1981 GS450E Rebuild

[pete]

Awwww man you lot love messin' with my head don't ya's!?

So, definitely doing the maroon front guard, that's settled, no more discussion on that...

Definitely doing maroon with white stripes, and I hope I can find one like what you've used there Leigh, a bit darker than what's on there now and that's more like your initial one too Tim Tom.

I'm also still planning on making up some rubber knee pads, just need to get the rubber and some U/V gouges to do it.

As to the 'bar ends, tail light, and shorter front guard... hmmm... well the front guard is currently shorter than it was in the pic I shot through to you Leigh, I've trimmed that back a few inches.

My inspiration is the scramblers from the 60/70's and the new Triumph Scrambler, which means I think it all needs to be "out there"... stalk mirrors, tail light out in your face, that sorta thing...

Plus, if I change the tail light, no way is it gonna get a coat of paint mid-October...

So I'm gonna do it how it is for now so I can get it on the road (that's really the whole idea right? ) and if I decide it's not quite right I can change things up maybe next winter if I can get off it long enough.

I really want to concentrate on getting it done now, so I do still need to lower the front guard, haven't got a choice on that one, but I think length wise it will do for now.

I do really appreciate all the input and pic efforts too because quite often I'll see something in my head and it won't translate into reality, but I'm pretty crap with the GIMP (as you've all seen) so it's hard for me to show what I'm thinking before ruining something for real...

So this is the guard right now, but it has to go down 25mm's yet from this pic:

[davidduarte]

I've said it before, but damn! That exhaust is so bodacious! Love it!

[Hoosier Daddy]

I know you have to lower the mudgaurd for functionality... but I think you will like the looks as well.

(that's really the whole idea right? )

DAMN STRAIGHT!

[Leigh]

Pete, I love the way you are heading with this thing..
It's a unique take on an old theme.

I was just messing about with an idea that was more cafe than scrambler.

[pete]

I've said it before, but damn! That exhaust is so bodacious! Love it!

Cheers again Dave! I still find myself standing and staring on odd occasions... hahaha

I know you have to lower the mudgaurd for functionality... but I think you will like the looks as well.

DAMN STRAIGHT!

Yeah I expect it will still look the part and I really need to get onto that actually. If I could shake whatever's hanging around me at the moment I could do something. Not really sick I don't think but not right either, can't seem to focus and I don't want to touch the bike in that state... mind you tonight's lack of focus is totally self inflicted...

Pete, I love the way you are heading with this thing..
It's a unique take on an old theme.

I was just messing about with an idea that was more cafe than scrambler.

Cheers Leigh, but I still think you're just messin' with my head

Actually if it was about 7 years ago it would be being cafe'd... that was pre-dodgy wrist days.

[pete]

Oh, nearly forgot... went eBay shopping today...

New R/R ordered...

New mirrors ordered...

New front and rear wheel bearings ordered...

And the definite plan right now is Friday off to go talk to paint shops and pick up some foam, then take the week of 10th October off to do the paint.

Fingers crossed it all goes to plan...

[Leigh]

I grinned when I read that post..
Nice.. Each one's a step closer.
This is going to be so sweet out on the streets

[Charlie G]

Pete,

I haven't been following thst close to know what exactly you have planned for the seat, but I have a good stock seat, which only needs to be recovered, I'd send you for shipping costs.

cg

[pete]

I grinned when I read that post..
Nice.. Each one's a step closer.
This is going to be so sweet out on the streets

Oh indeed! Closer and closer it creeps...

I only need two things at the moment, time and $$$... haha

I've still got some bits and pieces to buy aside from the big things like paint and tyres, but I still have to get some niggly little stuff finished off too. I had to cut my cable ties neatening the harness up to get the Dynatek coils installed, so I need to go and redo that a little better so I have some clearance in there. Just little things like that that take a bit of time but add up when all together...

I will succeed

Pete,

I haven't been following thst close to know what exactly you have planned for the seat, but I have a good stock seat, which only needs to be recovered, I'd send you for shipping costs.

cg

Thanks for the offer Charlie! Essentially I have my seat pan which I've treated for rust and painted, and that's it, so I was going to try my hand at doing the foam and then getting someone to cover it.

I think postage for something the size of a seat would be preventative (tyres were going to be $150 - 200!!) but I'll measure mine up and see what USPS indicates on their site. How much do you reckon it would weigh? I don't have the foam and cover on mine so the weight won't be accurate.

[pete]

On another note entirely (and completely unrelated but I have to share) my dad sent me a rather cryptic email yesterday...

Would you like to own a Ducati ?

OHV, single cylinder, no frame, but comes with petrol tank.

Hmmmm...

[Charlie G]

Pete,

My scale is not the most acurate, but it says about 6lbs. fo the seat. Let me know if you want me to box it up and get a quote. I'll need your address post code I guess.

Get the duc!

cg

[pete]

Pete,

My scale is not the most acurate, but it says about 6lbs. fo the seat. Let me know if you want me to box it up and get a quote. I'll need your address post code I guess.

Get the duc!

cg

Cheers Charlie, I did a quick and dirty estimate and it looks like about $50 - 60 minimum for USPS. I'll check out the cost of some foam on Friday, but if it's going to be less than that to buy the foam, I'm probably better off making it up myself as I'll have to get a cover anyway. Will let you know once I work it out. And thanks again for the offer

As to the Duc... all depends on what it's going to cost... I don't want to divert funds from the GS right now

Would love a Ducati single though, that would be awesome...

[Hoosier Daddy]

HELL YES! A Duc Thumper would be AWESOME!
Depending on the deal your Dad found ya, and if it has no frame, you have no title... you may be able to part it out on E-Bay and MAKE money to finish your bike.
How come my Step-Dad doesn't send me texts like THAT?
Well there was this one time he kept telling me to walk over to his neighbors around the block, Seems there was an old Buick for sale. I imagined and old land barge of a Buick, like a Electra 225 or such non-sense so I kept blowing it off.




Then one day my wife (now ex) and I were pushing the stroller with my daughter (now 25) and I see this 70's GS Convertable!!! Owner says he just sold it...

[Flyboy]

Yeah Pete, I know what you mean about the little odds and ends, they eat up a lot of time, spent many a day in the garage busy for hours, but at the end of the day, you can't really see what you have achieved.
But they have to be done, and at the end of the day it is another tick off the old list.
I was keen as mustard to get my front end on today now that the parts are here, only to realise, nope, not gonna happen, till need to paint the headlight ears first before they can go on......oh well.
But a bit of retail therapy, buying parts is always nice and is food for the soul when the road ahed still seems long.
Get the Duc

[landshark]

If you dont take the Ducati, i will!