Here's what I started with. 89 GS500
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC01172.jpg)
I cut the steer tube (with the VIN) and started building the frame.
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03722.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC01200.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC01229.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC01235.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC02888.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC02889.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC02890.jpg)
With this little tab, I can take off the brake caliper and master cylinder without opening the system.
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03729.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03728.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03727.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC02895.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03639.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03716.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03717.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03726.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03725.jpg)
(http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03722.jpg)
Now that is cool!!! At first I thought why? Then I realized why not. I love originality and this just oozes it. Love the exhaust too, how does it sound? From the looks of it the electrical may not be finished so it might not have been started yet?
Wow, not something I would build myself but something I've never seen done to a GS! Congrats, and well done!
Awesome! Are you at all concerned about spitting exhaust out over your left leg and chain?
I have always wated to build something like this, I just never had a donor bike. I never really cared what kind of bike, I just needed a cheap one. As it turned out, my buddy's GS kept getting stolen and recovered. He didn't even want the bike, but the cops said he had to pay the fines and take posession of the bike. I offered to take it off his hands, and payed him $100 for it. Finally, I had a donor bike.
The electrcal is done. The close up of the exhause shows the battery tray with the Starter Solenoid, ECU, and Rectifier. I just have to build a lid for it all. It is LOUD.
As far as the exhaust, it exits through the chain, any drips will drip on the frame, outside of the chain. It also exits behind my heel. The only thing that's kind of annoying is that when I start moving, when my leg is still on the ground, the exhaust moves past it, blowing my leg with hot air (it's not too bad though). Also, when putting the kick stand down, my leg is right in front of the exhaust, but I usually put it up and down by hand because it is so close and easy.
I want the body work you pulled off it if its in good shape.
BTW the bike you built, its called a cruiser ... but i like the fact it has a parallel twin motor though.
Cool.
Buddha.
I do like that..... Fuel tank under the frame is neat...You build the tank by hand or?
Short exhaust will kill the low end ( what little there is)...but it looks pretty cool....
It's a Bobber Buddha....Bobber.... He's about 45 pounds short on Chrome etc to be a cruiser...
Awesome. Good sense to build a bobber on a japanese parallell twin and buy gas instead of oil.. As opposed to the brittish pre hinkley mills..
Cool.
what carbs are you running on this?
very nice ,one of a kind right there , dont think u will see another like it :thumb: up to u
Very cool. What sort of time did it take? How about pics of you on the bike and some measurements for size comparisons?
The carbs are 33mm Keihin CR Specials. I ordered them from Sudco, and they were real expensive. In fact, they constituted the majority of the total money invested, but worth it as far as I can tell. They came as a direct OEM replacement, pre jetted, etc. All I had to do was push them in. I'm not sure about the throttle cable. It may have needed a different length throw, but I needed longer cables anyway, so who knows.
I'll try to get a pic of me on the bike. I'm about 6' tall and it is comfortable, but even somebody 5'4" would fit on it as well. This is one of the few machines that fit all sizes. Most of my creations fit Me, and my shorter friends always say, "You should make this like this," and I always ask, "Why? I built this for me, I'll build one that fits you for $X..."
-SPiNNeR-
Looks great. Do you know anyone else with a GS500? You should get a picture of them sitting next to each other.
When I read your title I was worried I was going to open the thread and see someone just took a hacksaw to the tail of their GS but this is a great project.
Buddha, it won't be a cruiser until he sticks one of these things on it.... (http://discountmotorcycleseats.com/themes/Action/images/mustangsolo.jpg) and adds a hundred pounds of accessories.
I, of course grew up loving Harley Davidsons, now I can't stand them. This is my response. I rarely am satisfied with what someone else designs/builds. I find that the only way to get what I actually want is to build it.
Here's a picture of me on the Bike.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af9/TheRealSpinner/Suzuki%20Bobber/DSC03730.jpg)
As you can see, no hot heels, and it's not very big, but still comfortable. Like I said before, even my short girlfriend fits on it. (She just isn't strong enough to keep it upright, and doesn't have any experience riding, so I don't think she will be wanting to ride it any time soon. She is welcome to ride it anytime she wants, what's mine is hers, as the saying goes.)
Badass :thumb:
:bowdown: Thats one sweet build!
Keep the pics comin as it progress's please! :thumb:
very nice build! :thumb:
but how about registering that thing for street use? is it easily doable?
