FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive

Just finished with a budget top end rebuild on my 89 1k. I got it started last night and it seemed ok. I rode it a bit today and got it up to temp. But something just didnt sound right. I race karts so i have a good ear for engine noises. My friend and father couldnt hear what im talking about but i know its there. And it is def from the bottom end and not in the transmission. I really love the bike for many different reasons. I didnt just fall upon it, i looked hard for the bike. My question is to keep it or sell it..

Reasons to keep:
1. Many new parts(brake pads, all brake calipers rebuild, master cylinder rebuild, new tires, clutch master cyl/release cyl, fork seals/oil, many hours in top end, new valve shims, head gasket, and much more.
2. i love the bike for the styling(except that box of a tail), the performance, and the history of the FZRs.
3. first bike to get some action on. .

Reasons to sell:
1. strange noise
2. i know ill just be getting into the motor again eventually
3. its freakin 21 years old.

now there are more reasons than this, but ill keep it simple. If i do decide to sell it, would i make more off of it parting it or selling it as a whole. I mean how much can a 89 FZR 1k be. i think i picked it up for 1500 a year or 2 ago with 10k less miles. Anywhos, any advice/opinions are greatly appreciated, positive or negative

I think its cheaper to just source out an engine and transmission and buy it. They run around 300 to 600. Or have someone else rebuild it.

The bike itself is not worth more than 2 grand so dont invest more than that. You can find another fzr for around that price. I got mine for 1000 dllrs. I call it the disposable bike. If it messes up, I can just get another engine and tranny or even another fzr.

That "box of a tail" makes the bike hot but my opinion could be biased (says the purist).

What's my ? If the funds are there 1040 that thing and enjoy it.

A noise is just that until it becomes a problem, my 600 has had all kind of quirky noises and feels but it keeps on going. You won't get much for it with all your work if it does have something truly wrong with it so you could have more fun riding till it dies and then selling the usable parts. Sounds to me like you want a newer bike and am just tired of it, nothing wrong with that really.

And there's always something special about a vehicle you got some action on

I have a great working condition motor transmission with all the excessories out of a 1990 FRZ1000 fro sale. The set up has 10,000 miles. Let me know if you are intrested or want more info on it.
Patrick Mathias

_Will_ wrote:A noise is just that until it becomes a problem, my 600 has had all kind of quirky noises and feels but it keeps on going. You won't get much for it with all your work if it does have something truly wrong with it so you could have more fun riding till it dies and then selling the usable parts. Sounds to me like you want a newer bike and am just tired of it, nothing wrong with that really.

And there's always something special about a vehicle you got some action on

Im taking it to a shop where i buy all my parts. Hes a great guy and really hooks people up. I talked to him today and hes going to look at it. We talked for a bit and we came to the conclusion that it might be a crank bearing. Its def coming from the bottom end... from my ear.. the crank. So well see what comes of Tuesday and ill let you guys know. Depending i might just ride it till it wont go any more. Like you said. Then part it in the winter.

You're correct in that i want a newer bike. I decided today im going to save up until next year if my FZR holds out that long. Nothing older than 3 or 4 years old but not new.. im not going to take the hit on depreciation, even though it isnt as bad as cars. But currently im looking at the FZ1, R6, and CBRs of any cc. but i got a year.. so im not too worried.

The there is the action. I think the big eat helped. With the smaller seats on the newer bikes... it might be harder. I guess ill find out sooner or later.


Anyways, if anyone has any advice or think im being dumb... let me know. Like i said, i like the bike, i just dont want to BS with it. I just want to ride it and have it be reliable. Plus, the guy who worked on it before was a jackass... which doesnt help the matter.

I think a lot of us know too well the work of following a less than skilled mechanic, these being starter bikes by most accounts they also attract the inexperienced . MY main word of caution to add to "ride it till it dies" is don't ride it if it becomes a saftey feature. Your motor siezing during a nice lean could easily be catastrophic. I've not heard the sound and admittedly am not the expert mechanic a lot of guys on here are either but your description of the previous owner doesn't bode well.

