The 650G is getting there...

[tkent02]

I missed something? This is a shaft bike, right? Wax chain lube?

cg

Yeah, it's a shafty. I just like to spray chain lube all over the wheel so the other bikes don't feel so dirty.

[tkent02]

Cartridge emulators are in the forks, WOW what a difference!
Progressive springs, too.
Cracks in the road, holes, they just go thump, it don't hurt anymore and the bike feels very solid, it's just like they made the road a lot smother. the springs are a lot firmer and the ride is MUCH more comfortable anyway. I wish I could find rear shocks this good.

[tkent02]

Thinking about something like this:



Picture the white areas being silver. The tail clashes with the rest of it, I don't like it, not sure how it will end up.
Paint program takes forever to make little changes, this took an hour just to fill in the colors. Is there something easier/quicker to use?

This one looks better to me, with the same stripe continued on the front fender:

[waterman]

I sorta like the tail of the first picture with the striped tank in the second picture, has a little more balance with extra striping. The single striped tail doesn't quite jive with the non striped tank, to me at least. But please remember, my wife says I have no taste.

I will agree, the stock 650 tail does leave me cold, it flows nicely but isn't very manly or something.

[lurch12_2000]

Here's the GS 650G that another forum member donated to my worthy cause:





Found a 650G tank and front fender from another member here, this had orange Krylon, gray primer below that, a really nice black and yellow stripe job, probably professionally done, and the original blue Suzuki paint job under that... And absolutely no dents, rust or Bondo. Yay! Got some side covers from the local wrecker.





Here it is in primer:

Just saw your thread....glad to see my old body parts (tank) getting new life! The front fender too? I still got 650G stuff taking up space in my garage.
Here's the before the before shot....I thought it was red not orange? Ugly either way! Nice progress and work.

[Charlie G]

Thinking about something like this:



Picture the white areas being silver. The tail clashes with the rest of it, I don't like it, not sure how it will end up.
Paint program takes forever to make little changes, this took an hour just to fill in the colors. Is there something easier/quicker to use?

This one looks better to me, with the same stripe continued on the front fender:

The red dosen't do much for me but I like the first rear cowl (with the stripes around the bottom)and the 2nd tank with the strip. Maybe I'm not manly but I really like the 650g rear cowl. It's one of the best they made. Strip on the front fender would complete the design. What are cartirage emulators?

cg

[tkent02]

The red dosen't do much for me but I like the first rear cowl (with the stripes around the bottom)and the 2nd tank with the strip. Maybe I'm not manly but I really like the 650g rear cowl. It's one of the best they made. Strip on the front fender would complete the design. What are cartirage emulators?

cg

It will be a darker red, not sure how dark yet. I really like the shape of the tail too, just not sure how to paint it. Thanks for the opinion. The front fender will have matching colors and stripes, too.
It's too hard to do the paint thing for that, I already know what I want there.

Cartridge emulators, a little spring loaded valve you put in the fork under the spring. You have to drill out the compression holes in the damper rod too, easy stuff. They transform the clunky old primitive fork design into something a heck of a lot better. I'd say the front suspension is as comfortable as that on my BMW. Now I just need to figure out how to make the back to ride the same way.
You can adjust the compression however you want it, rebound is adjusted by changing the weight of fork oil. Google Race Tech for more info.

[snowbeard]

Hey Tom, just stopped in and found this thread!! great job so far very glad to see the ol' girl getting the attention she needed.

Sounds like a great mod with the cartridge emulators, I had replaced the springs with what were billed as progressive springs, but I was never really sure if I could tell much difference.

As to the pipes' flow, not knowing much about anything, I thought they actually opened the bike up a little. that said, I did try to restrict them by welding a washer onto the end of the pipes (under the slip ons) to restrict the flow rather than muck about with rejetting anything. I was trying to be able to just put the originals directly back on if I didn't like the effect. I still don't know when I'll be in the states again, but I still have the stockers in the attic for you!

+1 on Tom's plastic welding expertise, the bags on the BMW are still holding up great, all across Europe and many miles in Portugal!

I bet you could find an older version of photoshop around somewhere, I just installed a version 5.0 on my computer and it works just great (they're up to at least 8.xx by now, anyone who is into graphics should have old disks just lying around!)

happy riding Man!!!

[7981GS]

Might I suggest that you do a fading white stripes from the grills on the side covers ending about 2/3 of the way across?

Daniel

[Hodado]

Wow I really like the seat on this bike any idea where it came from? I am restoring one just like yours but need a seat pan for the 650g mine is shot.I ended up leaving eveything painted black and did not stripe.

[Charlie G]

Tom,

I just noticed the fuel bottle in post #1. Are you using this as a fuel source for adjusting the carbs? If so, I'd like to know (see) how you rigged up the cap.

cg

[tkent02]

Tom,

I just noticed the fuel bottle in post #1. Are you using this as a fuel source for adjusting the carbs? If so, I'd like to know (see) how you rigged up the cap.

cg

Two holes in the cap, one short and one long brass tube stuck in the holes. The long one reaches the bottom of the bottle. A hose on the long pipe goes down to the carbs. To start it, blow into the short one, fuel comes out the long one and goes to the carbs. Once started it continues to run by siphon until it's empty. I hang the bottle from the handlebars or a hook on the ceiling. To shut off the fuel, just set the bottle lower than the carbs, hang it on a footpeg or set it on the floor, the fuel stops flowing instantly.

[Charlie G]

Great application! I have three of those bottles and one is bound for this use. Thanks.

cg

[snowbeard]

Hodado, the seat is an original seat pan and foam simply recovered. There's a gal near Denver that did it. It's been a few years now and I don't know that I could find her again, but she did a great job. it's a woven looking top panel with smooth sides.

[Steve]

Damn, I think I'm turning myself into a shafty nutcase.

You WILL be assimilated.

.