Latest project teaser: GS1100G Bobber

[mvalenti]

Looks great! I'm going to watch this one closely!

[DrImodium]

Small Update:





Rear seat is being redpainted; All white with a Double black pinstripe number plate outline. Right now the seat and tank just dont work together.

[Tim Tom]

Cool bike. I think the tail would look better if it wasn't drooping down. Keep the bottom level to the bottom of the tank and it would look great.

And maybe some padding. Your an animal.

[MK3Brent]

I love the drooping down look.
Covers the tire in a more tucked look.

It's perfect. Love it.

[DrImodium]

[MisterCinders]

How's the clearance on that back end? Seems like riding on anything bumpier than a plate of glass is going to tear up that seat pan.

[Tim Tom]

How's the clearance on that back end? Seems like riding on anything bumpier than a plate of glass is going to tear up that seat pan.

What about the clearance on the front end?! I guess some people would rather have the look than suspension travel. Don't get me wrong, it does LOOK really cool. And if that's your thing, then great!

If this is supposed to be a real rider though I'd put a bit more suspension in there. Actually I'd raise the back end up with some taller shocks, and put a stock length fork back on, but that's just my preferences.

You do what works for you! The bike does look nice. Just not to corner on...


EDIT: Just remembered you have another cafe bike that's build to handle... In that case this thing is the perfect compliment to it. Long and low for the straight drags.

[kawfeedave]

What about the clearance on the front end?! I guess some people would rather have the look than suspension travel. Don't get me wrong, it does LOOK really cool. And if that's your thing, then great!

Another thing people seem to miss when building these 'customs' is that they set them up for 'the look' when sitting still, and they forget about the sag. If the suspension is set properly, the whole thing will drop another inch as soon as the rider gets on the bike. So if you build it that low without a rider, once you get on, any travel you did have is lost.

There's nothing quite like the feeling, when you're hanging on to your low clip-ons with your feet up high on your rearsets, and the back end bottoms out over a bump in the road, and tries to throw you up over the front end. You may sit in the position/attitude on a sport bike, but those bikes have the correct suspension set-up and travel, so they tend not to kick up ove bumps. Hard-tail 'bobbers', and 'most' cafe bikes, not so much.

[lifguardct]

Looks great, I am thinking of doing a similar setup to yours. I just picked up a 82 GS1100GLZ with the full Vetter treatment, trunk, bags, fairing, lowers and a Smitty's Sidecar...

[DrImodium]

How's the clearance on that back end? Seems like riding on anything bumpier than a plate of glass is going to tear up that seat pan.

The rear cowl is shapped to hug the curve of the tire with clearance built in for suspension travel. I used heavy duty shoucks designed for a Harley to stiffen up the rear end and minimize the amount of suspension travel. Originially i was going to strut the rear to turn it into a hardtail but when it comes to re-sale, hard tails limit my potential market. The rear shocks are designed to use smaller diameter shock studs so I machined new spacers and pressed in new bushings to allow them to be used on the 'zuk

What about the clearance on the front end?!?!?!

In these pics, I was in the middle of the Progressive spring instal so the springs are out of the tubes, thus dropping them down that low.

... In that case this thing is the perfect compliment to it. Long and low for the straight drags.

This GS1100 is designed for highway commuting and around the town hoping. I have my GS1000 cafe for the days I want to tear up the twisties.

[nvr2old]

Cool looking bike, but..man alive, the front suspension has..what..1 inch of travel? How do the pipes fit? Not dissing you, my friend, just curious..and concerned about your safety.

[bluehwy]

Nice! Hope it's coming along...

[NatiKiD]

what kind of shocks are you running in the back?

[Makabro]

Rear shocks

Where are you ordering your parts from?
I'm doing a gs750ex and I'm looking for shocks and that rear seat and pan. Looks great. I want to keep it functional too.

[Nessism]

Hope this photo is NOT indicative of the actual ride height and suspension travel. It's dangerous, unless you are going to limit travel to 35 mph on brand new smooth roads.