Cafe anyone?

[witttom]

Did you remember to grease the handle bar under the throttle?

Long story, short version... problem resolved. I had a metal tab (intended to hold the housing in place) dragging.

[hunter58]

Long story, short version... problem resolved. I had a metal tab (intended to hold the housing in place) dragging.

Yep, that'll do it everytime.

Glad you got it fixed.

[hughgee]

gs450 cables?

I have a gs450L that I just put clubmans on (the ones from mikesxs.com). Now the throttle and clutch cables, and the front brake hose, are way too long. Does anyone know what cables I can put on there that will work better? I can post a pic here to show you how it currently looks.

[pete]

Hey Hughgee, put a pic up! I wanna cafe my 450 and I'd like to see how yours is looking with the clubmans.

I'm also going to have cable length problems as well.

Have you done anything with your footpegs?

[850Gene]

I just retrofitted clubman's to an 81' 850GX and, yeah, I think shorter cables/lines will work better (especially brake & throttle) and I agree they're much more comfortable than the OE. The bike is in transition from cruiser (came with a Windjammer III) to cafe'. I got an EMGO fairing (J.C. Whitney) and with a little wrangling was able to get it mounted - though I'm STILL going to fab some custom brackets to take the place of the strap iron brackets that came with it. All in all, a very easy mod. Good Luck!

[pete]

I don't know if it's any help or not, but I ran across this URL earlier today...

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/cable8.jpg

It's about the best way to make custom cables.

[hughgee]

It's about the best way to make custom cables.

Hmm. That may be the best thing to try. I remember when I ordered a new throttle cable for the old handlebars I had to shorten the outer metal tube a wee bit. I was thinking that ordering the cables for a gs450s would be a good start, but can you change out the front brake hose?

Here's a page with some pics of my current setup:

link

[pan]

[ATTACH]851[/ATTACH]This is a "Superbike" seat I have for my 1000S.
I have pictures and measurements if you want/need them.
Another member on here is trying to recreat the seat.



And another shot

Keith, I would like the pictures & measurements please.

Cheers,
Mark...

[Billyboy]

Keith, I would like the pictures & measurements please.

Cheers,
Mark...

Me too!

>....................

[pan]

Thanks Keith :-)

[germanicus]

Here's a link to pics of my GS:

http://www.bikepics.com/members/cafecafe/79gs400/

I'm waiting for a pair of Ken Sean round barend mirrors from a local shop. The order's taking forever so I might get wedge-shaped ones from Raskcycle.com instead...

Cheers,
German

[pete]

That's very neat German.

[witttom]

Well, nothing like turning a simple little project into something complicated!

I got my Cafe Racer out for the first time today. I tried firing it up yesterday, but it was totally p!ssed and I fouled two plugs. I've not started it in about five weeks. I guess it doesn't like that. Well anyway, I think I've got the kinks worked out today and after a nice little ride, all is well.



The clubmans, cafe fairing, rerouting all the cables, fork brace, and 530 chain/sprocket conversion was pretty easy. It was the dang tires and TUBES that seemed to trip me up more than anything else. Man, I hate tubes. That's also what seemed to cost the most time, running after tubes. The first tube I got for the rear, was the wrong type. I needed one with a metal stem. That cost me a few days. The last hang up was when I got a bad front tube. Of course I didn't realize this until AFTER I had the front tire mounted. I simply couldn't believe it, but sure enough... after pulling the front tire off, there it was. The tube had an imperfection along the inside seem. I guess that'll teach me to inflate the tube first before putting it in the tire. Grrr...

The Bridgestone Spitfire tires are great, but it now makes it very apparent that my suspension is way soft.

[UncleMike]

Wittom,

You're bike is looking sweet. Here's my unsolicited advice:

-As you said, a lower-profile seat is in order.
-Do the tubeless tire conversion. I've been told it's easy.
-Shorter and blacked exhaust will really match what you're going for nicely.
-Chop and color the front fender to match the rest.

That's what I'd do, at least. Wtih that, you'll go from sweet to stupid-pretty.

Again, looking nice.

~Mike

[witttom]

the bike looks very cool.a few things in common with my78 gs1000...fairing,clubmans,..i cut the rear of the frame off(8" or so)moved the tail section forward,put on a set of norman hyde rearsets(minor mods) along way to go this winter...suspension,brakes,paint,wheels(laced)
and a couple minor perf. mods.
anyway...to my question...where did you get the 530 chain conversion from?ive been looking.
i hear sprocket specialties will make an aluminum rear for around fifty/sixty bucks.
any info will help greatly.
thanks.
(long gone)bob

My sprockets came from JT Sprockets if I remember correctly. I did some homework and found them. A local independant shop is a JT Sprockets dealer, so I ordered them through him along with the chain (which is obviously several links longer than the 630 chain for future ref). My original intent was just to change the gearing around a little, and when I discovered how expensive 630 chains where, I went for the 530 conversion. I went down one tooth up front, and up one tooth in the rear. I can't really tell a significant difference like I was expecting, but perhaps it's because I'm still trying to adjust to the radical position of the clubmans.