My 1981 GS650G Thread

[Macguyver]

Rear Tire and Grab Rail

After having an insane week, I figured working on the bike would be a good way to wind down the week doing something I actually enjoy, so I painted the rear rim and harware, and installed the grab rail which has been sitting on the work bench for a couple months now.

I picked up my rear tire from the stealership on Thursday, and stripped and sanded the rim the same as the front received, and then primed and painted it using my usual Satin Black method.



I then installed the wheel on the bike, and now I just need to paint the calipers and install them to be done with the back end.

I had previously cleaned and painted the grab rail in preparation for installing it, but had to wait to install it until I had the rear end pretty much finished since once installed, it locks the rear fender lower in place since it passes through it.




I had to cut a hole through the rear fender lower for the grab rail to go through to reach the mounting point under the rear frame. This was accomplished with a rotary cutting bit in a dremel rotary tool. I then put some grey silicone adhesive in the relief on a grommet, and put it in place to keep the hole weather resistant, and to keep any transferred vibration from cracking the fiberglass.







Here is as close to a full bike picture as I can do with the bike in the entranceway, for those who requested one. Soonish I can put her outside and take some better shots.


Well, that's all for now.
I am going to make some supper and try and get the calipers painted tonight so I can get everything assembled sooner rather than later.

[Skateguy50]

It will fit through the door all together right?

Just asking

had a friend try building wood canoes for a winter project and used his living room as the build area. had to cut the wall to get it out come spring lol

[Macguyver]

It will fit through the door all together right?

Just asking

Yep, she was wheeled in complete, I just had to lift the front end and move it sideways to get her in the position she is in now. It's barely a two man job, so I'll bribe a buddy with some beer to give me a hand getting her out, no problem, and no chainsaw required.

[Skateguy50]

How did you guess he used a chainsaw to cut the hole in the side of his trailer?

This was up in Maine btw

[Macguyver]

How did you guess he used a chainsaw to cut the hole in the side of his trailer?

This was up in Maine btw

Psychic.
-or-
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...2&postcount=41

[Macguyver]

Rear Brake Caliper

Greetings all,

Tonight I was able to take the time to reinstall some parts in an effort to complete the reassembly of the rear end of my 650. I have the complete rear brake system installed, with new EBC pads, and will be bleeding it tomorrow night after I pick up some more brake fluid.

Here's a pic.


I think maybe I should have painted the calipers grey and the bracket green.
Who knows, it may grow on me. Kind of hard to get a good look at it where it is. Once I get her outside I'll re-evaluate the situation. Until then, my bike is one step closer to being ready for safety inspection!
Either way, a win.

Tomorrow night I need to bleed the rear line, and install and bleed the front calipers. I painted them at the same time, so they are green as well. Still not sure how I feel about that. Maybe it needs a black trim piece to creat a seperation between the two colors similar to the rear fender.

[Turtleface]

Maybe it needs a black trim piece to creat a seperation between the two colors similar to the rear fender.

I think the black bolts are enough contrast, at least on the rear caliper. Looking pretty sweet, either way!

[Skateguy50]

Coming together great, I think once you get it outside and can step back and look at it together the little things like that wont bother you so much.

[Steve]

I think maybe I should have painted the calipers grey and the bracket green. ...
Maybe it needs a black trim piece to creat a seperation between the two colors similar to the rear fender.

I think the black bolts are enough contrast, at least on the rear caliper. Looking pretty sweet, either way!

I tend to agree. On the fender you have green above the gray, same thing on the brake. The black bolts are a nice divider.

.

[Macguyver]

Front Calipers Installed

I think the black bolts are enough contrast, at least on the rear caliper. Looking pretty sweet, either way!

Coming together great, I think once you get it outside and can step back and look at it together the little things like that wont bother you so much.

I tend to agree. On the fender you have green above the gray, same thing on the brake. The black bolts are a nice divider.

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone!

I think I will keep the calipers and brackets the way they are, the fronts look pretty sweet now that they are on, must be growing on me.

I cleaned up all of the stainless sliders and guides with a brass wheel, and I must say I love it when a part goes from looking like crud, to looking like new in seconds!
I also cleaned up the little plastic "windows" from the top of the calipers. Turns out they are clear plastic, not black after all, who knew?

Here are a few pics for the image hungry out there.




I am getting anxious to finish everything up, but I still have a long way to go. I connected power up, and it looks like there is still a gremlin hiding in there somewhere, gotta pull out the schematics and flush the bigger out.

I'll update with more soon.

[AF_Bill]

Mac, your bike is looking great. Wow. For some reason I thought you were painting the lower fender to match the rest of the bike. Oh well. Thats what I get for thinkin too much lol.

[Macguyver]

Mac, your bike is looking great. Wow. For some reason I thought you were painting the lower fender to match the rest of the bike. Oh well. Thats what I get for thinkin too much lol.

Thanks for saying so Bill!

The lower fender does kind of have that primer grey look to it doesn't it?

I considered painted the lower in green to match the body, but it seemed that it would look too bulky hanging off the end of the bike if it were the same color.

I am going for a two tone, anime-esque look, and I still have to make the rest of the panels and fairings, so it won't really come together for a while yet. It does however look fantastic in my head! Does that count?

[AF_Bill]

Of course it counts man. Like right now, I'm in Ocean City MD cruisin up and down the road. But in actuality, I'm thousands of miles away, without my bike .

[Macguyver]

Passenger Pegs

I decided to paint the passenger peg arms and exhaust brackets to keep the overall look of my bike consistent, and in doing so, embarked on an exercise in annoyance.

I removed the offending pieces, and stripped them down and primed them in preparation for my usual satin finish, and that's when the fun began.

Everything was going well until I had the first coat of paint on them. Then Murphy struck! I accidentally bumped the rack I hang parts from for painting, and wouldn't you know it, the hanger with the peg arms on it, fell!

In order to remove the marks in the fresh paint, I had bake the parts and then strip the parts down again to repaint them. I was then back on track, and had the second to last coat of paint on them, when I grabbed the wrong rattle-can.(my bad) The contents of which happened to be satin black high heat header paint, and not the flat black engine enamel I thought it was.

Guess what happens when you wet-coat engine enamel with ceramic header paint? It goes wrinkly of course. So with me looking on in horror, the chemistry of the two paints met and battled in an unholy war to destroy my work, and they succeeded. So I had to bake the parts and strip them down again.

I finally got everything painted up nice and installed, and I learned to keep my paints with non-compatible chemistry in a seperate milk crate.

This brings the major work on the rear of my bike to a close, I still have a few minor details to sort out, but nothing major. I am also going to have to remove the exhaust for painting, but I can't do that until I can run the engine to cure the paint. At least I know the rattle can of header paint I plan on using works!

[Skateguy50]

Looks great, has the snow melted up there yet?

You must be ready to ride soon.