Custom design ideas

[Shwartz]

Hey, so I'm just trying come up with some basic ideas of some customization for my '82 GS650E. I'm not going quite to this extent but am curious as to what you think.
Of these 2 custom bikes, which do you prefer the looks of? The virago, or the KZ650?

[azr]

Just so you know, there are 3 different bikes in those pictures

[80GS1000]

Like the USDs on an otherwise pretty standard looking cafe. Needs a matching 3 spoke rear wheel though. Good Photoshop work.

[Shwartz]

I just noticed that the second KZ shot is another Yamaha. Sorry, I'll correct that.

[Shwartz]

I just noticed that the second KZ shot is another Yamaha. Sorry, I'll correct that.

I can't find another angle shot of the KZ so I deleted the shot. Those 2 bikes look sooo similar.

[Shwartz]

Like the USDs on an otherwise pretty standard looking cafe. Needs a matching 3 spoke rear wheel though. Good Photoshop work.

No photoshop. This was an actual build.

Done by a shop in the Eastern US called "Classified Moto". They seem to do great work and are getting alllllloooottt of attention lately.

http://www.classifiedmoto.com/

[Nessism]

The Yamaha looks like a stink bug with it's ass in the air. Gaud I hate that chopped tail look.

[Big T]

No photoshop. This was an actual build.

Done by a shop in the Eastern US called "Classified Moto". They seem to do great work and are getting alllllloooottt of attention lately.

http://www.classifiedmoto.com/

Yeah, but that build is for looks, not function

The USD forks are shorter, as are the shocks, so cornering clearance is limited. The seat is too thin and no fenders means a mess at best and a stalled bike in the rain

The tires are too big, so it will corner like a truck

You can achieve the same basic look without much trouble, most newer Suzuki fork bolt up with a few mods and you can clear out the middle pretty easily

I also hate that Virago and the whole chopped tail look

[ddaniels]

I guess they would be ok if you don't mind having dirt slung all over your back.

[Tim Tom]

Hey, so I'm just trying come up with some basic ideas of some customization for my '82 GS650E. I'm not going quite to this extent but am curious as to what you think.

Ohhh boy. That's a pretty rare GS and one that is much loved here. I hope it's in rough shape already if your gonna be cutting it up. While I have no problem with custom builds, and really like the Classified Moto look, too many people don't have the skills to do it properly, and the bike ends up ruined forever. I hope this is not the case with your, and you can build a nice bike in the end.

Post up some pics of the bike as it sits now and we will be able to give you some more direction of where to go.

And because no one else has said it yet, get it running and riding FIRST, then dig into the cosmetic stuff.

Good luck on your project.

[Shwartz]

Ohhh boy. That's a pretty rare GS and one that is much loved here. I hope it's in rough shape already if your gonna be cutting it up. While I have no problem with custom builds, and really like the Classified Moto look, too many people don't have the skills to do it properly, and the bike ends up ruined forever. I hope this is not the case with your, and you can build a nice bike in the end.

Post up some pics of the bike as it sits now and we will be able to give you some more direction of where to go.

And because no one else has said it yet, get it running and riding FIRST, then dig into the cosmetic stuff.

Good luck on your project.

Well put. I was looking into the newbie thread further and budgeting for the issues that they addressed such as carb kits, electrical mods and the works.

Here's the bike


So the bike has 47,000kms. I bought it for $300 not running. brought it home, traced the electrical diagram to find that the previous owner changed the spark plugs and reconnected them in the wrong order. Fired it up, and did the happy dance.
The motor leaks from almost every orifice available so I will do a tear down and re-gasket it this winter. It needs brake work (Understandably, it's been sitting for a while), new tires (Cracking), possibly one new rim (front) or at least a bearing (haven't searched for the wobble just yet), and bars (bent). I thought I needed a new clutch or cable only to find that I have used the wrong oil (live and learn) which is why the bike is acting as it is.

