Kuzuri's '79 GS425L
 

I just figured I would start a thread for the latest project I'm working on since I plan to do quite a bit with it. I Want to have a history to look back on.

Anyway... I had wanted a motorcycle for the longest time but my money always seems to end up in my car so it didn't happen, until recently, my best friends dad told me I could just take his old bike. He was going to send it to the junk yard I guess...

He bought it brand new in 1978, and rode it for 11 years. It sat in his garage ever since.

I'll be updating this as the build progresses. I'm super excited to fix this thing up!


On to the pics!

After I rinsed it off the day I brought it home

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7055/2...1d3b6440_k.jpg

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7351/2...0c74d147_k.jpg

Seeing how well the ugly old chrome shines up. It looks a thousand times better, but will still most likely just be replaced in the end.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7412/2...88752a01_k.jpg

The tear down that started this morning. Getting the motor ready to come out so I can start mocking up new parts, repairing the frame, and prepping it for powdercoat.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7449/2...545c5248_k.jpg

do i smell a cafe racer build lol

:party0030:

Cool! Building your own bike is a great way to learn about your machine. There is a huge level of pride and satisfaction in knowing you have turned every nut and bolt with your own hands. From personal experience, find yourself an official Suzuki shop manual, and use it...the ones from Chilton/Hayes/etc are ok (sort of), but are missing a lot of info that you will need for a full build.


I'm with the other guys...a café style build would be a great route to take, and likely more fun to ride. Small displacement bikes are a riot to rip around on once they're lightened up and geared down a bit. Good luck, and post your progress.

Im super excited to get started. I do all my own work on my FR-S also so I know exactly what you mean about the pride/satisfaction thing.

As far as a manual goes, I probably wont be buying one because everything on the bike with the exception of the frame and the actual headlight itself is getting replaced with aftermarket stuff. Im already looking at a different motor. As much fun as a 425 could be after its all rebuilt, I think it would get boring. Going for more power from the start! And all the wiring is going to be different so I just don't think a manual will benefit me in that situation

Even better. Have you decided what to use for a powerplant? Staying with a parallel twin? 500cc? Bigger? I've seen some modded GS series bikes, and they look pretty cool when they are done.

I have a pretty good idea about what motor I'll use but not 100% set in stone. It's well over 500cc though haha. I got everything stripped off the frame this morning with some help from a friend. Now I just need to start acquiring the parts I need and mocking everything up!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7640/2...b13a7c5f_k.jpg

Have you always wanted a bike to take apart or ride?

The bike didn't run, the gas tank is entirely filled with rust, only went through 3 gears, was covered in rust, and was otherwise being sent to the junk yard, so I think what I'm doing is pretty justified.

If you want a bike buy one. What you've dragged from the garage and taken apart was excrement in the early 80s. New.

Appreciate your spirit but I suppose. But youre not a biker and never will be. You'll have got it running and ragged it around a field until it died and then set alight to it.

Short stroking about engine swaps, posting and taking pictures and things apart etc is your bag, enjoy it.

This thread is for me to have a history of a build after it's complete, and you're talking shit on it 3 days in? LMFAO.

You're new here. If you want to troll, go somewhere else. Your negative input isn't welcome here.

This. I look forward to watching this thread. You have great taste with your car and I'm sure this will be no different. Good luck with the build OP! :party0030:

You are silly.

Sub'd. How is it going?

I just junked it

why did it need a lot of work?

I didn't junk it. I just wanted dipshit to have his satisfaction and leave my thread.

Fuq the haterz..keep us posted bro

For sure. Getting paid this Friday. I think I'm going to try to snag the new tank I want and a seat so I can start working on the frame to line those up

My Mac was broken so I haven't been posting anywhere but I just got it back up and running so I have a bunch of photos to edit. Just wanted to update this....

I got a reproduction Honda CB750 tank that I have modified to fit the GS frame and I plan on shaving the sides and doing a flush mount/pop up cap for it. I cut off the rear of the frame and have a local shop working on a hoop. Once I get the hoop welded on, I will be making my own seat for it, because I can't find one that is close enough to what I am envisioning.

http://67.media.tumblr.com/ed861bd2a...0dxo1_1280.jpg

Hahaha. Probably won't happen, but I admire the attempt. :thumbsup:

Good luck with the build.

