Previous owner cut frame on my 78 gs550. Suggestions?

[Guest]

The previous owner cut the end of the frame off as shown in the picture. that piece of frame is used to hold up the back fender to support the weight of the rear fairing and tail light. I was thinking of getting some pvc pipe that would fit snuggly into the frame and drilling a hole into the pipe so that i could put a bolt or some type of dowel into the hole on the rear fender. Does anybody have any better ideas?IMG_20170128_121032.jpg

[mmattockx]

PVC won't support any significant weight. If you want a structural loop to carry the taillight and tail piece you will need to use either steel tubing or aluminum tubing. Personally I would figure out what I wanted for a loop, have it bent up out of thin wall steel tubing and then weld it onto the cut ends of the frame tubes.


Mark

[DumbGenius49]

Where would I go to get that kind of thing done and do you have any idea what the price range would be?

[steve murdoch]

Many places sell tail hoops.
You just have to decide size, pipe diameter, kind of seat you are going with.
Lots on this E-bay page or have a look at the Dime City catalog.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=cafe+tail+loop&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xcafe+tail+hoop.TRS0&_nkw=cafe+tail+hoop&_sacat=0

[Phred]

If you know anyone who is an electrician, they will have a pipe bender to bend conduit pipe. I have one and it would work like a charm in this kind of application.

[only7bikes]

I'm a retired TIG welder and if I had to do the repair my first choice would be to find a junk frame and steal the tail piece from it. I'm guessing that a lot of the Suzuki frames are the same back there. I have a junk frame that I'm cutting the head tube off of for another project and if you could give me accurate measurements I'd compare them to my frame. If they match I'd be happy to give you the section you need. My junk frame was given to me by "Gustov" who is another GS junkie so it seems like the thing to do. LOL

[steveb922]

You're not actually missing much of the frame. Probably the easiest solution would be to find a scrap frame and remove the sections you need (maybe 7bikes, post above). Failing that, a good welder wouldn't have much difficulty in replicating what you need. Depends if you want the stock look or not.

[JTGS850GL]

You're not actually missing much of the frame. Probably the easiest solution would be to find a scrap frame and remove the sections you need (maybe 7bikes, post above). Failing that, a good welder wouldn't have much difficulty in replicating what you need. Depends if you want the stock look or not.

2nd that. There's actually little missing. I'm sure there are plenty of untitled frames out there to harvest those parts off of.