GB400 Cafe Racer ideas?

**drmikenz** · 28th June 2009, 22:15

greetings all,

just picked up a '89 MK1 GB400 a week or so ago off TM, done 104k. Its my first bike in a few years and since i've got a bit of disposable cash (about $1500 or so) at the mo i was thinking of cafe'ing it up a bit. However I have to admit i've got little to no (tending heavy on the no side) mechanical skill/knowledge so was hoping to pick a few brains.

bodywork is ok, a few dents on the tank from the bars and the muffler has kissed the gravel at least once. Engine seems ok but will stall when cold at the lights and has backfired on me a few times when cold. once its warm seems fine. not alot of pull over 90k which worries me a little.

i'm thinking of putting some Hagon shocks on the rear (still originals on there), some progressive springs on the front, bar end mirrors , one of th dunstall replica's and hopefully a flyscreen. Does this sound like a reasonable way to go ? anything else i should be doing first ?

Also does anyone have good recommendations for someone in auckland to give it a tune up/good looking over ? it was sitting on someones shed for quite a while before i got her

thanks and hopefully the questions weren't too idiotic

**CookMySock** · 29th June 2009, 06:24

Ok those km's are little high, so make sure you have a little cash up your sleeve for when the inevitable happens.

Mods - well, whatever you want to do first. If it were me, it would be bars and seat. Carve up a new seat from a block of foam and glass it over, and sand, bog, and paint. Bars - any clipons that will fit, and swap your controls over.

Steve

**Voltaire** · 29th June 2009, 07:40

I'm doing a cafe bike and bought a Ducati 900 fibreglass seat on TM and a really nice set of clip-ons that the guy makes.
Tried my hand at widening the seat with a kit from fibreglass place down Morrin Road in Panmure, guy there is really helpful.
Dunstall exhausts are nice but they rust really fast.
There is a site for singles called ....thumper talk, I got lots of info on the Honda 80/100 I was doing a while back.

**xwhatsit** · 29th June 2009, 07:52

The GB already has nice clipons at a pleasant sort of height. Stick a single seat on (the Mk.I has a double seat, right?) and you're pretty much done!

Such a pretty bike. Would have to be one of the most gorgeous tank designs ever produced.

**drmikenz** · 29th June 2009, 09:09

yup, one of the previous owners has put a single seat on there already, tho i'm pretty sure its the double seat which has been modified

**Dodgyiti** · 30th June 2009, 07:15

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Ok those km's are little high, so make sure you have a little cash up your sleeve for when the inevitable happens.

Agree with the kms, a little on the high side mate. I am local to you, why not drop by and we can firstly give it a compression test with a nice warm engine and see where your at. Good on you for looking at the suspension before thinking about cosmetics, a good start but lets get an idea where the motor is at too. As DB rightly said, 100K is a good innings for the 400 so it may have had a freshen up but things like discs, fork sliders and carb jets/sliders will need looking at too.
Other than that - they are a great bike with a great reputation for reliability and holding their price- hence I had to buy the SRX when I really wanted the GB because the SRX was cheaper.

Mike
0212112511

**drmikenz** · 30th June 2009, 21:36

Originally Posted by Dodgyiti

Agree with the kms, a little on the high side mate. I am local to you, why not drop by and we can firstly give it a compression test with a nice warm engine and see where your at. Good on you for looking at the suspension before thinking about cosmetics, a good start but lets get an idea where the motor is at too. As DB rightly said, 100K is a good innings for the 400 so it may have had a freshen up but things like discs, fork sliders and carb jets/sliders will need looking at too.
Other than that - they are a great bike with a great reputation for reliability and holding their price- hence I had to buy the SRX when I really wanted the GB because the SRX was cheaper.

Mike
0212112511

thanks dodgy

will be in touch soon

**R6_kid:Me** · 30th June 2009, 22:47

Deus Ex Machina is opening up on Wellesley St in town, was in there yesterday, they have a lot of cafe accessories that could make your life really easy!

www.deus.com.au for inspiration - no doubt anything you see on there will soon be available here.

**fridayflash** · 30th June 2009, 23:40

ive got a gb500, and yea they already have clipons..i just lowered
mine by putting them under the top clamp, i also stripped the paint
off the tank and recoated it with satin clear..looks awesome
great bikes-well worth a bit of effort.
as for the mileage a guy in our club has a 400 thats done 145k!
he bought it new and has only ever done a camchain on it.
reckons it burns a bit if oil, but doesnt smoke..just like mine lol

**nudemetalz** · 1st July 2009, 14:40

Yup, with those kms I'd look for an XR600 motor to slot in. Has been done before and apparently they go rather nicely !!!

Good website http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/gb-500faq.html

**Paulo** · 1st July 2009, 16:05

Originally Posted by fridayflash

ive got a gb500, and yea they already have clipons..i just lowered
mine by putting them under the top clamp, i also stripped the paint
off the tank and recoated it with satin clear..looks awesome
great bikes-well worth a bit of effort.
as for the mileage a guy in our club has a 400 thats done 145k!
he bought it new and has only ever done a camchain on it.
reckons it burns a bit if oil, but doesnt smoke..just like mine lol

Would love to see a pic of that, I had planned on doing the same with the tank until the wind in Wellie blew my bike over and now I have a lovely dent where my clipons pushed the tank in, bugger.

**drmikenz** · 1st July 2009, 19:17

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

Yup, with those kms I'd look for an XR600 motor to slot in. Has been done before and apparently they go rather nicely !!!

Good website http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/gb-500faq.html

i'll keep an eye out, but i'm guessing since i can't do the work myself its probably out of my price range for the next 6 months or so. at least if i want to stay married

**Dodgyiti** · 1st July 2009, 19:21

Originally Posted by drmikenz

i'll keep an eye out, but i'm guessing since i can't do the work myself its probably out of my price range for the next 6 months or so. at least if i want to stay married

Should not be too hard to slot the 600 in, never say never- and how do you know you can't do it yourself? Your a kiwi arn't you?