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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 00:17 - 17 Sep 2014 Post subject: 1994 GSXR750 Cafe Racer |
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Hi everyone! Been a while since I've posted here but I have a nice little project going on at the moment. I was looking to do a cafe build and was originally trying to find a Honda CX500, however the more I thought about it the more I thought the performance would be dull, so then I moved onto the idea of a Suzuki GSX750, and then decided I wanted sports bike performance but retro looks. So.... a couple of weeks ago I picked up a 1994 GSXR750...
https://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t413/TH427/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscc89ab5f.jpg
The pictures flatter it's condition a little bit!
Anyway since then I've done a bit of stripping down and rebuilding...
https://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t413/TH427/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3dbb5906.jpg
And now it's sitting like this...
https://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t413/TH427/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps190fad1b.jpg
All that's left to do is some wiring, painting of the seat unit, tank and front mudguard, getting a proper seat pad, relocation of a few brackets etc, proper fitment of exhaust and general fiddling to tidy the looks up.
Thanks! ____________________ 2000 Suzuki GN125 (Sold) - 1989 Kawasaki GPZ600R (Sold) - 2010 Yamaha XJ6N (Sold) - 2004 Triumph Daytona 600 (Sold) - 1994 GSXR750 Cafe Racer |
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Diggs |
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Diggs World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 07:14 - 17 Sep 2014 Post subject: |
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I can see that in British Racing Green, wire wheels and an old Egli-Vincent style single headlamp fairing... ____________________ Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting... |
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almostthere |
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almostthere Traffic Copper
Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:03 - 17 Sep 2014 Post subject: gsxr |
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Nice bike I like those old gixxers a lot of bike for a little money ____________________ Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk |
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steveh |
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steveh World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 09:34 - 18 Sep 2014 Post subject: |
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Maybe im old fashioned, but a cafe racer (in my eyes) is a non "sporty" bike, made sporty and sleek, lightweight and made faster..
Youve taken the aero dynamics away and made it slower?
Each to there own i suppose, if you like it thats all that matters, but you'd be faster cafe to cafe with the standard bike, youve made a good job of cleaning it up, motor looks good and the silencer suits the bike.
Get rid of all the clocks ect at the front end, plain single headlamp, wider clipons, single and simple speedo, and if you want to be really clever.. dual exhausts (that silencer would look nice either side)
but then again im probably biased as ive got a cafe racer.
steve. ____________________ Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E. |
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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P. |
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P. Red Rocket
Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 15:21 - 18 Sep 2014 Post subject: |
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But... thats like castrating your main bull
Why not buy a crashed one and ruin it
However, am watching with interest... some things do end up looking quite good |
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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rideslikean00... |
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rideslikean00... Nearly there...
Joined: 26 May 2014 Karma :
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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beardface |
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beardface Spanner Monkey
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 22:48 - 02 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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Nice, would look ace with wire wheels in BRG ____________________ www.soundcloud.com/bodren |
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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_Iain_ |
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_Iain_ Banned
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
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_Iain_ |
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_Iain_ Banned
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beardface |
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beardface Spanner Monkey
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 15:43 - 14 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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Can't wait to see it finished, good work ____________________ www.soundcloud.com/bodren |
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 18:08 - 20 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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Some important bits of progress made!
https://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t413/TH427/Mobile%20Uploads/86284B2F-F722-4E8B-A5D9-2B0E51D5FF9D_zpsuexgdnes.jpg
I now to cover the seat, check all the torques, change the coolant reservoir, give it a service, and some other bits of general fiddling and mucking about.
Come Christmas I will be fabricating a new subframe as the current hacked up version of the existing one is a bit scrappy. ____________________ 2000 Suzuki GN125 (Sold) - 1989 Kawasaki GPZ600R (Sold) - 2010 Yamaha XJ6N (Sold) - 2004 Triumph Daytona 600 (Sold) - 1994 GSXR750 Cafe Racer |
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stevo as b4 |
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stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
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Posted: 18:56 - 20 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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It looks a bit better now!
I can see both Steveh's and Iain's views on this though. The fact that the bike looked better in the before pics than you say it was probably is a factor too.
Personally I see that If it was kept as a tidy late water cooled beam frame GSXR and maybe smartened up and re-painted in a single colour less shellsuit, it could have been good too. But It's not a desirable variant of the 750, so they are cheap and a bit more unloved than an Oil boiler or SRAD, so I don't see a problem with chopping one around either.
