81 GS400 Cafe racer project

[oldschoolorange]

Well I smacked a valve in my 550 when I was beating it like a red headed step child the other day, So I have no other choice but to finish the 400, I am almost completely finished, All that is left is the wiring, get it to run and the seat. I am sorry I have been so lazy with the updates and pics, I swear I will post some soon.

[pete]

Yes, pics and progress please! Otherwise we'll start smacking you like a GS550 :-D

[oldschoolorange]

I know it has been a while but there is finally an update on my GS400 project but I have been busy and broke as I keep having to fix my truck. There is no exhaust on it at the moment as I am having a custom Stainless set bent up for it, It should be on next week. I scrapped the clubmans and picked up a set of clip-ons, they are a bit big but some shimstock should take care of the clearance issues. The seat is about 50% finished as It still needs some more coats of FG and I need to build a support into the back along with make a spot to fit my lights. The speedo mount is kind of ghetto but will work for now. I want to have a top triple clamp made up out of a solid piece of aluminum. The headlight pot is from an old Triumph and came free of charge from a guy at work as he said he wanted my pos jap bike to have some class. I am looking at about 2-3 more weeks before it is on the road and I am violating various traffic laws.










I need to make some rear sets bad

[oldschoolorange]

[beergood]

Nice progress, the seat is coming along nicely.

[oldschoolorange]

Thanks, This has been a steep learning curve as I have never done any fiberglass work like this before, I probably could have bought a seat with how much I have invested in resin and cloth and having to redo things. But now I know how to do things for myself so my next one should go a lot smoother.

[IanFrancisco]

Hmm must be from a 450 then, Thanks. I wonder if there is a chance that my bike is a 450 instead of the 400 I origionaly thought?

If you check the pics of the GS400s and 450s the heads are different. I think this may be a GSX450, with 4 valves per cyl.

[oldschoolorange]

I am going to post the engine serial number and see if that helps, the ownership says 400 so thats what I went by

[Nerobro]

It's a GS400... sorta. It's really a GSX400. It's got the 8 valve head. The picture in the first post IS a GS400, but it IS NOT the same bike that you're making into a cafe bike. :-)

The square endcovers on the sides of the head say 4 valves per cylinder. And then the sticker saying TSCC means 4 valves per cylinder too. So, really it was probally sold as a GS400E.. here. not an L like you posted in the first post.

[oldschoolorange]

ok so my bike is really a gsx 400 is what I am getting from your post. SHould be finished soon. I cut the foam for my seat today. I just need to finish the seat and wire everything up and then jet the carbs properly

[oldschoolorange]

Well I ordered a new ignition from dynatek but they might not make it anymore. So I went out and picked up an 89 gs500 someone had wrecked the front end on. My baby is going to get a new heart. I hope to have the new engine in by the end of the week if everything goes well. Knowing my luck it won't.

[BentRod]

HAHAHA well.. best of luck anyways

holy smokes batman! a 500cc engine in a 300lbs bike?!

Any parts going up for sale? I know a guy who knows a guy whos been looking for mirrors and rear shocks.. amoungst other things.. and who has beer..

[beergood]

I have a 92 gs500. That is a fun motor.

[oldschoolorange]

To anyone interested if you want to put the engine from a late 80s early 90s gs500 into your old gs 400 here are the directions.

1- take out old beat up gs400 engine and wiring
2- install gs500 engine and wiring

I could not believe how easy it was I didn't have to mess with anything

[beergood]

As someone who owns a gs500, let me be the first to say...

Awesome