77 GS400 to Cafe Project

[pete]

Nice one Mark! Good score on the fork brace and that front guard is gonna work just nicely by the looks.

Have you got a full on side shot to see the difference it's made? I still think you'll need the bikini fairing to fully balance the tail out but that should help a lot as is.

[Englishman]

Nice one Mark! Good score on the fork brace and that front guard is gonna work just nicely by the looks.

Have you got a full on side shot to see the difference it's made? I still think you'll need the bikini fairing to fully balance the tail out but that should help a lot as is.

Pete, I'll do some pics over the weekend with a better camera. I was not going to do the 1/4 fairing thing initially but what the heck......... What's another couple of hundred

Mark

[pete]

Pete, I'll do some pics over the weekend with a better camera. I was not going to do the 1/4 fairing thing initially but what the heck......... What's another couple of hundred

Mark

Hahaha yeah I know what you mean... get some shots first though before forking out the hard earned... could be just fine the way it is

[ndaugbjerg]

Englishman,
Been following your posts. Just noticed your location. I'm in Seabrook on Galveston Bay. Like you, I'm building a 450 cafe. When all is done I'll try to get up there so we can straighten out some of those back roads in your area. By the way, your build is really coming together; Looks great.
Niels
Niels

[ndaugbjerg]

Pete,
Just posted a note to the Englishman. We would love to have you join us on an East Texas ride but you're to far away and I'm probably too old to try to teach one of you blokes to ride right side up.
Niels

[pete]

Pete,
Just posted a note to the Englishman. We would love to have you join us on an East Texas ride but you're to far away and I'm probably too old to try to teach one of you blokes to ride right side up.
Niels

Hahahahaha yeah it's just a small journey from here... I'd need some floaties I reckon

See if you came down here to visit I'd have to teach you to ride upside down...

[Englishman]

I made a post a few weeks back that implied that a 450 tank did not fit the 400 frame. That was wrong. Its close but it does fit. You have to be careful otherwise the petcock will take paint off the frame, but it does fit.....rather nicely in my case...


Compaired to the route I was taking with a 550 gas tank......


and remember the look Im trying to achieve.....


The 550 tank looks larger but reminds me more of a BSA, low and wide look. The 450 looks ....... well just more like what I need. Having more hardware installed on the front end for me brought the perspective together.


Thoughts ?

Mark

[Englishman]

More pics at http://s1125.photobucket.com/albums/l596/mgodfrey119/

Mark

[pete]

Aaaaah yes! The 450 tank is definitely the way to go Mark! Lookin' sweet already. How hard will it be to actually mount? Can you use any of the existing mount points?

[ndaugbjerg]

Englishman,
I bought my 450 because I got that tank in the deal. It has a classic Dunstall look to it. I'm raising the back of the tank and the seat as well to get a nice straight belt line and to give my long legs a bit more room. I'm also filling the area where the badges mount and making the tank completely smooth and then applying one of the thousands of decals on ebay. But if your bike ends up looking like the orange one you'll get 5-stars from me.
Regards,
Niels

[Englishman]

Aaaaah yes! The 450 tank is definitely the way to go Mark! Lookin' sweet already. How hard will it be to actually mount? Can you use any of the existing mount points?

Pete, yes it get my vote too. Actually it fits the front cup type mounts up front just fine and mates up to the rear bolt perfectly. However as Niels comments, overall it points down at the back end. In the pic there is about half an inch or 12mm or so of packing holding it up to give it a more lined look that you see.

Englishman, I'm raising the back of the tank and the seat as well to get a nice straight belt line and to give my long legs a bit more room. I'm also filling the area where the badges mount and making the tank completely smooth and then applying one of the thousands of decals on ebay. But if your bike ends up looking like the orange one you'll get 5-stars from me.
Regards,
Niels

Agreed that the 450 tank slopes down. In the pic mine is raised as above. I'm doing the same to the tank re no badges. Colors not yet final but will be Orange in there somewhere. 5 Stars is the goal then


Mark

[pete]

Good stuff Mark, nice and easy!

Given there's just the single mounting bolt on the rear, it should be real simple to make a bracket that would lift it the required inch or two.

[ndaugbjerg]

Mark,
Today, my color of choice is safety red but as my bride says, it will be the color I'm excited about the day I start painting. I saw a fire orange the other day that looks good. And the orange bike you posted is growing on me. Obviously she's right.
Niels

[Englishman]

Good stuff Mark, nice and easy!

Given there's just the single mounting bolt on the rear, it should be real simple to make a bracket that would lift it the required inch or two.

Pete, if I need any help on bracket design, you'll be hearing from me. Of late your da bracket man

Mark,
Today, my color of choice is safety red but as my bride says, it will be the color I'm excited about the day I start painting. I saw a fire orange the other day that looks good. And the orange bike you posted is growing on me. Obviously she's right.
Niels

Niels, nothing wrong with red. Makes you look fast and with these little twins we need all the help we can get. I forgot to reply to a previous post, but yes we are not too far away from each other . When we get these things road legal again, we can scare some of the cursers on a weekend

Mark

[pete]

Pete, if I need any help on bracket design, you'll be hearing from me. Of late your da bracket man

Niels, nothing wrong with red. Makes you look fast and with these little twins we need all the help we can get. I forgot to reply to a previous post, but yes we are not too far away from each other . When we get these things road legal again, we can scare some of the cursers on a weekend

Mark

Bracket man? Oh that sounds dodgy... hahaha

Definitely will chip in if you need it, although I'm sure I can find a way to lead you astray and up the most complicated path... That's where my ideas typically lead me...

Would also be good for you guys to catch up once your bikes are done, there's definitely a lack of twin get togethers so would be great to see a pair together in the same photo!