*Project Rat-Fe Racer* GS750 DOHC CAFE build up

[rrtec]

All,

I know some of you have seen some of my builds, mostly DOHC Honda CB750 bikes, and a shadow bobber or two.. (the very few I have posted).. But this time I stepped out of my comfort zone on brand..

A little while back I procured a 1978 GS750 off craigslist needing some love, and money pumped into it. It ran, although needed a battery, some rewiring, and various bits and peices. I stuffed it away as I was in the middle of a cb750 nightmare build and almost forgot about it.. I became overly frustrated in the CB build and through happenstance had to have abdominal surgery so I decided to scrap the cb project all together. The CB sold quickly and then I remembered that I still had the GS to mess with... I wasn't sure what direction to take the bike as with my surgery approaching I really didn't know what my riding life would be like for a while.. So I decided to fall back on what I normally do, a bike that is ergonomically pleasing to ride and styled after my most successful build (in my eyes..) maybe it was the fact that the bike was the same blue color of my 1st CB, or the meds the doctor prescribed, but I basically started ordering all the same parts I put on my first cafe build.. I really liked that bike..

I am not going for a councourse build here, just a rideable bike that has reliable power to back up the tough exterior. So that means the bike will probably have some hardware that remains weathered, original sets, levers etc..

Project List:

Clean- 75% done..
Order Bonneville Style 30inch seat- Done
Order LP metal turn signals- Done
Order LED tail light/plate holder- Done
Order Headlight brackets then change mind and have headlight brackets i dont need - DONE!
Order Clubman Bars- Done! (first time using clubmans I usually do clip ons..
Buy New Battery- Done.

Paint scheme was going to an orange or something but after I sanded all the surface rust off the tank I sprayed some black on there to fend off rust and am really digging it.. SO I am going to paint the bike black... Enough talk. Pictures... Updates will follow.

Day I got it...



Cleaned up a little.



Playing around with a speedo idea..



More teardown



Teardown and rust removal



Clubmans installed, LP turn signals installed, guide coat on tank..



Shabby Chic Restoring the badges (top one is done bottom one about to be..)



Out in the air.. Still haven't done the rear turn signals




Waiting for my seat, rear indicators, tail light... and me to finish the speedo mount..



More to Come!!

 

[danejurrous]

Kinda scared the crap out of me on the second picture down where you have both my vehicles in your garage Look forward to seeing what you do with the 750.

 

[rrtec]

Ha! My wifes daily.. My cars are currently banished outside.. Poor things...

 

[rrtec]

YAY!

Seat arrived a few minutes ago.. So did the tail light, and the brackets i'm not going to use..





My measurements were slightly off on the seat so I am going to have to trim the rear frame a little bit, I was hoping to not touch it because that often leads to me adding a rear hoop etc..

 

[Redliner]

I would do awful things to this bike. I would trade any CB750 for this any day. Oh lawdy yes, lucifer.

 

[Bradxbv8]

Hi rrtec

I just bought a GS750 last week (ex Police bike with wire wheels), and have been looking around for a suitable seat that is reasonably long. That Bonneville Style 30inch seat looks great, may I please ask where you found that one?

I will be watching this one with great interest.

Regards, Brad
Adelaide, Australia

 

[rrtec]

Hi rrtec

I just bought a GS750 last week (ex Police bike with wire wheels), and have been looking around for a suitable seat that is reasonably long. That Bonneville Style 30inch seat looks great, may I please ask where you found that one?

I will be watching this one with great interest.

Regards, Brad
Adelaide, Australia

You can get this seat from:

http://www.roccitycafe.com/item.php?path=store/roadracer-cafe-racer-seat,

I bought from there before.. But this time I snatched it off ebay for $119 shipped.

 

[Bradxbv8]

Thanks rrtec, much appreciated

 

[rrtec]

Couple more updates, as I mentioned the frame ended up extending past the seat despite my irrellevant measurements.. So I had to trim up the frame to accomodate. I am not in the mood to hoop the back of this one so I am trying to utilize the stock mounting points for the signals and then all I have to do is create a simple mount for the tail light. I ended up measuring and trimming 2.5 inches off the back to accomodate the seat, and then welded the stock tabs back in place for the rear indicators. I started welding about 2 years ago and only on my own projects so cut me a little slack, I am getting better each time.. I am actually really pleased with the results.

OEM Frame length



Point of no return..



Welded original tabs back on..



Cleaned them up and made sure I got good strong weld joints..



Mocked up with a rear turn signal and the seat..



Next on the list go find something to use as a 2" spacer to mount the seat with..

 

[rrtec]

Without installing a hoop I decided that the back end may look a little unfinished so I started trying to find ways to give it a more finished look.. I know a lot of guys ditch the rear fender but a buddy of mine kept his on his BMW and it has kind of grown on me.. So I started a little mock up. Not 100% sold, but for what the bike will be it may actually work nicely.I would modify the tail light to remove the plate mount portion of the bracket, and trim up the oem plate mount to fit ..hrmmm..

 

[rrtec]

I needed 2" risers for the seat mount points the tallest I could find at the Orange Box was 1 3/4 so I snatched them up and decided i could shim with adjustment nuts. Welded them, ground the slag and some glazing putty on the scars before paint..

Sorry for the poor quality photos.. Too lazy to get out the Canon.



All cleaned up and ready for finish sand and touch up paint...

 

[rrtec]

I am really happy with the fitment, on the agenda for next go, finish rear fender mounting and tail light wiring.. I need to make a final decision on paint so I can prep and knock all that out this weekend.

Resting after a day of surgery..

 

[BigBSBusa]

Looks good.

 

[rrtec]

Seat mount complete including spacers, ended up only needing 3 washers instead of a nut. Rear fender mounted permanently, turn signal wired in, still having issues with the tail light. I am convinced it is a defective unit.. PLate mount installed..

Started prepping for paint, still not sure on the color..

 

[rrtec]

Made the cushion for a total of $12 including fabric.. Haven't covered it yet but getting close. Weather didn't hold up for painting today- way to humid with the amount of rain. Hopefully tomorrow or Monday.

 

[rrtec]

Not sure if anyone is checking in but for posterity sake...

Took another couple steps forward.. Humidity has been way too high for base and clear so I hope to get that done by Wed..

Sanded all the paintables and then primed them with building primer. Sanded them again and another 2 coats of primer.





Here is the skeleton of the bike...



Here is my first attempt (ever) at a seat cushion.. I know there are some visible folds etc but the material I bought was way too stiff.. Oh well it sits nice and gets the job done..

 

[rrtec]

Humidity or not I am going to paint this thing tomorrow.... I've been waiting for 5 days for the weather to break and I am tired of waiting.. Dupont BLUE MOOD getting sprayed tomorrow..

This is the color..

 

[danejurrous]

Nice man that will be a slick looking color.

 

[rrtec]

Thanks, I had it left over from a shabby chic desk I painted for someone a few years ago.. I ended up deciding to not paint today it was raining and the humidity in my garage was 92%.

 

[rrtec]

Eh.. not happy with the color. Looks too modern.. may have to respray. Thoughts?