My '78 GS750 Build

[mudslinger150]

I've been poking around this site for a few weeks now looking for a few tips and tricks that would aid in my personal GS project. I've come to the conclusion that there are a lot of "purists" on this forum "which is awesome" and it's great that there are people out there that are keeping these bikes as original as possible! On the other hand there are kids like me ...

I've recently done an extensive amount of computer work (hardware/network) for a buddy of mine and my pay off, when there was none needed, was this 1978 GS750E. This bike was actually given to him as well a few years back from one of his buddies! Needless to say my buddy had ridden it about 3 times within the last 5 years, one of which was to my place for a full service last year. When I was working on the bike during it's service i had thought to myself, how cool would this thing be if it had a bobbed tail, dirt bike bars and was a cross between cafe and bobber/rat bike.

Again, needless to say, it's is now on it's journey to becoming my first "experimental build-as-you-go, while having a general idea project.

I have included some pictures of my progress:

 

[mudslinger150]

Now because of the Vetter accessories that littered this bike the wiring was cut and spliced everywhere it was allowed....I ended up cutting off all accessory wiring, re soldering all of the original connections and protecting them with heat shrink.

 

[mudslinger150]

cut...

 

[mudslinger150]

Cut....

 

[brandon25]

i like it! i am looking forward to seeing where this goes

 

[mudslinger150]

more of an aggressive look

bobbed tail section, from an old hand cart . I also decided to cap the ends of the factory gusset that supports the shock mounts.

and then the bikes current condition...no front or rear fenders, bobbed tail, modified exhaust, shaved seat foam, dirt bike bars, old vetter fairing headlight, rewiring of the bike. My tail light just came in today and i'll be getting that on there tonight probably.

some pics are before the exhaust cut

 

[mudslinger150]

This is the bike after i cut the exhaust, runs a little lean and i'll have to go up a couple sizes.

Thanks for looking and i'll keep you all posted. All of this work was done in about 2 weeks working off and on, I've been right into it. Like i said the tail light will be put on tonight, not sure if i'm going to side mount it or just fit it under my radius (bobbed tail). We'll see

Thanks

Mitch

 

[mudslinger150]

Last night I felt ambitious and headed out into the garage with a clear head, previously discouraged not knowing how I was going to mount my tail light? I dug through a tub of parts that I had from my old KZ400 project and came across a shiny fender! I really liked the curve of it and knew it would look good on my bike. I mocked it up, figured out I could mount my tail light on it and went to town. Here are a couple pictures of the process.

I was against a fender at first but a combination of needing a fender to keep the mud and dead babies off my back and a place to mount my tail light I knew it had to be done, but I?m happy with it!

Now she?s streetable.

 

[mudslinger150]

obviously all of these pictures are from my Blackberry so i'm sorry for the quality....

 

[mudslinger150]

Let me tell you, last night was my 2nd time ever driving this bike and this thing is fast...For an 8 valve motor it pulls and pulls. I'm very happy with the work that i have accomplished so far and man i must have shed at least 100lbs off this thing...

 

[fullmetalone]

Hey! i like what you are doing! Its amazing how just taking a few things off and cutting some stuff can completely change how the bike looks. You are right, there are alot of purists on this forum, but also alot of people who do crazy off the wall choppers and super sleek cafe bikes as well. The nice thing about this forum though, is no matter what you decide to do, you won't be bashed for it, even if it isn't someone elses cup of tea. I think that is a rarity among Internet forums, and one of the things that makes GSR so cool. I'll be following your bike. Mine won't be nearly as radical, but look me up in this section.

 

[mudslinger150]

Here is a short video of what the tail light looks like and shows how bright it is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWKAMLU-cB0

 

[Rudeman]

Did you check for rear tire clearance in the event that you bottom out?

 

[Hovmod]

I like it.
Where would the license plate go?

 

[Starboard M]

I love that tail light! Do you know what it was originally for? Think it would be possible to remove the license plate light portion?

 

[mudslinger150]

Did you check for rear tire clearance in the event that you bottom out?

Yes, the tail light comes really close on a bottom out situation but no cigar. If for whatever reason it does decide to get taken out by the tire and or a rock i'm only out $17, but with the clearance I have I feel confident that I will not have any issues. I had to mount the tail light where it is because I was unable to mount it under my radius piece, that definitely would have been taken out!

 

[mudslinger150]

I like it.
Where would the license plate go?

I haven't gotten there yet...I may end up doing a shock mounted or axle mounted plate bracket. I'm not sure vertical plates are legal in VT though...I've looked around a bit and haven't seen anything that really stands out. Any suggestions?

 

[mudslinger150]

I love that tail light! Do you know what it was originally for? Think it would be possible to remove the license plate light portion?

The tail light was an ebay special . It's not even DOT approved, it's E marked. luckaly I used to work at the bike shop in my town so getting a sticker for her shouldn't be a problem

If you wanted too you could remove the lens of the tail light and take out the white LED's on the bottom. A nice strip of electrical tape would work too, but wouldn't look as nice.

 

[mudslinger150]

Just a small update...Last night I cut up an old street sign i had for a seat pan. I still need to figure out how i am going to mount it up to the bike. Once that is squared away i will drill my holes in her and have it covered. i also shaped the seat with a grinder to make it a little more form fitting . The pictures are not of my finished product, my phone had died. But you get the idea.

 

[mike-s]

What are you going to do about the space between the wheel and the battery area? a nice thick bit of rubber connected to a couple mounting tabs with the edges sandwiched between two thin steel rails may do the job nicely.

Other than that, i like where this is going, very flat-tracker looking, i like it.