It's Been a while, i have, to paraphrase an old friend, been remiss in my posts and purchasing of a new project. Am back on the trail, lookimg for a bike, and i may have found one. Looking through the usual facebook market place and local ads, there is a GPX 600 R, it is, to say the least, very ropey. That said, there a are couple of nice conversions around, so am having a quandary, The engine does turn over, the bike looks like it has had a good few winters under a damp cover, all rescueable.
My dilema, do i spent a couple of hundred on it and risk it, it will keep me occupied, or have the money towards my upcoming holiday..... my heart says bike, head says the good resturants in Spain. Any how, here are some pics of the prospective project.....
The New Hope
So, on advice from a friend, I joined the Facebook page 'North Est Auld Skool', intorduced myself and asked about any frames or projects around. With the proviso of nothing until the New Year.
Well, the friendly welcome and banter there is great, and the people really helpful, i have an offer of a 1980's GSX 1100e rolling chassis, a ponderer. And an option on an VN500 (yes i know) but as you will see, there are some options.
The GSX is a firm favourite, with lots of options. Here is my issue, well challenge - The engine costs, the old Suzuki lump is a firm favourite of tuners, builders and racers. So they are:
as the start to this 
Well, as the summer wound down and winter in Scotland creeps in, the FZR has a small fuel leak. Turns out when i stripped it down and reconditioned the pump, the gasket was so old the rubber surround is so old it had turned back into the tree it came from!
Haha i think, i can do better than that and purchased HYLOMAR Universal Blue 100G tube fuel RESISTANT JOINTING GASKET SEALANT.
Well, still awaiting a project to come into sight. So while the hunt continues - I may have a lead on a Harley Iron Head 883 - depending on a lot of variables - price being the main one. I am going to get my much loved FZR back on the road.
So it needs a good going over, fuel system and a fresh battery are the top two jobs. So fuel system first. The tank needed draining, luckily I love the taste of petrol - trusty syphoning tube and a petrol can in hand, the tank was drained quickly enough, and the lingering taste of petrol stayed with me for the rest of the day. Once tank empty a retaining bolt and swivel bolt removal and the tank lifts off.
This exposes the airbox, my first Doh! moment. I lifted the box off, it felt a little reluctant - so i applied a little more force to it, and off it popped. Unfortunately the carbs came with it! Forgot to undo the circlips that secure the airbox to teh carbs! Still needed to refresh them - at least I justified my rush of blood. So to put them back on...... A nice new set of shot filled hammers that had been bought for Valentines day, came onto use. Circlips loosened to facilitate a nice refit, i eased the carbs back on to the engine, gently tapping them back, then a rash hard tap and carb number 3 intake cracked! A pice popped off, luckily somewhere into the garage and not into the engine! FFS i whispered. First repair job, to fixe the crack and chipped carb intake. As can be seen in the picture, the use of expoxy resin and time mended the chipped intake. Also had the presence opf mind to stop drillthe crack! Filled that as well. refitted as seen, here.
The repair can be seen on the 3rd intake in at the 6 o'clock position. Am quite proud of the work and added a new skill to boot. The carbs move freely and a good dose of WD-40 down each intake just to help.
The onto my original take, clean out the tank and fuel filter inside it.
The fuel pump and filter come of the tank easily, undoing 6 retaining bolts and off it came. The took it apart, removing the rubber tubing and filter for a clean, At this point, a small circular piece fell out of the assembly. I was confucse as i could not locate where is originated from. Was t from inside the cage filter? I searched my manuals and the interweb - to no avail. In a last ditch attempt to find it's origin I googled the wording on it, from AEG. A sigh of relief later - turns out it's a micro chip from the 90's that were glued over a bike to ensure security, happy days, it's not a part!
So the filter, seen at the front lower part of the assembly, and the rubber tubing were remover and cleaned. The tubing shortened a little as the ends were granulating. Then the piece put back together, minus the microchip. It is now ready for attaching back on the tank.
The tank is clean inside, so no real work there, just some blistering of paint on the base, where the fuel pump / filter assebly reattaches. Looks wors in the picture than in reality. But will clean it up with a hard brush and see what lies below. I think it will be good, as stated, the inside of the tank is clean as a whistle. So here is hoping no more hiccups on this part of the clean up.
Next up will be cleaning out the vaccum hoses and overflow tubes. Then plugs, oil filters and oil change to get things on track before battery and starting up. Then the MoT.....
Having left the states, leaving behind a lot of tools sand selling my beloved Sheldon Lathe and Wells Index Mill - I found myself emoty, nothing to do or make, or in the words of my very good friend - 'Dink with'.
Moping around, looking at my yellow FZR 600R, I know it needs a full service, battery and the fuel system draining, my heart was not into it, the tooless garage moking me,
My gorgeous wife, then, from the blue, bought me this:
So, been back in the UK now for 3 months, got the house almost sorted, tools arrived back from overseas safely, unlike some of our belongings. Still have a pang of regret over selling up on my KZ650, lathe and milling machine. But ever the optimist i still have my spanners and tools. The journey begins again. Looking at projects whilst sorting a few things, and generally pottering in the garage. Then I visit the dad-in-law, takes me into his garage and presents me with a large box. "Don't open it 'till you get home" he says.
Drinking up the tea, leaving and driving like I stole it, i get home and 2 minutes with a box cutter, the gift is revealed, and it is not quite my genre, but gorgeous and now the creative juices and lists are growing. It is a carbon fibre, to gorgeous to paint, but who knows.
Need a donor bike first, undecided - should i go modern and dress up as retro, giving the apearance of a classic witht he advantages of modern technology or just gro straight old school?
The quandry begins.......Will keep y'all posted, but this is the look i am going for:
The costs to get this done true to original are prohibitive, so am looking to pay homage to the era rather than restore / create a true period racer. Donor will be something along the lines of CB / GS / Z or the like, if one comes up at the right price and location.
Will see what happens over the next few weeks and months.
And, as you can see, may have to be creative with exhaust routing and fairing manufacturing. The tank should be easy enough to do, the rest....
Right, am away to scroll my way through eBay, marketplace, Gumtree and local ads to see what comes up, The itch needs attending too, but not rushing into it.
Check back for the occasional updates until I find the project.
