Post by: ChristoT on 17 February 2014, 09:32:55 pm
Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down) Lyrics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LODkVkpaVQA#)
Right! Bike time. :)
So, yesterday, I picked up what is soon to be my new steed! A T-reg, silver Fazer 600. In bits. But hey, got to start somewhere, and for £250, that's a pretty good start.
Argh! Peugeot, stop eating my bike!! :rollin
As you might be able to see, it is a complete bike. And stainless pipes too, which is a nice bonus! For the curious, here's the listing:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-fazer-600-/301094978006?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=rS5Nr6pfg%252B%252BbFQQEIyufV8Cs1EY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-fazer-600-/301094978006?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=rS5Nr6pfg%252B%252BbFQQEIyufV8Cs1EY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
And the LoFos may remember I vanished off on a (not so) secret mission on the annual meet a fortnight ago. And it was to pick this bad boy up:
Bros swingarm |
The plan is to fit that to the back end. I also plan (eventually) an upside down forks front end. I also plan twin underseat exhausts, the Foxeye tank, mucking around with LEDs in the head and tail lamps, and maybe even the Tokyo Racer oil cooler (as Deefer assures me the plumbing won't be as bad as I thought). Memory bump:
(http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/prototype-spy-concept/Yamaha-FZS600.jpg)
A neatened rear fairing goes without saying (as it will also be accomodating the under seat exhausts). I think I know which bike the curved radiator is from, so that might be on the cards. Other mods include K&N pod filters and an interesting paint job. 8)
Speaking of which.... :D
A plan I have which I want to implement is a "sponsor" style thing. This bike is going to be built with a lot of help from Foccers (well, I hope so, unless Micky uses his new powers to ban me!! :b ). So, my plan is this: If you contribute anything to this project: time, space, parts, money; anything basically, you get to put your name, forum username, or logo of choice on the bike at the end of the project asd part of its paint job, like the sponsor stickers on a race bike. These will be on the tank, the tail fairing, and the bellypan (as I plan to fit another one). And obviously, there'll be a nice, big FOC-U logo across the front! :D
The project's only just started, but there's already a list of sponsors with prime sticker rights! This list will be updated throughout the project too (for my memory, if nowt else!!)
Updates soon... 8)
Sponsor Foccers:
Red98 (carried over for help with the last bike :\ )
Bozboz
BigBlueBear
Deefer666
Rusty Rider
Apage16
Punkstig
Post by: Exupnut on 17 February 2014, 09:40:03 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 17 February 2014, 09:44:29 pm
Do u mean by prime sticker rights that the people who help you will be immortalised by u puttin decal's on ur bike of their forum monickers ?
Their forum monikers, a logo of choice: up to them. Of course, they may choose to not want to be associated with it in any way!! :lol :lol
Post by: Exupnut on 17 February 2014, 09:45:24 pm
Post by: mickvp on 17 February 2014, 09:46:30 pm
I look forward to seeing this progress. promise us, dont kill yourself on it!
Post by: ChristoT on 17 February 2014, 09:49:05 pm
I doin the same after my off.
Sounds good! :)
So, if I gove you a tenner, would you stick a decal on your bike proclaiming: "I'm a foccing nob?" :lol :lol
I dont mind chucking a few quid in the pot, but I'm not sure I want my name plastered across your bike. Could always use my forum logo though.
I look forward to seeing this progress. promise us, dont kill yourself on it!
Like I said, a logo of choice. One of the main reasons I'm revisiting a Fazer is because of this brilliant forum. So, to my mind, it's only fair that my inspiration and support group get a shout out! :lol
I promise nothing. Apart from various Bikesafe courses when I'm allowed out on it!
Post by: Exupnut on 17 February 2014, 09:51:30 pm
Post by: Geordi Sussex on 17 February 2014, 09:52:24 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 17 February 2014, 09:53:29 pm
I would proclaim "Christo's a nob" yes.... Hope they do it in chrome ....
Where's me wallet?!? :lol :lol
Looking forward to following your project
Thanks Geordi! I shall be referenceing your thread for my forks, I think! :)
Post by: Dead Eye on 18 February 2014, 11:14:49 am
Where are you even based now? You've moved around so much it has me confused
Post by: noggythenog on 18 February 2014, 01:18:05 pm
So what bits do you need then???
Post by: Fazerider on 18 February 2014, 06:23:28 pm
Hate to be a damp squib, but someone's gotta say it...
Insurers are going to give you a hard enough time already what with being young, no ncb and a claim. They're going to be even more unwilling to give you an affordable deal if presented with a long modifications list.
Wouldn't it be better to get the thing rebuilt as close to OE spec as possible?
I can certainly see the appeal of this engineering project, but it could easily turn into a money pit after it's up and running. At least with a standard bike you have something saleable… the market for a mucked-about-with bike is pretty limited unless your name is Arlen Ness.
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 February 2014, 06:33:38 pm
Hate to be a damp squib, but someone's gotta say it...
Insurers are going to give you a hard enough time already what with being young, no ncb and a claim. They're going to be even more unwilling to give you an affordable deal if presented with a long modifications list.
Wouldn't it be better to get the thing rebuilt as close to OE spec as possible?
I can certainly see the appeal of this engineering project, but it could easily turn into a money pit after it's up and running. At least with a standard bike you have something saleable… the market for a mucked-about-with bike is pretty limited unless your name is Arlen Ness.
Been thinking this since you first mentioned Fazer Project. You've already said you can't afford to insure another standard Fazer. What are you doing about finding yourself a decent income? I think that would be my priority in your position. I'm not outright saying you're doing completely the wrong thing - you're a pretty bright cookie, and I wish you luck with whatever you take on, but would a touch of realism not be a wiser path right now? Seems like you are trying to spend money you just don't, and won't, have.
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 06:37:12 pm
I am building this bike as a keeper. I don't care how little it's worth, it's mine, and it's my spec.
Post by: Fazerider on 18 February 2014, 07:00:51 pm
I look forward to following the build.
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 07:19:15 pm
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 February 2014, 07:26:57 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 07:29:29 pm
Post by: unfazed on 18 February 2014, 07:34:35 pm
I did not see the cylinder head in any of the pictures, I assume it came with it. :lol
Building a basket case is like making a second hand jigsaw, no guarantee all the pieces you need are with it.
