!st time build GS550 cafe racer

Cjpisch

New Member
This is my 1st build its still a rolling project, I just couldn't wait to get it back on the road. Anyway short story. Traded a rebuilt kx250 that i rebuilt for a non running 1977 gs550.. I found bad coils and got the thing running again. Once i knew it was running, I pulled apart the bike cut the frame and chopped all the tabs. Welded a rear hoop, fab'ed a seat pan, dented the tank, bondo, paint, installed some rear sets from fast from the past, led lights, small white faced gauges, clip ons and, chopped the exhaust and wrapped it, tuned and thats where it at now.
 

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Looks great! I have a 81 gs550 that I'm building. Where did you get the exhaust at?

Also a bit of a random question, but I
Figure you probably ran into the same issue. Do you know what thread pattern the swing arm hinge bolt is? I need to cut mine down to clear the rearsets


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I don't know what the size bolt or thread it is. I'm using a foldable rearsets that clear the kickstart.
 
Bike looks great man! Do you have any pictures of the seat fabrication process or would you want to do a write up? Did you have any issues with the lengths of the cables when you switched the handle bars?
 
I setup the seat with leftover pieces from other projects that I had laying around in the garage, this is a true budget build. So I welded some mounts across the frame. Then took some steel and cut it to the shape of the seat. I then weld some grade8 bolts to the bottom side of the plate. This also makes the seat adjustable. I then drilled 3 hole into the seat and plate. I used a countersink bit to the plastic seat so my bolts would be flush. Oh yeah I got my seat from dime city cycles. If I remember correctly they are made by legendary cycles. Had a small piece of foam to place between the seat and seat pan and bolted the seat to the pan. Then attach the foam which Is also from dimecitycycles.com. Here's couple of pics that probably say more then my rambling
 

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Bottom of pan
 

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The throttle cables are abit to long but they don't bind and tuck away. The clutch cable is also too long but doesnt bend hard or kink and sits just behind the headlamp so it doesn't look tacky. I will try to shorten them about 6" here soon just for a more professional look. speedo and tach don't bind as well. I've put on 70miles since its been completed and have had no issues with any binding at all
 
Thanks for putting up all the pictures of the seat fab process. After putting those 70 miles on the bike, how comfortable would you say the seat and riding position are?
 
hey guys i'm new here, as per my name on here lol, but i was wondering what was your break set up like? i bought my '78 gs550e on craigslist here in NY, but it was missing the front master cylinder and i was wondering what i could do about that. any advice is appreciated. cheers
 
NewbieWithADream said:
hey guys i'm new here, as per my name on here lol, but i was wondering what was your break set up like? i bought my '78 gs550e on craigslist here in NY, but it was missing the front master cylinder and i was wondering what i could do about that. any advice is appreciated. cheers

You have a single brake caliper up front, correct? If so, a master cylinder from a GS500 will work just fine, and I recommend a braided brake hose while you have everything apart.

And welcome to the site man - post a proper intro in the member introduction area.
 
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