81 GS400 Cafe racer project

[sabreman-v65]

81 GS450 E or S

[gerkin]

in the uk that shape tank was only on the 8 v gsx models

[gerkin]

check this out round cam covers

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suzuki_gs_450_s_1981.php

[pete]

Well all I can say is my '81 450 has round covers, 4 valves per cylinder, and has that shape tank...

Here's two not real flash photos of it... the first is my mockup of sort of how I want it to look when I finish, the other is the only one I have of the engine that shows the round covers.





Sorry they're such crap photos, my abilities with a camera really suck.

[oldschoolorange]

I have got some new pics here. I have done a little bit of work on it recently and had some parts that I ordered for it come in. I am going to fiberglass the rear piece into my seat back so it will be nice and smooth.

[pete]

Starting to get some form and look good :-)

Keep the pic's coming as I'm keen to see what you do with the seat etc.

At the moment, I'm planning just to shorten the seat pan and bring the original duck tail forward a bit.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the tail light etc. at the moment though.

[Tarbash 27]

[QUOTE=pete;578593]Well all I can say is my '81 450 has round covers, 4 valves per cylinder, and has that shape tank...

How do you know its 4 valve per cylinder? round covers are 2 valve. Look through the intake ports, does it split?

[pete]

Ok, it appears I must correct myself!

For some reason, I recall my GS being 4 valves per cylinder... I must've been drunk or confused :-|

I just went and had a look at the head and the Haynes manual (the engine's currently in many pieces) and, sure enough, 2 valves per cylinder, 4 in total.

So, apologies for my false claims... the round covers must be 2 valves per cylinder :-)

[BentRod]

Hey Chris

Excellent looking tank. looks even better now that its on the bike.

I see you still have the stock foots pegs on there. you going to keep those after all?

and how about those gold rims.. any more paint action going on?
or are you going to work that into the colour scheme..


Can't wait to see this thing ripping around the Hammer in the spring!

[oldschoolorange]

I am going to powder coat the rims black. I want to rig up some rear sets for this thing, but I have to get the seat finished first so I can position them correctly. I will hopefully have the fairing finished this week. The tank will be done by tommorow

[oldschoolorange]

About damn time. I finally finished the tank.
2 coats of primer then wet sand with 600 grit
2 coats paint then wet sand with 1000grit
2 more coats of paint and another wet sand with 1000 grit
3 thin coats of clear and a wet sand with 1200
another 2 coats of clear with another wet sand at 1200 grit
wet sand with 1600 grit
wet sand with 2000 grit
G3 rubbing compound by hand
Mothers sealer and glaze with buffer
mothers caranuba wax with buffer




Hey Kevin, How is your bike coming along? If you need a hand with something let me know

[Billyboy]

Looks pretty cool!

[80GS1000]

Ooooh, love that checkerboard paintjob, especially with that shade of green. Very British retro mod.

Bonus points if you put a Specials sticker on it.

[pete]

Looking very nice indeed!

I'm keen to see what you do for rearsets when you get that far.

So far the only thing I could find for my 450 were Raask rearsets, but I've read on the 'net that people think they're a bit crappy. At $460 (AU) they ain't cheap, so I don't want 'em if they're a bit crappy.

Make sure you have plenty of pic's of whatever you do with yours :-)

[oldschoolorange]

I am going to design my own rear sets and either have them CNC'd or just cut them out myself with a plasma cutter it will be alot less than 400 something dollars