You could have bought a runner for £800 :rolleyes http://motoring.friday-ad.co.uk/swansea/motorbikes-for-sale/yamaha-fzs/yamaha-fazer-for-KV0175005 (http://motoring.friday-ad.co.uk/swansea/motorbikes-for-sale/yamaha-fzs/yamaha-fazer-for-KV0175005)
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 February 2014, 07:40:47 pm
For what it worth, I think your nuts buying a basket case to rebuild.
Or a basket case for buying a box of nuts? :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 07:53:58 pm
Post by: Lez72 on 18 February 2014, 08:13:29 pm
I'm sure lots of us on here have spare parts they would happily donate from Fazers they own or have owned which you could use without modification.
Despite all the above advice, I realise you have probably already decided the route you are going to take.
I therefore wish you the best of luck with it and if you are in no rush then it could be the right idea. From experience of having built a couple of bikes from the frame up though I can say that it can be pretty damn costly.
All the best :)
Post by: JoeRock on 18 February 2014, 08:19:07 pm
Post by: noggythenog on 18 February 2014, 08:52:57 pm
Basically i think we all just wanna see you on 2 wheels and at some meets and a big smily face going on.clearly you are capable of mechanical stuff but what's more important....fettling or riding.
Everyone shoot me down if required here :uhuh [size=78%] but i'm willing to bet that if you decided to just rebuild that bike into an awesome standard fazer that you could probably do it from foccers giving you parts lying around....well maybe not a whole engine but as said already, everything else must be just lying around in sheds all over the country and what would make us all happier than seeing a bunch of spare parts come together & make a new fazer plus being able to follow it on here...surely that's what a club is about?[/size]
Ok so maybe charity isnt what you're looking for but regardless i'll say this....you'll get only a fraction of help towards a hybrid project but overwhelming help to go standard.it must be worth a thought at least.
All the dosh you were gonna spend can then pay for the insurance. 8)
Post by: unfazed on 18 February 2014, 09:16:50 pm
I believe projects are great if you the time access to money and have a bike to enjoy riding while building the project. I have seen so many projects left because the enthusiasm wears off or the funds are not there to fulfil the dream. :'(
Best of luck :)
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 09:19:10 pm
I have been banned from riding by my folks (as we are all painfully aware), so fettling is a way of keeping me from going insane! That, and the satisfaction of making something unique. And the challenge of doing it on a budget!
I actually have 90% (if not more) or parts required to make the bike standard, so that's not an issue. As for the mods I plan, most are time consuming (like making a new link pipe to the under seat exhaust system), and I plan to do as much of the work I can myself. Unlike some, I can wait for parts to turn up cheap: I bought an entire rear end for £50, for pete's sake!! The pricey one will be the USD shocks, and even then, I have stock forks I can fit for the time being!
I know they're standard, but I was eyeing up stock R1 exhausts on ebay - the triangular ones. I saw several at £40, with free postage. I might end up getting those as they could look funky, until I can afford (or can find) carbon exhaust - like Akrapovic - that is what I really lust after.
Yes, I'd rather be on the road. But beggars can't be choosers, at least this way I'm working on a Fazer, and I'm going to be learning as I go to boot. Money and parts aren't huge concerns (yet). When the engine is sorted, I could rebuild the bike to running standard, and sell for a quick grand if mammalia really do go vertical. But I doubt I'll end up there. :)
Post by: noggythenog on 18 February 2014, 09:35:29 pm
Noggy, you been on Exup's polish lager again? :lol :lol
I have been banned from riding by my folks (as we are all painfully aware), so fettling is a way of keeping me from going insane! That, and the satisfaction of making something unique. And the challenge of doing it on a budget!
I actually have 90% (if not more) or parts required to make the bike standard, so that's not an issue. As for the mods I plan, most are time consuming (like making a new link pipe to the under seat exhaust system), and I plan to do as much of the work I can myself. Unlike some, I can wait for parts to turn up cheap: I bought an entire rear end for £50, for pete's sake!! The pricey one will be the USD shocks, and even then, I have stock forks I can fit for the time being!
I know they're standard, but I was eyeing up stock R1 exhausts on ebay - the triangular ones. I saw several at £40, with free postage. I might end up getting those as they could look funky, until I can afford (or can find) carbon exhaust - like Akrapovic - that is what I really lust after.
Yes, I'd rather be on the road. But beggars can't be choosers, at least this way I'm working on a Fazer, and I'm going to be learning as I go to boot. Money and parts aren't huge concerns (yet). When the engine is sorted, I could rebuild the bike to running standard, and sell for a quick grand if mammalia really do go vertical. But I doubt I'll end up there. :)
Ok fair enough...but i had to say it
It'd be a far easier to understand project apart from the engine though...i'd say it is the weakest link here...i really hope it is an easy fix...fazer engines are such bullet proof little lumps so to see one with likely issues just worries me....but hey that's me....& you are you...so fingers crossed. :thumbup
Post by: Dead Eye on 18 February 2014, 09:51:56 pm
At this point, you want everything as close to stock and don't worry about the little details (like decals and body work etc). Lay a solid foundation. The reason for stock is that its a known quantity and should anything go wrong you have a lot of help to work out the issues. If you start messing with things, it gets awfully complicated awfully fast when trying to figure out what's wrong.
I'm up for helping with labour, but you seem to be interested in doing that yourself. Best of luck.
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 10:02:16 pm
It'd be a far easier to understand project apart from the engine though...i'd say it is the weakest link here...i really hope it is an easy fix...fazer engines are such bullet proof little lumps so to see one with likely issues just worries me....but hey that's me....& you are you...so fingers crossed. :thumbup
Valves may need grinding, and replace piston rings: nothing major. The bores are fine, so I'll start with those. According to its last MOT (last year, admittedly), it had only done 68k miles!! Obviously, I'll have to cross check the dash to see what it currently is, but there's a good chance I'm sitting on a sub 100k miles engine. :)
I've done my share of large projects (mechanical and otherwise - some have taken 3-4 years to see through) and the only advice I can give is to break it up in to small parts and prioritise. So first is the frame, suspension, brakes and other important parts for a fully working rolling chassis. Next is a running, stock, engine with no issues, then move on to the exhaust.
At this point, you want everything as close to stock and don't worry about the little details (like decals and body work etc). Lay a solid foundation. The reason for stock is that its a known quantity and should anything go wrong you have a lot of help to work out the issues. If you start messing with things, it gets awfully complicated awfully fast when trying to figure out what's wrong.
I'm up for helping with labour, but you seem to be interested in doing that yourself. Best of luck.
