Grrrr650 my first build

[ehdave]

Hi guys,

My names Dave, from Brisbane, Australia. This is my first bike build, a 1983 gr650 that I swapped a mate for my pit bike ;D

The bike was running and riding well when I got it apart from the battery not charging, I'm thinking its probably the rectifier regulator (did I get the right name?). Apart from that and a couple of oil leaks its in good condition mechanically and really only needs asthetics worked on.

I started stripping her down

trying to get some ideas how to shape the bike

I have a lot of cleaning and polishing to do too

Let me know what you guys think

Cheers
Dave

 

[ehdave]

So I'm starting to look for a style for the rear as these things come from the factory with one of the ugliest seats ever!

So here's what I'm looking at, a single seat with a simple cowling over the back

I'm thinking that it needs to be pretty low line due to the angle of the rear of the tank

I'm also planning on running the rear fender with a couple of braces where it sits in these photo's (just above tyre) as I think it looks a lot cleaner than the origional set up.

 

[ehdave]

Here's some parts I'm looking at fitting to the bike to make it look a wee bit better.

Indicators

Horn

filters

Hangers

I'm pretty sure on those four but unsure of which way to go with these:

Mufflers

tail light

Instruments

What do you guys think?

Cheers
Dave

 

[Big R]

I think a pit bike for a GR650 is a helluva deal! Where are you from again Dave?

I posted pictures (from the GR forum) in both the "bobber inspiration thread" and the "cafe inspiration thread".

I've been wanting to see one of these things worked over for a long time now!

 

[ehdave]

Hi Big Rich,

Yeah I think I did pretty well out of the deal, the pit bike only owed me about $200. I'm in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

I am thinking about taking a fibreglass mould of the back of the tank to make a rear cowling as I have been having a little trouble fabricating one out of steel (I haven't had much practise fabricting). I'm not going to use side covers on this bike as I think it will look a lot better with the plastic covers gone and the tabs ground off, plus they are broken anyway.

I have also been looking on the gr forum but I think it's more orientated to the technical side of these bikes than modifications which is why I came here (after a friendly suggestion).

Cheers
Dave

 

[bikeboy]

Looks like a nice project Dave. And welcome

I'm guessing you've got an EH hidden somewhere in that garage? I'm a bit of an HD fan myself.
Throw some pics in the 'cages' thread. Holdens rule ;D


cheers
ian

 

[Staffy]

Let me know how that dan dan's gauge goes. i've been eyeing them off for a while now.

 

[miob]

I'm in the market for a GR650 too, so this is a very interesting topic for me. Do you happen to have a photo of the stripped bike straight from the side so I can see the frame?

About the tacho's: The last one you show is a Acewell. I got one of those on my BMW caferacer and I can highly recommend it.

 

[Big R]

Miob, I didn't know you were looking for a GR project! Give me a while and I can take as many pics of a naked frame as you want.

 

[ehdave]

Hi Guys,

Ian,

I've owned a couple of eh's now here's a a pic of my good one and a pic of my current torana drive car. I sold my last eh in december.

The eh was a beautiful car with a premier interior and a bunch of mods (body and interior stock tho). After seeing a really nice hd premier at the shops one day I'm a big fan too. I'm also building a 69 austin healy sprite with a 4age toyota motor at the moment.

Staffy,

I will let you know how they go, I'm pretty sure I will be going with one of them.

Miob,

Here's a photo of the frame from the side

I think I will be using the acewell as it has all the functions of the standard guages and is only one clean looking guage.

Cheers
Dave

 

[miob]

That's why I took the Acewell

Thank you for the photo! Now I can start designing in my head ;D

 

[miob]

Miob, I didn't know you were looking for a GR project! Give me a while and I can take as many pics of a naked frame as you want.

Thanx. Didn't know you own one? Project thread anywhere?

 

[Big R]

Thanx. Didn't know you own one? Project thread anywhere?

No thread - it was my first bike that I restored to "mostly stock". But I have it and a parts bike in the garage.

 

[ehdave]

No worries Miob, let me know if you need any other pics/angles. I was going to build a bobber style bike but I dont really want to cut it up as it's my first build and the laws here in australia can be pretty strict (I'm going to have enough trouble getting my sprite registered with the toyota motor).

