Gidday fella, how are you getting on? I've got a GB400 tucked away downstairs, it's the daily ride but a bit scruffy round the edges, and my plan is to start the big cafe racer conversion over next winter. Mine's a mostly stock dual seat version. My plan in it's current iteration goes like this (note- actual order of stuff to be done not yet finalized. Results may vary)
1.) Modify tank. I want to keep the original, but my intention is to remove the aft lower side bits, and continue the straight line of the front lower tank edges all the way to the rear, if that makes sense. That should expose the frame rails all the way back to the seat. Then paint the tank white.
2.) Remove and biff dual seat. My current replacement is a dime city cycles off the shelf one, when I can afford it. Looks a bit like the original single seat, but lower profile. And brown.
3.) Remove gross airbox and other nasty 80's japanese plastic bits through the middle. Replace with a pod filter. Probably thrown the carb through an ulltrasonic cleaner at the same time, before re-jetting.
4.) Remove battery, replace with new smaller battery relocated up under the tank, where the top of the airbox sits at the moment. Possibly relocate fusebox to the same place if I'm feeling adventurous.
5.) I'm mostly going to leave the motor alone at the moment as it's going well, but I'll have it out of the frame as I'm going to be de-tabbing/welding on new tabs as required, so I'll soda blast it while it's out just to clean it up cosmetically. I think they look pretty cool without the cover on the drive gear so I may leave that off when it goes back together, just not too sure about the practicality.
6.) Intending to do the same as you regarding the exhaust, mine's got a single BMW silencer on it at the moment that sounds sweet, but is ENORMOUS and won't really fit with the aesthetic so I'll probably try to cut the headers and replace it with dual short revers cone mufflers mounted under the motor
7.)Wheels. Dismantle, powdercoat matt black hubs and rims, the rebuild with new spokes. Whitewall tires. Or firestones. Or whitewall firestones? Now that would be sweet..
8.)Front end. I've just rebuilt the forks, but I want to strip the lowers and repaint matt black. Also powder coat the triple trees and clipons the same color. I'll reinstall the clipons below the top triple tree when it all goes back together. I'll probably ditch the tacho and relocate the warning lights somewhere, and possibly replace the speedo with a newer unit. Either move the headlight forward and lower the gauge cluster, or replace the headlight altogether. I really like the combo jobbies like on this bike:
gb400 cafe 8 by timsleep, on Flickr
But not too sure where I'd find one.
Possibly new switchgear too, plus those sweet gummy brown grips.
9.) Rearsets? Possibly. For a start I'm just going to machine the originals down and see how it goes, but if the riding position isn't right I'll look at putting some on.
10.) The original mudguard, chainguard, rear grab rail and any other bits round there that look at me funny will go. I may have to come up with a new, smaller mudguard.
11.) There will no doubt be changes to the lighting, brake and indicator lights too, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
All in all a few bits to keep me going on with. Got the summer to finalise the plan, then start saving for the bits. This is the bike as it looks now though:
Surf Report by Lightrap, on Flickr