My plan is to work on what I can, when I can. So when I can (hopefully this week), I'll start work on checking and rebuilding the engine. Then in a fortnight, when the ZX has gone, I can look at fitting the new swingarm, and see what needs doing there in terms of spcers and offsets. Hopefully, the engine will be a short fix, and the swingarm won't be too horrific, so by then I can work on the exhaust - one of the more complex jobs for me. As I'm basing myself off the R1 rear end, I already have measurements there. That will also involve rear fairing modification to accomodate the final solution. Based on that, I may have to remove the airbox if I have to get creative with the rear shock. Once the rear end is done, I'll move forwards to the plumbing: bigger radiator, maybe? And possibly an independent oil cooler? The tank and pod filters are simple swaps (to install at least - tuning the carbs is another matter), the front end is an independent work package. Other things are minor detailling mods: rad guard and belly pan are simple bolt-ons. Only when everything else is done shall I start prep for the respray (to black, of course!), and worry about decals etc.
And did NO-ONE listen to the song in the beginning of the thread?!? :lol :lol
Post by: Deefer666 on 18 February 2014, 10:06:26 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 10:09:26 pm
Hmmm I have some triangular R1 under seat exhaust on the shelf. I bought them cos they looked funky
I'll have to have a recce when I'm next over! :)
What news from you, Deefer? Are you planning to move, or were you just looking?
Post by: Deefer666 on 18 February 2014, 10:12:13 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 10:23:27 pm
It is a lovely workshop, over 3 times what I have at the moment. but alas it is too rural. I know my place is out in the country but at least I am 30 seconds off the A14.
Easy to find too! (Even if I did have to ask the car shop 50m from you where you were exactly... navigation fail... :rolleyes )
Post by: His Dudeness on 18 February 2014, 11:00:00 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 11:21:55 pm
Personally I think you're mad enough to pull this off ;) if you take your time and do one job at a time. Sure you had a trailer attached to the back of a Fazer :lol This is a project right, not a daily runner? So it doesn't really matter how long it takes or how much it costs, it'll be done when it's done. Good luck!
Thanks, His Dudeness!
Come to think of it, the towbar will still fit!!!
Post by: snapper on 18 February 2014, 11:32:09 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 February 2014, 11:35:47 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 19 February 2014, 08:46:52 pm
It's good, but the timing had been badly set, leading to severe detonation which had fucked the valves. All I need is a new cylinder head, which I'm buying off Deefer.
Unfortunately, the engine was sitting on the cam chain. And fucked it. So I'm replacing that too. And I'll check the selector forks while I'm at it.
Considering an R1 tail section too, as Deefer will be selling one soon. Debating whether to fit that, or chop up the original tail fairing.
Post by: red98 on 19 February 2014, 09:09:19 pm
think it might be time to change your username....can I suggest
THE DEVILS APPRENTICE.....................
good luck with the build matey... ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 19 February 2014, 09:13:46 pm
Dead Eye can be Devil's Apprentice, he's the one who torches 600s!
Post by: Punkstig on 19 February 2014, 09:16:25 pm
Considering an R1 tail section too, as Deefer will be selling one soon. Debating whether to fit that, or chop up the original tail fairing.Is it the one with the underseat twin exhausts?
I know you're looking into doing underseat exhausts, Buuut, if it is that tail unit consider a normal exhaust, I saw an Underseat exhaust R1 converted to 'normal' exhaust and the shape of that exposed rear end was gorgeous.
What I'm saying is don't get heart set on converting before weighing up the cosmetics!
Post by: Exupnut on 19 February 2014, 09:23:44 pm
Fuck that, I'd rather be Deefer's apprentice!
Dead Eye can be Devil's Apprentice, he's the one who torches 600s!
and your the one who crashes em lol
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 19 February 2014, 09:24:14 pm
Looks like the start of a good thread.....interested in that bros swinging arm conversion, lots of pictures please christo..........
think it might be time to change your username....can I suggest
THE DEVILS APPRENTICE.....................
good luck with the build matey... ;)
Yep, :useless
Will be watching with interest - good luck, you're obviously set on it, so get stuck in :thumbup
Post by: bigbluebear on 19 February 2014, 09:32:50 pm
Fuck that, I'd rather be Deefer's apprentice!
Dead Eye can be Devil's Apprentice, he's the one who torches 600s!
and your the one who crashes em lol
Can be quite a double act called........Crashed and Burned
Post by: mickvp on 19 February 2014, 09:34:52 pm
Fuck that, I'd rather be Deefer's apprentice!
Dead Eye can be Devil's Apprentice, he's the one who torches 600s!
and your the one who crashes em lol
Can be quite a double act called........Crashed and Burned
HAHA! :lol
(http://cdni.wired.co.uk/620x413/k_n/Like_1.jpg)
Post by: noggythenog on 19 February 2014, 09:47:55 pm
I used to have this game on my PS1....Crash Bandicoot...i declare Christo.............Christo the Crash Bandicoot!
even one pic of him and the Christo Crash Bandicoot Fighter.
& Christo Bandicoot through the years!
Post by: ChristoT on 19 February 2014, 10:07:07 pm
Post by: apage16 on 19 February 2014, 10:18:24 pm
I'd say I could help out, as I'm local to you. But I'm about to move to Germany!
But in any case, I totally get your thinking. If you can't ride, the easy second best is messing with your ride. (close third is watching others ride, perhaps on youtube... ;) )
Good luck, and looking forward to seeing you back on two wheels. Whether they are standard OR a kickass custom!!
Post by: Dead Eye on 19 February 2014, 11:41:47 pm
Fuck that, I'd rather be Deefer's apprentice!
Dead Eye can be Devil's Apprentice, he's the one who torches 600s!
and your the one who crashes em lol
*ahem* 600 - singular. Thank you very much.
At least Exup stood up for me haha
The build will be interesting... though my concern is your lack of cash tends to lead you to be a tight fisted bastard and you end up buying things because of their price and not their quality.
Make sure you get a decent engine head and a decent cam chain - this is gonna set you back a bit as it is. The valve stuff is time consuming, but you'll get there in the end... I REALLY need to finish mine before I forget where all the parts are :\
Post by: ChristoT on 19 February 2014, 11:46:49 pm
After all: who needs food, eh? ;)
Post by: Dead Eye on 20 February 2014, 12:32:05 am
Post by: ChristoT on 20 February 2014, 07:35:51 am
Wait, what's wrong with the existing head? Do the valves just need grinding?
