Thursday, July 28, 2011

1979 Suzuki GS850 Cafe Racer


I have been messing around with it on and off, cut the frame up a bit more of unwanted tabs and the rear footpeg mounts. A week ago the 2008 Suzuki GSXR1000 front end arrived and threw it on. It will need some machine work to get the stock 19" rim to work with it. I really want to keep the front stock rim other than the GSXR front rim. I have decided to get rid of the dual shocks and go with a mono shock off a GSXR1000. So their will also be some modification to the rear driveshaft swing arm. I will be using GSXR rearsets on the bike.


This bike will be a slow moving project, but as long as it's moving in a progressive manner I'm happy! It should have a very aggresive stance to it when finally sitting as a roller. The electrics will be done just as the 76 XS500 I have done. And most likely there will be other changes during the process. I do know I want to make a custom 4-into-1 exhaust using an aftermarket street bike pipe.


That's about it, Enjoy!

10 comments:

  1. Looking really good. Liking how the tank and seat look from the top view!

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  2. Thanks Mr. Yeah, she has that hour glass shape to her!

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  3. One thing I do like is that you weren't afraid to let her keep her curves, so many times it seems like people try to force slimness onto a bike that just isn't slim. Not asking to divulge a source or anything but do you have connections for the GSXR parts or are you buying the stuff off Ebay? I'd be hard pressed to spend the asking price for a GSXR 1K front end on Ebay on a project bike. I do like teh stance as well. I'll be staying tuned, I'm interested in seeing how you resolve the shaft drive/mono-shock conundrum.

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  4. Thanks Juan! No type of source for these parts, came across the front end by accident on the cheap on ebay, so jumped on it. I also like the stance she has at the moment. Once i get the front end and wheel mounted properly and the rear monoshock. I will see if I can keep the stance as is.

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  5. Hey man, you're bikes are pretty amazing. I wish I had your skills. I just inherited a 79 GS850 and I have dreams of turning it into a cafe racer. So far this is the best looking one I have found on the internet. What advice can you offer me as I get started? Also, what did you use for the tail piece on this bike? How did you go about changing the shocks? Did you do anymore to the frame other than trim the rear and move the pegs?

    Thanks for your thoughts and help

    Mike

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  6. Thank you! I havnt touched it lately. Waiting on the Money to invest into it. The seat was made from a gs550 gas tank. The rear suspension is still being thought out on how I want to mount the solo shock and how I want to reinforce the swingarm. And I still have to get the front end machined to mount it up properly. Hoping to start back on it over the winter months.

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  7. hey man i just bought an 83 gs850, really like your handle bars, did u fab those yourself? also interested in the mono shock concept, got any updates. btw ur project is lookin awesome so far

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  8. The clip ons are the stock Gsxr. No updates yet on this build. And thanks. don't know when I'll be getting onto this one. But I'll be posting once I get something new to it.

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  9. so does the tree fit good to the frame or is there a lot of modification that had to be done?

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  10. It's just sitting on their at the moment. Their is going to be some need for machine work to make it fit and work right. For the neck and original rim.

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