• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

should I attempt a frame-off restoration?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GoBlue
  • Start date Start date
G

GoBlue

Guest
I have this 77' 550 and its really not in that bad of shape. I already have a lot stripped off. Got the tank prepped for paint, etc.

The engine, fork, wheels, electrics and exhaust still remain and I keep asking myself if I should just tear it all down.

What kind of hell could I expect if I take everything off and go through it all, excluding an engine rebuild?

Thanks!
 
Well, it sounds like you're fairly mechanically adept. 550 motors are not that heavy. It wouldn't be that bad, but what would your goal be? Paint the frame?
 
Don't start in February...
Click to expand...

It will soon be riding season and you might miss some riding if you're deep into wrenching. On the other hand you likely have a good 6 to 8 weeks of winter so that should give you ample time to get down to cleaning/repainting the frame and engine but you will need to keep up a pace and do a little something nearly every day and hope that you don't run into any "issues". Lots of guys are doing them as we speak so have a look and see what you think bearing in mind your own schedule/ work habits and available cash.

Of course , if you choose to do it we will need to have some pics to follow along and criticize.:)

Good luck with it.
Spyug
 
mike_of_bbg said:
Well, it sounds like you're fairly mechanically adept. 550 motors are not that heavy. It wouldn't be that bad, but what would your goal be? Paint the frame?
Click to expand...

I would like to paint the frame, yes. I want to do the stripped cafe look, all motor. This is my first bike build, or even anything to do with bikes really. I do know how to ride and throw a wrench around, but Ive never done this type of thing.

I do like the other advice to not start in Feb. I think if I got it running at least, I would have a great deal of info about the overall condition while Im riding.
 
Try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
 
tkent02 said:
Try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
Click to expand...

What he said.
 
tkent02 said:
try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
Click to expand...


+1.........
 
tkent02 said:
Try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
Click to expand...

+2

They are a bunch more fun to ride than make look pretty.
Get all of the bugs worked out and enjoy it.
You can always make it pretty next winter.

Daniel
 
tkent02 said:
Try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
Click to expand...


Agreed...

Keep it up and running...fix things as needed...learn...

And just enjoy riding it...:D
 
Like the advice, especially since all the people I should be asking agree on the same thing. Plus, it makes a lot of sense anyway.
 
What the others here are saying is what I did the summer before last when I got my 85 750EF.Got her running to ride then over the winter I gussied her up .All documented in my sig thread.It was the first time I ever got a bike that completely apart.Enjoyed that so much I'm doing a 78 1000 this winter.See if you like the bike as is then if you think you want to change it do so.
 
tkent02 said:
Try this, do a rolling restoration. Fix it a little at a time, rebuild things, clean things, adjust things, fix all of the leaks one at a time. Wait on the frame. Ride it as much as you can along the way. You may find you like the bike and decide not to cut it all up and make it slow, unsafe and uncomfortable in pursuit of someone's else's silly idea of style.
Click to expand...

+3

I thought about doing the same thing (except cutting it up) but decided spring is too close, now if I get a second bike, tear one down, leave one for riding...yeah, thats the trick...honey!! I need another bik...ouch(frying pan to the head) :rolleyes:
 
GoBlue said:
I would like to paint the frame, yes. I want to do the stripped cafe look, all motor. This is my first bike build, or even anything to do with bikes really. I do know how to ride and throw a wrench around, but Ive never done this type of thing.

I do like the other advice to not start in Feb. I think if I got it running at least, I would have a great deal of info about the overall condition while Im riding.
Click to expand...

Get it running at least first. Easier with the motor in the frame, and an exhaust system, etc. More than likely, the motor doesn't require rebuilding. If it does, the bike isn't worth enough to bother with (few GS are) except as a labor of love. With the time it takes to order, receive, and install parts, you will be surprised the time it takes to do it, because as you go, you always run into something else it needs that you have not already got ordered or on hand. Just spent 3 weeks doing a starter clutch. All but one day was waiting for parts.

Things like the drive chain and sprockets will probably be needed. The carbs need to be cleaned and reinstalled. Brakes are in need of rebuilding. The (likely electrical) problems that got it parked in the first place need to be discovered and fixed. You will want to clean and polish things.

You will probably find enough work and parts it needs to make it safe and usable to occupy your time and funds between now and riding season.

A clean good running survivor with battle scars is a cool bike to own and ride anyway.
 
No way, too late in the season.
Riding season is right around the corner.

My 550 is still sitting in pieces from last year, I thought it would just be a "quick" Frame-Painting job.......

Things change, money problems come up.
All it takes is one snapped exhaust bolt or something, and the next thing you know, you got 4 snapped bolts!
Then the damn thing is sitting for 2 months.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SamLack99
1982 GS570T - 1/4 Throttle Onwards Flat Spot
Replies
4
Views
126
SamLack99
SamLack99
SkunkMeister
New Member, Old Bike
Replies
8
Views
218
1978GS750E
1978GS750E
NotASparky
Trigger Warning: Purists Beware!
Replies
10
Views
283
Big T
Big T
N
A BIG thank you
Replies
9
Views
178
eil
eil
E
'83 1100E assorted newbie questions - what am I dealing with?
Replies
9
Views
186
eldevigo
E
Back
Top