I got bored this weekend......

[briyenkieth]

nice seat! The back of your bike is looking tidy! Definitly a round light, headlights are meant to be round.

[GQROD]

Trimming the rear and the new seat shape has made a world of difference on your ride, looks great.

[erock]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. Now I am tryign to sort out a tail/brake light and turn signals.... Went to radio shack and bought a bunch of led lights. I also picked up a set of led license plate lights at of all places wal-mart in their "custom add-ons" section. Noticed them when I was looking for a fuel filter for the car. 3 bux n some change and I can modify them to light up my plate down on the swing arm.



I am trying to keep this project on the cheap. We are expecting the arrival of our son within the next week or so.

[erock]

Things have been crazy with the arrival of our son. He came into the world Dec. 23rd.



But I managed to finally spend some time out in the garage last weekend.





Fabbed up a new tail light idea. I like it. Not bad for a set of marker lights from a tractor trailer. Had to tear them apart and weld a set of sockets in from a couple automotive lights I had in the garage so they would work as tail/brake lights. Still a little more work to be done....painting and such, but these pics give the jist of it. I used a couple super bright led's inserted via rubber bushings I made into the end of the frame tubes. The anticipation of temps back above 40 is killing me.

[GQROD]

The tail lights are cool, i have the same set as signal lights, though i have not torn into them yet to put brighter bulbs. They are dirt cheap which is great.

[Loki388]

You keep cutting on that tail section, and you're not going to have much bike left. Joking, it's some pretty cool custom work. Keep the pics coming.

Also, have you thought about going with two headlights, ala the Triumph street triple?

[mcloud]

Congrats on the baby!
Nice work with the tail light. Definately dual headlignt to keep the theme going, maybe small xenon?
Do you have something in mind for the side covers?

[erock]

Hey...thanks. I have thought about a dual headlight setup but for now I have a headlight I scored off an 81 gs650 mounted. It was a lil rusty so I sandblasted it and painted it....flat black of course......Doesn't look too bad.....the guage cluster looming over it is iffy tho. Here are some recent pics. Still more to do. This week I adjusted the valves, checked the plugs, made sure the choke was adjusted properly, greased bushings and bearings, oil change, made sure all the fastners are tight, etc.........its supposedto start warming up...so I will be riding her everyday again soon...so long as it isn't raining.

[Loki388]

after seeing the newest pics, I'm sad to say the only solution I see is a new tank. The contrast between the front, middle and tail is too dramatic for me. I'd go for a smaller, tapered tank, and then cut out the side stand, oil pressure, and gear indicator lights. Maybe dremel the tach and speedo down enough so they fit into maglight heads, and paint the key numbers' inside. Maybe you could mount them between the clip-ons?

[Gimpdiggity]

after seeing the newest pics, I'm sad to say the only solution I see is a new tank. The contrast between the front, middle and tail is too dramatic for me. I'd go for a smaller, tapered tank, and then cut out the side stand, oil pressure, and gear indicator lights. Maybe dremel the tach and speedo down enough so they fit into maglight heads, and paint the key numbers' inside. Maybe you could mount them between the clip-ons?

I agree. Something about it looks just a tad bit off to me.

I don't think it's the tank, though, I think it's the gauges.

[Rick Morrison]

Hey, Really nice project ! I dont know if this will help or not, but I had a 92 gs 500 and it had buell dual headlamps on it that looked trick. If I can ever figure out how to resize pics I'll send you a couple for you to see.
Cheers

[briyenkieth]

I liked the seat prior to the tail lights. Headlight looks great by the way. But it is a tad out of proportion still. Guages look funky now. Didn't they originally live behind a fairing though ? I would run without clocks myself but I'm an idiot so there's that. Maybe a switch to pods. Then you would lose the airbox and open up that part of the bike. Move the electrics around and make it as void as possible. Lastly trim the back of the front fender. Give it more of a modern look. The front looks like it was cut already. Still dig your bike man, very cool.

[erock]

I appreciate the input fellas. I don't like the guages either. They do stick way up....I want to change them. Thought about maybe a digital speedo and just wire up lights for neutral and oil and sidestand so it sits down in more. But that cluster sticking up just screws everything up. I was thinking about a dual headlight set up too. I would love to run pods...and clear the void. I have been looking around and cant seem to find what would fit my carbs. I also thought about ditching the tail lights and just getting one for on the swingarm. Yeah the original square headlight was behind a fairing. Over all I like how my bike is turning out. I just keep reading and learning and changing.

[mighty13d]

don't start listening to bryienkieth, next thing you know, you'll be tearing it down to the frame and completely going over everything when you see his bike! lol (that's actually a compliment to him btw) Anyway, did you think about throwing another small fairing on there? that would work well with the round headlight and do a little coverup on the gauges.

[erock]

You know I hadn't thought of that. It would look pretty cool and deflect some air on those fridgid 35 degree rides to work in the morning. I think its a great Idea. Guess I'll have to start diggin around and see what would work. But it would save alot of work....I am trying to keep it suzuki parts aside from what I have made.