GR650 anybody?

[Big Rich]

Once I woke up this afternoon, I rolled the bike outside for a decent picture:



I'll be adding a couple braces soon, but the basic framework is done.

[Big Rich]

So I made the rough cuts for the headlights.



And jumped the lights because I guess I like to blind myself....

[ShowBizWolf]

Wow this is great work!!!  I love the headlights... can't wait to see more 

[jar75]

Great build. Subscribed. 

[Big Rich]

Thanks Showbiz and Jar. I know it looks like parts being cobbled together at the moment, but that's how all these projects start out.....

[jar75]

You're absolutely right ! This IS how projects come together. From the pics in your first post it looks like you did a nice job on the cafe conversion, and now to this ? Amazing ! It's how you make your bike, " your bike".  Welding and fabrication doesn't come easy. Anyone can slap prefab parts on a chassis but you chose the one off route. I love the progress. Keep up the great work! 

Thanks Showbiz and Jar. I know it looks like parts being cobbled together at the moment, but that's how all these projects start out.....

[ShowBizWolf]

Heck yeah, agreed!!  The truly custom stuff that people do... showing imagination and quality work... will always catch my eye 

[jar75]

When I was a kid I would go to car and bike shows.  I would take pictures of everything. Nowadays it takes custom work or some type of wow factor for me to pull my camera out. Now I don't want anyone to take that the wrong way. I like anything that sets someone's car or bike apart from the rest in one way or another.

Heck yeah, agreed!!  The truly custom stuff that people do... showing imagination and quality work... will always catch my eye 

[ShowBizWolf]

Well said.  I feel exactly the same

[Big Rich]

I was messing around last night and rolled the bike out to check out my lighting. I know every light is bright as heck in a picture, but here's the high beam from about 50' away:



And I noticed the seat frame wasn't perfectly lined up so I spent some time grinding, banging, welding it back together. I added some smaller tubes for cross braces between the lower rails and the seat rails. Here's the skeleton so far:

[Big Rich]

Ya know, I was at a bike show pretty recently. I can appreciate any custom work, that's for sure, but there is some stuff you see and it just makes you wonder sometimes..... I talked to some younger guys at the show - in college or just out, no money, etc - but they loved working on their own scoot to the best of their ability (and financial means). And I dig that. There was a few older guys that do some pretty rad work, and they've been doing it for a long time. What bothers me is when somebody intentionally makes a bike unsafe to achieve a certain "look". As if riding a cycle isn't dangerous enough.....

Funny little story though: there was a group of 5 or 6 guys that all had newer Triumph Thruxtons. They all had the old "Rocker" theme going on too - slicked back hair, misc patches on their jackets, etc, but the bikes and clothing all looked really new. When somebody would cruise past on a Harley, one of these guys would snicker and say something about "buying a lifestyle"...... made me laugh a little when I heard that.

[jar75]

First off nice welds. Are you a welder by trade ? Second I agree with safely modifying a bike ...
I'm definitely LOL at the guys who make goofy comments about " buying the lifestyle".

Ya know, I was at a bike show pretty recently. I can appreciate any custom work, that's for sure, but there is some stuff you see and it just makes you wonder sometimes..... I talked to some younger guys at the show - in college or just out, no money, etc - but they loved working on their own scoot to the best of their ability (and financial means). And I dig that. There was a few older guys that do some pretty rad work, and they've been doing it for a long time. What bothers me is when somebody intentionally makes a bike unsafe to achieve a certain "look". As if riding a cycle isn't dangerous enough.....

Funny little story though: there was a group of 5 or 6 guys that all had newer Triumph Thruxtons. They all had the old "Rocker" theme going on too - slicked back hair, misc patches on their jackets, etc, but the bikes and clothing all looked really new. When somebody would cruise past on a Harley, one of these guys would snicker and say something about "buying a lifestyle"...... made me laugh a little when I heard that.

[Big Rich]

Welder? Oh no, not at all. I just started with a stick welder about a year ago and those welds pictured above were made with a Harbor Freight mig setup. I try to weld as much as possible though, and I'm definitely not afraid to grind a weld off and do of again.

By trade I'm a machinist - but not the useful kind. I work with high production / loose tolerance rough work.

Thanks for the compliment though Jar!

[Big Rich]

Ok, so a good bit has been changed since last time:



The most obvious is that I cut off the rear frame hoop. For me to use the taillight that I want, the loop had to be so big..... TOO big. Off to the scrap bucket it went. I welded up the seat pan mount, along with the rear gas tank mount. I also fabbed up some seat frame uprights - the left side is very visible in this pic, and it looks huge. But once the gas tank is mounted they are much less obtrusive.  Also ordered some plastic seat tail sections to use as molds for a fiberglass seat:

[peteGS]

Very nice Rich! Sorry haven't looked in for a while so nice to see her coming along!


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[Big Rich]

No apologies needed, Pete! I understand you're a busy guy. Glad you checked in though!

[peteGS]

Always keen to see what you're up to Rich!


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[Big Rich]

Started messing around with rearsets :



I started out with cardboard, then switched to ABS plastic so I could get a better idea of where everything needs to be. Aluminum is next......

[Big Rich]

While I'm waiting though, I started getting locations for the electrical stuff squared away:



In the pic, you'll see the starter relay in between the gas tank rubber pad & rear tank mount. In front of the tank pad is the fuse box and ignitor.

[Big Rich]

And I welded in a cross brace for the rear of the seat frame:



Ignore the chrome fender - I just used it as a reference while welding. And here's the gas tank mounted over top of the electric bits: