Home-grown bike porn

[madbikeboy]

So, those you unfortunate enough to have read the ramblings I pass off as writing will probably know I have a strange affection (affliction) for GSXR's. Admitting loving Gixer's is like screaming that you have an STD at a swingers party after the fun is finished; somehow GSXR's are kind of anti-social and the owners fit a stereotype of being lower IQ. Meeting Carver has reinforced that stereotype.

However, I think GSXR's are the thinking man's bike. They do everything well, they're unburstable (within reason), and they are reasonably commonly crashed, which makes part prices more reasonable.

So, as a result, along with realising that my time on the street is coming to an end, I'm building a K5 GSXR600 track bike.

Is anyone interested in hearing the ongoing saga of attempting to build a track bike?

[Cajun]

hit me up for any information about k5 600.

Be interesting to hear your saga also

[MIXONE]

Yes why not as I've nothing better to do at the moment anyway.

[madbikeboy]

okay, so I bought a frame and swingarm that was from an ex-Stroud k5 600, managed to get a few bits and pieces with it. Managed to find a guy who had a wrecked K5 600 motor, and some other important bits like loom, ECU, clocks. Managed to also pick up a yoshi full system, and a K5 1000 front end.

My plan is to build a reasonably priced track bike that handles well. The motor is completely stock, and will remain that way, mostly owing to the fact that I'm now a pauper.

On the list of modifications are getting Robert Taylor to upgrade the forks, and I'm also spending some money on a better master cylinder, probably a Brembo (although that might have to come later). I've also blown the majority of my budget on some lightweight Marchesini wheels. They're off a 749R, and they're about the same price as I could buy the factory wheels, so I figure that reducing the reciprocating mass should equal better handling.

I've managed to pick up some assorted bits and pieces, hopefully when I get home there will be a nice radiator sitting care of Rashid, my perpetually hungover local courier. Rashid is gifted at testing packaging, so if you ever send me fragile gifts, wrap them really well.

I'm picking up a set of fairings that have a bit of damage on Saturday. Saturday happens to coincide with payday (but I've already spent next months paycheck on Marchesini wheels, so it might take a long time to finish this thread.

So, I have the basic ingredients. I'm still missing some rotors, but Cajun and I might be able to come to arrangement over some spare engine bits I have. I'm also missing a subframe, hand controls, and rearsets. How is possible for rearsets to cost more than a small country??

There have already been a heap of people who have helped me out with reasonably priced bits, and also with advice. Thanks for your guidence, and one day I will pay you back! Now, I've been especially careful to ensure the history of the parts that I've bought - I'm never going to buy hot stuff.

So, this weekend is a stock take weekend. I have enough parts that I can start to fit the basic anatomy of the bike together. Engine/frame/swingarm, rear shock, forks, triple clamps. I'm going to spend a good amount of time cleaning the bits before assembling, that should make things easier while ensuring I start as I mean to continue. I need a front stand, so I might hang an engine hoist to start with, but I'm hoping for a track stand to arrive this week for the rear.

Any and all advice about this process is going to be gratefull recieved, especially around where to find parts like hand and feet controls without going bankrupt.

Once the bike is finished, I'm putting my GSXR1000 on the market - I'm going to remove temptation and keep it on the track instead.

One other thing, I have a tandem trailer, meaning I can take a second track bike with me to track days...

MBB

[AllanB]

HAve a look at this seller for rear-sets - these are very well priced at $350 and look flasher than many GSXR's I've seen!



http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=186040272

[madbikeboy]

HAve a look at this seller for rear-sets - these are very well priced at $350 and look flasher than many GSXR's I've seen!

Ask for a relist on one of his other listings.



http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=186040272

Thanks for the link - $350 is more reasonable, but that might have to wait for the March 2014 paycheck... LOL!

[madbikeboy]

So, in the continuing saga of the GSXR build.

I went to Wellington for work, and sat through the Christmas party (which was without a doubt the best work function I've ever been to, aside from the one where I got offered a BJ from the office slut) in order to have a valid reason to collect my Marchesini wheels (since I couldn't afford shipping).

These wheels are to be my downfall, I can see this already.

The logic is sound, lighten the reciprocating mass, and the bike will handle better. More of this soon.