Cheers
Dave

 

[miob]

No worries Miob, let me know if you need any other pics/angles. I was going to build a bobber style bike but I dont really want to cut it up as it's my first build and the laws here in australia can be pretty strict (I'm going to have enough trouble getting my sprite registered with the toyota motor).

Cheers
Dave

Cheers mate!

I'm looking for a new project and a GR650 looks like a fine candidate, just wanted to know what the frame looks like because the rules over here in Holland are pretty strict too. I first need to sell my Suzuki Sp370 though, but I have good hopes that it won't be too hard to sell. I'm not planning on making something too radical. I want it to be able to carry a passenger and my sadle bags (If that's what they're called in English?) and who knows maybe ship it to Oz someday

(spend 11 months down under, would love to find a job and move there)

 

[bikeboy]

of my current torana drive car.

cool. not to jack your thread or anything, but this is the last Torana I had:

back in the day when starburst filters were cool-along with hotwire mags ;D

cheers
ian

 

[ehdave]

Miob,

I have only ridden the bike once, but it was pretty good. I have seen a couple of these done and they can look really nice, there is a gr specific website that has a few different bikes done up in different styles. You got it right, they tend to be called saddle bags over here too. I have never been overseas so I dont have anything to compare it to but I love Australia.

Ian,

Nice car man, is that a hb? I bought mine as I needed a six seater and I cant bring myself to drive a tarago! My car now has a set of hotwires on it because the indies were scrubbing out on the back
They really suited the car but I'm looking to put it back to standard now as its pretty origional and only has 171 000 klms on it and no rust I'm thinking of getting a hq-z soon as there's not really enough room in this car.

Cheers
Dave

 

[ehdave]

Hi guys,

I finally got a little more done to the bike today, I've been having a bit of trouble working out what to do for a seat cowling. I didn't want to cut the frame at all in modifying this bike but I realised today that the upright on the rear of the bike was too wide and tall for what I am trying to achieve so I ground it off. I also chopped up a cheap ebay tank to see how it will look, on the back, I'm still undecided on it as I think it will need the lower section cut off to make it sit low enough and cut a strip out of the top down the middle to make it fit closer to the frame rails and get a cleaner look. I'm not sure how to go about this as it is my first time doing it but I guess its not a big deal as it only cost me about $20.

Here's some pics with the cut down tank/cowl mocked up
You can see here where the tank needs to be cut so the lower section sits around the same height as the frame rail

I will also have to clean up the back of it and possibly weld in some sheet to give it a cleaner look

Notice the little tab on the lower back section of the tank? I need to work out how to remove it without damaging the tank as I am not going to run side covers

you can see here how the tank cowl is a fair bit to wide for the frame, I need to wok out how to narrow it without wrecking the shape

I think there is only just going to be enough room between the tank and the cross brace for my bum as sitting on the frame like this seems a bit of a tight fit but I guess once the seat is on and padded etc. it will be enough as the seat will sit over where the tank bolts to the frame (it has a flange on the rear), otherwise I'm up a certain creek without a paddle.

I am still yet to work out how or where I will mount my battery and electricals, if anyone has any suiggestions on any of the problems I'm having I would love to hear them.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Big R]

For the little tabs on the tank, you could paint them the same color as the frame to keep them "hidden".

As far as hiding all the electronics....thats gonna be a little tougher. These GR's are well known for destroying the batteries, so a smaller one may not be a good option. Could try to put as much as possible under the seat hump though.

 

[bikeboy]

Ian,

Nice car man, is that a hb? I bought mine as I needed a six seater and I cant bring myself to drive a tarago! My car now has a set of hotwires on it because the indies were scrubbing out on the back

Notice the little tab on the lower back section of the tab? I need to work out how to remove it without damaging the tank as I am not going to run side covers

Cheers
Dave

sorry Dave, just saw this. don't know why I didn't get an email. Yeah it's an HB. The "sporty" Brabham special. really wasn't that special in the end, but I had fun in it.

You should find those back tabs have been sealed by a weld that follows the bottom line of the tank, and the tabs themselves are just spot welded around the edges. If you can find the seam, you should be able to cut below it without interfering with the seal. Or like rich says, paint 'em black.

cheers
ian