As far as I'm aware. But one (if not more) of the valves is badly pitted due to the detonation
Post by: Dead Eye on 20 February 2014, 10:17:10 am
Post by: unfazed on 20 February 2014, 05:20:01 pm
Wait, what's wrong with the existing head? Do the valves just need grinding?A picture would tell a thousand words
Post by: Dead Eye on 20 February 2014, 05:21:49 pm
My valves were pretty gruesome on my old engine after the fire and then being left outside to the elements but they cleaned up well
Post by: red98 on 20 February 2014, 06:09:48 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 20 February 2014, 06:14:48 pm
Come on christo......pictures of the head please ;)
You'll have to ask Deefer, the engine's over at his for the time being. Not before the bugger spilt oil all over the back of my car...
Post by: Mark YPVS on 20 February 2014, 06:24:02 pm
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
Post by: ChristoT on 20 February 2014, 06:29:39 pm
Hi ChristoT,
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
After that much time and effort, I'll shell out for a pro job. At the end of the project, of course! ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 20 February 2014, 10:37:44 pm
This will be a looooong project.
Post by: midden on 21 February 2014, 12:40:02 am
Hi ChristoT,Having a professional paint job for all those donor signatures and logo's is gonna put you in mortgage territory.
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
After that much time and effort, I'll shell out for a pro job. At the end of the project, of course! ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 21 February 2014, 07:48:12 am
Post by: snapper on 21 February 2014, 08:58:11 am
Post by: Lez72 on 21 February 2014, 09:39:42 am
Hi ChristoT,
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
I love seeing peoples rebuilds.
:useless
Post by: Mark YPVS on 21 February 2014, 03:42:37 pm
Hi ChristoT,
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
I love seeing peoples rebuilds.
:useless
Don't want to hijack this thread so I will post a link to my photobucket :lol :lol
http://s699.photobucket.com/user/fatyzfr1/library/Triggers%20Broom?sort=4&page=1 (http://s699.photobucket.com/user/fatyzfr1/library/Triggers%20Broom?sort=4&page=1)
Mark :)
Post by: Lez72 on 21 February 2014, 08:04:41 pm
Hi ChristoT,
Good luck with this, ive just done a similar thing with an R1 I picked up for £500, the only cost I got wrong was the price of missing nuts n bolts , cost me about £100, so don't lose anything and keep an eye on ebay as breakers sometimes sell all the hardware from the bikes they have broken quite cheap and most Yamaha stuff is similar.
You can get a good paint finish with rattle cans if you take your time and do the prep work ;)
Mark :)
I love seeing peoples rebuilds.
:useless
Don't want to hijack this thread so I will post a link to my photobucket :lol :lol
[url]http://s699.photobucket.com/user/fatyzfr1/library/Triggers%20Broom?sort=4&page=1[/url] ([url]http://s699.photobucket.com/user/fatyzfr1/library/Triggers%20Broom?sort=4&page=1[/url])
Mark :)
You have obviously put a lot of time and effort into that R1. Top work fella 8)
Post by: bigsteve on 21 February 2014, 08:11:45 pm
have you checked out carol nash six wheel insurance car/bike one policy ??? :D
Just checked insurance. Well, tried to, two comparison sites were unable to quote!
This will be a looooong project.
Post by: ChristoT on 21 February 2014, 10:22:49 pm
Hi Christo
have you checked out carol nash six wheel insurance car/bike one policy ??? :D
Just checked insurance. Well, tried to, two comparison sites were unable to quote!
This will be a looooong project.
Interesting! I'll have to look into that! Thanks! :)
The problem I'm having is that the insurers throw a wobbly when I declare all the mods!!
Post by: Fazerider on 21 February 2014, 11:14:28 pm
Someone should've warned you that might happen. :lol
I'm still interested to know if that Honda swingarm is going to suit it. Is the centreline of the tyre central with the pivot ends? (I don't even know that the Fazer tyre is central for that matter.)
Post by: ChristoT on 21 February 2014, 11:16:33 pm
Someone should've warned you that might happen. :lol
I'm still interested to know if that Honda swingarm is going to suit it. Is the centreline of the tyre central with the pivot ends? (I don't even know that the Fazer tyre is central for that matter.)
There must be a way to insure it somehow! There's enough custom bikes out there!
I have a stock swingarm, I have a Honda swingarm: only one way to find out!! :lol :lol
Post by: midden on 21 February 2014, 11:32:54 pm
Come on christo......pictures of the head please ;)Please oh please be careful of requests which can be lost in translation :evil
Post by: ChristoT on 21 February 2014, 11:39:59 pm
Come on christo......pictures of the head please ;)Please oh please be careful of requests which can be lost in translation :evil
:rollin :rollin :rollin
Doubly funny, as I was just re-reading Miss Handbag/PMSimon's anti profanity/anti homophobia hissy fit. Lovely double meaning there, Midden!! :lol :lol
Post by: Dead Eye on 22 February 2014, 02:24:47 am
Someone should've warned you that might happen. :lol
I'm still interested to know if that Honda swingarm is going to suit it. Is the centreline of the tyre central with the pivot ends? (I don't even know that the Fazer tyre is central for that matter.)
Based on Ruby's build thread, the tyres are supposed to line up centrally :)
Post by: ChristoT on 22 February 2014, 05:52:06 pm
Someone should've warned you that might happen. :lol
I'm still interested to know if that Honda swingarm is going to suit it. Is the centreline of the tyre central with the pivot ends? (I don't even know that the Fazer tyre is central for that matter.)
Based on Ruby's build thread, the tyres are supposed to line up centrally :)
I'd be surprised if they didn't, as the bike would corner differently left or right. :)
Post by: JoeRock on 22 February 2014, 06:07:16 pm
Hi Christo
have you checked out carol nash six wheel insurance car/bike one policy ??? :D
Just checked insurance. Well, tried to, two comparison sites were unable to quote!
This will be a looooong project.
Interesting! I'll have to look into that! Thanks! :)
The problem I'm having is that the insurers throw a wobbly when I declare all the mods!!
Comparison sites will mate, you won't stand a chance on them. Only way to do it will be through phoning people up, and even then there's a very few insurance companies that will accept modified bikes like that.
Carole Nash do a streetfighter insurance where you basically say what you have, what you want it to be covered for (as in value of the bike), and they sort it - but there's minimum age requirements.
