First one finished

[clkeith50]

The first GS500 is finished. IF the temperature hits the 60's today like the forecast calls for, I'll get it out and see if I've made any 'improvements' to it.

This started out as a project in competition with a friend as to who could build the best $1000 bike. The only rules were that it had to be street legal, rideable, and dependable. Oh, and spend less than $1000 building it. To keep it under the $1000, I'll have to hold off installing the Corbin seat.

Pictures are posted here: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/clkeith50/my_photos

Curby
GS550es upper fairing
Ninja 600R lower fairing
Progressive fork springs
Katana 750 rear shock
15 T front sprocket
Carbs rejetted
K&N filter
Ignition advanced 3 degrees
GSXR 1000 exhaust
D205 radials

[Blueknyt]

you have a V45 magna? you want a V65 sabre cheap? had it running short time never rode it, and it does have a title. i dont have time or money for it right now.

[clkeith50]

What's cheap? Give me the details on the bike. We might be able to work out something.

[Jared]

Nice Job on the Bodywork...looks nice.

[vtlion]

can you see anything in those fairing-mounted mirrors?  they look like you would be looking at your own knuckles in them

nice looking bike!!!  

[South East Rocket]

WOW  

What did you use to paint the front forks black?  I dig that look!!!!

[South East Rocket]

Oh and it looks like you got a bunch of part GS bikes.  Do you have a spare motor (that runs) you wanna sell?

[JLKasper]

Nice effort.  It's amazing what can be done with less than a grand!  

[clkeith50]

The mirrors aren't as bad as you'd think, but still not too great.

The forks and calipers are gunmetal grey metalic. The paint is orange metalic, almost pearl, with 11 different colors of metallic powders in it.

I really cheated on this project. I bought 2 bikes for $860 ($430 each...right?). Now, I have to put the one I used for parts back together and still stay within the $1000 on it or count the extra cost against this one. That shouldn't be a problem. It's really complete and just needs paint and assembly. I should have it finished for about $800. It will be the same orange, but without the fairing.

Most of the bikes here are low cost projects. The Magna was a $400 bike, the KZ440 was a $200 bike, the CB175 was a $200 bike. There's a $600 Ninja 600 still on the trailer that only needs paint, tires, chain, and battery to be a good bike.

[mrslush50]

GSX-R exhaust?  how difficult was that?  details?

[clkeith50]

It wasn't bad at all. I only used the mid-pipe and muffler. I just cut the pipe off right after the valve. The GSX-R pipe is about 2 mm larger diameter than the GS. I cut 4 slits in it and used a band clamp to clamp it to the stock pipe which was cut off right behind the center stand stop. The muffler comes up a little higher than the stock GS muffler. It's right under the passenger footpeg. I removed the footpegs.

I wanted the 4 bolt flange so I could get a better muffler if I decide to keep it. The original muffler had road rash and the previous owner had drilled holes in the end plate for more noise. The GSX-R muffler and pipe on eBay was about $20.

[96gs]

Most of the bikes here are low cost projects. The Magna was a $400 bike, the KZ440 was a $200 bike, the CB175 was a $200 bike. There's a $600 Ninja 600 still on the trailer that only needs paint, tires, chain, and battery to be a good bike.

you think bout reselling any of those for cheap then pm me.especially that gs. one of the sweetest looking gs's i've ever seen. oh and the gsxr1000 exaust fits the gs? how did you figure that one out. i think we might have a new mod on our hands. we are always up for somethin new. how does it ride, if you have rode it yet.

[clkeith50]

I took it out for about 6 miles this morning. It doesn't ride bad, but I'm still not happy with it. The 140 rear tire and Kat shock raised the seat height too much. I'll get that fixed this evening. And the carburetors still need some attention. They supposedly have the Dynojet Stage III jet kit in them, but the plugs show it's running way too lean.

[96gs]

so how did you come across the gsxr1000 exaust fit the gs? are you thinkin bout selling it?  :lol:  yea right. if i had a gs that looked that badass i would never sell it.  

[clkeith50]

I just got lucky on the exhaust. All I really wanted to buy was the mid pipe with the muffler flange on it. I was ready to fabricate anything else I needed. This one just happened to fit.

Actually, a Harley DynaGlide muffler didn't sound that bad on the GS. Just looked a little strange.

I'll be selling some of these bikes in the next couple of months. Just not sure which ones yet. At least one of the GS's will get sold. Which one will depend on how the other one turns out. It will either be a chopper or a dual sport, can't decide which. I hadn't thought about the dual sport until I noticed how much ground clearance I had after putting the Kat shock on it (and that a GS550L 19" front wheel will fit!)

[Blueknyt]

300$ and come get it. your a GS rider, ill drop it to 200, i would just hate to see this thing scraped cuz i dont havethe time/resources for it. had it running and one of the brain boxes craped out, i never heard any rattling or knocking in the engine, the carbs need cleaning and new mainifolds, the cosmetics are shot, it was laid down by a prev owner who then butcherd the hondline fairing that was on it. i was going to make it a street fighter, if your not afraid of alittle elbow grease type work, then this bike would be tops as most of it is superfissial. even the exhuast was completely intact when i had it running, not a leak anywhere. its been awhile.    hell if you know of a 250-400cc 4 stroke dual purpose bike you can get cheap/free, i trade you straight up, but it has to be streetable (has a title not worried about lights, those can be bolted on)

BTW, Dave Dodge DRP racing in N.C.  is the honda V4 king, he has built V45 magnas to hunt down V-maxs, last qoute for set of manifolds shiped was 50$ for all 4. good source of parts and mass of knowledge.

let me know

[pantablo]

Very nice work on that GS! Fairing looks surprisingly good on it. Lots of talented do-it-yourself stuff happening there.




If only you had photographed/documented some of that...

[clkeith50]

Blueknyt, too bad you're so damned far from me. I'd love to have it. I'll forward it to a friend that's on the SoCal SabMag list (without the $200 price). Maybe someone closer to you will be interested.

Pablo, I usually do document projects with pictures, but I had a friend helping me with this one. He started taking the bikes apart before we even unloaded them from the trailer. The bird nest under the seat was a nice touch. He had it off and in the trash before I could get the camera. I've got a few more that I haven't posted yet, but not as many as I wanted to get.

Curby

[Blueknyt]

as stated before, i will trade strait up for 250-400cc streetable thumper that you might find in someone's barn, lookin for dual purpose bike to practice sliding abit but dont want to have to trailer it about. i want to be able to drive it to work too. i dont mind it lookin alittle rough either, lookin for use.

[96gs]

Blueknyt. where are you located. i might be interested. im in alabama.