I am torn by this thread.

I can see both sides of this "argument". Maybe the OP doesn't finish the rebuild. But at worst it was being junked either way.

I love old bikes and most do just get tossed onto the scrap heap because today's bikes are "so much faster and more reliable".

As a Miata owner, I love my little car...but I would LOVE and Austin Healey Sprite, even though on paper the Miata is way better.

The OP is making his Austin Healey and I /salute him for it.

I once was gonna rebuild a bike and during the tear down I found a crack/rust in the frame. Since it quickly became more involved than my very limited abilities could handle, I stopped.

If this happens to the OP, it would not be an indictment on him or his character.

AND if he does finish...GREAT another old bikes gets new life, which is great!

An anagram for this would be a new Triumph Bonnevile or Thruxton. Great bikes, but if someone wants an older model, good for them.

I would say no one on this forum is 100% rational. We all choose "feels" over functionality. That is why we aren't in Prius' or Minivans.

How many times you see "had to sell the BRZ...kid on the way...BOUGHT and STI Hatch!"

So to the OP...GL man and stay patient and take your time. It will be worth it when you are done. It may cost more than you think and if money vs performance is an important part of the equation, maybe re-think what you are doing.

But if its about chasing your old dreams...go for it.

Me? I am going back to Bring a Trailer and AutoTrader looking for a Mint AW11 because I regret selling my last 3...

I appreciate the support man!

In this case, money and time isn't a huge deal to me. The problem I feel like I always need to work on something. Well, when I only really have the FR-S to work on, and I've done all of the "cheap" mods that interest me, it gets expensive quickly. Because of that, I can't ever save my money to just outright buy a nicer Harley or Triumph because I'm always spending it on the FR-S lol.

Since I got this thing for free, I can put money into the funds for it here and there and work on it when I have time.

Good luck with the MR2! I love that body style

Another update also: I have some GSXR parts coming for it soon. My buddy has a few of them and we're tearing apart one of the parts bikes for my build :)

Just a few more from the day I chopped the rear off, and modified the tank, to show how it's sitting currently. Still waiting on that hoop... Still waiting on the GSX-R parts...

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8570/2...cf32ddd8_k.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8565/2...9339792f_k.jpg

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8623/2...5be497be_k.jpg

Put the GSX-R front end on the frame today. I need a few custom parts to make it all work, but this is how it will look.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7710/2...80486e7b_k.jpg

Why are you such a tool? No, wait, I don't care. just GTFO and let the guy have his space. Go burn ants or pop little kids' balloon animals or something; whatever guys like you jerk off to. :mad0260:

Keep up with it OP. :thumbsup:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...addelivers.jpg

hahahaha thanks! I'm planning on picking up a separate GS1000 next weekend for an every day rider while I work on this project :)

Picked up a GS1000 this weekend 😎
http://i.imgur.com/hZT0bD0.jpg

Prototype gauge bracket for the GSX-R front end

http://i.imgur.com/mHjIMKr.jpg

Definitely will check in on this from time to time.

Last winter I helped a friend of mine take apart and put back together a '91 Sportster. That has gotten me wanting a bike again (have previously had a 125CBR and an R6 (boy, was that R6 an absolute basket case and a terrible purchase)). As much as I'd like to do a restomod thing, I just don't think I have the patience to do it. Though, I suppose doing a bit of work here and there on a project with no set finish date would be alright.

That's exactly why I decided to get another bike. I didn't want the pressure of needing to get the 425 done. I can just work on it at a comfortable pace and when it's done, it's done.

Update: Received a rather large shipment of front end parts, as well as suspension for the 425 yesterday. I will start test fitting things soon. I currently have a friend's Buell in my garage with some broken parts that we're replacing, and doing some custom body work, so that's taking up my time.

Today I cruised over to my friend's body shop to mix up some custom paint colors to find one to re-paint the 1000. I decided on this:

http://i.imgur.com/tClN7mc.jpg

And I also received a few bubble shields for my Biltwell helmet. Super happy with how the Gold Chrome looks on this helmet 😍

http://i.imgur.com/jmBIGDE.jpg

Wow, look at me go

http://i.imgur.com/N0xJn4Z.jpg