I did manage to get my Ninja insured through them and that wasn't standard by a long shot, but it wasn't structural work which is what will throw them off for you - I had a later model ZX9R swingarm on mine that bolted right in, they said as it was an OE part and could be used as replacement it was okay. Then I had a set of USD forks on mine, but I just told them it had modified suspension and brakes, and they were okay with it. That said, I am a bit older than you I think, and did have 4 years no claims. Couldn't get a similar thing done this year with them though as their underwriters had changed :(
Realistically, you are really, really going to struggle at your age, with an accident, and extremely highly modified bike - to the point where I suspect you may not actually be able to get it insured at all until you're older!
Post by: noggythenog on 22 February 2014, 06:39:40 pm
A question about insurance.....theoretical of course.
If you just passed your test and bought a bike a bike and it said Fazer on it & it didnt look obviously modified & then you got third party insurance...& when asked about mods youd obviously say as far as you know it is not modified..............then where the foc do you stand in a crash.....i mean your third party anyway but if you crash into someone else & damage their car for example are you legally classed as insured?????
Sorry sir get the handcuffs on...we've found that someone has previously do e a foxeye fairing mod and your bike should be a box eye so you arent insured.
Suppose what im getting at is that Christo surely you arent expecting to ever be covered for your bike if you trash it....you are just wanting to be legal on the road to avoid a criminal record.....obviously im not saying you should be dishonest or keep the mods more subtle but what if you were an idiot & genuinely didnt know.
One check of your online profile would soon see you in the poop with that one, if they ever did anything so in depth.
Thats what all the knobheads on these tv police docs do & they seem to get away with everything.bastards!!! :evil
Post by: ChristoT on 22 February 2014, 10:06:42 pm
You're right though. And of course the Peugeot 106 has a towbar as standard, it was on the car when I bought it, officer! :O
Post by: Dead Eye on 22 February 2014, 10:44:09 pm
I had a 306 for a bit and that had had power steering retro-fitted - when declared, a lot of insurance companies wouldn't touch it. So it went undeclared... then blew a head gasket some 6 months later :\
Post by: Lawrence on 23 February 2014, 10:23:45 am
Post by: red98 on 23 February 2014, 06:01:27 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 23 February 2014, 06:04:19 pm
Post by: noggythenog on 23 February 2014, 06:10:15 pm
Christo...i'm with Red here....we need pics.
Show us pics
We dont do words.....if i wanna read a book i'll go to the Library.
:useless
Pics of you actually working you layabout......even Exup has more photo proof of working on his bike than you! :eek
The Mr Men aint popular because of their storylines! :D
Post by: bozboz on 23 February 2014, 11:19:24 pm
Projects for me have always been a great way of spending time with the other half away from those pesky things that get in the way like work and GFs lol!
Hes got time on his hands and wants a bike again, as long as he doesnt want to powdercoat every little piece straight away and buy every bolt in titanium then the cost wont be too high. 1 offs can be expensive and time consuming, as for me my longest term project is now over 6years old! A little time spent every now and then slowly taking shape for the time when I have kids and probably have to sell it! But I will sell it when its finished damn it!
As for insurance, try carole nash, very forgiving with mods (last time I had a very modded ntv)
Best of luck ChristoT keep those pictures coming!!!!
Post by: ChristoT on 27 February 2014, 10:23:13 pm
I had a play on GoCompare this evening. If ALL I DO is replace the swingarm, the underseat exhaust, and possibly the R1 tail fairing, and with my landlord as a named rider.... a year's insurance on Project Fazer is "only" £613. I may even be able to get that down if I can add more experienced riders to the policy!
Not to mention that the insurance might finally have sorted itself out by then.... :rolleyes
The better news is that all I need, I either already have or can get (like the R1 tail fairing) locally. Once the engine is done - sorry, looks like that's not starting till next week now - I'll have the basis for a road worthy machine.
Stay tuned! Hopefully, I'll be able to retrieve the chassis on Sunday afternoon, depending what time my parents leave, then let the fettling begin! :lol :lol
Post by: mtread on 27 February 2014, 10:57:22 pm
What's the difference with the equivalent bike parts ? I've swapped both on mine because the old ones were knackered, and I wasn't going to pay OEM prices. OK they may make a slight difference to standard, but they are not 'race parts'. Why should I have to declare for replacement parts?
Post by: ChristoT on 27 February 2014, 11:02:50 pm
I will *have* to declare my mods, as the swingarm does not ressemble standard, nor does the tail fairing or exhaust.
I I sympathise (if it makes insurance cheaper!! :b )
Post by: midden on 27 February 2014, 11:53:11 pm
On the latter I think declaring much depends on whether you want to claim or not for that expensive Viper Harman Kardon sound system once it gets nicked
Post by: rustyrider on 01 March 2014, 07:03:07 pm
But I'm biased, I don't like single sided swingarms, they look just wrong, I don't like underseat exhausts as they make the bike taller (or try to set fire to your pillions arse) and I think Angel Eye lights look just plain stupid.
Post by: rustyrider on 02 March 2014, 06:33:05 pm
(http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww107/r63ra/WP_20140302_001_zpsfbde63fa.jpg)
I donated the ratchet strap rather than see him using a length of string......
Post by: unfazed on 02 March 2014, 06:37:52 pm
Post by: red98 on 02 March 2014, 06:44:15 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 02 March 2014, 07:04:59 pm
Looking forward to seeing some building on this "build thread " :rolleyes
Does anticipation not count? :lol :lol
Thanks Rusty, for all the help! Got back safely, and the bike is now under a tarp in the back garden/patio. Thanks! :)
Post by: Dead Eye on 02 March 2014, 07:48:25 pm
Looking forward to seeing some building on this "build thread " :rolleyes
After the 80 pages of your stutter thread? :P
Post by: ChristoT on 08 March 2014, 07:15:57 pm
I decided today to have a crack at the single sided swingarm. Out with the spanners!
There hasn't been a pic of the bike up yet, so here are a few:
Project Fazer donor bike 1 |
Project Fazer donor bike 2 |
So, after a bit of a battle, I fought off the stock swingarm:
Fazer swingarm |
And compared it to the Honda:
Bros swingarm |
A first glance, it looks like the Bros arm may be slightly longer!
