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1985 GS550l scrambler/cafe questions

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    1985 GS550l scrambler/cafe questions

    I have an '85 GS550l that is far from stock that I bought on marketplace a couple of years ago. The gas tank and fenders were very poorly rattle canned black and the exhaust is a 4 into 1. I was wondering if anyone has done something like this with this style of frame as it doesn't really have the straight line from gas tank to the seat like some of the older models do. I imagine it is going to take a good amount of frame modification if I decide to start this project. Thoughts?

    #2
    Custom Fighters forum is a better choice for the information you seek. You could also search the market places for a different frame and go that direction.
    Current:
    1993 ZX11 - 2nd build in progress
    1977 GS750 (710 is getting closer)
    1998 Kawasaki Voyager - selling
    1998 Chevy C2500
    1999 Rav4

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      #3
      Yeah, I don't think your going to get too much in the way of direction here. It's really up to what you want.
      MAYBE if you put up pics of your bike against pics of example your shooting for in the scrambler/cafe spectrum. Even then, there's better places to learn about things like hidden battery /electronics trays, flat seats, pod filters, and knobby tires.
      You-Tube guy Urban Monk did a very good whole series on cafe-ing a '78 GS550. You might check that out. I don't particularly like cafes, but i watched every one of his videos in that series
      Where he started 7 years ago:


      Where he finished 4 years ago:
      Last edited by Rich82GS750TZ; 10-30-2024, 12:09 PM.
      Rich
      1982 GS 750TZ
      2015 Triumph Tiger 1200

      BikeCliff's / Charging System Sorted / Posting Pics
      Destroy-Rebuild 750T/ Destroy-Rebuild part deux

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        #4
        It's not an L, but i kinda like what this guy did with a GS550E ... a tail piece on the bike would make it look better i think.

        "I fell in love with the custom motorcycle culture in 2011 after seeing a friend's Honda CB175T Cafe Racer." Inspired by his mates build and keen to start


        IMG_9191.jpg
        Last edited by Rijko; 10-30-2024, 12:05 PM.
        Rijk

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          #5
          I'll give him some direction. Finish your exhaust in anything but tape.

          No excuses. Chrome severely corroded? Get out the flat black, high temp paint. Even if you have to touch it up with a brush every few rides, anything's better than tape!
          1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

          2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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