1980 gs850gl cafe racer

[Guest]

I got this bike from a friend at work for 500. Been for months taking it apart and buying new gaskets as the base and top gaskets had blown. Here's what has been done to the bike so far.








The back shocks are bad. Engine was torn down to reveal pieces of brittle gasket gone on the base and on top. I have been welding the seat pan and preparing for the engine to be put back with new gaskets.

[Steve]

Looks OK, so far, but it always amuses me to see someone take the heaviest possible bike with the intention of creating what is supposed to be a lightweight, agile racer.

.

[azr]

Ya, but it's an 'L'..what else are you supposed to with it? kiddin...

[Steve]

Ya, but it's an 'L'..what else are you supposed to with it?

You turn it into a bike that's actually comfortable to ride.

My wife's bike would not appeal to the vast majority of this forum, but it fits her and she likes it.

In spite of the difference in our sizes, I also am relatively comfortable on it.
I have even ridden it for a couple of hours to visit another GSer.

.

[tkent02]

Looks OK, so far, but it always amuses me to see someone take the heaviest possible bike with the intention of creating what is supposed to be a lightweight, agile racer.

.

By adding a bunch of steel way up high.....
Ah well at least he's deLing it.

[Steve]

By adding a bunch of steel way up high.....

To balance that out, though, some steel is removed behind the addition.

.

[new_guy]

The whole thing got the tab removal treatment. A gl deserves to
Be hacked up. Drilling and tapping into the frame is next. Along with giving her a sheet metal skin.

[Good Times]

A gl deserves to
Be hacked up.

Haters gonna hate.

[new_guy]

Don't worry good times. I have read your whole rebuild thread and loved
What you did to your gl!

On to a question about the base gasket. Have any of you used super
Black sealer on your gaskets?

[niclpnut]

Have always installed the gaskets dry with no sealer. Prep on the gasket surfaces is the key.

Nic