81 gl1100 cafe scrambler hybrid

[johnnyfever]

Here is where I am at right now. What I have done: New tires, new grips, handlebar end mirrors. Pulled off front fairing. Rebuilt front forks, lowered front end 2", cut off escucheon and reversed headlight holding brackets to lower headlight 2.5" on forks, customized main gauge cluster bracket to get them 2" lower on the fork tree, lowered ignition 2". Polished valve covers, intake manifolds, timing belt cover. Rewired and installed LED turn signals attached to headlight on front, wired and installed an all-in-one brake,running,turn signal light in back. Bought an old fender and cut it down basically the same profile as the one that was on there. The original fender had body damage and it was cheaper and easier to cut a new one than to fix the bent metal. painted rear fender, side panels, tank. New emblems. Painted rims to be all black.

The black accent paint I used on the tank did not play well with the other paint and shrunk and cracked horribly. Before I put on the new tank emblems I have to sand the tank back down, reprime and repaint again. Same design. I was not happy when it started to crack. All that work and waiting just to have to do it again. Still might shave the seat down more to more of a cafe style. Any suggestions welcome.

[Psycrow]

I love it. Any closeup or as you went pics of the gauge and ignition lowering? I really want to do this to mine.

Psy

[johnnyfever]

no close ups. pretty easy though. there are 2 bolts welded on to the gauge bracket. cut those off and drill a hole where they were, then drop the guage bracket to the underside of the fork tree where it mounts. get some longer bolts, 2-1/2" if I remember right, and some 1-1/4" cylindrical spacers. bolt it up and it will drop the whole cluster down. You have to drop the ignition with it and spacer it the same.

[johnnyfever]

I forgot, you also have to drop the headlight down to gain the clearance needed.

[johnnyfever]

In my avatar, the headlight and gauges are at the stock position. if you look at the chrome headlight bracket, you will see it is reversed to lower the headlight. you just need to cut off the bottom escucheon of the headlight bracket to make it work, then flip it over and right goes on left, left on right.

[Psycrow]

I dont have the stock headlight or brackets anyway. When I ditched the faring I installed the headlight off of a '78 Yamaha XS750 with aftermarket brackets. I like the look of it way better then the stock GL1100 bucket. It will be NP to drop it. I was thinking along the same lines as you to drop the gauges but I wasn't sure how to solve the ignition issue. Thought about repositioning it on the side under the shelter but I was't sure what that would do to the steering lock. Guess I'm going to have to just disassemble it all and go at it.

thanks,
Psy

[johnnyfever]

It goes quick. No cutting to lower the ignition, just spacers.

[Psycrow]

Nice.. I assume you ran the Air line for the forks OVER the dash?

Psy

[johnnyfever]

yes, by the handlebar mount

[handymancanfixit]

Nice looking bike! Do you have any "before" pics?

[chewy999]

Good looking bike and shows what can be achieved with imagination and probably a fair few dollars!

[johnnyfever]

I have a total of 2600 in it right now. New seat would be 175 or so more, repaint tank 15 in paint and primer.

[HOTT]

She's a looker

HOTT

[CrashDown]

Man, I never thought of lowering the cluster and headlamp like that. Awesome look! Clubman bars and clutch cable wont let me do it.

[jttorio]

Love it.