Thats it. I did some searching on the forum but couldn't find the "E" model designated anywhere. I can find "L"'s and "XL's" but no "E". Can someone link a thread stating why it's rare?

Thanks for all your opinions, even if they don't align with mine

[Shwartz]

P.S. That's my workshop in the background....it's going to be a longggg, cold, drafty winter.

[Tim Tom]

The chain drive 650E was only made for one year. Every other 650 is a shaft drive, and split between the cruiser styled 'L' model, and the standard 'G' model. Your E makes a good deal of power for it's size, and because of the lighter weight chain drive, makes it the ideal midsize vintage canyon carver.

Nice looking shed. I have to do my work in the dark and dirty basement of a parking garage where I can't leave the bike apart for more than a day for fear or someone walking away with the bits. I would love a shed like yours .

The bike itself looks to be in pretty good shape. Not perfect, but it's all there which is good. I've never seen that exhaust before and it looks great under the peeling paint and surface rust. Do what you can to refurbish it, rather than replace it.

If it were my bike, I'd restore the body work, update the suspension, brakes and tires, and ride the hell out of it. But that is just my taste, and it's your bike.

PS If you want any photoshop mock ups done send me a PM. I'd be happy to work with you on them. I've done it for several members here who were having trouble visualizing what they wanted their bike to look like.

[Shwartz]

The chain drive 650E was only made for one year. Every other 650 is a shaft drive, and split between the cruiser styled 'L' model, and the standard 'G' model. Your E makes a good deal of power for it's size, and because of the lighter weight chain drive, makes it the ideal midsize vintage canyon carver.

Nice looking shed. I have to do my work in the dark and dirty basement of a parking garage where I can't leave the bike apart for more than a day for fear or someone walking away with the bits. I would love a shed like yours .

The bike itself looks to be in pretty good shape. Not perfect, but it's all there which is good. I've never seen that exhaust before and it looks great under the peeling paint and surface rust. Do what you can to refurbish it, rather than replace it.

If it were my bike, I'd restore the body work, update the suspension, brakes and tires, and ride the hell out of it. But that is just my taste, and it's your bike.

PS If you want any photoshop mock ups done send me a PM. I'd be happy to work with you on them. I've done it for several members here who were having trouble visualizing what they wanted their bike to look like.

What kind of suspension and brake updates are we referring to? Replacing the rear spring/strut combo? Do newer versions damper better or anything? Please (without getting off topic) explain. I'm intrigued.

[Tim Tom]

What kind of suspension and brake updates are we referring to? Replacing the rear spring/strut combo? Do newer versions damper better or anything? Please (without getting off topic) explain. I'm intrigued.

Swap out the old and sacked front fork springs for new progressively wound springs. You can improve the front further by installing a set of cartridge emulators, and those combined will give you a vastly superior front fork to what you have now.

For the rear shocks you've got plenty of options to replace them with new units. Most people prefer a progressive spring rate in the back as well. Basscliff has a list on his website of various rear shocks that work well. Like everything they are built to a price point, so a very cheap shock will likely not work so well.

As far as the brakes, a member here Salty_Monk makes a bracket to swap out the calipers for an upgraded 4 pot unit, and also can supply spacers to fit bigger CBR disks. The very long thread on that is here.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=140253

If you don't want to go this route, swap out the old and weak rubber hoses for Stainless Steel lines, and get new brake pads. While this will not be as effective as the Salty_Monk method, it's cheaper and still better than stock.

Of course the ultimate update would be to do a complete rolling gear swap. Trading the front end, and rear end for newer components. Most common seems to be GSXR bits. Not only will this give you access to new radial tires, but it will improve your suspension and brakes much more than any other method. Granted it takes quite a bit of work and some money to do, but the people who have done it here really like their set ups.

If you do a title search for "progressive shocks" or "progressive fork springs" you will find plenty of information on how to get these GS's to handle much better than a 30 year old bike should.