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the rebirth of Beergood's 750 cafe

  • Thread starter Thread starter beergood
  • Start date Start date
img0271.jpg
 
Me too.


But find your damn camera will ya? The pics aren't doing your brilliant handiwork justice.
:)
 
Zooks said:
But find your damn camera will ya? The pics aren't doing your brilliant handiwork justice.
:)
Click to expand...

I begin boxing up my stuff in a few days, I am sure the camera just fell behind something. It's a little funny and stupid how much effort I have been putting into the bike this last week seeing as howI am moving in a week, and my time could be more judiciously spent. At least, I am sure that's my girlfriends opinion.
 
Went a little crazy with the cut off wheel today

Went a little crazy with the cut off wheel today

I have been working under the gun these last few days. I should be packing for the big move, but I want to get a few things done on the bike first. I know that once I am in the new place it is going to be tough to find time to work on the bike. I got a feeling every time I lift a wrench it will be to work on the house. And any spare bike time I want to use riding.

So here is the progress so far. I don't expect to get much more done for about a month or so (but you never know).

First things: I got my three new shims for the cylinders that were out of spec (or close). My thinnest gauge is .038, which I think is close enough to the bottom end. When last I looked (two weeks ago) there were three that that wouldn't fit in. Yesterday, it wouldn't fit in any. I haven't ridden a total of 50 miles, so I was stumped/bummed out. I checked to make sure that there weren't two gauges stuck together. It sure didn't look like it, so I started monkeying. After some swapping the math just wasn't working. There had to be something weird going on with the gauge. After 10 minutes of playing with it, I was able to seperate a .05something gauge free from it's back side. These things were so close together that the edge was seamless. The rest of the adjustments were uneventful. It feels good knowing that all my valves are in spec.

So, I bought a HVLP gun from harbor freight with the intention of spraying my own urethane clear over a rattle can paint job. The dude at the auto paint store was very nice and helpful, but he was also quite insistent that a two part clear would wrinkle my rattle can base.

I had been looking at the duplicolor paint shop lacquer clear coat for a while. It's only $20, fast drying, and what the hell, if it sucks I'll just strip it. It went on with an old skool orange peal finish. I applied about ten coats. Today there was some wet sanding and some buffing and I think it looks great. I still have some texture to rub out, but I am going to let it cure for thirty days and then use my buddies pro buffing setup.

I also went raped ape crazy with the grinder and cut off a whole slew of stuff.

I borrowed a buddy's camera, here are some pics:
PICT0010.jpg


PICT0011.jpg


PICT0012.jpg


PICT0014.jpg
 
PICT0022.jpg


PICT0023.jpg


PICT0024.jpg


So, I think I am running out of things to remove from the bike. Here is the list of casualties thus far:

Dual exhaust
Air Box
Turn Signals
Left Hand controls
Chain Guard
Passenger Foot Pegs
Left Muffler Mount/Peg Mount
Gauges/Dash (with exception of speedo)
50% of the front fender
Rear Fender
Battery
Center Stand
About half of the stock wiring harness.

Things in the cue:
SS brake lines (Z1 has what looks like some pretty reasonable deals going on)
530 conversion
New Tires (a buddy is sitting on a set of Barracudas that I think I am going to take off his hands)
Snap on leather seat cover (gotta light a fire under Mom on this one)
Redo the headlight bucket/dash area.
As always, keeping my eyes open for that sweet deal on a set of spoked wheels.
(The list keeps getting shorter, wonder what I will do when it's done)

One of my goals (and I've done a good job of sticking with it) was to not do anything, at least cosmetically, that couldn't have been done in 1979.
 
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Looking good again! The red was starting to grow on me but I must say it looks better now. IMO, time to paint the calipers.
 
bowzer said:
Looking good again! The red was starting to grow on me but I must say it looks better now. IMO, time to paint the calipers.
Click to expand...

I am waiting to get buy the brake lines, then I can do everything at once.. Hopefully some time next month. I am debating over polishing, black or silver.
 
