Rebuild Log

[3imo]

good to see you were serious about tearing her down.  Can't wait to see your progress. Keep us posted. 

[ajaxgs]

great project have fun

[RiderX]

good to see you were serious about tearing her down.

I'm nothin but serious...


I'll keep updating though. I'm prepping the exhaust now for a little repaint. It actually looks to be in suprisingly good shape. I've a shop lined up for the powder coating, everything's look pretty good. I'm thinking I should go with a new wiring harness just o eliminate the chance of broken wires. I also need to get the tank refinished.

Dissasembly is always so easy - but reassembly is always scary... 

[Chilly Willy]

What an awesome log.  Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Chilly

[mjn12]

haha, theres hardly going to be any of the old bike in the finished project.  Looks good and makes me want to go wrench on something.

[Trwhouse]

Hey there RiderX,
So how much did you pay for this thing?
It seems like it needs work everywhere.
The more you take it apart and we see the photos, the more I cringe.
Why did you go this route instead of buying a bike in nice shape?
You probably would have spent a lot less money overall.
Just my opinion.
On the other hand, look at all the experience you are getting.
But it does look like an AWFUL LOT of work to bring it back and it will never be worth all the money you sink into it.
Good luck and best wishes,
Todd

[Mandres]

A winter project is worth its weight in gold     Ya gotta have something to chase the blues away when there's no sunshine.

[3imo]

I hope this is redundant, but I just wanted to start a seperate thread for the rebuild project. I'll keep updating as I progress through the project and as you guys help me figure stuff out  ...

The project bike is: 1991 Suzuki GS 500. I picked this bike up off of eBay for just over $200. I had to make a 2 or 3 hour road trip out to Philadelphia, PA to pick the bike up. Which was... interesting at best. Little did I know I would be diving head first into the slums of Flithadelphia to find this bike, let alone the crap I would have to go through just to find the guy's place. But alas, that's another story.

[3imo]

I drove 10hours to pick up my second GS500.  front end wrecked.

I drove about 9 hours to pick my third GS.  all in pieces.

The price he got is not so bad for a near complete GS500 restore prospect.

The engine is definitely cringe worthy as is the frame but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  When RiderX takes that bike out for the first time, he will know it was worth it.

I take more pride in my worthless cause projects than the new shaZam! I have in the driveway.  It is way too easy to just buy something.

[RiderX]

So how much did you pay for this thing?
It seems like it needs work everywhere.
The more you take it apart and we see the photos, the more I cringe.
Why did you go this route instead of buying a bike in nice shape?
You probably would have spent a lot less money overall.
Just my opinion.
On the other hand, look at all the experience you are getting.
But it does look like an AWFUL LOT of work to bring it back and it will never be worth all the money you sink into it.

I paid $230 for the bike from Philly. What did I get for $230? 3wheels - decent exhaust - good front forks - solid rear suspension and swingarm.
It does need work everywhere. There will actually be very little of this bike left.
I'm cringing too!

Come March, when the project is done and I fire this thing up, let it idle a bit, drop it into first and pull out of the drive way, all of this will be more than worth it. I could have bought something nicer. Hell, I could afford $100 a month on something BRAND NEW. However, when I'm twisting through the corners on the PA backroads, it is going to be on MY bike. In every sense, I will know every inch of this bike, and it will completly specific to me. Instead of buying my bike - I"ve built my bike.

I also get the to spend the time with family memebers and friends who want to help me out. There's nothing better than drinking a cold beer and turning wrenches on your bike with friends anr/or family. Most of the time were not even talking about the bike. I've got a VERY stressful job, and tooling around in the basement on projects like this are a great way for me to cool down. Rebuild projects like this are fun, and for me, its another excuse to hang out with people I like. That includes coming on this forum and asking questions, posting pics and begging for parts!!

[3imo]

 

[Jace009gs]

hey nice project, mine's the other way, motor good; everything else trashed, I can't belive there are two junk looking GS's striped down right now with-in 30miles of one another

maybe I should bring a 36pack one weekend

[Turd Ferguson]

Thanks again RiderX for keeping this log going.  I can't wait for the next update!

Is the tank relatively dent free?  From the pictures it looks straight needing only some paint.  How is the inside of the tank?  On bikes like this...the tank is usually a total loss because of excessive rust and holes.

I'll get that air box and filter in the mail hopefully in the next week.

Great work!

-Turd.

[RiderX]

I can't belive there are two junk looking GS's striped down right now with-in 30miles of one another
maybe I should bring a 36pack one weekend

Ha! Cool man, where are you at?

Thanks Turd, I'll keep an eye out for the airbox. That's a bit into the distance on my priority list though. The tank is in good shape, I'm going to get it lines, the inside of the tank is a little rusty, but in suprisngly good shape.

[Turd Ferguson]

The tank is in good shape, I'm going to get it lines, the inside of the tank is a little rusty, but in suprisngly good shape.

Good to hear.  Good luck and get back to us soon!

-Turd.

[Jace009gs]

Chambersburg PA

[Egaeus]

Chambersburg PA

AKA Grandmother's house?

[RiderX]

Well, just had a great little trip down into Maryland to meet up with GSTwins' own jared, to pick up a nice straight frame (w/title). Ended up picking up a few extras as well. Project is moving along nicely, and I can't wait to get this stuff off to powdercoat now. Of course... getting my hands on a clean, running engine would be kind of nice too...

But if any of you get the chance to deal with jared, I highly recommend it. Nice guy, and has a great stash of GS parts... good times!! 

[GeeP]

Come March, when the project is done and I fire this thing up, let it idle a bit, drop it into first and pull out of the drive way, all of this will be more than worth it. I could have bought something nicer.

That's the spirit!   

[RiderX]

Small update. I now have a nice straight frame, a low miles running engine, and all the plastics I need. I'm going to have to wait a bit to start sending parts out to powder coat. Christmas present for other people apparently take priority over Christmas presents for me... 

I'll be sending the tank out next week to get lined, and then its just a matter of getting all the parts in to poweder coat before I'm knee deep in reassembly problems.  Lucky me...

There used to be a bike here...


Much thanks to jared for the frame...


Mmmm... bit parts...


So with any luck, by the middle of January - begining of February, I should be putting things back together.