Newest Member of the Family

[profile_deleted]

Bruce, I'm following your build, but I'm wondering where you're going with this... 

Excellent question!  The completely transparent answer is "I have no idea."  (ok... maybe a vague idea)

Not to get "all philosophical," but when it comes to builds, I am definitely a "the journey is the destination" kind of guy.  I have a lot of admiration for someone that can plan out a project at the start and then stick to it, but to me that would feel like I was assigning myself homework.  LOL 

My favorite part of the build process is definitely the creative problem solving that comes along with the "what if I try this?" sort of progression.  I've done a build or two per year for the past 5 years or so and with the exception of one that I can recall (helping a friend who wanted to duplicate a previous build that I had done), none of them started with much more than a very general concept.

Having said all that, the concept pic for your build was awesome!  I have zero (as in.. ZE-RO!) photoshop skills, or photoshop software for that matter, but maybe I'll try to get a concept pic together for this build just for a change.

Hmmmm.... give me a day...   

[profile_deleted]

Love me some 'use what i got' theme!

Definitely cheaper! 

[thatshitcray]

Bruce, I'm following your build, but I'm wondering where you're going with this... 

...
..but maybe I'll try to get a concept pic together for this build just for a change.

Hmmmm.... give me a day...   

What a great time to tune in! Why did you shy away from the Scrambler but go with the Cafe, is it because the terrain each is meant for is different and you're going easy on this bike with low k's(/miles)?

[The Buddha]

Man I hate to waste things....

While I was working on cleaning up the rear of the frame I started thinking about the rear fender (and rear of the bike in general) which was one of the parts of my last build with which I wasn't entirely happy.  Since I had three "half-front" fenders sitting around from building custom front fenders I figured I would have a go at putting them to use on the rear.

I bolted one onto the frame and it seemed like it had some potential as a rear fender but was missing "something."  Cutting another one down and adding it to each side to give the fender a more symmetrical look (held in place temporarily by some tape) really had me intrigued so I went ahead and built up a custom rear, using the same basic technique as the front. 

I'm not completely convinced I'll use it (the seam still needs a bit of work and the mounting bolts on the side stick out like sore thumbs) but it only took about two hours to make and I had a bit of fun.  It definitely begs for a round number on it though.

We'll see...

You need one of these front ends to make it match.



Cool.
Buddha.

[profile_deleted]

Hmmmmm..... so where would one get one of those?

[Endopotential]

Looks like a KTM 690 Enduro?

https://www.ktm.com/us/travel/690-enduro-r/

[The Buddha]

Or you could yank one off a platypus - but that's animeal cruelty.

Cool.
Buddha.

[profile_deleted]

Or you could yank one off a platypus - but that's animeal cruelty.

Cool.
Buddha.

I really thought I had the front end of the bike figured out at this point but honestly you are making me second-guess myself. LOL.

[profile_deleted]

Finally got a chance to start making some "stuff."

Whatever I end up doing with the headlight I am taking the top most triple tree off (the part with the integrated handlebar clamps) and plan on using some aftermarket clamps to attach the bars directly to the top clamps. That will let me lower the forks in the triple tree about an inch so they are flush with the top clamp which will give me a little bit higher front end to match the longer shock that is going to end up on the back (and I just like the look). In any case, the remaining top triple tree needed to be modified as it has a cut out for the ignition (which is also getting moved) and the recesses for the rubber bumpers between the two pieces (which I wanted to fill in for aesthetic reasons). So, a little bit of work with the hacksaw... some JB Weld, shaped and sanded accordingly... and a quick shot of primer to see how it looks (It still needs a nip here and a tuck there) and it will soon be done. I will probably paint it to match the tank and side panels, so for now that's as far as this part of the project will go.

[profile_deleted]

Here's what I'm planning for the bar clamps, bars, grips and matching seat. 

And just for Christo... I'm really trying to get a concept pic together, turns out that's harder than actually building the thing... lol.

[The Buddha]

Or you could yank one off a platypus - but that's animeal cruelty.

Cool.
Buddha.

I really thought I had the front end of like figured out at this point but honestly you are making me second-guess myself. LOL.

Naaaaa Just name it platygs500. Maybe paint a feather pattern on it.

Hey - the first feathered GS - to be sure put some tar on it too. Tarred and feathered GS500.

It will teach those furry 500's a good lesson. Fur, huh, that's so 1998. Here ladies and gentlemen we have a tarred and feathered GS500 complete with platypus bill front and back.
It almost looks like it will fly, platypii fly don't they

Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

Here's what I'm planning for the bar clamps, bars, grips and matching seat. 

And just for Christo... I'm really trying to get a concept pic together, turns out that's harder than actually building the thing... lol.

Woww - OK I got a slightly better idea - not to mention far cooler looking -
Unless you already have these parts you pictured.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-31-54mm-Fork-Clip-ons-Handlebars-Heads-Mounts-Bar-Riser-Regular-Black-CNC/193473199697?hash=item2d0be6be51:m:myOOaqgGGYH7hZQHx5ZmVAA

Very very high quality - just watch out for that nasty A$$ virus to jump up from it and bite your A$$.

