77 GS400 to Cafe Project

[Good Times]

Thanks Good Times, I do hope so. I'm just have some doubts at the moment.........like a mid-build crisis

Mark

You're doing good work. Just keep at it. We have to push through sometimes but it is worth it in the end. A lot of little things add up to a great result.

[pete]

Thanks Good Times, I do hope so. I'm just have some doubts at the moment.........like a mid-build crisis

Mark

Hahahaha classic...

She'll be right mate, you just need a little trip to Singapore... oh wait you're doing that already

[Englishman]

So following the mid-build crisis regarding the shape of the gas tank, I bought a 450 tank with the intent of throwing the cafe'd 550 version I had been building around so far.



Not the greatest pic I know, but what you dont see is the narrow neck by the steering stem + the petcock resting on the frame. Could be worked around but still not floating my boat.
EDIT: April 2012 - my mistake, the 450 gas tank does drop onto the 400, just have to careful getting it on/ off so the petcock does not take paint off the frame. Starting to like the 450 tank now !

So back to the original 550 tank (and moving the 450 tank to the future sale pile), additional modifications still necessary......



...a little work with the Dremmel.....



...and a few Dollars more......





Intention will be to fill the area where the stock fuel flap used to be to smooth flow and possibly mount the ignition switch in that hole between the end of the tank and the steering head.

Mark

[pete]

Mate that's nice! I really like that

Bummer on the 450 tank though, I thought that would be a shoe in for fit... bugger! Sorry 'bout that...

[Englishman]

Mate that's nice! I really like that

Bummer on the 450 tank though, I thought that would be a shoe in for fit... bugger! Sorry 'bout that...

Pete, I was very surprised too. I have several 450 items on my 400 and they have all be a straight swap. The tank fitted but would need an alternative petcock arrangement. Not to worry. I'm sure I can get my money back no problem

Mark

[pete]

Pete, I was very surprised too. I have several 450 items on my 400 and they have all be a straight swap. The tank fitted but would need an alternative petcock arrangement. Not to worry. I'm sure I can get my money back no problem

Mark

Oh well... that's how it goes sometimes I guess. Pity because that pic of yours shows it would really suit the Laverda style... hang onto it for a while if you can just in case you decide it's a better alternative and decide to do something about making it fit... and yeah I reckon you should get your money back easy enough too.

[DannyMotor]

1. Love the tail.
2. Love the suzy tank!

It's gonna be a nice little tracker/racer when you're done!

[ndaugbjerg]

Englishman,
Lookin' good. I'm about 30 days behind you on my 450 cafe project. I'm curious about the gas cap. I found one on the net that looked just like it but the vendors pic looked a bit rough and not well finished. Yours looks like a diamond in a billy goats butt! Where did you find it? Dime City Cycle has a really nice one but it would require some work on the tank and brazing the mounting ring to the tank. I'm trying to make a decision.
ndaugbjerg

[Englishman]

1. Love the tail.
2. Love the suzy tank!

It's gonna be a nice little tracker/racer when you're done!

Thanks man. I'm still not sure myself

Englishman,
Lookin' good. I'm about 30 days behind you on my 450 cafe project. I'm curious about the gas cap. I found one on the net that looked just like it but the vendors pic looked a bit rough and not well finished. Yours looks like a diamond in a billy goats butt! Where did you find it? Dime City Cycle has a really nice one but it would require some work on the tank and brazing the mounting ring to the tank. I'm trying to make a decision.
ndaugbjerg

ndaugberg, I found the gas cap at the cb750cafe, see below. It's not cheap but it looked good and a non wielding solution. Fitting was very simple as shown in my pics. I just have 4 screws to drill and fit.

http://www.cb750cafe.com/parts.php?id=67

Mark

[ndaugbjerg]

Englishman,
Thanks. That's the one I want. I found an aluminum copy for $39.95 and it didn't look like a bargain at that price; pretty cheesy! Once more chorus,: "You get what you pay for".
Niels

[spyug]

E-man it is looking very good. I think Pete is right, it will come together once you get a fairing in place so don't go off on any tangents just yet.

Having said that, mind you, in my experience these kind of builds almost always end up going off in some other direction as we stumble across unthought of issues or someone else's design ideas. On my first project, I was hot to trot on building an XS 650 Cafe (also with a Dunstall type fairing). Hot to trot that is until fitting some clubman bars and mocking up some rear sets. Sitting on it and I immediately realized that it would not work for me. The lean and stretch put such a cramp in my lower back it damn near went into spasm. At that point a switch was made to the more upright seating of a tracker and that's the direction she took from then on.

I think you should continue with the original game plan to as close to completion as you can or you might come to regret it someday. Change it if you must but give it a fighting chance to fulfill your dream. I'm sure it will all fall into place and you'll throughly enjoy the finish product.

I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

cheers,
Spyug

[Englishman]

E-man it is looking very good. I think Pete is right, it will come together once you get a fairing in place so don't go off on any tangents just yet.........

......I think you should continue with the original game plan to as close to completion as you can or you might come to regret it someday. Change it if you must but give it a fighting chance to fulfill your dream. I'm sure it will all fall into place and you'll throughly enjoy the finish product.
I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

Spyug, thanks for the encouragement. In the last couple of weeks I have been considering some big diversions not to mention some serious money. However, this weekend I did not get to work on the bike but I did spend quite sometime just looking at her. I started to like the looks again. You and Pete are right about getting the fairing on and looking at the overall picture before and major deviations. Thanks for the help guys......

Mark

[pete]

No worries, I'm with Spyug, persevere for now with what you've got and make a decision once you've at least got it mocked up where you want it to be.

[Englishman]

Unfortunatly I have not been able to get to work on the bike these last few weeks as much as would have liked, but I have been active on the parts sourcing. Several of you suggested that it was the lack of parts on the front end that made her look a little out of proportion. So I put the headlight on and thanks to ebay, scored a couple of geat deals on a fender and a hard to find fork brace.....






I think this helped restore the balance and look that was missing. Thanks to those who helped me through the mid-build crisis.

Mark

[JimmyR]

I'm glad that you didn't do anything drastic! It's wise not to change plans until you see the whole thing together. As Pete suggested, proportions can look out if you don't have all the parts in place. With my bike I had a minor panic attack when I chopped the rear fram and put the seat on. Until I put the rear fender on as well it looked very odd. On your bike I really don't think the tyres are wrong at all. They look great!

FWIW Dime City Cycles have some inexpensive rearsets - might need some fabbing of mounting brackets but they are well made and have mounting bolts come with them:

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-custom-motorcycle-chassis-transmission-universal-aluminum-loaded-gun-rearsets-lgc-rearsets.html