Making L versions into non-L, what's to be done?

[Wingsconsin]

My "L" -- Love
Custom seat (Diamond Seats) - windscreen -small saddlebags (Matuzu)- removable trunk (Shad) -GPS- LED Driving lights on case guards

[rkroby]

The usual changes to my "L". Seat and bars.

[AMK]

The usual changes to my "L". Seat and bars.

That bike actually looks very nice. Puts me in mind of a "T" which I also admire.

[AMK]

I've recently come across an 750L that could potentially serve as a great base for a future project.

(The 750L appears to be Europe-only?)

But what does make an L? So far from pictures methinks:

- Stepped seat
- Headlight including bracket
- Handlebars
- Rear tire
- Rear Fenders
- Rear suspension, or longer forks? (Unclear)
- Frame? (Very unclear on this)

Reason I'm asking is because if I were to get it, I would make it into something decidedly non-L, more in the vicinity of a café racer. Definitively something that handles more like my 550E, but I'm not sure if it's at all possible. For example, if the rake angle is higher than on the other models (to achieve that "choppery" handling).

Edit: Or the frame geometry is completely different

This may be functional in case you would change your mind about a bobber.5ebebcf8a9a0706ef29afac69757f0e6.jpg

[gs11ezrydr]

A friend of mine took a 1100L model, with a 7inch slick, a short wheelie bar mild head,porting done by himself. A Maxi-X pipe then finally a V&H megaphone. And he seemed to think that it left harder then his 1100 E model did and there fore had better short times and finally after a few minor chassis changes ran a 9.98 with a stock motor and some 33 smoothbore carbs. Back in 1981 if memory serves me right. He loved that L model and drove it daily. He said it just handled better for him at 135 lbs. and 5'3"

[Joe Garfield]

The pipes on an 'L' are shorter and more flared.

Like the pic above, I think you can do a lot with custom seat work and new handlebars. I also think the pinstripe on the L tank exemplifies the teardrop shape. If you get rid of that stripe, or break it like the pic above, it will help.

Depending on how much of a project you want, you could modify and/or paint the fenders, change the tail light, and maybe swap a few things up front.

[roeme]

To tie up some loose ends; thanks a lot everyone for chiming in. I enjoyed getting the L-lovers out of the bushes

With all the info provided, I decided to pass up on this bike and much rather concentrate to first finish the 550 I'm currently restoring. I'd have nowhere near enough free resources to achieve something like rkroby's bike, and I wouldn't settle for less (Even though I don't particularly like L's, I wouldn't butcher one).

[AMK]

To tie up some loose ends; thanks a lot everyone for chiming in. I enjoyed getting the L-lovers out of the bushes

With all the info provided, I decided to pass up on this bike and much rather concentrate to first finish the 550 I'm currently restoring. I'd have nowhere near enough free resources to achieve something like rkroby's bike, and I wouldn't settle for less (Even though I don't particularly like L's, I wouldn't butcher one).

Next to the L's I think the T's look very good.
It puts me in mind of a non-L'd L. It must be all the chrome.

[gsrick]

This may be functional in case you would change your mind about a bobber.[ATTACH=CONFIG]50648[/ATTACH]

I love that bike and had the thread earmarked before my laptop was worked on. Do you have the link available for that build?

[AMK]

I love that bike and had the thread earmarked before my laptop was worked on. Do you have the link available for that build?

Rick, I actually found that on an image search for gs1100l bobber and downloaded the pic.
Researched it again and found the link...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?172955-GS1100GL-Project

[gsrick]

Thanks Alan, it's bookmarked again. I looked, but I suck at searches. This is one of the most beautiful L conversions I've seen yet. I've been trying to find a cheap 1100L since I first saw this bike. I'd change it a little as not to completely replicate it, but not by much. I picked up one while in Tennessee five years ago, but it didn't have a title and there was no way to title it(that I knew of) back then. Plus the engine had been swapped for an 850, which they didn't say in the ad. Now I'm looking at an '04 1100 VStar here at work for $800, so that may satisfy my urge for a cruiser style of bike for the stable. Then again I look at this one and the gears are a turning.


I think even Tom had nice words for this L. That's something rare.

[AMK]

He did a good job on it. As I was searching the photo again I found he had it up for sale on Pinterest for around $1600. Dont know how long ago though.

[gustovh]

100_2662.jpg This is a 1980 850L. Has a 1100L fuel tank which is about 1 1/2" longer and about a gallon larger. The seat is a Sporster seat which fit like a glove after removing the seat mounts. Dropped the seat height about 2". I like my L's I have a bunch of em.

V

[gustovh]

100_2881.jpg100_2662.jpg This is a 1980 850L. Has a 1100L fuel tank which is about 1 1/2" longer and about a gallon larger. The seat is a Sporster seat, and some other Harley seat, which fit like a glove after removing the seat mounts. Dropped the seat height about 2". I like my L's I have a bunch of em.

V

[Tom R]

While I have the forks off, I fitted some e model headlight brackets and painted the headlight shell. I painted the lower triple tree cover too, but am still unsure if I like it - I'll see what it looks like with the chrome fender on - luckily the one I painted was a spare rusty cover, so I can put the chrome one back on.
Other mods were new handlebars and mirrors, turn signals from an e model I believe, a V&H 4-1 super sport exhaust system, new tail light, and 13" black Hagon shocks.
This has all been done over the course of years with no real vision to speak of - I would like to replace the seat one day... I know someone who has a seat and tail section from an '80 E model, but haven't committed yet.
IMG_0246.jpg