The idea that a non sporty bike is the ideal base for a café racer is very sound too, but I think where you have ended up is way better (exhaust excepted) than it would have been as a sportsbike with the fairing ripped off and renthals fitted for the scabby streetfighter look.
I think the cradle frame reminds me a little of a Norton featherbed, and is aesthetically better for a café racer than a modern big beam frame bike would be.
But I do think that overall the only style of modding that really suits big GSXR's is the stretched out extended back end lowered look with a Drag pipe, big bottle of Nitrous and straight bars. It's kind of the law for big GSXR's IMO! |
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 19:36 - 20 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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Cheers, the bike was quite a state before being taken apart yes, and I can see why some think it should be restored to former spec.
It was never a desirable model and I doubt it will ever be against a oil cooled bike. Cradle frame design and engine were outdated, fairly lardy weight also, I think Suzuki tried to cover those facts with large brakes, braced swing arm and USD forks etc.
The good thing about the water cooled bike though is the bolted on subframe as opposed to the welded unit on the oil cooled bikes. Means everything can be returned to stock, only parts that I'd need would be a new subframe, mudguard/battery holder, the broken fairing/clock mount, and the tail panels which are beyond repair on one side. However just a restoration paint job would cost maybe twice what the total build has cost so far!
Big GSXR's do look good with a drag look, think that's down to the muscle appearance of the frame, tank and engine etc, love the cradle frame.
Not sure I am happy with plain black, might try use some vinyl to create some subtle Barry Sheene colours. ____________________ 2000 Suzuki GN125 (Sold) - 1989 Kawasaki GPZ600R (Sold) - 2010 Yamaha XJ6N (Sold) - 2004 Triumph Daytona 600 (Sold) - 1994 GSXR750 Cafe Racer |
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Supermoto_Fan |
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Supermoto_Fan World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 19:59 - 20 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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stevo as b4 wrote: | It looks a bit better now!
I can see both Steveh's and Iain's views on this though. The fact that the bike looked better in the before pics than you say it was probably is a factor too.
Personally I see that If it was kept as a tidy late water cooled beam frame GSXR and maybe smartened up and re-painted in a single colour less shellsuit, it could have been good too. But It's not a desirable variant of the 750, so they are cheap and a bit more unloved than an Oil boiler or SRAD, so I don't see a problem with chopping one around either.
The idea that a non sporty bike is the ideal base for a café racer is very sound too, but I think where you have ended up is way better (exhaust excepted) than it would have been as a sportsbike with the fairing ripped off and renthals fitted for the scabby streetfighter look.
I think the cradle frame reminds me a little of a Norton featherbed, and is aesthetically better for a café racer than a modern big beam frame bike would be.
But I do think that overall the only style of modding that really suits big GSXR's is the stretched out extended back end lowered look with a Drag pipe, big bottle of Nitrous and straight bars. It's kind of the law for big GSXR's IMO! |
Surely it's up to the owner to decide what they want to do with their bike? Some may not like it if certain models are chopped and changed to suit an individual's taste, but you do what you like, let others do what they like. I quite like the result achieved here
I wholeheartedly agree with you stevo about original "fight in a paintshop" colours of some of these GSXRs, and a few Yams too of that era - colour schemes best eradicated where found and forgotten about
As to drag strip bikes, nah, I'd have to start that with an 11 lump; all about extremes init And personally, I like the first gen bikes for that look
I've always loved the early GS and Z bikes of the 70s myself, the old, heavy air cooled stuff. Been eyeing up a nice condition GS1000E lately, and that got me to thinking; on the one hand it would be a real shame to change it from standard. But another (perhaps stronger) part of me says I'd have to do the kind of mods that were done back in the day: 4-1 pipe, 2/4 style seat etc. I love the look of a good Wes Cooley replica, Eddie Lawson Kwak etc. There's a race series in Japan where they update and modify these kinds of bikes, and some of the results are stunning. It'd be a shame if it was the last of it's kind, but I also think as long as there are a handful of pristine, bog-stock machines in a museum or collection that can be viewed by Joe Public somewhere, why not? ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Bikeless |
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Bikeless World Chat Champion
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Matt B |
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Matt B World Chat Champion
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TH427 |
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TH427 Renault 5 Driver
Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Karma :
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nowhere.elysium |
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nowhere.elysium The Pork Lord
Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Karma :
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almostthere |
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almostthere Traffic Copper
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Posted: 20:42 - 21 Oct 2014 Post subject: |
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I think the frame looks great looks good in black too [/img] ____________________ Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 9 years, 225 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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