It's certainly narrower, though. It's not as bad as I though, but I would approximate it being about 10mm out. To boot, the bearings were too small to take the swingarm pivot, so I was unable to bung it in place to meaqsure more accurately. Bollocks, that's going to be something ELSE to do before I can fit the Bros arm. As I was fiddling about, I also noticed the swingarm came a bit close to the left hand footrest, so I'll have to keep an eye on that during the build
I then had a look at suspension. The Bros uses direct suspension, and the Fazer (as we all know) has a linkage. Due to the position of the shock mount on the frame, I cannot use direct suspension, which means I'm going to have to find a way of fixing linkages to the Bros. I'll probably use the Fazer shock as it's shorter.
Fazer and Bros shocks |
I then noticed that the Fazer shock looked a wee bit weird: certainly not the same as the one I had on my 2001 bike!
Can anyone identify it for me?
Fazer shock |
I'll hopefully get some more work in tomorrow. :)
Post by: rustyrider on 08 March 2014, 08:35:32 pm
It's certainly narrower, though. It's not as bad as I though, but I would approximate it being about 10mm out. To boot, the bearings were too small to take the swingarm pivot, so I was unable to bung it in place to measure more accurately.You didn't honestly expect them to be a straight swap did you? I bet the chain run won't line up either.
But, as I told you, I think you are bonkers for even considering it......
Post by: ChristoT on 08 March 2014, 08:59:53 pm
It's certainly narrower, though. It's not as bad as I though, but I would approximate it being about 10mm out. To boot, the bearings were too small to take the swingarm pivot, so I was unable to bung it in place to measure more accurately.You didn't honestly expect them to be a straight swap did you? I bet the chain run won't line up either.
But, as I told you, I think you are bonkers for even considering it......
I was expecting the spacers and the suspension, but not the bearing diameter.
Not sure about the chain, but expecting to have to adjust it.
Post by: rustyrider on 08 March 2014, 09:15:53 pm
I'm not talking about simply adjusting the chain, I'm talking about getting the chain run to line up with the engine sprocket. I'll bet anything you like that the distance between the wheel centreline and the sprocket will be different. How will you deal with that? Fit the engine lopsided in the frame? Have a wheel offset one side or the other to the rest of the bike? Spacers behind the sprocket?
I still can't see what you hope to achieve. The Fazer is well known for it's handling so you are going to screw that up by fitting a longer swingarm? Why?
Post by: ChristoT on 08 March 2014, 09:22:48 pm
The swingarm is only about 20mm longer, so it shouldn't have a great effect. If anything, the narrower wheel will make it turn in faster, which I like.
Post by: Dead Eye on 08 March 2014, 11:06:10 pm
Having said that, he is also stubborn and illogical....
Post by: ChristoT on 08 March 2014, 11:09:36 pm
He's a crazy french-man... before too long he'll be waving a white flag in his garage :evil
Having said that, he is also stubborn and illogical....
I don't have a garage or a white flag...
Give me a garage, and I'll happily wave my massive Breton flag though! :lol
When Liam says "stubborn and illogical", he means "tenacious, and an unappreciated genius". Don't you? :rollin :rollin
Post by: Deefer666 on 09 March 2014, 07:04:13 am
He's a crazy french-man... before too long he'll be waving a white flag in his garage :evil
Having said that, he is also stubborn and illogical....
Ahh lets hope hes better at building bikes than his countrymen are at playing Rugby shall we? :rollin :rollin :rollin
Post by: ChristoT on 09 March 2014, 06:07:25 pm
He's a crazy french-man... before too long he'll be waving a white flag in his garage :evil
Having said that, he is also stubborn and illogical....
Ahh lets hope hes better at building bikes than his countrymen are at playing Rugby shall we? :rollin :rollin :rollin
Ahem.... :rolleyes :rolleyes
Post by: ChristoT on 09 March 2014, 06:15:40 pm
Had another wee go at the rear end today.
Well, the good news is that the gap looks to be only about 5mm!
The Fazer swingarm has two dust-cover-like things that sit over the needle bearing faces at each end of the arm. I measured the Bros arm minus these covers, so may be able to get away with a washer or two either side. Something to consider!
Unfortunately, setting up the suspension is going to be a bitch. There simply isn't enough room in there for a direct shock. There looks like there might be room for the shock with a linkage, so I now need to figure out how I'm going to attach dogbones to the Bros arm.
I also went round to Deefer's for a chat: the R1 tail unit is going to fit beautifully. It may require a little "persuasion" to fit the plastic round the metalwork, but it looks like it should be good. Then it's exhaust time!
Also, hopefully I'll start work on the engine this coming week. Watch this space! :)
Post by: mickvp on 09 March 2014, 06:28:41 pm
Get some pics of ups the swing arm sits relative to the current suspension mounts so we can see what can be done :)
Post by: ChristoT on 09 March 2014, 06:45:30 pm
:useless
Get some pics of ups the swing arm sits relative to the current suspension mounts so we can see what can be done :)
All I did was stick a couple of bolts through the pivot points on the frame to position it roughly. Barely any space there.
I might get some pics up next weekend, when I have some time. I now need to also get some spacers made from case hardened steel, so hope that won't break then bank!
Post by: mickvp on 09 March 2014, 06:47:38 pm
What sort of size spacers do you need? Might be something I can help you with depending ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 09 March 2014, 07:13:38 pm
The total space seems to be in the order of 5mm without dustcaps - so that would be 2x2.5mm spacers. I've ordered some callipers off ebay, and will do a proper job of measuring everything up either later this week or this weekend - stil minus dustcaps (need to source some)
Also had a proper measure: looks like the Bros arm is actually 40mm longer than the Fazer one, but it looks like it'll sit well. :)
Post by: mickvp on 09 March 2014, 07:30:48 pm
Might even get lucky and have something the right size laying about that we a
Ready currently make.
Post by: Dead Eye on 09 March 2014, 10:48:42 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 09 March 2014, 10:56:23 pm
Christo; have you taken any measurements relating to the offset of the rear sprocket compared to the front or even the stock? Will the sprocket even run on the same size chain as the stock Fazer? Ideally you need to take this into consideration before shelling out any cash making it fit. It's also prudent to check that the Bros swingarm will actually position the tyre centrally as you may find the spacers on each side actually need to be different sizes...
I have had a look, and I am pretty sure that the sprocket will need extending outwards on the engine side. By how much, I don't know yet. Based on rough numbers obtained from the forum and my prodding so callipers at it roughly, looks like the offset will be about 5mm out.
Good point on the fit of the chain, I haven't checked yet, but will do so tomorrow.
I am assuming (dangerous, I know!) that the Bros pivot ends are symetrical as regards the wheel centreline. I'd be surprised if they weren't, but I will be sure to double check later this week.
