Suzi Q - GR650 Project

Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project

Rich - I didn't really feel any edge against my legs but I haven't ridden it like that yet, just sat on it. I plan on getting rid of the airbox and side panels anyway so if there will be a potential problem I should be getting rid of it.

Haplo - I tend to agree and after some tush tests, I think I'll leave it. I've got some 1/4" foam that I'll wrap it in before upholstering it.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project

lol, i just want to make sure you don't get saddle sore after just a lil while out. Thats a killer for me.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project

Most of my riding is short trips around town but my parents live about an hour and a half away and I rode there and back last week. I got a sore butt from that with the stock seat, so I'm sure I'll get saddle sore with this seat as well. I've thought about getting some kind of gel or air cushion. My pick right now is an Airhawk but I'm hesitant to pay that much for a cushion.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project

After staring at the bike for a while, and staring at what Rich did, I think I figured out why I'm not crazy about the cafe seat that I'm making. The frame has a downward angle just behind the tank before it evens out. It would be perfect for a bobber frame and it looks fine with the stock seat because it is so thick but it's not quite the line I'm looking for. What Rich did that was very smart, and I'm sure was intended, is bridge the dip in the frame and covered the tubing with the edges of the seat. I'm still going to finish the current cafe seat because I've invested so many hours in it. But I also would like to try to make another seat. Bridge the gap. Maybe try to match the tank a little more in the cowl. Now, I'm not going to copy what Rich did completely. I just don't think the hammerhead seat would match my tank. But I am going to steal his ingenuity and hopefully make a cleaner cafe line.

I've also been thinking about the side panels. I don't think I want anything there. I still have to deal with the stuff under the seat (battery, etc.) and I'm thinking about making a box to put it all in and hide it while still having open sides.
 
Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project - New Direction

After many discussions with my dad about how to properly do a cafe seat on a GR650 we came to some decisions...WE"RE GONNA CHOP IT! My dad's got an old GR tank that he chopped a while back to make a cafe seat that hes gonna let me have. He also decided that as my Christmas present he's gonna get everything for the build. He's already got me a new AGM battery that can tuck up almost completely under the seat. I've got some mock ups drawn with "analog photoshop" (pencil and paper)

SCAN0023.jpg


I'm still working on the right shape but its a start. Hopefully over Christmas I can get most of it done.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project - New Direction

Ditch that factory GR tank. It's an eye-sore, and as well one of the main reasons the bike didn't sell well in the U.S. Who wants to buy a chopper with mono-shock suspension? Check out Rich's builds if you haven't already, and if interested I can link you to my Fighter GR build I have going on right now.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project - New Direction

While I agree that the tank is not an ideal cafe racer tank, I kinda like it. And I also want to point out that the tank on your GS850 is very similar. Rich's GR is a fantastic build and I've learned a lot from him but its not really what I'm going for. Anyway, I would love to see your fighter!
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project - New Direction

I just had this discussion with another GR owner - I personally like the stock tank. The lines look pretty sharp to me. However, the way it sits on the frame is what bugs me about it. If the front of the tank were a little lower it would be just about perfect. Well, that and the fact that with the forks at full lock, clip ons smash into it.
 
Re: Suzuki GR650 Cafe Project - New Direction

The thought did cross my mind to raise the back end but that would create more issues. As it is, I want to keep the stock tank for now because the seat will be made out of another GR tank and it might not look quite right with another tank. Maybe in the future I will switch the tank and seat out since the mods I'm gonna do will make it easy to make a different seat. I think by raising the sub-frame to where it is in the picture should make the tank look ok on the bike.
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project

My Christmas present from my dad was shop time at The Bike Shop Inc. in Wichita. Had a blast cutting it up!

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Got it all stripped down and ready to cut.

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Cut notches and bent up the subframe so the back of the tank was raised an inch.

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The new subframe.

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New battery box for a new AGM battery.

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Got the components mounted on a pan behind the battery. Didn't have to do much rewiring. The starter solenoid is tucked under the tank.

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The seat is made out of another GR650 tank section. The fender was originally supposed to be for my dad's bobber but he wanted something wider.

I think it looks much better with the back end of the tank raised an inch.

Next up, bondo, painting, and upholstery.
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - New subframe and seat

Looks really good Ben. It was a blast working with you and with Ken at the Bike Shop, Inc. to get the work done. (yes, I'm Ben's Dad) I can't wait for you to get it painted and get a cushion on the seat. Oh, by the way, when I got your bike home last night to put in my garage until you get some paint on it, your brother, Sam, took it for a ride without a seat cushion. I took it around the block too and I really like the seat position, very comfortable, will be even better with padding. ;D
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - New subframe and seat

Hey! Good progress going on here.......I like what you're doing.

And welcome to DTT Cloud!
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - New subframe and seat

That looks great! Nice work! And a great present from your dad :D

I really like the lines from the tank to the tail, and yes raising it has definitely made an improvement there.

I also like that rear hugger you've done.

Can't wait for paint and upholstery to be done!
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - New subframe and seat

Forgot to post this earlier. The mini speedo that I had from Dime City pooped out on me. (they were awesome about it though and sent me a new one) But while I was waiting on the new one to arrive I put this on and I love how it looks!

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It is offset so I could keep my ignition switch where I have it but hug the speedometer in tight.
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - New subframe and seat

I got that speedo from EBAY for Ben and I think it is a mid 70's Kawasaki KZ400 or KH400 if I recall correctly. I have another almost identical to it I found more recently. Kawasaki speedos from that era only say Nippon on them so it's hard to tell they aren't a Suzi speedo and they use the same ratio so they read correctly.
 
Re: Suzi Q - GR650 Project - Winter Blues

Winter finally decided it was time to come out here in Kansas and I don't have anywhere to paint. So progress is slow, but I hopefully will be able to get some done in the next few weeks.

No new pics yet but here's where I'm at right now...

-Smoothed out the seatpan with bondo
-Cloudrider installed LEDs in the taillight 'cause the stock bulb was just too dim
-Frame is painted for now (Just rattlecan black semigloss to prevent rust)
-Pattern is made and material is bought for the seat upholstery

Stuff I still have to get done
-Strip the tank
-Prime and paint
-Tank
-Seatpan
-Fenders (both)
-Headlight rim
-Upholster the seat

More pictures soon!
 
I finally got the tank stripped down and the seat is pretty much ready to be painted. There's some dents in the tank that I need to fill before I can paint it.

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I decided to put some fork dents in the tank since my clip-ons have already dented it a little. I'm sure it's been asked before but any advice on the best way to dent the tank?
 
The general method is to dent it a little bit at a time (not one big swing.......) and fill accordingly. There are proper body hammers that can be used too - I know Eastwood sells some. One guy here used a thick piece of leather and layed it over the tank while he hammered it.
 
I started working on the fork dents. I wanted to start small and see if I could do little ones. But if that doesn't work, I can always go bigger.

SD531771.jpg


I used a piece of felt to cover where I was hammering. I dunno if it did any good though.
 
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