My free GS build!

[GSjon]

Hi! New to the forum and first post, thought I'd throw my build up on here so I can get suggestions from the pros along the way. So I'm stationed up in the frozen tundra of Minot ND and a friend of mine got orders to Korea and has to leave in a couple of weeks. During his move the poor bike lay forgotten and there wasn't time to sell it, so long story short I received a free GS as payment for my help in packing up his house! Since our riding season is so short up here, I immediately tore the whole thing apart and set to work cutting things off to make my semi unique version of a cafe racer. Haven't ran into any real snags yet but I thought I'd post my process so far and give an idea of where I'm going with it to hopefully learn something and get some cool suggestions from you guys. Here's the bike when I brought it home last week, cheers!

(Hopefully the picture shows up, I'm doing this from my phone)

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[Suzi Q]

Please send contact information for your friend. I will gladly drive to ND to help him move. 

Seriously though, sweet bike and killer deal man! What's the backstory that makes you want to cafe it?

[ShowBizWolf]

Hi GSjon, welcome to the site!!  Awesome score on the bike, can't go wrong just helping someone move and get a GS in return!

[GSjon]

Took it all down and cut the frame, lowered the wheel well to accommodate the cafe seat

And here's what it looks like after the paint, used the high heat engine enamel, flat on the frame, gloss on the wheels and engine. I'm doing all the paint myself out of cans, not too concerned with it looking amazing as I'm going for kind of a cafe/scrambler hybrid and I plan on taking it off road and beating it up from time to time (hey, it was free haha)



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[GSjon]

It's a 2001 with 20k miles and it's been sitting for the last three years since it was winterized when my buddy first got stationed here. So obviously the carbs are getting an overhaul and im cleaning out the petcock and replacing all the fuel lines. I've already done an oil change when I took the exhaust off for convenience and replaced the plugs, so fingers crossed there will be no issues when she's all back together! I have always really loved the cafe look, but never saw myself buying a suitable bike until this fell into my lap and I couldnt resist. I'm not planning on jumping sand dunes with it or anything, just throwing on some tires with capability to handle the excessive amount of gravel roads we have here. Stay tuned for a couple more updates to bring the thread up to where I'm at now.

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[Suzi Q]

Your garage is noticeably bare. You're missing about 3 (or more) bikes.

Paint looks good in picture 3 & 4. Very "gunmetal" on the frame. Any concept pics of goal?

[Suzi Q]

I have always really loved the cafe look, but never saw myself buying a suitable bike until this fell into my lap and I couldnt resist. I'm not planning on jumping sand dunes with it or anything, just throwing on some tires with capability to handle the excessive amount of gravel roads we have here.

Sounds like you have "cafe" & "scrambler" confused.

[GSjon]

There's two more bikes in the house lol;). We tend to get very cold here so our two gsxrs (600 and 750) are living room decorations until the snow melts

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[GSjon]

Here it stands as of last night. The gas tank is now flat coyote tan, new bars, boss bluetooth speakers, led tail and front signals, and the digital gauge which took some fanangeling lol but I wired a magnetic speed sensor and tapped the pulse generator for the right coil to replace the old cable speedo and tach drives. Just waiting on the new headlight now and new chain and sprocket. Going down to a 14T front, then hopefully concluding my ongoing search for the perfect tires

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[ShowBizWolf]

I love that tan color and the tail light is sweet!

[GSjon]

I fell in love with this bike I'm sure some of you have seen, however I couldn't find any information and the build as I only see it on Instagram and pinterest. If anyone can identify these tires and or sizes I would be ecstatic. Love the aggressive look they give it and they look like they would eat up the gravel around where I live!



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[J_Walker]

People really love the scrambler look..

and keep putting shame to my build..

Looks good, progress looks fast, looks like you got plenty of funds to play with, hopefully the build goes along smoothly.

[mihkels]

Looks great!

What about the speedo, did you buy it on eBay? Is it this one? Did you get a wiring schematic with yours and got all the indicators working?

[GSjon]

Looks great!

What about the speedo, did you buy it on eBay? Is it this one? Did you get a wiring schematic with yours and got all the indicators working?

Yes, that is it. No mine didn't come with a schematic but im pretty handy with electronics and all the indicators are working, with the exception of the fuel gauge which would need a float sensor installed in the tank. May do it one day but not today haha. For now, just grounded out the wire from the fuel sensor since it works on resistance so it reads full instead of bone dry. I prefer that to it blinking in my face

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[Suzi Q]

If anyone can identify these tires and or sizes I would be ecstatic.

I'm pretty sure the pics you posted are of Shinko 700's. The other pics of the bike feature Metzeler Saharas.

You can reach out to the builder here:

http://www.herenciarides.com/motos/

and

https://www.facebook.com/pg/herenciarides/posts/?ref=page_internal

[mihkels]

Looks great!

What about the speedo, did you buy it on eBay? Is it this one? Did you get a wiring schematic with yours and got all the indicators working?

Yes, that is it. No mine didn't come with a schematic but im pretty handy with electronics and all the indicators are working, with the exception of the fuel gauge which would need a float sensor installed in the tank. May do it one day but not today haha. For now, just grounded out the wire from the fuel sensor since it works on resistance so it reads full instead of bone dry. I prefer that to it blinking in my face

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Did you have any problems with the neutral light? I bought this speedo to replace the bulky gauges on my build but had to disassemble it and resolder the neutral LED because the polarity was wrong. I'm thinking about getting the same speedo as yours to get a tachometer as well. Were the magnets for the speedo included?

Thanks!

[GSjon]

I'm thinking about getting the same speedo as yours to get a tachometer as well. Were the magnets for the speedo included?

Thanks!

Nope, no problems with the neutral light it works flawlessly. And the speed sensor and magnets came with the gauge. I had to fabricate a bracket for the speed sensor on the front wheel and program the gauge for the wheel diameter, but all was done in under an hour so not too bad.

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[GSjon]

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[GSjon]

Also, got my front signals wired up today (little smoked flush mounted leds) and they're way brighter than I expected so I'm pleased. Working on tucking the harnesses that were stuffed into the old headlight bowl and making brackets to mount the new headlight today. After that it'll just be cleaning out the carbs and the tank petcock, putting on the new exhaust and she should be ready to fire up for the first time in 3 years!

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[GSjon]

New chain and 14T front sprocket came in today as well!

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