Daniella -1985 GSX250 Café

[Daedalus]

Hi guys. figured I should start a build thread on the second bike I'm currently working on here in Australia.


Daniella is a 1985 Suzuki GSX250 twin and the bike I cut my teeth on.
Before being taken off the road she lived a long life of being a spider hotel (outdoor living), so it will be quite rewarding to transform her into something beautiful once again.

Ive started to strip her down, and you can see her here next to my other bike "Ruby" (Build thread in the "Bob and Chop" section).....but I wasnt too sure where I was gonna go with it...

so I did a quick tech diagram to try and get a feel for how the motor is going to sit with the tank and seat, and to get my thoughts down for the colour palette.

I was worried that the engine might be a little small causing the empty frame to look a bit spartan, but It seems to work ok.

I left out the rear suspension as I'm not quite sure yet as to how I'm going to set it up...I'm questioning whether the possibility of converting her to a mono-shock rear is a viable option. It will help with the keeping the rear end clean, but might modernize the bike too much, and detract from the classic look... I need to mull it over for a bit longer.

I also left out the second exhaust pipe, not really sure if i want to run them on opposite sides, or both down one side.


Im still making a lot of decisions about bits and pieces, and waiting on a new die set to bend up the tube for the rear seat section, so next up I'll prob work on chopping/cleaning up the frame and fabrication some new bars.

 

[Daedalus]

Ive been a bit lazy with the hot weather down here lately, so I've been sinking beers in the pool rather than working on the bikes...

so not really much of an update but a little progress none the less.

I got my hands on some spoke wheels, Ideally I wanted a smaller rear wheel, but these were all I could find,

I also started to cut the tabs off the frame.

 

[eran_k]

I'm about to start a project on a GSX400, what fuel tank are your going to use?

Thx
Eran

 

[mohabie]

Nice tech diagram. Wish I could put my vision onto paper like that! My dad is an artist, mom is a musician, and I can't draw a stick figure. :/

 

[ricjames]

Any updates!

I've gotta 85 sitting the garage and the stock wheels suck!
What are the spokies off that glam up your gsx? GN's?
Cheers

 

[Pod70]

I like the sketch. What about putting the shock underneath the engine like on a Buell or Harley soft tail. Lots of fabrication but so cool.

 

[devilishdesigner]

What happened to this? I'm curious to know what the wheels were sourced off?

 

[GodSilla650]

I like the drawing a lot, that would be a sweet looking bike if it came out anything like that. What is the status on the bike?

 

[Daedalus]

been a while since ive been on here, and well, Its been all neglect. Ive had a few other projects so haven't really been working on this much....

one of the ones that kept me busy... me and a friend built and sold this thing

anyways there is some progress!

had some carbon laying around that I got in return for a favour I did for a ferrari workshop. so I figured I may as well use it and started laying up an electrics tray.

I forgot to take process pics but I started with cardboard, built up the edges with clay. then squished the seat down over the top to get the right shape. it should mate up to the bottom of the seat fairly nice, and with a small bead of silicon or weather strip, it should be waterproof. 8)

Its a little rough and I probably wont spend a lot of time getting a perfect finish on it, as its hidden under the seat. but I figured carbon would be good in case it takes a hit from any rocks or debris from the rear wheel.


anyways, I aim to get this bike finished in about 2 weeks so there will be lots of updates from now on.

 

[Daedalus]

cured, set, trimmed...

its mostly hidden... count really completely hide it due to mounting the battery under there....

keyswitch sticks out the bottom.

 

[Daedalus]

and how she sits now...