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Taking my 850 back in time
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:19 pm
by isaac
In the last week my 1982 Suzuki GS850GL has gone from this: (on right)
To concept:
To project:
Rapidly nearing reality.
To summarize, I've chopped it 1.5" front 2" back, lowered the headlight 1", raised the handlebars 3/4" to clearance the forks, am redoing the seat, painted it flat black, blackened the chome fender, and removed a lot of parts. There's still a good deal left to be done. The goal: 50's style cruiser.
Oh and the reason I haven't posted here for more than half a year is because a couple of "Donut Holes" who are regular posters made me not want to come back.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:54 am
by Sev
Man, I cannot wait to see the detailed final pics. That's looking pretty hot as it is though. I wish I had the guts to chop up a bike like that.
Oh, and I don't blame you for wanting to take a break. I did that a while back as well. Fortunately most of the people I had problems with left in the intervening time.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:59 pm
by isaac
Yeah it took some self-motivating to finally get up the guts to start doing things that would drastically change the bike from original. I knew I didn't like how it looked stock because I just thing L model Suzukis are hideous, but didn't know if I'd rather mod it or sell it.
The only real "chopping" I've done to it is the rear springs and the impending rear subframe cut. Beyond that everything is easily reversible with some wrenches or paint stripper, and I can always weld the subframe back on. I'm saving the subframe for last because I have to go to the DMV tomorrow with DOT lights on it and get the thing titled before I make the bike permanently quasi-legal.
More to come.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:16 pm
by High_Side
Nice work. How's it handle compared to the "before"?
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:00 pm
by isaac
It doesn't.
Seriously, thanks for the compliments guys. It had nice stiff shocks and forks to start with so it's doing pretty well with the decreased suspension travel. It scrapes the centerstand with alarming ease now though. I'll probably take that off. It'll save some weight anyway.
I'm going to be adding a small fender to the rear wheel that's going to be attached to the swingarm and follow the wheel so I can keep it tight. Hopefully that'll keep it from scraping on the seat. I can always just bump the suspension preload up to the highest setting anyway. It's at the lowest right now.
I wonder how much weight this bike is losing in the conversion anyway. I'll bet a good 20lbs or so in the end.