Gonna put some attachments so bars are closer to you - or - do you just lean forward so you can ride with a slight bend of your elbows - or - do't you worry about riding with bent elbows?
Michael
I don't know about riding position. I just ride...
I'd call it done for now. I need a few finishing things: cover for the battery and electrical, another motor mount beneath the seat, a front fork brace and fender, and some way of disguising the wiring going from behind the seat to the battery.
As far as regestration, since I used the original head tube, the VIN is still there, and the motor and the plate match. I didn't tell the DMV anything different, it's just a frame modification if I'm asked.
I've got about 250 hrs into the build. That includes a lot of staring a it time, figuring out how I'm gonna make the next part. It does not include the preliminary AutoDAD drawings that I made, while learning the program.
I've driven it about 150 miles since I put the license plate on. I've had cops pull up behind me and check me out, but I haven't been pulled over. I guess I build it right...
-SPiNNeR-
put some highway pegs up front. just my opinion. to each his own, nice bike.
That's AWESOME! Did you hand form the tank? I'm not digging the frame-over-tank thing, but I don't really like all the empty space that would be between the frame and the valve cover had you put the tank above the frame either. Who cares what I think though, it's still unique and looks well put together. I'll stop rambling now...you're the man :thumb:
Thats nuts! It looks HUGE in the picture by itself, but with you sitting on it it gives a better perspective, I wouldn't have guessed the riding position would be so upright, it looks like it would have your feet and hands way out in front of you.
I wonder what it would have looked like with the top of the tank molded up around the frame, so the frame was sort of recessed in the top of it with the filler cap offset to the right?
Awesom build. This is what i would like to build in the future...
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/seamax206/vehicles/100_1222_001.jpg)
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/seamax206/vehicles/100_1221.jpg)
Man, I definately picked up a few ideas from that bike. I'd say it is a little too "cruiser" style for me though. I'd be interested in riding it. I especially like the raw aluminum case covers though, don't be surprised if I post a similar picture in the future.
-SPiNNeR-
Quote from: TheRealSpinner on June 21, 2010, 03:03:56 AM
Man, I definately picked up a few ideas from that bike. I'd say it is a little too "cruiser" style for me though. I'd be interested in riding it. I especially like the raw aluminum case covers though, don't be surprised if I post a similar picture in the future.
-SPiNNeR-
I love the exhaust work also. I don't whether it's practical to run it under the tank but it sure looks damn good.
I must be getting old because I'm starting to feel the aches in my wrist and shoulders after riding my baby so I'm starting to lean towards a cruiser or bobber. Love the cafes but I think it still too much lean.
One day I'll build something like yours. Are you keeping it raw or going to paint it?
I plan on giving it a Faux-tina. Basically make it lookold with the paine applications, but get it protected.
From what I've heard, it's: Roll on black (yes, the more texture, the better); then brush on red (once again, texture is your friend); then spray or spraypaint white or silver or something. Then start sanding... stop when the right color appears.
I don't think it will paint it until the fall wather starts in. I'm gonna enjoy the summer now when I don't have to worry about moisture.
-SPiNNeR-
Looks pretty cool! Just happened to remember this episode of trucks where they did a faux-tina paint job. It might help if you haven't aleady seen it...
http://www.spike.com/full-episode/classix-part-5-faux/36170
Very cool build!
The ignition coil being fitted on the valve cover will kill it in short order. Heat and vibration ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: theUBS on June 22, 2010, 09:14:56 PM
Looks pretty cool! Just happened to remember this episode of trucks where they did a faux-tina paint job. It might help if you haven't aleady seen it...
http://www.spike.com/full-episode/classix-part-5-faux/36170
That is exactly where I got the idea.
Buddha, I've been worried about the same thing, but I've got another set of coils, so I was just gonna see how long they last and see if I need to re-mount them. Nobody else has noticed that I mounted the coils there. I was really surprised when I noticed that they fit, no modifications. The hole spacing looks like it was meant to be mounted that way (not really). All I had to do was get longer bolts so that I kept the same clamping power. Maybe I will try to soft mount the coils (like the tank), then the only thing they won't like is the heat.
-SPiNNeR-
Just curious how this bobber is holding up for you? I was talking to a friend at work about this bike, trying to talk him into purchasing a raveged GS and doing something similar to this (on his dime of course lol).
Sweet bike build.Where are things at with it?
Kickass bike!