Time for a change - FZR600 nipped and tucked

[Fartblood]

Righto, I've kept the FZR clean, tidy and in good fettle, but I've decided now's the time to spruce her up and see if I cn't knock a few years off her in terms of appearance. I'm not going to waste time and money slapping on a Gold Wing fairing, or VMax rear wheel etc, as some are wont to do, cos I want to spend the absolute minimum - any more than a few hundred notes and I might as well start trying to find a newer bike.

So, while the weathers still pooey I've had the bodywork off and into the house, and the rest can wait a few more weeks til spring arrives.

Thus far...

Here's the front mudguard. The front half is going to be blue when she's finished:



Here's the tank after priming, the basecoat, and the decals:



Here's the finished tank, with the blue I decided on and a clear top coat. A few weeks to dry fully then I'll run the buffer over it, though in truth the lacquer went on well and gives a very good finish as it stands:



EXUP 1000 torque arm to replace the manky old steel 600 item:



More to follow as ze verk progresses.

[shredex]

I like that brake arm...is it stock?
and nice paint man. didnt know you were a painter!

[95FZR600]

Nice color combination! I love that blue.

[ragedigital]

any more than a few hundred notes and I might as well start trying to find a newer bike.

That's exactly how I ended up with the 05 GSXR. I spent way too much on modifying the FZR... easy to do.

Looks great! Can't wait to see more!

[Fartblood]

Thanks guys. A frew words of appreciation from fellow afficionados makes it all worth while. I love riding my sickle, but in truth I'm not turned on by the machinery on two wheels the same way as I am on four, so as long as the bike continues to ride well and be reliable I've no desire to replace it. That and I'm a tight git!

The torque arm is, I believe, a standard late FZR1000/early EXUP1000 item. It's a few mm shorter than the stock 600 item, but fits on well enough if the caliper mount is rotated a degree or two round on the wheel spindle.

I did the tank in white then agonised for a week of so on what to do next - I was originally going to to a Marlboro themed job, but after copping sight of an early GSXR1100 in Suzukis traditional blue and white scheme I decided a similar combo would look good on me. I'm not sure what colour the blue is cos I justw alked into the store and plucked a I liked can off the shelf without even reading the lid.

I'm not a paint sprayer by trade, but I've done enough minor car body repairs etc over the last 23 years to be reasonably proficient at it - just plan well, prep thoroughly and take your time through each stage and a tidy result can usually be achieved.

[megaloxana]

Very interested in how the paint will turn out. Tank looks great.

[tommyj27]

I love that white and blue combo!

[yamaha_george]

Love the blue and white! That brake arm looks like the stocker off my 1WG FZR400

Keep it up!

FB,
Great choice of colours they always look "clean", just like Christian Sarron's race job did for team Sonauto

the brake stay is like the one I got for my 1wg swingarm may be the same as the 1k or may be shorter<???>

Keep up the good work and show the colonials how we do it LoL

[Fartblood]

Aye George, nice to show the great unwashed that we in blighty still know how it's done

Front mudguard now done, and looks even better than the tank now I'm getting back in the swing of painting again. Pics as soon as I've sobered up sufficiently to find my sync lead!

[yamaha_george]

Aye George, nice to show the great unwashed that we in blighty still know how it's done

Front mudguard now done, and looks even better than the tank now I'm getting back in the swing of painting again. Pics as soon as I've sobered up sufficiently to find my sync lead!

If you keep up that standard you are likely to find me at the head of the line of people with fairings in their hands outside your door LoL

[Fartblood]

Work continues apace. Front mudguard finished...



Tank cover now on, and the rest of the bodywork stripped for painting...



I'm pleased with the results so far, and the onset of decent weather is spurring me on.

[Fartblood]

Right, quick update. The old girls been outside, under a cover, and sadly ignored all winter. However, i've kept her on an Optimate and she started 3rd stab of the button, which was bloody marvellous!

The paintworks all finished (bar the nose fairing - I wan't to get her back on the road first, so can worry about that later) and the final panels have been in the house hung about a radiator for a fortnight and have hardened nicely. I've also got some alloy FZR600R (1994) pillion hangers, £14 on Ebay, which have been polished up with Autosol and now look chrome plated, although a small alloy bracket c 1.5" long will need knocking up to mate the exhaust hanger the the R/H one as it's a touch shorter than the original. If you want some for yourself look out for the 'Y' shaped ones with the fairly straight edges - the snazzy looking grey painted cast alloy ones from the Thundercat don't fit as the mounting holes are too close together.

I'm off work on the sick awaiting an operation at the mo, so weather permitting the bodywork is going back on Tuesday, and I'm going to carefully run the machine polisher over it at a slow speed/low abrasive compound to smooth it off, then clean and wax her from top to bottom.

I'll post the pics then, so you've all had 48hrs warning and have time to get rid of the wife, lock the door, close the curtains, and have a box of Kleenex handy for when you get to gaze upon the finished article

Rich.

[megaloxana]

have a box of Kleenex handy for when you get to gaze upon the finished article

haha we're all waiting...

[95FZR600]

Did you recover your seat? Looks nice!

[Fartblood]

That seat was a lucky ebay find. I dunno what make it is - it appears to be made that way, rather than a recovered original. The pillion seat was new-old stock found for pennies in the 'bay.