I've not ridden an FZ1, R6, or CBR but hear sport tourers leaning more toward the sport like the FZ1 have plent of guts to keep you entertained and will be much easier on the insurance. Main downside of the FZ1 is they hold their value for that very reason. Find the ones you like and troll their forums, it always gives a nice indicator of the reliability and expected problems of a model to see what the enthusiast like ourselves in the FZR community endure.

My old roommate has an r6. It's not nearly as comfortable to ride at my fzr. I'm 6'1'' he's 6'2'' but after a 2.5 hour ride my hand is a little sore and his whole upper body twitches. Back, shoulder blades, lower back, abs, upper thighs. Anyway I think it's the lean and strain on the bars. Try one out first if you can.

Chris.

As you said the FZR wont be worth a lot of money. Still to an entusiast it is worth a lot. Lets say that you keep the FZR, in 5 years it will bee rare,10 years from now it will be a very interesting classic. If the bike is in decent condition ofcourse. I have said it before,but to me it is way cooler to ride a old bike that you have restored and maintained thanks to your skills and attention to details,than to go in to a shop and buy the latest bling bling on the marked. I would keep the FZR,mabye take it off the road,and keep it as a project ( I don't know if the insurance and taxes are expensive? )and then get a newer bike for the road. try to sort out the bad's now, when you can still get parts for it.
Save your money and buy a newer bike if that is what you want. I know that you can't compare old bikes to new ones. Ofcourse a new bike will be a lot easyer to own. But to me it would never be as satifing to own a bike that anyone with money can buy.

chefen2006 wrote:As you said the FZR wont be worth a lot of money. Still to an entusiast it is worth a lot. Lets say that you keep the FZR, in 5 years it will bee rare,10 years from now it will be a very interesting classic. If the bike is in decent condition ofcourse. I have said it before,but to me it is way cooler to ride a old bike that you have restored and maintained thanks to your skills and attention to details,than to go in to a shop and buy the latest bling bling on the marked. I would keep the FZR,mabye take it off the road,and keep it as a project ( I don't know if the insurance and taxes are expensive? )and then get a newer bike for the road. try to sort out the bad's now, when you can still get parts for it.

Great advice! Thank you.
I was considering. If i can get a new ride and completely redo the FZR from head to toe. I doesnt need too much. Just everything taken off and put back on THE RIGHT WAY. And cleaned/painted of course with a new motor. That would be sick. Lots of money and time though. It would def take me a few years. Who knows. If i have the space for 2 bike i will consider.

well its always cheaper to fix a vehicle than to buy a new one thats what i say so i guess its up to you hey 2 bikes dont take up that much room theres always outside

true. but its cheaper to buy a new one then dumping lots of money into it every year. It needs a trans rebuild, clutch/basket, and such still. I might be better off buying a new motor/trans for it eventually. At this particular time, im going to see what my guy says and well go from there. So ill let you guys know on tuesday. Most likely ill fix it so it holds the rest of the year.

Now lets say it is a crank bearing or something of the sorts, how hard and how expensive will that be to replace? Obviously all the gaskets, parts, and tools/supplies if needed. if its going to be more than 200 im just going to ride till it blows. i dont want too much more money into it. Any more than 200 ill just buy a new motor/trans which i dont think is worth it unless i keep the bike forever, just way in the hole on a 89.

I took her over to the shop today. They confirmed that it is the main/crank bearings. I should do all of them, but im not. I dont know how long it will last if i leave it. If i make sure there is plenty of oil in there and baby it, it might last the season. But, if i do just the worst bearings, it should last the whole season. I always have my sisters Ninja250 if it blows again, .

.

well... its def louder now. just needed some heat in it. My buddy put a engine stethoscope to it. And i found more gold/silver metal in the oil.

Does anyone know if i can get to the crank from the bottom of the motor, or do i have to pull the cylinders? I think im going to do a couple bearings. just the ones with damage, even though i should do them all. Then ill most likely sit on it and get another engine and do the resto instead of parting it.

Since Sept. when the FZR first blew, i started looking at sites and reviews. I think i decided on the FZ1 that is 1 or 2 years old. Time to hit the FZ1 forums. Anyone have one?