Cafe on a dime

[Jay Remmy]

Hey all. I've been a reader since being a rider. My 2002 GS 500 is my first bike, and quickly became the love of my life. As much as I'd love to to dote on her and give her expensive things, sadly I am broke. I mean college kid broke. Because I'm in college. After seeing several GS500's turned cafe racer, I decided to do something of the sort while staying within my very limited budget. Removed the fairings and fenders. It's a work in progress but this is what I've done so far.


I started out going naked. The bike, not me.





I then chopped the tail and dropped the turn signals/re-mounted the stock brake light using some old sheet metal







I managed to mount the plate on the side using the stock mount



Slapped on some flat bars and bar ends. Made a world of difference in the look





She's a work in progress, and nothing too flashy but something to be proud of. I bought the cafe seat and new turn signals, but I'm just waiting to get them in. So far, I've only spent about $100 on everything, which I think really went a long way.

[yamahonkawazuki]

awesome my friend. keep it up . reminds me of the boobing of tail on a vmax I did a few years back for a firend of mine.

[Jay Remmy]

Ha thanks. That actually reminds me, my excess parts are no longer needed if anyone is interested.

Included are mirrors, fenders, fairings and all of the brackets, and the reflectors

[Big Rich]

Cool project man.

Word of advice though, pretty good chance your plate will need a light shining on it to be legal. And it looks to be hanging out pretty far - will it scrape on a good left turn?

[Jay Remmy]

Yea I thought about that too. I've been riding around with it for about a month and haven't had any issues yet. I live in a somewhat rural area. I'll either have to rig something up or look into new brake lights that have a lit mount. It does look a bit farther in the picture than it actually is. It is about an inch closer to the bike than my foot pegs.

[NikonAndy]

Cool!

Do you have a link / pic of the café racer seat you're ordering for it?

I'm liking the cut frame to shorten the bike, been thinking about doing that for mine.

[The Buddha]

Cafe cafe well, that looks like "I crashed and forgot to fix it" ...
You want a cafe with a fairing and perimeter frame - get a MZ skorpion sport cup, or the replica.
I have one, and honestly, it will wipe the floor with a GS all the way across.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Jay Remmy]

I do not doubt that. I wish I could afford a better set up but like I said, broke. It's not too impressive but I'm proud of all of the work I've done especially considering I've never done any motorcycle wok before all of this. 

The seat was on eBay and has ended so I wasn't able to find a picture but when it comes in I'll be sure to document everything. The one thing I want to do is use the stock seat bracket to mount the aftermarket seat

[cbrfxr67]

I'm all for 'use what you got' especially when money isn't available to spend on it, but I hate the signals that way.  Hope you keep at it and fixing it how you want it though! 

[Jay Remmy]

I'm all for 'use what you got' especially when money isn't available to spend on it, but I hate the signals that way.  Hope you keep at it and fixing it how you want it though! 

Thanks man. Yea the rear signals were a bit of an experiment until my new ones come in. The seat also came in tonight so I'll post pictures soon.

[Jay Remmy]

Got the seat in. I apologize for the crappy photos, they were taken in my garage at night. I will have to do a bit more modification to make it work and I definitely need a smaller brake light looking at it on the bike but I'll figure that out when I have the time/money. It's a good thing I'm starting this right before winter. I'm going over to my fire station on Friday (I'm a volunteer firefighter) to make use of a welding torch and saws all. I'll also have to do something else with the turn signals while I wait for the new ones. This is the general idea for the seat (unpainted and just sitting on the bike)

[cbrfxr67]

This may clean up nicely!  Really liking that seat you got!  Going to be watching closely to see how you work the subframe area to match it. 

[Jay Remmy]

I mounted the seat yesterday and I think it turned out great. I used a method that I had seen on another website (mainly temporary while Savin up for a legitimate mounting kit)

http://kickwrench.com/2012/01/18/diy-wednesdays-how-to-mount-your-cafe-seat-for-5-in-5-minutes/

The brake light fit nicely under the tail, and I am still trying to get in with that welding torch to take care of the few inches that stick out the back. The turn signals are still just there while waiting on new ones.

[The Buddha]

Can I buy the tail and seat set ? its black with silver right ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[Jay Remmy]

Sure. Yes it is and it's all in fairly good condition. How much were you looking to get them for? Were you just interested in the fairings and the seat or the fender and tail bar

[The Buddha]

Sure. Yes it is and it's all in fairly good condition. How much were you looking to get them for? Were you just interested in the fairings and the seat or the fender and tail bar

Fender and sissy bar I have lots of.
How much ? PM me if you prefer.
Cool.
Buddha.

[NikonAndy]

Wider profile shot? Love to see how the length looks overall

[Jay Remmy]

I wouldn't even know what to ask man. Not too much experience buying/selling oem parts

I would love to take a shot not from inside my cramped little garage but weather hasn't allowed it. I'll be out riding around tomorrow so I'll take a few good shots then.

I painted the seat with with some bed armor bed liner that I had laying around from work on my truck. It turned out really great. Here's the best I could do for now though

[Jim Knopf]

Servus,

a really nice bump , but as lifeless mounted on the GS. It did not work. This has nothing to do with a tag that is a blight. you should give a little more effort but simple.

[Jay Remmy]