This will be the slowest build thread in history!!!

[Bandon]

So this...

...is my '96 FZR 600 I just bought. It was complete when I bought it. Well, minus front fairings. Bottom line, it needs some work. Front to back, it needs just about everything cosmetic that you could think of. Already have a new tank and tail ('00 YZF600 tank/'99 R6 tail with all the fixins) in the mail. Plenty of other parts have been put on order as well. Bearings, bushings, grips, levers, rearsets are coming soon. But, I'm kind of torn between doing a full frame off, or just slapping some paint on that thing with everything still in and calling it a day. Of course I would mask everything off and make sure I wasn't painting stuff that I don't want painted. I know, that's kinda ghetto. But hey, no one has to ride it but me... So sit on it.

Any thoughts on what I should do? Open to color suggestions as well. I'm kind of leaning towards silver-ish frame and wheels and the classic Yamaha blue on the tank/tail. I think that combo looks really clean. Of course, black and that blue also look good together. Maybe I'll just say screw it and go all out pink. We'll see.

Anyway, I've started my project and hopefully I'll be able to post some progress here once or twice a month. I have serious ADD (self diagnosed, once I got around to it), so it takes me forever to do anything. It took me about an hour to break down the front end today 'cause Half way through, I started washing my riding lawnmower. Oh, and I've got a bunch of stuff that isn't going back on. So if anyone needs anything, keep an eye out in the for sale section. Or PM or whatever. Not everything is in great shape and I'm pretty much just looking to get rid of stuff for whatever shipping is. Except for the D&D can, that is. It's about 3 months old. I'll post a link if/when I put anything up for sale. Don't want to start pushing product in the tech section and get sent to the principle's office my first week of school.

That's is for now. Stay tuned for updates. Or better yet, check back in a month to see if anything's happened.

[mmoore005]

Interested in how this will turn out. I'll definitely be following this. :p

[Bandon]

That sounds like an expectation of failure.

But seriously, I'm interested too. Parts started arriving today so, I should have some progress by this weekend.

[ragedigital]

It sounds like a great project.

Are you sure it wouldn't be less expensive and slightly easier for you to purchase a newer motorcycle that is already complete? Especially, if you lose focus easily - you will also lose interest in the project.

darrin

[Bandon]

Oh, it's absolutely going to be more expensive to do it this way. But, when I'm done with it, I'll KNOW what it has done to it. It'll look the way I want it to look. Plus, when (more likely IF) someone says "hey, nice bike", I get to say I did that. It's worth the extra effort and a little more money to have something that I really wanted instead of having something that I just kinda liked. Plus, you can't learn anything about a bike by just riding it. When I'm done with this project, I should be very familiar with every inch of it. I like knowing that if I need to do something, I can just get out the wrenches and knock it out. Sure, it's going to be a process. But that's half the fun!

Side note, tank came in today. It's in pretty good condition. Has a small dent and a very small chip in the paint. Nothing that can't be handled. Under fender/tray came last night, complete with tail light in great shape. I'm starting to get really excited about this thing. The tail should be here tomorrow. Then, I've got some cleaning up to do... Tighten this, replace that, cut my knuckles a little. Then, I'll be ready to get this gal out on the street.

I've actually been contemplating dealing with the ugly frame in a different way. Well, not crazy different. I've seen this done before. Spray can bedliner. Say what you want, but done right, I think it looks pretty good. Especially with a decent paint job to complement the flat black look. I'm thinking a deep red would be nice. But, that's miles into the future. Like dad always said, 'Don't worry about the mule, son. Just load the wagon." I've got a bit of loading to do before the mule shows up.

Anyway, I'll keep y'all posted with pics and updates as I go.

P.S. If anyone is in the N. Georgia area and wants to hang out, drink beer and fix my bike up for me, free of charge, I'm game.

-Brandon

[yamaha_george]

Brandon,
you are NEVER gonna win that title mate, My longest build has been "Yellow Peril " started in 2000 so its 12.75 years old already and still only half built may by 2015 I will have finished her or died trying LoL

[Bandon]

While I appreciate the warning, I'm not going totally nuts here. Just cleaning up some bits and replacing a few needed items. The biggest thing to handle is whether or not I feel like forking out the dough to get the tank/tail painted professionally or just throw some rattle can at it for now. BTW, I rattle canned my last bike and was perfectly happy with the results. Everything else is more or less a remove and replace type of affair. Sure, there are a lot of little things that add up. But I'm not expecting to be done until probably spring time. And, I've got some (not a ton) of money to throw at it and plenty of time on nights and weekends to work on it. So, if I'm still wrestling with this project 12 years from, I'll give up. Hell, if I'm not done a YEAR from now, I'll probably give up.

[Bandon]

Brandon,
you are NEVER gonna win that title mate, My longest build has been "Yellow Peril " started in 2000 so its 12.75 years old already and still only half built may by 2015 I will have finished her or died trying LoL

OH WAIT!!! I just realized what you meant by "never going to with that title." I'm such an idiot. I was sitting on my couch and it just popped into my head. "Longest build thread." That's what you meant. I'm an imbecile.

Good news is, you're probably right. As my parts have started to arrive, I've been able to actually see the end. Even though I'm not exactly close to it. I'm still waiting on my tail. But that is not as important as the other stuff I gotta do.

[nicrod]

righton man!
I completly tore apart my 600 to rebuild it also, I was thinking the frame would look good just the original silver. gives it that 90's look kinda.

more photos!!!

[yamaha_george]

righton man!
I completly tore apart my 600 to rebuild it also, I was thinking the frame would look good just the original silver. gives it that 90's look kinda.

more photos!!!

[Bandon]

righton man!

more photos!!!

As you wish. Only had it two days before ripping that fool apart. And I've been at it for about a week (on and off). But, I'm seeing some progress. Nothing is bolted down in this pic. but everything is in place and ready for final tweeking. However, I've still got some small jobs to take care of before getting back on the road. Plus, it's going to need a bath and a paint job. I'm leaning more towards black on the frame now. But, who knows... Maybe I'll just throw it back together as is (minus the R6 stickers) and ride it rough until it gets too cold. Which, in Georgia, might not happen. I rode year round in Virginia. So, GA weather might not keep me off the scoot. We'll see.

[Bandon]

One thing I need, and haven't been able to find, are some shorter dog bones. I'm 6'6" and at stock height, this thing feel like I'm on a tricycle. I found an old thread (don't remember if it was here or not) that had a guy's email address. I guess he was making them whatever length needed and selling them for like 35 bucks. I sent an email but never heard anything back. I guess I could just make my own or have a local shop cut some for me. But I'm a lazy person and those two options require me to get off the couch.

I did see some adjustable dogbones here. But I thought I read that they were not available anymore... Could be wrong.

[Bandon]

Holy Crap! I just got down and looked at the dog bones that are on my bike. They were definitely home made. They're nice and sturdy and all. But measuring them revealed why it feels like I'm sitting on an eight year old's Huffy. The holes are 160mm center to center! Isn't stock ~148mm? That's GOT to be an inch... inch and a half of drop on the tail. That coupled with the clip ons being mounted UNDER the top tripple and the fork tube even with the top tripple is why that thing felt so damn sluggish turning in. I'm surprised it would turn at all. Thing was raked out like a chopper. I didn't even think about the clip ons being mounted funny until I took it apart. Never even noticed. I'm glad they were tight. There was nothing to keep them from twisting on the fork tubes. Geez. It's a wonder the guy I bought this from isn't dead.

[yamaha_george]

Bandon,
ReelRazor makes dogbones as does Nate (ThatKid) check them out

[Bandon]

Sweet, thanks.