GS 425 project ideas needed??

[Gateway]

It seems that Suzuki gs 400's, 425's & 450's seem to have been falling in my lap latelly! Anyway, I have aquired a GS425 that looks really clean and have decided to turn it into a project. A few ideas are 1) cafe racer 2) Dual sport 3) mini drag bike 4) ????? any ideas??

[pete]

Hey mate, falling into your lap? Lucky you!

I'm personally a bit over cafe's myself unless they're unique or done particularly well. It seems everyone just wants to throw a bubble on the back, clubmans on the front, and say hey there's my cafe...

But enough of a rant... haha

Whatever you do do it well and it will be good, although have you considered a restoration?

I'm a bit of a fan of scramblers myself though as you can see by my 450 but I stopped short of longer suspension etc. as it's my daily rider.

A dual sport could definitely be fun... and there are guys that fit DR650 front ends to GS500's, so that should be doable on the 450 as well... not sure if it's a bolt on or not.

[Gateway]

Ya I seem to have people calling .. " would you be interested in this old suzuki, it ran until it sat for 2 years " My standard answer of course.. " oof that thing is pretty old ya it looks good but if it has not run in 2 YEARS the best I could do is 50 dollars " Then comes the negotiating 600...to much 100... how about 500 TO MUCH.... 125.....how about .300.....150.00 is my final offer..ok sold. I think we've all played out this little dance at some point!!

Anyway, I have given it some thought and here is what I have come up with, .... a street legal flat tracker!! I want it to " look " like it would be at home on a dirt oval BUT have USD forks, Ohlins shocks and get rid of anything that ads weight. I am going to start looking at some of the great " classic " flat track bikes and see if I can come up with a look!! What'ya think??

Brian

[pete]

Cool, I like the trackers too... here's another 450 that was done this way but the guy's no longer a member unfortunately.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...hlight=tracker

[Gateway]

That's pretty cool. I have a certain vision in my mind. I want pipes on it that are like the high pipes on old triumph trackers.I think I want the " old " look with modern USD forks, dual disc, single rear disc, Ohlins shocks. No dollar amount is ridiculous when you are building an " idea " !!!

[pete]

Cool... so when do you start

[Gateway]

I started Saturday!! basicaly tore it all down to the frame. here's a twist for ya'. Since I am a VMX nut AND have a 1980 RM 250 swing arm hanging around guess what swing arm I am going to use??!! Anodized gold it should be a wild looking arm!!

[pete]

Cool... now we just need to see pic's and lots of 'em

[wally]

What Pete said...

[Gateway]

Well, now that it's down to parts and pieces I need to come up with some basics. 1) I have decided to use a 1979/80 Suzuki RM 250 aluminum swing arm. It will need to be modified to work and I'll need to decide on wheels before I can have that done! So now I am on a mad mission to figure out wheels
2) I want to use USD forks, more for " coolness " than anything else. again what ever fork I use will probably have to have a triple clamps fabricated or modified to make it work.

A) My question is what length for the swing arm? Keep it original length or longer? Being from an RM 250 there is LOTS of length to work with!

B) Any sugestions on what bike I may consider grfating a usd front end from? Would like it to have dual disc brakes

[pete]

The only reason I can see for a longer swingarm is to either get more ground clearance or deal with loads of power that keep lifting the front wheel off the ground.

Neither will really apply here so I'd keep the length the same.

The USD front end will typically lower the bike a little, and I'm not sure on exact models but I believe some of the '90's GSXR 750 front ends are a straight bolt on.

[Gateway]

Sweet!! Now I am off to find a early GSXR parts bike!!