Or - if you're tied to the handlebars over clip-ons.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28MM-1-1-8-Handlebar-Bar-Clamp-Risers-Mounts-for-CR125R-CR25R-CRF250R-CRF450R/164137990638?hash=item263762f9ee:m:mgCCHb3Gq94VoCWLP1rGZSQ

And get Chinese 1 1/8th dirt bike bars - again not too $$$ courtesy our virus spreading friends.

Cool.
Buddha.

[profile_deleted]

Here's what I'm planning for the bar clamps, bars, grips and matching seat. 

And just for Christo... I'm really trying to get a concept pic together, turns out that's harder than actually building the thing... lol.

Woww - OK I got a slightly better idea - not to mention far cooler looking -
Unless you already have these parts you pictured.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-31-54mm-Fork-Clip-ons-Handlebars-Heads-Mounts-Bar-Riser-Regular-Black-CNC/193473199697?hash=item2d0be6be51:m:myOOaqgGGYH7hZQHx5ZmVAA

Very very high quality - just watch out for that nasty A$$ virus to jump up from it and bite your A$$.

Or - if you're tied to the handlebars over clip-ons.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28MM-1-1-8-Handlebar-Bar-Clamp-Risers-Mounts-for-CR125R-CR25R-CRF250R-CRF450R/164137990638?hash=item263762f9ee:m:mgCCHb3Gq94VoCWLP1rGZSQ

And get Chinese 1 1/8th dirt bike bars - again not too $$$ courtesy our virus spreading friends.

Cool.
Buddha.

Those are the exact clip-ons I used in the café build that I just did... love 'em

The yellow bars I actually already have... a donation from a friend.  They are 7/8", and unfortunately I haven't been able to find a decent set of CNC bar clamps that are 7/8".  Agreed though... still looking for something cooler.  The ones pictured do have a round base though that would fit right in with the dampers that are already on the GS triple... thereby providing a more "consistent design aesthetic."  lol

[profile_deleted]

Bruce, I'm following your build, but I'm wondering where you're going with this... 

...
..but maybe I'll try to get a concept pic together for this build just for a change.

Hmmmm.... give me a day...   

What a great time to tune in! Why did you shy away from the Scrambler but go with the Cafe, is it because the terrain each is meant for is different and you're going easy on this bike with low k's(/miles)?

Not shying away from the Scrambler at all... just having some fun making stuff.  I think I'm actually going to end up putting the rear fender that I just made on the Café racer that I "finished" a few months ago:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=73196.0

I just found a red café seat that I want to switch out on it and I've been wanting to add a keyed seat release as well.  So if I'm going to tear it apart, I might as well improve the rear end at the same time.  I wasn't completely happy with the fender set up on that bike anyway.     

[profile_deleted]

Thought I would briefly hijack my own thread for a quick update on my café racer. 

Since I recently made a rear fender (which was obviously not going to go on the scrambler) I decided to use it to spruce up the bike that I finished a few months ago.  I was never really fully satisfied with the fender I used and wanted to add a keyed seat release anyway, so that was this past weekend's project.  I had found a great looking red seat that I wanted to use on it as well, but after waiting a week for it to arrive, I was told it was out of stock.   

In any case... a few pics. 

[profile_deleted]

And a few more...  It turns out that if you hack off the OE seat bridge (and drill a few holes) it mounts right back between the frame where it came off... who would have thunk it???  I mounted the OE seat striker to a cheap after market seat ($29) with a few expansion nuts.  All the blue tape is where I used epoxy to fill in a few holes from the mounting points that I wasn't using... just to clean up the bottom of the seat pan a bit.  Good thing I kept all the seat parts from the original project.   

[profile_deleted]

Oh yeah... and one more pic just for Christo.    We'll see if I can pull it off.

[Endopotential]

That would be badass!  Would love to see that color combo come to life!

[SK Racing]

Oh yeah... and one more pic just for Christo.    We'll see if I can pull it off.

Wow, Bruce! That's an excellent first attempt at graphically rendering a GS.

Incidentally, I've used the same base picture for first rendering of my project, while playing with different ideas ‼ 




As mentioned before in my own build thread, I now use a different base picture for my renderings - one that I've borrowed from Joao Kleber Design:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JgRuelKPJGhYDzWva22-w

There are a few styles and colors to choose from. https://www.behance.net/gallery/53418303/SUZUKI-GS-500-SCRAMBLER-20152016

A scrambler version was added recently:



Lots more ideas here:
https://www.behance.net/search/projects/?search=Scrambler&sort=appreciations&time=week&ordinal=96

[profile_deleted]

Having bid adios to the PAIR system over the weekend, I had room to move a few other things around...

Since I am going for a minimalist look and removal of the top triple tree / bar clamps left me with no place for the ignition, (but I wanted to keep it keyed for security) that now resides behind the front fender (mounted where the oil cooler was).  I still need to tidy it up a bit with some nicer bolts and a grommet, but the fit and function are confirmed.

The stock speedo / tach / indicators / etc... have been replaced by a simpler speedo / odo combo.  Not sure if that will be the final mounting configuration but it will do for now.

Oh yeah... and I got the new yellow bars and brown grips on as well.  Sorry Buddha...  using the crappy bar mounts for now for that "old school, dirt bike-licious" vibe!  Although I think the CNC'ed black ones may be on there before the project's end.   

B.