EDIT: Bollocks. The Bros uses a 525 chain, and the FZS uses a 530. The length isn't a huge issue: the Fazer uses 110 links, and the Bros 112. And considering that I'm changing the pivot point, I may be able to get away with a stock chain. The question is whether I need a new rear sprocket modified from a stock Fazer one or even machined from new. :o
Post by: Dead Eye on 10 March 2014, 09:17:15 am
Post by: JoeRock on 10 March 2014, 12:00:24 pm
Christo; have you taken any measurements relating to the offset of the rear sprocket compared to the front or even the stock? Will the sprocket even run on the same size chain as the stock Fazer? Ideally you need to take this into consideration before shelling out any cash making it fit. It's also prudent to check that the Bros swingarm will actually position the tyre centrally as you may find the spacers on each side actually need to be different sizes...
I have had a look, and I am pretty sure that the sprocket will need extending outwards on the engine side. By how much, I don't know yet. Based on rough numbers obtained from the forum and my prodding so callipers at it roughly, looks like the offset will be about 5mm out.
Good point on the fit of the chain, I haven't checked yet, but will do so tomorrow.
I am assuming (dangerous, I know!) that the Bros pivot ends are symetrical as regards the wheel centreline. I'd be surprised if they weren't, but I will be sure to double check later this week.
EDIT: Bollocks. The Bros uses a 525 chain, and the FZS uses a 530. The length isn't a huge issue: the Fazer uses 110 links, and the Bros 112. And considering that I'm changing the pivot point, I may be able to get away with a stock chain. The question is whether I need a new rear sprocket modified from a stock Fazer one or even machined from new. :o
First step is to make sure that the wheel is centred Christo, so measure to see if its centre in line with the swingarm, and if so that makes life a lot easier as you'll need equal size spacers to get it into the Fazer frame. Sounds like you'll also need some kind of collars manufacturer for the frame as well if the swingarm on the bros is smaller. Next stage is to do the sprocket, which might be more of an issue - you'll most probably have to get a custom one made to get it to the right spacing so it lines up with the fazer front sprocket, it's somewhat unlikely there'll be a sprocket already available that conveniently fits the bros wheel with the correct spacing (or even if there is, you'll have fun finding one!)
Post by: red98 on 10 March 2014, 07:44:30 pm
Post by: lmdtm on 13 March 2014, 06:01:33 pm
Post by: mickvp on 13 March 2014, 08:36:43 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 13 March 2014, 09:18:30 pm
The whole one sided swingarm is cool and all, but how did you fit a Fazer in the back of a 106?? :eek
First time was after 2 Polish chaps helped me load it!
As for how I drove it - the engine was in a box on the passenger seat, with a corner of the box bashed in to allow me to get to 1st gear. My knees were round my ears as the seats were right forward, and the tailgate was held closed with string!! :lol :lol
you found bearings yet?
About to have a recce. Ta for the link, BTW. :)
Post by: ChristoT on 13 March 2014, 11:02:50 pm
On Tuesday, work started on the engine. Stripped out the clutch, and about to lay into the gearbox.
The clutch springs are shagged. Great. Also, the clutch plates are on their service limit. OK for engine testing, I guess, but I'll have to keep and eye on them. I had a slight scare with the gear selector arm, which put up a fight coming out. Luckily, it was just light corrrosion, and a quick scrub on the bench grinder sorted it out straight away.
Stripped out:
Fazer engine 1 |
The bits!
Fazer engine 2 |
In other news, I have also bought some engine bars (thanks, Apage16!), and I plan to integrate them into a bellypan when the engine goes back in the frame.
On the shopping list this month are the gaskets (ordered), the cam chain, uprated clutch springs, and I hope to start work in ernerst on the swingarm this weekend.
Stay tuned, campers! :D
Post by: noggythenog on 13 March 2014, 11:25:45 pm
The whole one sided swingarm is cool and all, but how did you fit a Fazer in the back of a 106?? :eek[size=78%]2 Polish chaps helped me load it![/size]
Who Doddsie & BBB?
Aw you mean guys from Poland ;)
Post by: Dead Eye on 14 March 2014, 12:09:42 am
On the shopping list this month are the gaskets (ordered), the cam chain, uprated clutch springs, and I hope to start work in ernerst on the swingarm this weekend.
Stay tuned, campers! :D
What springs have you bought? If you haven't yet, avoid the EBC Heavy Duty ones - they are too strong and just don't work properly with the Fazers clutch. I fell victim to this as have a few others on the forum
Post by: Deefer666 on 14 March 2014, 06:31:16 am
On the shopping list this month are the gaskets (ordered), the cam chain, uprated clutch springs, and I hope to start work in ernerst on the swingarm this weekend.
Stay tuned, campers! :D
What springs have you bought? If you haven't yet, avoid the EBC Heavy Duty ones - they are too strong and just don't work properly with the Fazers clutch. I fell victim to this as have a few others on the forum
OK I know what happened, little know fact that the FZS600 has two different clutches fitted during its manufacture run, and it doesnt seem to matter what age the bike is. I have spoken to Yamaha UK about this and even they dont know why this is. There are two different clutch spring kits for the FZS600, I will dig out the part numbers.
Post by: Dead Eye on 14 March 2014, 10:15:30 am
Post by: ChristoT on 14 March 2014, 08:29:43 pm
Post by: midden on 14 March 2014, 08:48:11 pm
Spacers behind the engine sprocket, maybe.
Have you seen the threads regarding The fzs600 front sprocket nut? :rolleyes
Post by: ChristoT on 14 March 2014, 08:50:51 pm
Spacers behind the engine sprocket, maybe.
Have you seen the threads regarding The fzs600 front sprocket nut? :rolleyes
Only a problem if it's over-torqued. A Talon sprocket should do the trick. :)
Post by: midden on 14 March 2014, 09:13:51 pm
talon sprocket?
Post by: ChristoT on 14 March 2014, 09:59:32 pm
I was thinking on basis of cure being thicker nut which uses all thread on the shaft, so spacers behind would effectively reduce the advantage of extra thread.
talon sprocket?
Well...
The cure is to a problem that doesn't exist. Accoding to the God of Fazer Engines (Deefer), the sprocket nut should be torqued to either 90Nm or 100Nm (I can't remember which), then the spinning engine does the final tweak up. An air gun torques to 120Nm, which is too much. When the engine does its spin up, it overtorques the nut, risking stripping the thread. The thicker nut allows more "give", and a greater tolerance.
