Chimera Moto Works
Been Around the Block
This project needs an introduction as per who is involved, the theory of the build, and what is hoped to be achieved. Stick around if you can make it thru it, and feel free to comment and chime in, we welcome opinions and comments.
We picked this bike up almost a year ago, and it was originally started/modified on the CustomerFighters forum.(The original thread is still available under the 2012 fighter build-off forum) We showed up to what was supposed to be a running bike that just needed minor things, but came home with a bike that had no key and was basically just a rolling chassis. Many pieces were broken, including the rear mono-shock and mono-shock swingarm tabs, most the lights/lenses, no side covers, etc. This didn't bother us, as this would be our 9th Suzuki we've picked up over the past two years. It was $400, and came with a clean title. The only thing that really mattered to me in the build. We're used to what is wrong with these bikes(specifically the GS line bikes more so than the GR Tempter) and what people do to these poor old bikes over the years. Sad/shoddy stuff in most cases.
There are 3 of us involved in this build, and we each have our own areas designated. I(Will) do all the welding and most of all the fabrication. I also do the body work/prep/paint. My brother(Jason) helps with fabrication, but his main designation for this project was the wiring. He proved his confidence by pulling the whole d*mn harness out a couple days into the build. My father(Bill) is the rebuilder/engine man, with a 'masters' in carb rebuilding and tuning. He has already adjusted the valves, replaced the valve cover gasket, completed rebuilt and sync'd the carbs as well as a few other minor things necessary for it to run well when its time to fire her off. (He is currently Restoring a 1983 Tempter GR650 to stock condition that we will side-by-side for photos when we're finished) There is a lot more 'story' to where we've come from just 2 years ago to where we are now with building these bikes, but it would involve a few more paragraphs, and I'm sure no one is that interested in our story haha.
As for what I'm hoping to achieve with this project: I'm building a bike that the GR would never have been, and out of few truly modified/cut Tempters, it'll be one of a kind. This bike will utilize NO modern technology. I believe in building this bike using what it already has, and only using parts and materials from bikes/materials that existed the same year the bike was manufactured, thus, this could have been built in 1983.
The end result is hopefully a GR that looks much more modern than 1983, yet as simple as possible in components/wiring/lighting, etc. so as to make the bike look almost like a toy rather than a fully functioning motorcycle.
Still here? Here come the pictures! These pictures are from where we started and left off as of last March 2012. Any posts following after this introduction will be where we've picked back up on the project as of October 1st, 2012.
This is where the bike left off on CustomFighters. It was put in storage for about 6 months. Before being put aside, we finished modifying the all new rear frame with trellis work, as well as stretching the swingarm 6 inches, a total of 7 including where it pushed the wheel back. The swingarm and frame where both welded using sleeves prior to new tubing/material so as to keep the bikes strength.
The next post will show the all sheet-metal seat pan I built with the use of my metal break, a hammer, and welding. My brother did the math on the layout of the main "cap" and used the break to make it. I used 1/2" wide flat stock as trim for the sides of the pan to give it a "factory" look. The tank is from a Suzuki 450.
If you have any questions regarding the project or how we did something, feel free to ask. The new posts will have break-downs of what it is and how we did it.
We picked this bike up almost a year ago, and it was originally started/modified on the CustomerFighters forum.(The original thread is still available under the 2012 fighter build-off forum) We showed up to what was supposed to be a running bike that just needed minor things, but came home with a bike that had no key and was basically just a rolling chassis. Many pieces were broken, including the rear mono-shock and mono-shock swingarm tabs, most the lights/lenses, no side covers, etc. This didn't bother us, as this would be our 9th Suzuki we've picked up over the past two years. It was $400, and came with a clean title. The only thing that really mattered to me in the build. We're used to what is wrong with these bikes(specifically the GS line bikes more so than the GR Tempter) and what people do to these poor old bikes over the years. Sad/shoddy stuff in most cases.
There are 3 of us involved in this build, and we each have our own areas designated. I(Will) do all the welding and most of all the fabrication. I also do the body work/prep/paint. My brother(Jason) helps with fabrication, but his main designation for this project was the wiring. He proved his confidence by pulling the whole d*mn harness out a couple days into the build. My father(Bill) is the rebuilder/engine man, with a 'masters' in carb rebuilding and tuning. He has already adjusted the valves, replaced the valve cover gasket, completed rebuilt and sync'd the carbs as well as a few other minor things necessary for it to run well when its time to fire her off. (He is currently Restoring a 1983 Tempter GR650 to stock condition that we will side-by-side for photos when we're finished) There is a lot more 'story' to where we've come from just 2 years ago to where we are now with building these bikes, but it would involve a few more paragraphs, and I'm sure no one is that interested in our story haha.
As for what I'm hoping to achieve with this project: I'm building a bike that the GR would never have been, and out of few truly modified/cut Tempters, it'll be one of a kind. This bike will utilize NO modern technology. I believe in building this bike using what it already has, and only using parts and materials from bikes/materials that existed the same year the bike was manufactured, thus, this could have been built in 1983.
The end result is hopefully a GR that looks much more modern than 1983, yet as simple as possible in components/wiring/lighting, etc. so as to make the bike look almost like a toy rather than a fully functioning motorcycle.
Still here? Here come the pictures! These pictures are from where we started and left off as of last March 2012. Any posts following after this introduction will be where we've picked back up on the project as of October 1st, 2012.










This is where the bike left off on CustomFighters. It was put in storage for about 6 months. Before being put aside, we finished modifying the all new rear frame with trellis work, as well as stretching the swingarm 6 inches, a total of 7 including where it pushed the wheel back. The swingarm and frame where both welded using sleeves prior to new tubing/material so as to keep the bikes strength.
The next post will show the all sheet-metal seat pan I built with the use of my metal break, a hammer, and welding. My brother did the math on the layout of the main "cap" and used the break to make it. I used 1/2" wide flat stock as trim for the sides of the pan to give it a "factory" look. The tank is from a Suzuki 450.
If you have any questions regarding the project or how we did something, feel free to ask. The new posts will have break-downs of what it is and how we did it.