So, with basic tools, I've managed to strip and rebuild the better of two swingarms that I have, get the shock mounted, swing arm mounted, engine mounted. I've run out steam because I need to go visit the ever generous Glenn to get all the correct bolts. It's astoundingly simple, when you buy the bits, makes sure you get all the fitting hardware. Being as I am simple, I can't seem to follow this rule... Sigh.

I picked up a subframe, for very reasonable money (I had another offered to me, for a less reasonable price, and a third offered for about the same price as I could buy one new...). I'd love to say I have mounted it, but, because I'm a boltless wonder, it's sitting in the spare room gathering dust.

Karl Morgan was kind enough to donate some used fairings for a very reasonable price, and he included a tailpiece that looks virtually brand new. Can't wait to get the bike that far along.

So, I fitted forks and triple clamp today...

[madbikeboy]

I decided to get forks off a k5 1000, the logic being bigger brakes and better forks = more fasterer. Interestingly, the steerer tube is longer on a 1000 than a 600, spacing the bearings further apart gives more stability. I need to extend the thread down the shaft more, but that should be no biggy.

I dry fitted the forks, and since Glenn took pity on me, I have some clip ons. I also got gifted the clutch lever mount, and I got a master cylinder from the same guy as the subframe. So, the bike is sort of functionally together.

But, I hit a bit of a roadblock. It turns out that the rear brake mount and the Marchesini rear are incompatible. Different versions of hardware mean that I've got a contention issue. In other works, the wheel won't rotate because the brake bosses hit the caliper. Hmm. Also, the bearings are a different inside diameter. Double Hmm.

At this point, I'm tempted to stick to stock wheels and rims, I need to machine a new caliper mount, find some correct bearings, and then build a cush drive. Paul Dobbs gave me some advice for a easy answer to the cush drive issue, but I still need the sprocket carrier.

Another small issue - my stunning Yoshi (well, I am predictable, but it is jewellery) needs an offset sump - I call Matt Maladin imports - are you sitting down, $3000 bucks. Might as well be a million. So, while I'm machining a new caliper mount, I need to make a sump too.

[madbikeboy]

So this is where I start begging. Does anyone have some rotors to fit a 999 stud pattern at reasonable money? And a rear disc too? And a carrier?

I also need an oil cooler.

[Squiggles]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bremb...Q5fAccessories

Ill keep an eye out for any more bits, those are the first that jumped out at me... Gives me a pm if you need a hand putting bits together

Edit: I see the Marchesini's up on trademe :P

[madbikeboy]

Hey, thanks for that link. The 749/999 are a slightly larger diameter, I can put spacers under the calipers.

But, yes, while I'm trying to work out the best approach, I've got the Marchesini's on TM - if someone buys them, cool, I'll go and grab stock wheels and rotors, if not, I'll persevere...

It's astounding, the difference in weight is noticable just by picking them up. Each gram that you save on reciprocating mass is worth so many more than saving weight from the centre of the bike.

[Squiggles]

Hey, thanks for that link. The 749/999 are a slightly larger diameter, I can put spacers under the calipers.

But, yes, while I'm trying to work out the best approach, I've got the Marchesini's on TM - if someone buys them, cool, I'll go and grab stock wheels and rotors, if not, I'll persevere...

It's astounding, the difference in weight is noticable just by picking them up. Each gram that you save on reciprocating mass is worth so many more than saving weight from the centre of the bike.

Should get some of these then...

At least you got a radial front end when it comes to disk size

Whoring TLDV8's pictures...
Pic1

Pic2

[madbikeboy]

Those forged wheels are oh so nice. I've been a cyclist for a long time as well, and shaving even small amounts of weight from the wheelset makes a massive difference.

Those carbon wheels are unobtainium, they work out to be about $5000, that's about my entire budget for the whole bike build...

[Forest]

It's astounding, the difference in weight is noticable just by picking them up. Each gram that you save on reciprocating mass is worth so many more than saving weight from the centre of the bike.

Does that really matter if you're not going to be racing?

[wbks]

aside from the one where I got offered a BJ from the office slut)

Which is bad how?

You should put up some pics of the bike as the project goes along!