1979 GS1000L Build

[Guest]

This will be a slow budget build. I know most of you aren't a fan of the cafe style and I don't plan to make it like the usual cafe bikes but it will have that shortened minimalist look to it. I want to make my own tail section that resembles a gs750 tail. Thinking of hiding all the electronics in there and if there happens to be enough room I'll toss the battery there as well. Eventually I want to do a gsxr front swap and I was tossing around the idea of seeing if it would be possible to convert it to a mono-shock rear. Right now I just want to get my seat and tail done and put on some straight bars (stock bars are way too uncomfortable to me)

[Duece]

These are just some teardown pics. Have never documented any of my builds very well so I'm going to try and do it here. Going to upload my pictures from my seat project soon.











Removing the cushion from the seat pan:

[Duece]

Had no experience making a seat before, just did the best I could and hoped it would work. The seat came out super comfortable (will add a softer foam cushion in the middle). The shape really fits my backside haha. Only problem is I kinda knew it wasn't going to come out that well around the tank and well...it didn't. But now that I can visualize it, I can fix it. I need to add on to the seat pan in the front and wrap the seat around the tank a little bit to make it look more flush. The good thing is I can just cut off a 4-5 inch section of the front foam to weld the piece I make on, then just spray on some more foam. The stuff sticks really well.





Cutting off the back also cut off one of the hooks



The piece I made to hook into the back loop



Works good, but will probably brace it to the back of the seat to make it sturdy and not bend



Had to make my own grommet because the seat was missing one



Great stuff expanding foam...



Rough cut



Smoothed out

[ron bayless]

It looks like you are taking what was a great looking original bike and hacking it into some sort of other bike.L bikes had more rake, were cruiser style,not good platforms for a cafe racer or almost a cafe racer.I used to own an 80 L.I hope you have a plan.So many guys here lop off the frame,try to make yet another tail section, come up with something, not a cafe racer.

[norman1950]

Looking good. On the seat part are you just using the foam for a template? Or are you going to use it as the seat foam? If using as seat foam that stuff will break down real quick and make for an uncomfortable ride for sure.

[Duece]

It looks like you are taking what was a great looking original bike and hacking it into some sort of other bike.L bikes had more rake, were cruiser style,not good platforms for a cafe racer or almost a cafe racer.I used to own an 80 L.I hope you have a plan.So many guys here lop off the frame,try to make yet another tail section, come up with something, not a cafe racer.

I understand constructive criticism but this has no help whatsoever. I am building the bike to the way I like. Im not "hacking" anything up. I sit there for a good 15-20-25 mins making sure this is exactly what I want to do before I do it. I do plan on cutting a section of the rear frame but nothing that will ruin the bike and someone could even fix it later on if they really wanted it back to original. I don't have money to just choose what I want. I had an older car that I traded for this, it was the only one anyone was seriously considering trading.

I am also NOT making a "cafe", I may have even mentioned that. I am modifying it to my liking. I rode the bike the way it was and it was so uncomfortable for me there was no way I could leave it. The seat pushed me too far forward and the bars felt like they were in my chest. I almost couldn't ride it around the way it was and shortened my test drive because of it. The bike may look nice in the picture but it still needed work. The paint was done by the PO and isn't that nice, I plan to re-do it.

So thanks but no thanks for suggesting I'm making a hack cafe wannabe.

[Duece]

Looking good. On the seat part are you just using the foam for a template? Or are you going to use it as the seat foam? If using as seat foam that stuff will break down real quick and make for an uncomfortable ride for sure.

I was planning on just using it the way it was but had to look into it more to see if there was something I could use to seal it to make sure that wouldn't happen. But if all else fails my backup was to use this as a template because its so easy to use and cheap. Thanks

I am by no means an expert but I always try to figure things out before I do them. Sometimes I do make silly mistakes but its all part of learning.


*edit* just read online about a pourable marine foam that comes in different hardnesses (is that a word? haha). So it looks like the best idea would be to make a mould out of my carved seat then pour in the marine foam.

[850 Combat]

L's are perfect for makeovers. Cut it on up, and have fun. Going to cut off the frame behind the shocks then?

I hope that you are planning on at least some kind of exhaust system other than what you have on it in the photos. All that pointless noise gives all of us a bad name.

To a lot of people, myself included, low bars with standard footpeg locations is uncomfortable. Rearsets help there. Also, if you intend to sit on it for very long, a little bit of extra length in the seat so that you can alter your position can be helpful.

[Duece]

L's are perfect for makeovers. Cut it on up, and have fun. Going to cut off the frame behind the shocks then?

I hope that you are planning on at least some kind of exhaust system other than what you have on it in the photos. All that pointless noise gives all of us a bad name.

To a lot of people, myself included, low bars with standard footpeg locations is uncomfortable. Rearsets help there. Also, if you intend to sit on it for very long, a little bit of extra length in the seat so that you can alter your position can be helpful.

I don't ride for too long, and with my last bike I could feel it in my shoulders a little bit. But I figured if I REALLY wanted to go on a long trip its not too hard to throw on some higher bars again. What do you mean by rearsets? Does this relocate the footpegs?

As far as the frame goes, I think I'm going to cut it right before that top loop, or maybe right after it. Not a lot is going to be cut unless I start working on it and don't like how it looks.

And the exhaust, I'm looking into a 4-1 right now, I just took the mufflers off to get access to something and they were also hollowed out so they are useless.

Thanks!

[Duece]

And heres the finished product.....





kidding obviously, its my cousins 86 savage 650. He let me register it for now so I can ride and not rush this build. Plan to have my 1000 done by spring and then give this back to him. This bike is SOO light haha.

[ron bayless]

Yessir, its your bike, i hope you are happy with the results.You will see what i mean by hacked up if you see some of the choppers,bobbers,cafe racers some guys have done.I was hoping u didnt do that.looks like you are not.its none of my business anyway.Most people post pictures here wanting opinions.Didnt mean to offend you.