SlyDog's '82 GL1100 restoration project - MAKE IT NAKED!!

[Shadow]

SlyDog,

I just finished reading through this whole thread...dang, you are persistent! (read-hardheaded!) Good for you, though!!!

I'm just getting started on my project, and your story has inspired me! I do hope that my adventure will go a bit smoother.

Be on the lookout for my new "rebuild" thread once I really start digging into things...Now go for a ride, and have some fun!

edit; I fixed this, please keep it family friendly, no swearing. thanks robin1731

[SlyDogJeff77]

Robin, THanks for the edits.. I really try to keep things PG. thank you for keeping us honest. :D
Shadow, Glad i can inspire you! I'm really just a NOOB and I hope you can learn from my mistakes :D

[SlyDogJeff77]

Finally got a chance (Weather got a little warmer) to install my new 28 Dollar LED Tail light with Turn signals and plate illuminator lights.

install was super easy. New lights plugged right into the existing harness, used the bolt holes for the lower fender (not using the lower fender anyway) and works perfectly without any modifications to the electrical system.

[SlyDogJeff77]

2 more photos of the new tail light. This time in the day light.

I should have mentioned that on this license plate mount, the holes don't line up. I drilled 2 new holes on my license plate.
In retrospect, I should have drilled 2 new holes on the mount plate, not the license plate.. (next time)

[SlyDogJeff77]

Hey Guys.. it's been a while.. Things are running real smooth so far this spring. But i ran through a puddle and decided YEA... i need a front fender.
so i cut the stock fender down and gave it a coat of gloss black.

now it's more glossy than the rest of the bike it still looks good.

i also raised the new license plate frame and tail lights.. looks way better now then that last post.

[sunnbobb]

Staying dry too!

[SlyDogJeff77]

OK so the seat arrived today and i took out the dremmel and started to chop things up!! here is what i have so far!! my garage is a MESS and i had to photochop the background.. but what do you guys think so far?
ok first off.. I LOVE THIS SEAT.. i HAVE to make it work! it's very comfortable, it's about 30 pounds lighter and it's SO much lower!! so now i can actually put my feet flat on the ground!!

here are my problems. LOOK AT THAT DISGUSTING METAL STRAP I had to use to hold the back of the seat down. i'm going to have to fabricate some solid metal bracket and paint it black.

second problem, the front of the seat isn't mounted to ANYTHING.. the tongue doesn't fit anywhere.. i had to chop it off to get the seat to sit forward enough.

third problem, you cant see from this view but there is a 1-2" gap under the seat!! you can see right through.. i think i want to get like a 3" wide plank long enough to screw to the bottom of the plastic pan so that it fills the gap, the seat won't BOUNCE when i'm on it and have it stick out like a tongue under the bracket that we screw the false tank to.

I'll take better pictures soon enough, this is just what i got done tonight.

[SlyDogJeff77]

one more.. quickly photochopped.

[robin1731]

I would pull the cover off and remove some of the lower front corners on it. That would move it closer to the tank and maybe get it a little lower too. My .02.

[SlyDogJeff77]

I already have it back off the bike and I'm going to chop the sides and front to get it a little lower and forward more.

[SlyDogJeff77]

Had a chance to work on the seat today. I chopped the sides and the front down. I think I lowered my stance by about 3 or 4 inches total from the old Sofa King. There's also a 20-30 pound difference between the 2 seats. It's a totally different ride!! I love it!! My center of gravity is lower, the bike turns better!! AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, I CAN PUT MY FEET FLAT ON THE GROUND AT A STOP SIGN!!

I still have a gap between the tank and the seat but I'll figure out something. I don't want to move it forward any further, my knees would be up my nose.

[Madkoffe]

Looks great

[SlyDogJeff77]

*Update..

here is the latest..
http://imgur.com/a/TycAH#11

[SlyDogJeff77]

So here is a written update... El Jefe is getting closer and closer to being DONE in my book.

Over the past few months, I've changed quite a few things.
Today ditched the rear fender and fabricated some brackets to hold on the tail light and the seat.
I cut a section of the frame under the seat to lower it even more.
changed the oil and filter recently (about 50 miles ago). I was about 2 quarts low.
I have a new headlight bucket.
i replaced the spark plugs and it runs better. it doesn't spit and back fire when i'm slowing down in gear now.
rebuilt the rear break switch. The connectors inside the switch were very corroded.

Still looking for a new digital gauge, rear shocks, change the fork seals.

[SlyDogJeff77]

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