Black is Beautiful Part Trois (pic heavy)

[seamax]

She originally look like this..




First facelift
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42987.0

Second facelift
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=47518.0

And now...she is still due for some new vortex clipons and hid projectors this winter.

[utgunslinger13]

Wow man that thing is probably one of the nicest GS's I've ever seen!  Many many many congrats on the conversion!

[O.C.D.]

Agreed, the only faired GS I like.

[JEREMY JOCK]

That thing looks so mean, I love it.

Would you happen to have any sound clips or video, so we could hear that exhaust?

[pandymai]

not meaning to mess with perfection, but are you going to put a red lip on the rims again or maybe just red reflector tape? i think that would finish up the look a bit. and the next thing is just being nitpicky, the headers look like they could use a new coat of black.

if i ever had the inclination, your bike is a definite inspiration. beautiful!

[plurpimpin]

what kind of fairing is that? gixxer?

[seamax]

That thing looks so mean, I love it.

Would you happen to have any sound clips or video, so we could hear that exhaust?

There is a sound clip in the second thread link above.

not meaning to mess with perfection, but are you going to put a red lip on the rims again or maybe just red reflector tape? i think that would finish up the look a bit. and the next thing is just being nitpicky, the headers look like they could use a new coat of black.

if i ever had the inclination, your bike is a definite inspiration. beautiful!

I had the red rim tape on but for some reason thought it was too flashy..I'm liking the stealth black right now, if that changes I'll put the tape back on. I guess I did forget to touch up the headers.

[pandymai]

may be safer since you dont seem to have any other reflectors on the bike. =P again, looks gorgeous either way.

[Ingersoll]

Where did you get that exhast?  If you custsom made it, what cans are those?

[Flanders]

wow nice handiwork!!

[jeremy_nash]

Where did you get that exhast?  If you custsom made it, what cans are those?

IIRC they came with the tail he bought from brazil, and I've been searching ebay once a week for mufflers as cool as those are!

[CheetoPet]

So does the flat black make it invisible to enemy radar?

[tt_four]

As I've said before it's definitely one of my favorite GSs on here, I really like what you did with the tail. That little hose for the rear brake cylinder looks a little lonely out there though. If it was me I'd get a normal reservoir and try to tuck it up between the back of the frame and the shock, and just run a hose to it. That's just me though. I also think it'd look good with a full side windscreen and mirrors. I'm not being picky though. Just throwing out some opinions.

Do you have any pictures of what you did to remount the gauges? I hate how high my gauges sit. They're ok now with the dirt bars I have on my bike, but I'm going to put the clipons back on soon, and I'd really like to drop my gauges down when I do so they're not the highest point on the bike anymore.

[Iroquois]

Simply stunning. Although it's still a GS500 lol

[Caffeine]

golf clap

One of the best I've seen!  Seriously!

I'm going to try the blue painter's masking tape on my tires.   Is that just for track days, or will it help my cornering on the street, too?   

[tt_four]

I saw one of your previous builds had a lot of that tape up around the head of the frame. Did you paint your frame with the bike completely together? I'd like to paint my frame black, but really don't feel like pulling it apart too much more than removing the tank, tail and wheels.

[acid]

The exhaust is excellent.

[tt_four]

I do love the exhaust. I'd love something similar but I push my bike off one step from my patio to the sidewalk, then another from the sidewalk to the street, so I don't want to reduce my ground clearance any further. I guess the headers already go under there, but the exhausts are still slightly bigger. They look great though.

[seamax]

Do you have any pictures of what you did to remount the gauges? I hate how high my gauges sit. They're ok now with the dirt bars I have on my bike, but I'm going to put the clipons back on soon, and I'd really like to drop my gauges down when I do so they're not the highest point on the bike anymore.

Will try to take some pics of that area but my custom clipons have a bolt hole to mount the gauges.

I'm going to try the blue painter's masking tape on my tires.   Is that just for track days, or will it help my cornering on the street, too?   

That was a PITA. I had to use small pieces of painters tape and slide it in between the tire and the lip of the rim. Then cover the tire for a respray.

I saw one of your previous builds had a lot of that tape up around the head of the frame. Did you paint your frame with the bike completely together? I'd like to paint my frame black, but really don't feel like pulling it apart too much more than removing the tank, tail and wheels.

Yes. But my frame was black to start with. So some sanding, no primer and on went the flat. Just make sure you tape really well.

I do love the exhaust. I'd love something similar but I push my bike off one step from my patio to the sidewalk, then another from the sidewalk to the street, so I don't want to reduce my ground clearance any further. I guess the headers already go under there, but the exhausts are still slightly bigger. They look great though.

If you think about it my bike is still stock height or higher from the bottom of the exhaust down. The exhaust hangs where the centerstand use to be. It would be about 3/4" or 1" lower than the centerstand but with my shorter dogbones, which raises the rear about an 1",  it would be the same height or slightly higher.

[tt_four]

Will try to take some pics of that area but my custom clipons have a bolt hole to mount the gauges.



If you think about it my bike is still stock height or higher from the bottom of the exhaust down. The exhaust hangs where the centerstand use to be. It would be about 3/4" or 1" lower than the centerstand but with my shorter dogbones, which raises the rear about an 1",  it would be the same height or slightly higher.

What kind of clipons do you have? I forget what mine were from. An old honda cbr f1 maybe? Can't remember. Maybe I can just make a bracket that will bolt onto the bottom of the bolts that hole the two top clamps together. I thought about buying an extra gauge bucket and face plate and cutting/bending them to less of an angle, but getting the speedo in and out is a pain anyway. I was afraid that a new mount wouldn't be as strong and would eventaully bend, but I'm sure it would be fine.

If you raised your bike that that would be fine. I'm leaving mine the stock height, and will eventually be lowering when Heather starts riding it again so I probably won't be able to just push it off the sidewalk anyway, and will have to go back to using the little ramp. No huge deal. I think once I get to practicing with this welder I'm just going to cut up the V&H midpipe a little to angle the exhaust upward more, closer to the angle of the 03/04 zx10r, which should help the look a lot anyway. I know Heather always thought a high mount would look good with the tail I have on it. I agree it probably would, but I'll have to see how good I get with the welder to want to tackle that one since it would mean adding in more pipe, finding some that's bent to the right angles, and probably re-jetting. If I angle it up I'll just have to make some cuts out of the top of the pipe, bend it up, and weld those back shut, which would be an easy project.