Black is Beautiful Part Four

[seamax]

This is my 1979 GS425 Cafe build. She runs great but looks aren't so pretty. So far I've stripped her of all turn signals and tail. Have put on clubman bars for trial and replaced the stock top half bar clamps with GS500 ones. Plans for project are repaint, new tires, cafe seat and exhaust.

[dohabee]

and lube the chain. 

[Big Rich]

Nice man! Don't know if you've noticed but I'm totally into the cafe thing.

[seamax]

Nice man! Don't know if you've noticed but I'm totally into the cafe thing.

Yes, thanks for the info on the other threads on the wheel size. My goal is to have it look like this but with some flare.

[seamax]

and lube the chain. 

She is getting the same red chain as her cousin the 500.

[tt_four]

My goal is to have it look like this but with some flare.

I like what you're doing, but I'd really like to see some more flare...

[Big Rich]

Now that's funny.

But Seamax, I have lists of places to get cafe parts. Assuming you're not addicted to fiberglass fumes and want to make everything yourself. There is a lot of potential in the older GS power plants (all things considered) and it's a good frame to start with.

[yamahonkawazuki]

seamax if that 425 ever expires, it ALMOST looks like a gs500 engine would fit in there.  throw some yamaha parts and kawi parts and youd have an honest to GOD yamahonkawazuki, ( its how i came up with my username, my first gs had the collection of parts lol

[The Buddha]

I dunno about the 500 motor in the 425 frame, but a 425 is rather hard to get in the 500's frame, the head is outward exhaust port type, worse is the rear engine mount on the 425 is very wide ... nothing near the GS proportions.
Apparently a 425 is rather far removed form the 500. The 450 is closer. And I'd agree.
Cool.
Buddha.

[yamahonkawazuki]

well shiite. noticed hte exhaust tubes. head out at angles like hte gr650

[cbrfxr67]

progress??? 

[seamax]

Need your opinion on muffler tip mount...

Plan A: Slant Cut Facing Down




Plan B: Slant Cut Facing Out - GP Style




For some reason I'm leaning towards B but my wife and freinds say A looks much more clean.
I will also cutoff the bar support for stock muffler that hangs behind the tip so it's more clean.

[seamax]

Actually there is one more option..Stock
Only difference the slant cut tips sound so much better than the de-baffled stock mufflers.

[dohabee]

I like option B, but black instead of chrome.

[seamax]

I like option B, but black instead of chrome.

Yes it will be black.

[Big Rich]

Option B here as well. You could try painting the inside of the muffler but it would just end up turning black from the exhaust.

[mister]

Have you thought of mid way between A & B?

Nice work so far 

Michael

[cbrfxr67]

I like either.  Looking fabtastic too by the way!  You do great work sir!

[verboseone]

Is there a guide for repainting? I have zero experience. Maybe even negative. I suck at painting the walls in a house.

[seamax]

Is there a guide for repainting? I have zero experience. Maybe even negative. I suck at painting the walls in a house.

I sand down the frame and areas I want to paint lightly. Then spray a few coats of primer. Sand lightly down the primer to touch  smooth and then paint. I've only painted my bikes flat black so no need to be really meticulously nice.

It you want it to be really nice it will take a lot of time to sand out imperfections after each layer of paint.