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92 GS500E let the project begin.

Started by The fink, February 21, 2015, 01:47:01 AM

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The fink

Hello all, my name is Chris. I've been a long time lurker, I've owned my 1992 GS since 2001. If you want to know the history with this bike keep reading, if you don't give 2 shits that's fine too.

In the year 2000 my older brother bought the bike for I believe $1,200. My brother always loved anything with a engine, especially motorcycles.

So when he was 20 he decided to buy his first street bike, which was the 92 GS. I still remember when he got it, he came and woke me up and said come on, I have something to show you! He opens the gate to the backyard and there she was, in all her beauty. I of course was just as excited as my brother was, so he says come on I'll take ya for a ride, yes! I finally get to ride on a street bike! I was only 16 at the time.
So he takes me on a ride for about an hour, of course we're both loving it. We drive back , he then says go ahead take it around the block. I said no I can't ride this thing! I was scared, but of course it didn't take much convincing. So I hop on and take it around the block a few times, of course with a sh!t eating grin.

About 2 months later my brother overdosed on drugs with "friends", they were staying in a motel, and they left him overnight hoping he would sleep it off, they returned and he wasn't breathing and he was foaming at the mouth. The parmedics were able to revive him but he had severe brain damage. He was still there mentally, but couldn't talk, walk, or eat on his own. He stayed in a nursing home until he passed away in 2004 at the age of 24. My life hasn't been the same without my big brother, I'm 34 now.
I'm sorry this is a novel. So after the initial overdose my Mom gave the GS to a motorcycle shop to try and sell. It sat for many months and never sold. So my Mom and step dad went and got it. So then it kinda became mine. I started to ride it alot, illegally without a motorcycle license. But I loved every minute of  it, I felt in a weird way, I  owed it to my brother to ride it.
Well on Christmas night 2002 we were getting ready to go to a party, I told my Mom I was going to run down the road and back on the bike and then we could go. A couple weeks prior they re chipped our road, so there was still alot of loose gravel on the sides of the road, so I go down the road, and as I was coming back, the road curves, I was to close to the edge going 65 mph, the rear tire went, and I rolled and skidded with the bike into a ditch. At first I thought I was ok, then I looked at the bike and myself and realized different, no broken bones, but road rash from hell.

My step dad pulled it out of the ditch and put it in our shop. That's where it sat until now, 13 years later! I took the gas tank and carbs off shortly after the accident. So the good news is that it was never exposed to the elements all those years. I guess life, family, work, and money got in the way all those years, but it's time to restore her. It will be a good tribute to my brother, it will help mend a broken heart...a little. So I'll shut up now and start posting pics.

TLDR version, it was my brothers bike, I wrecked it in 2002, he passed away in 2004, time to restore it and pay tribute to my brother.

Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

#1










Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

J_Walker

So you restoring it, or doing a full custom job?
-Walker

The fink

It certainly wont look stock, but im not hacking the frame up or anything.
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

Just to be clear, that wasn't a knock on anyone who does hack their frame. In fact if I still lived by my family's dairy farm and had access to their welder I probably would. :thumb:
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

syntax_error

Your gonna have a hard time making it look "not stock" with out  cutting the frame and modifying just about every accessory tab on the frame to fit your new goodies.

The fink

Quote from: syntax_error on February 22, 2015, 07:03:22 AM
Your gonna have a hard time making it look "not stock" with out  cutting the frame and modifying just about every accessory tab on the frame to fit your new goodies.
let's put it this way, you will know it's a gs500, but it won't look like something that rolled off the factory line, if that makes sense  :thumb:
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

Going to pick up the frame, swingarm, and a few odds n ends today, I'll post pics later today  :wink:
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

ShowBizWolf

I am so sorry to hear about your brother  :cry:  I have a big brother too (I'm 28, he's 35) and even though we aren't super close, I would be completely heartbroken if anything ever happened to him.

I think this is a wonderful way to keep his memory alive... and it is AWESOME you are saving a 24 year old GS!  :laugh:  Can't wait to see the progress.

Best wishes towards the project!  :cheers:
Superbike bars, '04 GSXR headlight & cowl, DRZ signals, 1/2" fork brace, 'Busa fender, stainless exhaust & brake lines, belly pan, LED dash & brake bulbs, 140/80 rear hoop, F tail lens, SV650 shock, Bandit400 hugger, aluminum heel guards & pegs, fork preload adjusters, .75 SonicSprings, heated grips

The fink

#10
Quote from: ShowBizWolf on February 23, 2015, 09:55:01 AM
I am so sorry to hear about your brother  :cry:  I have a big brother too (I'm 28, he's 35) and even though we aren't super close, I would be completely heartbroken if anything ever happened to him.

I think this is a wonderful way to keep his memory alive... and it is AWESOME you are saving a 24 year old GS!  :laugh:  Can't wait to see the progress.

Best wishes towards the project!  :cheers:
Thanks, I appreciate it. Pics to come :thumb:
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink



So there you have it, that's what I'm dealing with haha  :cheers:
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

Well here we go. I'm pretty pumped how this turned out. For all who are considering restoring their GS, I would highly recommend powder coating. I've had quite a few things powder coated with various projects I've done, paint simply doesn't hold a candle to powder coating. It's rather inexpensive too, for the quality you are getting. All that you see in the pictures cost me approximately  $218. Not bad if you ask me. Here are the results.

Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

Janx101

Mmmm yeah! Powder coating always looks schmick when it's a good job like you got! :thumb:


The fink

Quote from: Janx101 on February 24, 2015, 10:03:32 AM
Mmmm yeah! Powder coating always looks schmick when it's a good job like you got! :thumb:
yeah it does, ease of mind knowing it will last a long time too  :D
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

GS500Schultz

I love powder coating, and i'm not just saying that because i run my own powder shop.

it's because it's f-ING AWESOME!!!
You don't own a project bike..
The Project bike owns you!

ruifrsilva

#16
Powder Coating is definitely the way to go. I got my 91 frame coated last year as part of my restoration, it holds up so much better than paint and the sandblasting was a much better way of getting rid of all the rust my frame had.

Crappy picture of bike during assembly after powder coating:


Good luck with the restoration. Mine looked like yours last summer, a pile of rusty old dirty parts lol. The Frame looks great!

syntax_error

Damn. That is clean. Looking great so far. If I'm not mistaken, I believe I have the same ladder rack on my truck. I see the rack posts that go into the box pockets are blown up like a balloon just like mine. I was wondering if that was that way factory or is it what I think it is, water freezing to ice inside the post causing expansion.

The fink

Quote from: GS500Schultz on February 24, 2015, 11:04:44 AM
I love powder coating, and i'm not just saying that because i run my own powder shop.

it's because it's f-ING AWESOME!!!
it really is f-ing awesome, so seeing as you do this for a living, would you concur that $218 is a good deal?
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

The fink

Quote from: ruifrsilva on February 24, 2015, 03:07:09 PM
Powder Coating is definitely the way to go. I got my 91 frame coated last year as part of my restoration, it holds up so much better than paint and the sandblasting was a much better way of getting rid of all the rust my frame had.

Crappy picture of bike during assembly after powder coating:


Good luck with the restoration. Mine looked like yours last summer, a pile of rusty old dirty parts lol. The Frame looks great!
Thanks brother, thanks for sharing, looks good. Any links to your build thread?
Be who YOU are, and say what YOU feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

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