My 78 GS550 Cafe Project!

[bhppy101]

Hey all.....

I am new to this forum and it has helped me out tremendously! I bout my gs550 about 3 weeks ago with the intetion of restoring it as a cafe racer.

I built the seat/cowl out of fiberglass and made a fiberglass seat pan added some HD foam and wrapped it in marine vinyl

Did a quick temp paint job and bodywork....Metallic grey

Put some dirtbike bars on and turned them upside down (I'm waiting for my Clubman's)

Started to polish the cases....I plan on polishing the whole thing!

I will end up painting it silver.

Lemme know what you think so far.....

I NEED some side covers....if anyone has some they want to get rid of...please let me know!

Here's the BEFORE:

Here's what I've done to it so far:

 

[8trackmind]

I like it! :-D

 

[Tarbash 27]

looks good from what i can see, get some pictures in the sunlight.

 

[regal403]

I really like how your seat looks. Nice project, but maybe some daytime shots would really show us more detail!
good luck

 

[Dignan]

I dig it. Clever trick with those motoX bars.

 

[zixxerboy]

Neat!
2 suggestions - you're good with the fiberglass, why not make some glass side covers? Not the swoopy originals but something clean and simple
- also did you consider bar end mirrors? - they're always nice on this style bike
- is the license plate on the bike in the pic?

 

[cruisinflatout]

Nice ride...dump the gauge cluster for a single speedo in my opinion - but very nice work indeed

 

[Cyg]

that is cool. and you did a great job with the fibreglass.

 

[HiSPL]

Great job!

It really helps visually to get rid of everything that sticks up above the top triple clamp. Mirrors, guages, and cables. They should all be as low as possible to really get the look right.

JCWhitney has these speedos that are supposed to work pretty good and they are real small.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=speedometer

 

[bhppy101]

Thanks for all of your comments!.....I want to remove all of the instrument cluster....but I dont know what wires I need to keep, and which ones to delete. I would love to just have the speedo and an idiot light for neutral.

I'll post some pics tomorrow in some better light....I'll be painting her again tomorrow.

If anone can help me out with any tips on removing the light cluster I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks all!

 

[cruisinflatout]

If anone can help me out with any tips on removing the light cluster I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks all!

Best thing would just get a wiring schematic and cut everything back you don't need as far as you can. Any way you look at it, it will take some time to do but will be well worth it in the end.
\\/

 

[Billyboy]

Sexay biatch.

I like it!

 

[bhppy101]

Best thing would just get a wiring schematic and cut everything back you don't need as far as you can. Any way you look at it, it will take some time to do but will be well worth it in the end.
\\/

Thanks....anyone got a wiring diagam?

 

[HammerHead]

Good Job. Yes, get the wireing diagram and take your time. You should be
real proud of what you've done so far.
That seat you've made would be a little stiff for my ol ass.

*Steve*

 

[edbot]

I pulled the stock instruments off my 77-750 and installed the JC Whitney speedo and tach. I think they look good and appear to be of decent quality for the price The stock cables match up just fine, but obviously there's no power to the instruments. Presently, I've got the main wiring harness instrument connector just taped up, and eventually will try to rig up a neutral light of some kind, as it's a bit of a pain searching for it!

 

[germanicus]

Hey all.....

I am new to this forum and it has helped me out tremendously! I bout my gs550 about 3 weeks ago with the intetion of restoring it as a cafe racer.

I built the seat/cowl out of fiberglass and made a fiberglass seat pan added some HD foam and wrapped it in marine vinyl

Did a quick temp paint job and bodywork....Metallic grey

Put some dirtbike bars on and turned them upside down (I'm waiting for my Clubman's)

Started to polish the cases....I plan on polishing the whole thing!

I will end up painting it silver.

Lemme know what you think so far.....

I NEED some side covers....if anyone has some they want to get rid of...please let me know!

Here's the BEFORE:

Here's what I've done to it so far:

Very cool!
I really like your seat, too bad I ride 2-up most of the time.
You'll need barends for sure.
Have you thought of a flyscreen or bikini fairing? I think it would match the style. Since you work with fiberglass maybe you can make your own...
Here's an idea:
http://omarsdtr.com/fairings.html
Great bike!
German

 

[pozzi]

dig it bro!

like the seat!
you should sell those...looks CLEAN!
that's a quick flip for only 3-weeks.
i'm impressed!

keep it up and let the updates flow!

I photochop'd a GS550 to see what it would look like cafe style, this is what it looks like:

makes me want a GS 550 rear tail section...hhmm...sooo, wha'dcha you do with yours???

 

[bhppy101]

OK....Here'es what I did on Sunday\\/

Painted it silver....Fabricated a tailight/license plate bracket....did a little more polishing to the forks and starter cover.....and got the clubman bars on! Woo Hoo! The bars don't hit the tank!!!!!

 

[Tarbash 27]

hows your back feel with those bars? now you just gotta get a smaller exhaust.

 

[bhppy101]

Its not bad at all......actually....feels alot more safe than the ape hangers that where on there before!

I'm used to the crouch.....I just got rid of a Zuki TL1000.