650G tank.

And that actually isn't a knee dent. Apparently a bike fell over onto the bike this tank was on and gave her a small dent. So the store owner took this tank off and replaced it. Just so happens its a perfect place for my left knee .

 

[Stahlgrau333]

Ah, ok...couldn't tell from the pics if it had an indentation, or was 'dented'.

Some day (soon, hopefully) when I get my 550 running, I'd like to see yours and compare notes. I don't think there are any other 5/650 projects in the state, other than the two of ours. At least, none that I've seen or heard of.

 

[BigD_83]

Looking good, DC. I'm digging the gloss black with gold accents. When does the exhaust go back on?

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

The exhaust goes back on soon. I need to have it on when I make the brackets for the rear sets to incorporate a mount for the cone.


Agreed stahl, we'll have to go riding once our projects are done.

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Rearsets: ON!

 

[mindtrip]

Definitely diggin the bike man! Im trying to do a similar build with mine and I have to ask, do you have any pics of your electronics under the cowl? Did you mount the battery under the hump?

 

[GS650E_81]

Nice build. I am working on trying to cafe my 81 GS650E. Not sure where to start first though.

How hard is it to pull off the rear license plate holder and re-locate? That thing is so ugly...also, what type of springs are you using?

Nice bike

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Definitely diggin the bike man! Im trying to do a similar build with mine and I have to ask, do you have any pics of your electronics under the cowl? Did you mount the battery under the hump?

I can get some pictures for you. I just made a tray and bolted everything to it. The battery isn't installed in the pictures, and is currently mounted just above the swing arm. I'm a bit hesitant to mount it in the rear hump because my template is made of wood, and I'm worried about overheating and eventually catching fire to my ass!

Nice build. I am working on trying to cafe my 81 GS650E. Not sure where to start first though.

How hard is it to pull off the rear license plate holder and re-locate? That thing is so ugly...also, what type of springs are you using?

Nice bike

Pretty easy actually. Just takes two bolts and two pins and its off. I haven't bought a mount for the plate yet, but I'll just have it off to the side, mounting off the rear axle.

I'm using cheapo Ebay RFY shocks. I've heard mixed reviews about them, but they're cheap, and for right now, much better than those pogo stick stock shocks.

 

[GS650E_81]

Pretty easy actually. Just takes two bolts and two pins and its off. I haven't bought a mount for the plate yet, but I'll just have it off to the side, mounting off the rear axle.

I'm using cheapo Ebay RFY shocks. I've heard mixed reviews about them, but they're cheap, and for right now, much better than those pogo stick stock shocks.

Would these work for the 650E?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/13-5-340mm-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a168f725a&vxp=mtr


Are they super hard to install?


As for the license plate, would I have to weld another bracket? I would like to mount to a shock or near one if possible.

 

[aznpride75]

Subscribed! This thing looks bad ass!!

 

[sbasso]

checkov liked my gs1100 build becuase we almost built the exact same bike, except the different displacement. Here is a shot of my electrics under the seat. hope this helps decide on what you want to do.

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Would these work for the 650E?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/13-5-340mm-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a168f725a&vxp=mtr


Are they super hard to install?


As for the license plate, would I have to weld another bracket? I would like to mount to a shock or near one if possible.

Those are the exact ones I have. Install is cake, just do one at a time, and try not to snap any bolts like me .


I'm going to use something along the lines of this for my plate:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-...ies&hash=item416500e04e&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1374



Yea Basso, you're just a bit ahead of me with your wide rear wheel. Still love your bike.

 

[GS650E_81]

Those are the exact ones I have. Install is cake, just do one at a time, and try not to snap any bolts like me .


I'm going to use something along the lines of this for my plate:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-...ies&hash=item416500e04e&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_1374



Yea Basso, you're just a bit ahead of me with your wide rear wheel. Still love your bike.

Thanks for the ebay link. Do you think that bracket would fit my stock rear axle?

 

[DrunkenChekhov]

Not sure yet. I'm going to measure tomorrow and I'll let you know.