Looking good. 
Posting with Tapatalk while riding my Tiger 955i at 15 over the speed limit.
Posting with Tapatalk while riding my Tiger 955i at 15 over the speed limit.
New winter project!
- Thread starter gumpt1oo
- Start date
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Steve, you do first class work. She is looking great! Excellent photo documentation and progress report. 
I thought it was about time I updated this thread as it is over a year since I got the little Suzuki running. As you will see, the restoration took a change of direction and went down the 'custom' route rather than the 'original' route. This was mainly due to the cost of re-chroming and also some of the parts I needed are rarer than rocking horse poo!
So the strip down began,
After I had ridden the Suzuki around for a couple of hundred miles prior to stripping her down it became apparent that the exhausts were severely clogged with carbon and restricting the performance of the engine. As I had decided the custom route I bought a pair of used expansion chambers of ebay, cut the headers of the originals and had them welded to the chamber.
I had to make up some rear mounting brackets, here they are fitted Before the strip down.They will eventually be painted black as the chrome is pitted.
The rear mudguard was almost knackered, but I struggled to find one the right width. So I bought a wider one, cut an inch out of the middle and had it re-welded.
And here it is fitted prior to painting
continued...........
So the strip down began,
After I had ridden the Suzuki around for a couple of hundred miles prior to stripping her down it became apparent that the exhausts were severely clogged with carbon and restricting the performance of the engine. As I had decided the custom route I bought a pair of used expansion chambers of ebay, cut the headers of the originals and had them welded to the chamber.
I had to make up some rear mounting brackets, here they are fitted Before the strip down.They will eventually be painted black as the chrome is pitted.
The rear mudguard was almost knackered, but I struggled to find one the right width. So I bought a wider one, cut an inch out of the middle and had it re-welded.
And here it is fitted prior to painting
continued...........
The seat was also in a sorry state so I bought some rivet on upholstery spikes, covered the original foam with dacron and fitted a new cover.
Once I had made sure everything fitted ok, it was off to the powder coaters, and then start putting her back together,
I decided to go with a minimalist look so made up a stainless headlight bracket fixed to the top yoke so I didn't have to fit any headlight ears.
The headlight is 4 1/2" and I also decided to go with mini speedo and tach.
And this is how she stands at the minute,
Hope to have her completed for the middle of summer, watch this space.
Once I had made sure everything fitted ok, it was off to the powder coaters, and then start putting her back together,
I decided to go with a minimalist look so made up a stainless headlight bracket fixed to the top yoke so I didn't have to fit any headlight ears.
The headlight is 4 1/2" and I also decided to go with mini speedo and tach.
And this is how she stands at the minute,
Hope to have her completed for the middle of summer, watch this space.
sorry about the double post, not sure how I did that!
Wow, wow, and double wow!!!
Excellent work
Especially the work narrowing the fender (mudguard).
Excellent work
Especially the work narrowing the fender (mudguard).
Superb work, Steve; looking mighty good.
Wow, wow, and double wow!!!
Excellent work
Especially the work narrowing the fender (mudguard).
Totally agreed
Steve? you didnt really cut that inch out of the guard with a hacksaw did you.?
Yes I certainly did, with the steady hand of a wood butcher!
I did actually try to cut it with a jig saw first, but I couldn't hold it steady enough as the jigsaw was too fast and the vibration was wicked!
So it was a slow process with a hacksaw.
Yes I certainly did, with the steady hand of a wood butcher!
I did actually try to cut it with a jig saw first, but I couldn't hold it steady enough as the jigsaw was too fast and the vibration was wicked!
So it was a slow process with a hacksaw.
Kudos to you Steve
This lazy bugga probably would have used a grinder or more likely a carbo blade in a skilly.
Wow Steve that bike is going to turn out awesome as you sure have already done some nice work on it 
Wow that is fantastic, the restoration that you've done so far, is top notch. I had a 1976 GT 250 A, and listening to your video just made me grin like a big kid. I'd forgotten the sound of the old girl. Thanks ever so much for taking me back in time for a few moments. It'll be really great to see the finished bike. Your obviously having a ball doing it. Here's my old girl.
