Ideas for making a GL good looking

[RonniDK]

Honestly, I think that most radical changes people make are a bit ridiculous, and can only be loved by their owner.
Many times, the money would be better spent buying something else, instead of trying to improve something you're not happy with. A bit cynical approach, I know.

But damn, that photoshop is cool! You've got a special look going, that I really like, so I definately think you should go for it.

 

[isaac]

Since Chris suggested it i'm strongly considering modifying the guage cluster. I'd leave it with just the speedo since the tach doesn't work anyway.

Has anybody ever done this to a GS? Where did you put the speedo that didn't look goofy? The entire setup will be lowered a bit, so that's a consideration. Right now it looks like when I flip over the headlight mounts they'll drop the light about 1"-1.5" which may not be enough so I might have to cut all 5 of the spot welds off each ear, which will be a pain to do without ruining the ears themselves.

BTW I've also dropped the bike today.

I cut 1 1/2 coils off the bottoms of the rear shocks and raised the forks up into the trees an inch and a half (found out they're gas forks), thanks to some handlebar clamps I bought from Jack's cycle salvage.

They let me raise the forks up an extra 3/4" beyond the range of adjustment already available. I'm gonna be repainting those to match, and possibly filling in the now exposed half-hole.

It looks a bit nicer, but the feel of the bike is improved 100%. Man this bike is so fun to ride now. It's just got that "connected to the ground" feeling as you're on it since it's significantly lower now. There's just something cool about feeling closer to the road.

I'm redoing that seat too. I'm gonna make it taper in to the rear because that big "fat ass" look doesn't blend well at all with the relatively sknny tail end of the bike. Once I have the seat ironed out I'll chop the subframe and mount of the plate and lights.

 

[zuty13]

That looks great!!!!!!!

That looks great!!!!!!!

That GS looks great!!!!!!! Isaac.....
I'm thinking about similar mod as soon as I finish low end rebuild... :roll:
I was thinking about raking that extra height in front forks after lowering the back of suzi...
Can you post more side (profile) pics ..whats your ground clearance now...???

Here is my photoshop mod


http://www.pbase.com/image/54508291

 

[bobo]

isaac, i have 'drag specialties' mini gauges on my bike. they're about 2" round and fit just perfectly under the front bolts of the handlebar risers. i got mine on 'e-bay' quite cheaply so get looking ! i have a speedo and a tac. but you could get away with just the speedo. keep up the good chopping...b.b.

 

[isaac]

The tail section is inching closer to completion. I'll likely yank the front turn signals in favor of low profile ones.

 

[Chris Daniel]

Looking good man.

I switched my turn signals to some super low profile ones......I love the way they look.

 

[ron bayless]

I already pm'd you, but in case you dont get it, i think all your ideas are double cool.some of them i had had too, so we must be on the same creative wavelength. as far as "classic" goes, be boring and stock if you prefer, but the bike's perfomance exceeds most all modern bikes especially cruisers, so why not update the looks too?

 

[Mike_H]

Issac, like the way your bike is coming along, Your integrated taillights are looking great. Kepp us posted, eh? I got some ideas of my own, the biggest of which is going to be putting dual discs up front, (650L) and chopping the rear pillion, probably most of the frame behind the rear shocks...Similar to what you have done. Good to know there are others out there that share the sickness.

 

[tracy borchert]

I'll agree with you all with making your GS your own, but a GS is a classic, the original street bike. That performs very nicely, so why would you want to turn them into want to be choppers. You don't want to go to far. then it's not a GS anymore and thats what you don't want. At least thats what I've tried to do with mine, a little custom but you know it's still a GS.

 

[Cat Man]

I agree with Tracy. Make your bike your own, but don't lose the GS identity.

 

[isaac]

Getting closer to being finished.

A few question marks remain: Rear half-fender, or no? Black the rims or no? Black out anything else?

 

[RotaryRodder]

^im working on something similar, but I think im gonna chop off behind the shock mounts (looks like you did the same) and then build a bar going around the back connecting the sides. Then I will make a seat pan and have a seat made for it.

How did you do that seat?

 

[isaac]

I took some sheet steel, beat it into a shape that was flat on top but folded downward where the frame rails are, then formed the curved shape you see down the sides. I've got a wood block built into the back that's shaved at an angle to raise the rear of the seat up a bit. Then I stretched thick foam over the top of the stuff, then used vinyl covering to cover it. I secured the vinyl covering by cutting 'V' shaped cutouts in the bottom of the seat pan, then bending those sharp teeth outward to cut holes into the vinyl under the seat and grab onto it. Holds pretty well. We'll see how it lasts.

I cut the subframe in that specific spot (about 1/2" beyond the bolt holes behind the shock mounts) so that I could retain the bolt hole for mounting bracketry if necessary. I also cut it that short (about 2" shorter than the seat itself) because I've also built another seat for this that's more 1920s style and less chopper style. It's very rectangular, and not nearly as thickly padded.

I'm trying to design a way to mount the lights independently of the seat so that I can swap seats quickly. As is those lights are actually built into the back of the seat.

 

[tracy borchert]

Again!

Again!

I'll agree with you all with making your GS your own, but a GS is a classic, the original street bike. That performs very nicely, so why would you want to turn them into want to be choppers. You don't want to go to far. then it's not a GS anymore and thats what you don't want. At least thats what I've tried to do with mine, a little custom but you know it's still a GS. LOOKS LIKE A WANT TO BE SPORTSTER!

 

[jsuani]

Continue with the good look isaac...

Continue with the good look isaac...

My two cents. On your engine rebuild I would paint the cases black and go with a good polish on all things connecting to it. Go with the heart of it and make it a show case. I think the best mod for me is the tail lights installed into the seat. What a unique idea? Good to see that some of us can dream still. Have fun with it is my next idea that I want to throw your way. Peace D.

 

[isaac]

I'll agree with you all with making your GS your own, but a GS is a classic, the original street bike. That performs very nicely, so why would you want to turn them into want to be choppers. You don't want to go to far. then it's not a GS anymore and thats what you don't want. At least thats what I've tried to do with mine, a little custom but you know it's still a GS.

I'll agree with you all with making your GS your own, but a GS is a classic, the original street bike. That performs very nicely, so why would you want to turn them into want to be choppers. You don't want to go to far. then it's not a GS anymore and thats what you don't want. At least thats what I've tried to do with mine, a little custom but you know it's still a GS. LOOKS LIKE A WANT TO BE SPORTSTER!

Two quotes.

Do you know what I think my bike looks like? My bike. and I think it looks pretty damn badass.

That's me being innocuous.

 

[KGB]

Issac,
I like your answer.....It looks like MY bike.
It's yours, you can make it what you want.
You've obviously put lots of time and effort into it.
It's not my style, but I like what you've done.

 

[bobo]

isaac if you use a half fender you can use that to mount the turn signals, and also the tail light. just a personal thing but have you thought about lower bars ?...b.b.

 

[Chris Daniel]

I would go for just a little bit of a fender, just to break up the rear of the bike a tiny bit. Also would give you a nice place to mount your lights. If you black out the rims, then I would definatly add a little polish to the engine, since it will then be the eye catcher. Something I always thought was neat was those gator boots that go over the forks, I think it would look really nice on there. Also, definatly some lower bars.

Anyway, just some thoughts, I really think the bike looks good, do it the way you want.

 

[wolfie]

You are definitely going to want a fender if you get caught in the rain. If you don't have a fender, th back tire is going to sling water all over you.