81 GS400 Cafe racer project

[Nerobro]

I understand taht the GSX400's made as much horsepower as early GS500's.. which is more than the current GS500's.

[oldschoolorange]

According to some specs I looked up, the 500 I currently have in the bike made 50 hp from the factory and the gsx400 made 44 hp. The 500 engine felt a bit lighter as well

[oldschoolorange]

So close it is killing me

Just like the title says, I am going out of my mind carrying this thing around in the back of my truck as it is so close to completion.

Ok so lets see what I have done this week eh. Put the 500 engine in it, now my SS pipes I had bent up for the 400 no longer fit so there goes $200. Now I send the bike out to have my new pipes made as the down tubes
run directly in front of the exhaust ports. Expecting a bill of approx $200 for regular mild steel pipes I almost died when I received a bill of $341. oh well last time i do business with A&A exhaust, they did nice work but they charged way too much. After that I wrapped my pipes up in fiberglass tape and mounted them on the bike, made a trip over to Ultimate Cycle and ordered in a set of shorty reverse megaphone pipes. I installed those on Friday night after work. I would have had the thing running but I had broken this stupid little plastic "T" that acts as the fuel feed to the carbs. Saturday I headed down to Sturgess cycle on my way to Kevins (BrentRod) house to work on his bike and picked up my carb part. Put the carbs back together with a new fuel feed "T" and fired it up. It took a while the first time as I have no prime setting on my petcock but after starting and my messing with the carbs a bit I let it get nice and hot. For anyone who doesn't know, fiberglass tape smokes like a fiend when it is new. I had to take this thing out for a test drive even if it was up and down the street. DAMMMM this bike is going to be crazy, the front end wants to come up going into second gear lol. After having some fun I ground down my steering stops a bit and changed my bars around a bit as the low speed maneuverability was terrible.

[BentRod]

I'll have the photo's posted soon..

This guys bike is a damn beast.... you just touch the throttle in second gear, and the ass of the bike just sits right down and digs in.. an absolutely amazing feel

Much thanks to Chris (oldschoolorange) by the way. You should all know how generous this fellow is... showed me around the carbs alright... and convinced me that pods really are better than air boxes... but then.. the pods were free..so..
I definately owe with guy.. dude.. if you need any more sheet metal work done, you let me know.

[oldschoolorange]

Hey man Anytime, I like seeing the old stuff run. Have you got your tire in yet? Also make sure you talk to Brian and have him get you the nut for your front sprocket from my old engine

[oldschoolorange]

Alright I know it has been a while but the bike has come a long way from earlier ideas. I have made 4 different seats as I did not know what I was going with when I originally designed everything. Well now I know how everything is going to work so I have torn the bike down again. I figured out what the engine vibration was caused from, I have a tight rod bearing. I need to paint and rebuild the engine, install my rearsets, finish off some earlier temp work with the seat, make a seat for the bike, install a fork brace, powder coat the frame, clean up my tripple clamps, mount a tach/speedo, and a whole bunch of other work. I am hoping to have the entire thing finished in 2-3 weeks as long as I can get the engine parts quickly.

[oldschoolorange]

[oldschoolorange]

[oldschoolorange]

[Go Mifune]

Cool:shock:

[BentRod]

HEY
you still have my Recycling bin!

[Fanning]

HEY
you still have my Recycling bin!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Thanks, I needed that.