1981 GS 450 L project

[bakirkwold]

Clutch cover done!



I got the side covers all prepped and primed. (No pic of them painted yet)

I also got the tank just about done.

[GateKeeper]

very nice, job well done....

[bakirkwold]

thanks! Its not perfect but its soooo much better than it was. And if everything was perfect this would all be pointless.

[pete]

Definitely looking good! Nice work

[bakirkwold]

Paint! Yup you thought right. I painted today. I did the tank and side covers. What do you guys think?

[bakirkwold]

I am happy!

[GateKeeper]

Very well done......

Can I send you my stuff.....seems you have it down pat

[bakirkwold]

hahahah but then you will not have the sanctification of doing it yourself. And its not perfect either. If you have questions just ask.

[pete]

Mate that looks awesome! The pin stripe brings the shape out nicely and those Suzuki badges suit perfectly as well.

I simply wire wheeled my Suzuki badges and initially they looked good but I'm rethinking them at the moment. Still not sure what to do...

Are you going to clear coat or leave it as is?

[Midwest FZ Rider]

The satin looks great, just found this thread, going to page through the rest, I think I could learn a few things

[bakirkwold]

I am going to just leave it with no clear. It will make the finish shiny.

[bakirkwold]

Okay guys first things first. I finished the pin striping on the side covers. I used a pinstripe tape I picked up at autozone.




When I got the tank and side covers up on the bike a realized that when I was making them fit the bike (they are gs450 T side covers) I didn't have the petcock on the tank. So of course part of the side cover the part that was originally chromed was in the petcocks way. So I cut the cover.



without flash



It fits now. I am thinking of making a cover for the cover hahah. What do you guys think? And here is some pics with the tank and side covers on the bike. 1 more thing anyone know how to polish up that seat? Thanks!

[pete]

Mate that's lookin' real good! That paint job suits the bike, nicely done

Not sure on polishing the seat but if it's real leather then I imagine some of the leather restoration stuff for lounges etc. should do the trick. You probably need to moisturise it more than anything I would think. You don't want too much of a polish though otherwise you may find yourself slipping and sliding around on it...

I also had an issue with fitment on my 450... when I made the bracket for the choke adapter to get the 'bar mounted lever hooked up I didn't test fit the tank and the cable impacts with the inside of the tank. Fortunately it's just a choke cable so there's no dramas but it was a little annoying.

Making a cover for the cover would certainly neaten things up though

[bakirkwold]

Mate that's lookin' real good! That paint job suits the bike, nicely done

Not sure on polishing the seat but if it's real leather then I imagine some of the leather restoration stuff for lounges etc. should do the trick. You probably need to moisturise it more than anything I would think. You don't want too much of a polish though otherwise you may find yourself slipping and sliding around on it...

I also had an issue with fitment on my 450... when I made the bracket for the choke adapter to get the 'bar mounted lever hooked up I didn't test fit the tank and the cable impacts with the inside of the tank. Fortunately it's just a choke cable so there's no dramas but it was a little annoying.

Making a cover for the cover would certainly neaten things up though

Shoe polish worked great. Pics coming later.

[pete]

Cool, looking forward to seeing them