GS450 rebuild

[Rocker450]

Hi I have been looking at the builds going on, and figured I would post mine. I owned this bike for about 3 years now. And think its about time to remake her. This will be a slow rebuild as funds allow(wife).

 

[Rocker450]

Here is the oldest pic of her I can find. I've had it about 3 years added a GS550 or 750 tank and went from a 16" rear wheel to a 17". Swapped out stock bars for cheap clubmans.

 

[Rocker450]

Now I got real clipons don't dig clubmans, went with a Ducati 500 gas tank and 750ss style seat. Added spoke wheels from a 77 GS400 18" front and rear spoke wheels, Performance Dynasty cbr900rr rearsets, this is just a mock up pic befor I blew the whole bike apart.

 

[Rocker450]

Now my motor is all apart ready for the .50 over pistons, port and polish, valve job, and a few other things. Cases will be painted raw alloy and side covers will be polished. Jugs will be black.

 

[Rocker450]

Frame is undergoing some cutting and weight loss.

 

[Rocker450]

This is how the frame sits today still got some things to do but ya get the idea.

 

[Rocker450]

The plan is to complete redo everything on her. Replace all electrics seeing as the craped themselfs, and that's why I'm redoing the girl anyways. Paint was going to be Gulf oil colors, but seeing as a guy on here did a damn killer cb550 in them colors I'm not too sure about doing the samething. Don't want to take his thing. So colors are up in the air still ?????.

Anyways I will post as I get things done and as parts come in. From what I have seen and read on this forum this will be the best place to show the build. As the kats on here seem to be very open with their thoughts on the builds, and seem to know their stuff.

 

[Big R]

Sharp bike man!

In the 2nd post, you said it had a 17" wheel - what was that from?

 

[gk45011]

Sharp build. I'm on board!

I really eally love the wheel conversion. I have that on my list for down the road perhaps. These damn ugly mags are kinda "growing on me. I'm with Rich......WHERE DID YOU GET THE 17" MAG?

Gary

 

[Rocker450]

Not really sure what GS its from, when I got the bike it came with this wheel. It has J 17XMT 2.15 stamped on it, I have a 130/90/17 on it.

 

[Rocker450]

Thanks! Yeah I was looking for spokes on ebay for ever then got on a web site that list all sizes of axles, and seen the 400 was same size. The 17" was a spare that came with the bike when I bought it, it 16" tire was crap so I picked up a Kenda and mounted the 17".

 

[Big R]

Ah, ok. Maybe it's from an early GS550 with the drum brake rear?

FWIW, that 130/90 is slightly over size for the width of the wheel. No big deal since you'll be running spokes.

 

[Rocker450]

Yeah it was a little wide for sure, it only had about 3/16" when warm from hitting swingarm. I'm running 120/18 rear and 90/18 on the spokes. I think ya might be right with it being from a 550. But I really haven't a clue.

By the way I'm in awww over ya 450 that is very nice bike.

 

[Big R]

My 450 or GK's? Mine is just a pile o' parts right now.

 

[Rocker450]

The one in ya avatar. Now I might be wrong I'm looking on a 3.2" screen lol I need to get a real computer one day..

 

[Rocker450]

The ugly mags are going on a KZ400 hardtail I'm building. The wife loves the "snowflake" wheels. The kz is going to be the wife bike for 6 months, well she wants a bike and I told her if she can learn to ride the hardtail and keep it up for 6 months I will build her any bike she wants.

 

[Big R]

Oh - that's the ever unpopular GR650. Similar to the GS450 but different enough where it's important ..........

 

[gk45011]

Easy there picking on the GS450 Rich we are growing in numbers..LOL

Rich's bike is B-A-D. you just can't deny it. I am so jealous of all of you finding these nice wire rim sets...GRRRRRR Someone leave a cheap mint set on EBAY for me already.. :'( :'(

 

[Big R]

Ha! No worries man - I actually prefer the 450 for a couple reasons. The biggest one is the availability of spare parts. If something goes BANG in my GR motor when it's not supposed to, it's probably a tough / expensive fix.......

But all you really need is the rear hub for a spoke conversion - the spokes and rims are fairly easy to find.

 

[Rocker450]

Yeah they are cheap I got mine for around $50 each, but then I had to buy the cush drive and brake drum seeing as the GS400 is about a 1" bigger than the 450s. If ya find some hubs Buchanans sells S/S spokes for $113 a wheel. I'm sure there is somewhere cheaper. I found a gold anodized hoops on ebay that I really dig, from Taiwan so not really sure if the are worth the $166 per set +$80 for shipping. The same seller has spokes for $60 a set.