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1980 GS450 "Sport". The grandaddy to the GS500.....Done!

Started by Big Rich, May 18, 2013, 08:37:22 PM

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peteGS

That site's cool and all but... I don't get it when people do "cafe's" like that and go and put dual sport or "period treat" tyres on that obviously won't handle any twisties... just my opinion though because they've done a top job on that bike... I just think some proper rubber would make it far more awesome.

I know my 450 is great to throw around in the twisties but I wouldn't be confident with rubber like that...

Ok, enough of my crap, resume normal thread activity  :D
'82 GS450E
'84 GSX1100S Katana

Big Rich

Ha! I agree with you Pete. I've been leaning to "function over form" very much lately. Some projects are great to look at, but I'd be scared to ride a lot of stuff that shows up randomly on the net.
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

peteGS

Haha glad I'm not the only one Rich :)

I do get it if it's a concept or something, just not when it's supposed to be ridden...


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'82 GS450E
'84 GSX1100S Katana

Big Rich



Got back from a good 150 mile ride today, and I'm saying this project is complete. Suspension is good, jetting is good, so now it's just time to ride the tires off!

Some bolts will be swapped out for stainless ones, the gas tank might get a fresh coat of paint this winter, some parts might get some powdercoating, etc.. But all of that can wait. Besides, I have to get back to work on my GR650.....
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

GS4me


Great Thread.  Love the older bikes!    I noticed (I think on page 2) that you installed an auxiliary running light along with your low beam.

Any chance you can post a pic on how it's mounted?  I'm wondering if that's a OEM part or aftermarket? 

I've been looking at TONS of older bikes for almost exactly the same thing! I'd  like to see if I can convert something like that and mount them in the same location on my GS500E.  (I'd love to be able to convert them to LED if possible. That housing and mounting location is exactly what I'm looking for. 

Awesome Job on the restoration.

It's the housing and the mounting points

Big Rich

Thanks man!

I believe you are talking about the light on page 1. It was mounted on a case saver bar (crash bar) with some 3 piece frame clamps, and hooked up to a relay thru the low beam. I have to say though, it was a pretty weak light, so for me just a waste of power. I looked into converting the H3 (?) bulb housing to an led unit, but it really wasn't feasible. I can take pictures of the housing tomorrow though...... I still have it taken apart as a matter of fact.
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

GS4me

Hey thanks,

I was kind of thinking that.  I really wasn't "too concerned" about light output (per se'),  I was just looking for a way to install (2 if possible) AUX Lights like some of the older bikes had - just for a little extra "visibility" as far as oncoming vehicles, people looking in the rear view mirrors etc.

Initially (and I still may), I was trying to see if I could possibly use a pair of these , or other lights from an older bike and fabricate mounts to my headlight area.

It's not a "must do" mod but I think I've narrowed it down to either that, or something like you have on your bike (and possible a matching one on the other side too).

GSnoober

Great build thread; would love to get another GS450 someday...

7thgear

1992 GS500E Blue, 1992 GS500E Black, 2003 Honda CG125.

My web: wanderersbook.blogspot.com

Big Rich

83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

MARider


Big Rich

Those would be Seahorse 520 cases in ....guess what color? Gunmetal gray. Although they are very greenish.....

The good thing about the 520 cases is that they make 540 cases that are identical in height and length, but the depth is about 3" wider. Here's a link to one of the sites that sells all of them:

http://www.seahorsecases.net/index.php?csid=7ce40841efa75cd7e02584434c47ec8e&sl=EN&currency=
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

MARider

custome madde mounts? would like something some what small for my gs and these look like they fit the bill

Big Rich

Oops - sorry Mar. Yeah, the racks themselves are custom made from plate steel and 1/4" square tubing. I'll post a picture of them if you'd like without the Seahorse cases installed.
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

MARider

That would be great..PS your bike looks amazing. great job

Big Rich

Thank you sir!

Here's a pic of the square tube frame with a couple mounting points:



And here it is with the other mounting points welded on, painted up, and right before the cases went on:



Not professional by any means, but it gets the job done. I might make a cleaner version next winter if I get the chance, but I'm not terribly worried about it.
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

MARider

I like it. Looks clean and does the job I take it. Will have to look into some one welding for me as um well I am awful at it.

Big Rich

Bought these rad preload adjusters from Steezin (who got them from the legendary Mr Knopf):



And here is a stock fork cap, along with the new cap (w/ a solid steel disc):



The adjustment bolt w/ solid disc are about 20mm deeper, so I cut off 25mm from the PVC spacer inside the forks. Here they are installed (on a filthy but well ridden bike....haha):

83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

Big Rich

Now that winter is pretty well setting in here in western PA, it's time to do a couple smaller things to the ol' GS. A couple months ago my plastic chain guard broke:



Finding a replacement plastic guard from the "Sport" model proved to be fruitless, so I had to retrofit a chrome guard from the standard / cruiser model:

83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

Big Rich

Now, the chrome guard is made to fit to the swingarm differently than the plastic guard. That and the fact that I hated seeing all that chrome bugged me. So I cut the rear mount from the chrome chain guard and used rivets to hold it to the plastic guard:



There are some other updates coming over the next couple months, but I'll be concentrating on the GR650 - with money and time.
83 GR650 (riding / rolling project)

It's opener there in the wide open air...

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