Another Aussie GS rebuild - GS1100G

[pete]

She looks awesome Jimmy! I love how tidy it is, everything tucked away and that battery box certainly slims down that area and makes it look far more minimal.

It doesn't look like an 1100 in those pic's any more

Bugger on the textured finish... there's gotta be a way of getting what you want! Just gotta research more I guess... did the guy say it would come out like the Renthal bars or what?

[JimmyR]

The anodiser fella said he wasn't sure how they would come out because of the bead blasting. I don't blame him for how they came out - it was always an experiment.

It's funny you should say it doesn't look like an 1100 any more - in the pics it really doesn't, does it? But in the flesh it still has a lot of presence. It's still a big bike. If anything stripping away a lot of the bike makes the engine look even bigger, at least once you're not side on. I really think I've achieved a lot of what I wanted to achieve. It's been a great experience, and definitely not the last bike I work on!

As soon as I get the fenders where I want them I'll post more pics.

[pete]

Cool, if it was experimental all good, just wondered if set any expectations but obviously not

It's an awesome bike Jimmy and I reckon you'll turn a head or three! And have them asking... what is it what is it? Haha

Can't wait to see her all done...

[DannyMotor]

That, my friends is how a muscle-bike should look. Bravo. Very lean and profoundly classy.

[psyguy]

That's a pretty cool build!
Though, as much as i love the big tanks for their economy, a smaller tank would give that bike an even stronger lean muscle bike look, imho
But looking good nonetheless

[Good Times]

I like the absence of the fenders in the picture.

[JimmyR]

Hey Psyguy - I know what you mean and part of me agrees. I wouldn't mind a slightly smaller tank. But I do like how the lines of this tank work with the seat. And I think the size balances quite well with the enormous engine. From side on it looks big but as you walk around the bike the engine would look ridiculously big compared to a smaller tank. The engine is huge, and that doesn't quite come across in the side on view.

Same thing about the lack of fenders, Goodtimes. Every time I look at the side on view I am surprised at how good it looks without fenders. But if you look at the bike from behind it looks vaguely ridiculous without them. Plus, I have ridden the bike just up and down my sealed laneway behind my house and in that 100 metres I collected an amazing amount of crap on my swingarm.

But yeah, it does look pretty badass in that pic. :-)

[JimmyR]

So I went and spoke to the powdercoaters today. I may have a solution for my fender finish. They have a textured satin gunmetal metallic powdercoat which could work. They're doing a sample for me with a cut-off section of fender I gave them.

[pete]

So I went and spoke to the powdercoaters today. I may have a solution for my fender finish. They have a textured satin gunmetal metallic powdercoat which could work. They're doing a sample for me with a cut-off section of fender I gave them.

Regardless if it's what you're thinking it sounds nice anyway...

[JimmyR]

In what must be a freak event I already have my fenders back from powdercoat. That was quick! The finish is very cool - possibly a little darker than I'd like but well in the ballpark. I like 'em. The colour range is rather limited in powdercoat. I don't have the front fender on yet but this is what the bike looks like with the rear - and lights - on:



A shot of the rear:



And a shot trying to show colour and texture:



After looking at them I thought - how cool would this powdercoat be for a frame? Maybe next bike I do...

[pete]

That is just spot on Jimmy, perfect! Gotta see that front guard on now...

[Good Times]

Hey...Hey....

That really looks good. It's a good bend of contemporary and classic. Lovin it Jimmy.

[GateKeeper]

Looking really good......

Cheers

[JimmyR]

I just had an email from the powdercoater. The cheeky bugger used a different colour from what I had chosen. I thought they looked darker than I had chosen. He said he went with that colour because he felt it had a better texture and suited the bike better! I'm almost past caring - I do love the texture though. The lighter colour I had chosen didn't have quite a good a texture apparently.

He did say that if I didn't like it they will change the colour for me at no charge but I think I'll leave it be. I think it's funny that he was so cheeky. Tomorrow I need to make the front fender mount, attach the seat brace (which nobody will see but will make the seat feel more solid), and tidy up the rear brake lines. The rear brake reservoir is just held to the frame by a cable tie at the moment and I want to hide the reservoir line a bit better.

[JimmyR]

BTW thanks guys - it's good to hear that you guys "get it"! I'm delighted to hear "contemporary and classic". Exactly what I was shooting for.