1981 Suzuki GS650GL, suck removal

H

Homesick vagrant

New Member
In all it's factory Harley wannabeness.

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How it looked in 2014, circa a month ago

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Through various stages of spray paint applications and wrench turning

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Got the bike home, did a quickie carb job, it cranked, so I put some time and money in it. Just need something to ride, so nothing major change wise, just want to enjoy the warm weather. 95% done! just waiting on some back ordered parts.

Titles in Ohio SUCK!!!! 15 years or older in Georgia, bill of sale and you can register and ride it. But, got the title stuff out of the way, notary, judge, Supreme Court, congress, space aliens, and a DNA test.
 
Thanks. I was going for something between a restore and a custom job.

The second picture, first post. Rusty, dusty, old, and crusty.

I got it home, quickly went through the carbs, it cranked, didn't knock, and didn't catch on fire, so I decided I'd put some time and money in it.
 
I'm surprised you didn't cut some foam from the passenger section of the seat. That step on the L seats drives me nuts.....
 
Forgot to add: the bike does look good, especially compared to what you started with.

I wouldn't mind owning a shaft model someday......
 
I decided to raise my rear suspension using the original shocks and increase spring preloaad. First I had to figure out how. I tore the shocks down, and found out the shaft is standard thread....... 7/16 x 20. I double and tripple checked, it is standard.
I'm 6'3" 300 lbs, so a little more pre load will keep things from sagging as bad. I also wanted to decrease trail and rake a little. I haven't ridden the bike yet, and if it gets twitchy, no biggie, I can put it back.
Anyone know anything about how these bikes respond to a little less trail?
first step was figuring out the shaft was standard thread, 7/16 x 20.

coupling nut, grade 8.8 bolt measured and cut

loctite

PVC spacer to make up distance and increase preload

reassemble

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there is slightly less spring length now (more preload) from highest setting on the unmodified shock, compared to the lowest setting on the modified shock, and I gained about 1.25" height.

total cost, about $10


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Looking pretty darn clean, sir.

In regards to the rake and trail: there are plenty of online calculators you could use if you get some measurements. But I'd guess to say some taller shocks aren't going to throw the "cruiser-ish" stance into twitchy territory. Just so long as the rear drive shaft isn't at a crazy angle, I'd say your good to go.
 
I had to track your build thread down, the bike looks great man, I really like it a lot. I toyed with the idea of all black, but I kind of want something a little different.... but you are making me rethink that.. it looks sick like that. I really like that you did the headlight bucket too.

Is the bike all done yet? Did you have to move up a size in jets for some reason or were the old ones just clogged?

I am sinking a little more money into my bike than I originally intended, mostly due to the carb kit... maybe I should have just went with the o-rings, oh well. I still will have a bad ass bike and will be getting the same enjoyment out of it that other people payed $10-15K do, all for around 1K so I can't complain.
 
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