Polishing looks 'the ducks nuts' but is hard to keep that way unless you clear them.
Silver looks like fake chrome (UGH!)
Black is easiest for a neat look.


my 9c (inflation)
 
I think I will try clear, and if that doesn't work, it will be easy to go to black.
 
I'm really liking the color theme....not too much flash. The brake calipers add a very nice touch. Great looking ride, beergood. Quite an eye-catcher!
 
As a whole, I really dig cafe bikes. But, looking at the sections, I don't really dig the bobbed rear end. Not picking yours out from the crowd, but as a general rule I don't really like the cut short look.
On the whole, however, its a fine lookin machine and one that I'm sure is a whole barrel of monkeys to ride.

Well done, the black/grey theme is soopah deelux!
 
Very very nice. Good work. I too liked the red, but I know I couldn't live with it. I'm just not a red guy.

Your threads have certainly been inspirational, as are many others on the GSR.

I have been considering colors for my 80 750 as well. Right now its in semi-flat black until I get her buttoned back together (I should probably share it in a thread of its own... making a cafe from an L). I'm starting to think she needs some sort of hue, but I'm lost for what color. I love the fact that you change and we can all see it!

Hey, any issues with tossing the dash stuff? Other than just taking it off, anything you had to terminate, wire loops, or anything. I have the full L dash (guages,indicators, gear indicators, fuel, etc...) And while I like all the info, I too want to pair it down.

Keep up the good work...

PS- what foam did you use for your seat. Mines not supportive enough (read: uncomfy).
 
Texatl said:
PS- what foam did you use for your seat. Mines not supportive enough (read: uncomfy).
Click to expand...

The wrong foam.

It was some new (at least to me) foam that was at Joanne Fabrics. It's alright, but I think I will try to find something different. This seat is kind of a temporary solution till I can get the real seat finished. Hopefully that will happen in the next month.

As for the wiring, I documented it pretty well in another thread. Since I was in the process of greatly simplifying the bike (and my wiring harness was a disaster as it was), I discarded the old harness and made my own. It was a little daunting at first, but proved to be pretty simple in the end. And totally worth it.
 
Looks awesome BG! I really like the color combo.

The duplicolor paintshop clear will not hold up to the slightest amount of gas - mine didn't anyway... Even after I let it harden for a month and protected it with liquid glass and other sealers it still wouldn't hold up. The good news is that the base paint will hold up to an automotive clear. I lightly dusted on (very dry and tacky) three coats and let each coat dry for about 20min each. Once this was done I layed on three coats of heavy clear and haven't had any issues with wrinkles. Good luck just dont get any gas on it or its instant toast.

Later,

Byrd
 
beergood said:
The wrong foam.

It was some new (at least to me) foam that was at Joanne Fabrics. It's alright, but I think I will try to find something different. This seat is kind of a temporary solution till I can get the real seat finished. Hopefully that will happen in the next month.

As for the wiring, I documented it pretty well in another thread. Since I was in the process of greatly simplifying the bike (and my wiring harness was a disaster as it was), I discarded the old harness and made my own. It was a little daunting at first, but proved to be pretty simple in the end. And totally worth it.
Click to expand...

Thats right- oops I remember that.

AS for foam- yeah I have some Hi Density from Joannes as well. I started with 4 inch and thought it looked to thick, so I mistakenly cut it down. Then had no support. So I've got some more at 4 inch and will try with a bit taller of a saddle.

BUT I did find this:
http://www.foamandupholstery.com/Open_Cell_Foam.htm about 7/8 down the page, listed as Multi-Rebounded mixed foam. From what I've read other places it looks to be a good option. And not overly expensive either.

I might order some.
 
PICT0021.jpg

Just a suggestion, but as to the rear edge of the fuel tank being rough edged metal, I painted the edge of my sons tank the same black as the frame so it would kind of "disappear" into the break between tank and seat when we did his bobber/chopper. It blended well, because that rear edge of the tank where they weld the pieces of metal together looks rough on any make bike. Also, as to paint, the old acronym NOLOE, which means no laquer over enamel, still stands to day. You can put enamel over most laquers, but not the other way round.
 
Another idea for the edge of the gas tank....you could always put some windshield trim or something similar there to hide it.
 
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