New guy with a GT380

[devourist]

Hey friends,
I've been a longtime lurker on here and wanted to make a post giving my infinte thanks for the knowledge and information you've all shared on this forum. Last summer I picked up a 1972 GT380 that was dissembled in a box and missing half the parts, I've never built a motorcycle, don't have any friends that ride, and didn't have much knowledge about bikes in general. You've all gave me the wisdom and motivation to rebuild my GT380 out of my apartment. Here's a few pictures of my rebuild process and what my bike looks like at the moment, albeit, it still needs love, lot's of it. Thanks for all the help getting me this far. After all of this, i'm 500 miles in and I still have a girlfriend.
PS: My "tank bag" is just a backpack strapped to the tank, just using what I've got.

[ConnerVT]

I like it.

Best part, it is all yours. You know, and have touched, every bit on it. Builds a bond you don't get by writing a check, and having keys handed to you.

My first T500 arrived at my house in the trunk of a 1968 Ford Galaxie -- a bare frame, some wheels, and boxes of parts.

[dyrberg123]

I just love when the bike is being drawn into the living room. Great work

[Alan H]

Lean & mean.
Nice, but at my age I like more padding on tbe seat and bars a tad higher.
30 years ago I would have been on it like a shot!
Just love these old strokers though.

[Craig380]

Hi and welcome.

She looks very nice indeed, I love the bare metal tank. I'd never have pictured a 380 as a 'survival' bike but you've made it work.

Now I have to ask - where did you put the battery? Oh hang on, I see in one of the build pics that it's under the seat hump. Love the "see thru" frame look

[buffalodave]

If that is your first restoration...I can't wait for the next...
VERY NICE!

BUT one question, WHERE does the girlfriend sit?

[rngdng]

Nice work. Those are some shiny carbs!!!

[tz375]

First off Welcome to the world of Suzuki triples.

It's good that you did all the work, but I wondered why the 1940 look which predates cafe racers and why no fenders?

Let's talk about fenders. The front one is needed to keep water and dirt out of the engine and off your face, but more importantly is acts as a fork brace. Without it the front forks tend to twist under cornering or braking.

The rear fender keep water off your back and away from the inlets.

If the "look" is more important than functionality, you could use the front section of the rear fender and either paint the front fender black or fit a fork brace.

The black wheel look takes us back to a pre WW2 time when chrome or nickel were just too expensive to use on utility motorcycles. The WW2 half masked headlamp is an interesting look, but can't help night riding. It looks cool enough but those lights are not all that strong to begin with and we don't have much of a problem where I live with German planes trying to bomb me .

One last thing. Are those the original tires? If so they will be as hard as rocks and not safe in the dry, let alone the wet. One of my bikes has old tires and I ride that like an old lady and only on warm sunny days to avoid the inevitable.

As for the backpack, tank bag, I love it. I have used backpacks and all sorts of other bags and as long as I'm careful with the straps they have been fine.

Nice first "build" and as you ride it, you have time to work out what needs to be changed to make it more useful. The main reason that cafe racers died out last time around is that they are so uncomfortable and impractical. I love them but can't live with one on the street for very long.

[devourist]

Hey guys, thank's for the love! My old lady's not much for motorcycles, so the single seat's not a problem. I'm not really sure what I was going for when put the bike together, it looks similar to a cafe racer, but I'm a fan of brat bikes and old military bikes. I just went for what I thought was cool looking. I have a seat in the making, i've just never sewn anything before, it's a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. As far as fenders go, I didn't get any with the bike and I've been trying to make some of my own. I know that I could just buy fenders, but i'm really in this bike project for the learning experience. I have a buddy with an English wheel, he's willing to let me play around with it next week. The tires are not the original tires, i've got an Avon Speed Master in the front and the matching Avon MKII tire in the rear. Another thing is the tape on the headlight, i'm using an HID set up, which harnesses the power of 7000 suns . The tape creates a cut off and limits the amount of light thrown. With the tape, it's comparable to a modern halogen bulb.