1977 Suzuki GT380 Cafe build

[vain]

Hello.

My name is fredrik, I am 30 years of age and i live deep in the woods of Norway.

last summer i bought a 1977 Gt380 from a guy in England, i drove it as it was all summer but I knew right away it jad to go cafe style.
unfortunately there are almost no cafe parts for this bike on the web. so there will be alot of grinding and tears i guess.

I have just taken the bike apart and the frame is more or less ready for paint.
I am also working on the seat. Made a box out of Styrofoam yesterday ready to be a seat mold.

Pic's will come

If there is anyone who knows about any rearsets for this bike i would appreciate it..

be back soon

 

[Sonreir]

Velkommen!

I've wanted a triple for a while now. Keep us posted on how your project turns out.

 

[vain]

Takk

Shure thing.. pic's and progress info will be posted as soon as possible.

 

[two-smoker]

Easiest route for rear sets on those bikes is to take off the main pegs, flip the shift lever upside down, fab up a new mount and cable for the rear brake, and just use the original passenger pegs. At least, that's what I did. You just have to get used to the "gp" shift pattern (one up five down).

 

[vain]

Two smoker: I'll set it up and give it a try, i'm not shure this will look as good as i want it to..
Thanks for the tip.

btw: any idea on what to use as a brake lever?

 

[vain]

The bike befor i started the build.. with home made chambers.

taking it apart..

More to come... 8)

Yes... I have a small barn i do the work in

 

[two-smoker]

Two smoker: I'll set it up and give it a try, i'm not shure this will look as good as i want it to..
Thanks for the tip.

btw: any idea on what to use as a brake lever?

Yeah, the brake lever was a little tough. What I did was use a triangle section with a pivot hole at the top rear, and a hole for the cable top front, and made my own foot pedal. I just had to shorten the original cable, and put a bicycle-style clevis to hold the cable.

 

[vain]

I'll see what i can come up with..

Tomorrow i'm getting the tailpiece done for the frame.
Just have to weld it on and then i can continue with the seat mold.

 

[vain]

So, here's the progress plan:

-Finish cutting and welding the frame then paint. (hopefully by the end of the weekend)
-Finish making the mold for the seat and molding it.
-Take apart engine, polish covers and painting sylinders and heads (Think i'm going for the classic black and polished fins with high gloss covers)
-Restoring the front end and brakes. Including polishing rims and spokes.
-Finish the chambers and wrapping them with black exhaust tape.
-Getting all the electrical in under the seat.
-Converting to electrical ignition.
-Getting hold of a thaco bracket and meter that works with the original thaco(if anyone knows about this, please let me know).
-Deciding on handlebars or clip-on's.
-Switches, mastercylinder etc. Anyone ? (simple as it can get)
-Rearsets
-lighting, what kind? I really want a brake light built into the seat. Think i'll run stock headlight with replacement brackets.
-Painting. Anyone got a cool idea for a colortheme?
- RIDE!! Hopefully i'll be on the road by May 1st. It's the annual swapmeet and car/bike show.

I'll post some new pic's for ya by the end of the weekend.

 

[two-smoker]

If you run Boyer Brandsden electronic ignition, you can run an electronic tach for an automotive 6-cylinder. It's because the Boyer ignition fires all three coils together. Much cleaner install. Especially if you get one of those little 2" buggers.

 

[vain]

Saturday's work

I have made a pan under the seat also that will be the base for all the electronics.

Two smoke: I've been thinking of the newtronic ignition, and got one made for the GT, think it works the same way as BB.

 

[two-smoker]

Yeah, I didn't know if Newtronic made one for the Gt. If it works like the one they make for the TX500, it'll fire each coil separately. In which case, the electronic tach won't work. But it is a much more sophisticated piece, and it'd be a much easier install as well.

 

[vain]

I think they said it fired all coils at once...
i'll check it up.