My FZR Build/restoration
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 3:22 am
I guess it's better late than never to start but, here goes.
So back in mid-December 2012, I was given an '93 FZR for free. It was a little worse for wear but, it looked promising. It had been sitting outside for about 3 years. At first glance, there was sun damage, acorns stashed in different places and spiders nests. Oh how naive I was, thinking "Oh all it needs is a little tender loving care." Nope, wrong! It needed whole a lot of care and more. haha.
Well, I decided to take on this project because I really wanted a motorcycle and the price of FREE was just too good to pass up, also I've never taken on a project such as a rebuild before and wanted to learn. Sure I know how to change the oil, oil filter, air filter and regular maintenance on a car but, that's about as far as my mechanical skills go .
So, It was decided there and then that I would take her home begin working on her and eventually ride. And thus begins the gradual rebuild of my FZR and the steep decline of my bank account.
Well here she is the day I took her home. (camera quality isn't too great took them all from my phone, it doesn't do too well in low-light situations).
Yes, that headlight is being held on by some wires. Haha.
After a good wash.
Ok, time to take out and clean the carbs [This took me a while as I've never worked on carburetors before, thankfully I had the Clymer's manual to help me out.]
First time taking the air box and carbs off, and was greeted to the sight of this... Grime and crap everywhere.
Wire-brush + 5 hours + hard work = Woah!
Time to take off the wheels and clean them!
Too much road grime, brake dust and "stuff" on the wheel, couldn't clean them off. Strip the paint and go with a new color? I think, yes!
Why not throw in a pair of brand new tires while I'm at it?
It's starting to come together now!!
I didn't realize how banged up the fairings were, nothing that copious amounts of Bondo wont fix.
Primed and ready to paint.
Clear Coat time!
Starting to come together now.
It's almost done!! I just temporarily zip-tied the fairings on just to see what it would look like, still need the fairing brackets. But, those can come later. I'll just ride without fairings for a while, no biggie.
Outside for the first time after being in my garage for 5 months.
Things I still need to do:
Find or fabricate the side brackets for the fairings.
Do the VR upgrade [no more money, broke college student .] <---hopefully soon.
Stickers/decals [I don't know where though].
And that's basically it!
What do you guys think?
So back in mid-December 2012, I was given an '93 FZR for free. It was a little worse for wear but, it looked promising. It had been sitting outside for about 3 years. At first glance, there was sun damage, acorns stashed in different places and spiders nests. Oh how naive I was, thinking "Oh all it needs is a little tender loving care." Nope, wrong! It needed whole a lot of care and more. haha.
Well, I decided to take on this project because I really wanted a motorcycle and the price of FREE was just too good to pass up, also I've never taken on a project such as a rebuild before and wanted to learn. Sure I know how to change the oil, oil filter, air filter and regular maintenance on a car but, that's about as far as my mechanical skills go .
So, It was decided there and then that I would take her home begin working on her and eventually ride. And thus begins the gradual rebuild of my FZR and the steep decline of my bank account.
Well here she is the day I took her home. (camera quality isn't too great took them all from my phone, it doesn't do too well in low-light situations).
Yes, that headlight is being held on by some wires. Haha.
After a good wash.
Ok, time to take out and clean the carbs [This took me a while as I've never worked on carburetors before, thankfully I had the Clymer's manual to help me out.]
First time taking the air box and carbs off, and was greeted to the sight of this... Grime and crap everywhere.
Wire-brush + 5 hours + hard work = Woah!
Time to take off the wheels and clean them!
Too much road grime, brake dust and "stuff" on the wheel, couldn't clean them off. Strip the paint and go with a new color? I think, yes!
Why not throw in a pair of brand new tires while I'm at it?
It's starting to come together now!!
I didn't realize how banged up the fairings were, nothing that copious amounts of Bondo wont fix.
Primed and ready to paint.
Clear Coat time!
Starting to come together now.
It's almost done!! I just temporarily zip-tied the fairings on just to see what it would look like, still need the fairing brackets. But, those can come later. I'll just ride without fairings for a while, no biggie.
Outside for the first time after being in my garage for 5 months.
Things I still need to do:
Find or fabricate the side brackets for the fairings.
Do the VR upgrade [no more money, broke college student .] <---hopefully soon.
Stickers/decals [I don't know where though].
And that's basically it!
What do you guys think?