If I understand correctly, the Talon sprocket is shaped to offset the teeth, with the central part staying in position. I certainly don't plan on chucking a couple of washers behind the sprocket!!
Post by: mickvp on 14 March 2014, 10:14:45 pm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIQUE-OFFSET-FRONT-SPROCKET-YAMAHA-MADE-TO-ORDER-/251288315500 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIQUE-OFFSET-FRONT-SPROCKET-YAMAHA-MADE-TO-ORDER-/251288315500)
Post by: Dead Eye on 14 March 2014, 10:26:59 pm
Don't suppose you still have those barely used springs?
Unfortunately not; they were donated for free to a lucky foccer on the forums over 6 months ago... I forget who now - think it was Fazerider
Post by: ChristoT on 14 March 2014, 10:47:30 pm
something like this would be the way to go I think ;)
[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIQUE-OFFSET-FRONT-SPROCKET-YAMAHA-MADE-TO-ORDER-/251288315500[/url] ([url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIQUE-OFFSET-FRONT-SPROCKET-YAMAHA-MADE-TO-ORDER-/251288315500[/url])
That's the one!
Hopefully a bit cheaper though! :eek
Post by: Dead Eye on 15 March 2014, 12:24:30 am
Post by: ChristoT on 15 March 2014, 12:35:35 am
Post by: midden on 15 March 2014, 12:54:21 am
Post by: Lawrence on 15 March 2014, 06:08:13 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 16 March 2014, 12:24:24 am
Both good news and bad!
The good news: the selector forks are fine. So after washing, then engine's going back together.
The bad news (kinda): I'm going to have to abandon the Bros arm idea for the time being. It's going to be way too much work and money to modify UNLESS! There's a Foccer who can weld aluminium to structural quality who can help me out on it cheaply.
But never fear! I still plan on changing the swingarm: what's the point of a tricked up rear end if you have a boring stock swingarm? The (new) hunt begins! I'm looking at something like a Thunderace arm: any other ideas?
Post by: mickvp on 16 March 2014, 12:31:30 am
Post by: ChristoT on 16 March 2014, 12:58:28 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)
Nah, that's boring! I really like the potential for individualisation a custom offers. :)
Post by: JoeRock on 16 March 2014, 01:34:11 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)
Nah, that's boring! I really like the potential for individualisation a custom offers. :)
Aren;t really gonna be any swingarms that are a particularly easy fit mate, unless you just happen to get lucky?
Post by: ChristoT on 16 March 2014, 02:04:29 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)
Nah, that's boring! I really like the potential for individualisation a custom offers. :)
Aren;t really gonna be any swingarms that are a particularly easy fit mate, unless you just happen to get lucky?
Whatever I get will need modding, it's just a case of how much it needs. The Bros was unfortunate in that nothing actually adds up: the suspension is different, the fixing to the frame is different, the chain is different... and so on and so forth. At least it was only £50 off ebay (and back there it shall most likely go!)
There's a VFR swingarm that Deefer says might be a a better fit, so I'm going to trawl ebay, as I'm still a sucker for that single sided look!
Post by: red98 on 16 March 2014, 07:25:21 am
or......go all retro and fit twin shocks.........................................
Post by: rustyrider on 17 March 2014, 07:46:39 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy itI've been saying that all along. A few cosmetic mods maybe, if that's what you want (although personally I think they got the styling about spot on in the first place) but leave the mechanics alone.
Post by: snapper on 17 March 2014, 08:30:37 am
Post by: Lawrence on 17 March 2014, 09:31:44 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)This. I reckon you're going to build it up and then not be able to insure it because it's highly modified.
Post by: HarryHornby on 17 March 2014, 09:46:03 am
:agreeI have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)This. I reckon you're going to build it up and then not be able to insure it because it's highly modified.
We spoke about this at the weekend while having a cuppa (and a fry up, Midden) at Rye.
Christo - Hello I'd like to insure my bike
Insurer - Yes Sir, what's the make
Christo - It's a Kawayamahonki
Insurer - OK *click* (as they put the phone down) :b
Post by: His Dudeness on 17 March 2014, 10:04:35 am
I have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)This. I reckon you're going to build it up and then not be able to insure it because it's highly modified.
You're getting far too sensible :lol It's a project bike. It's done to learn new skills and knowledge and hopefully have something new and unique at the end of it. He can always put it back to standard if he wants or has to
Post by: ChristoT on 17 March 2014, 10:29:12 am
Christo I may have missed this but why the bro swing arm , most people use the VFR , is it just to be different ? or a reason behind it ?
I got the Bros arm because it was cheap! I paid £50 for the entire rear end; a gamble that didn't pay off. But at that price, it was worth a punt.
It's going to be too much of a pain in the arse to modify, so I've just bought a VFR750 swingarm cheap off ebay. OK, it was dearer than the Bros, but cheaper than most! And is already has a cross brace/bar, and has rising link suspension mounts as standard.
Anyone want a Bros rear end? :rollin
Post by: His Dudeness on 17 March 2014, 10:30:36 am
Christo I may have missed this but why the bro swing arm , most people use the VFR , is it just to be different ? or a reason behind it ?
I got the Bros arm because it was cheap! I paid £50 for the entire rear end; a gamble that didn't pay off. But at that price, it was worth a punt.
It's going to be too much of a pain in the arse to modify, so I've just bought a VFR750 swingarm cheap off ebay. OK, it was dearer than the Bros, but cheaper than most! And is already has a cross brace/bar, and has rising link suspension mounts as standard.
Anyone want a Bros rear end? :rollin
ebay it!
Post by: ChristoT on 17 March 2014, 10:31:13 am
Christo I may have missed this but why the bro swing arm , most people use the VFR , is it just to be different ? or a reason behind it ?
I got the Bros arm because it was cheap! I paid £50 for the entire rear end; a gamble that didn't pay off. But at that price, it was worth a punt.
It's going to be too much of a pain in the arse to modify, so I've just bought a VFR750 swingarm cheap off ebay. OK, it was dearer than the Bros, but cheaper than most! And is already has a cross brace/bar, and has rising link suspension mounts as standard.
Anyone want a Bros rear end? :rollin
ebay it!
Going on there tonight. ;)
Post by: alan sherman on 17 March 2014, 12:03:57 pm
Do you have some kind of vision of what you are trying to achieve? maybe a photoshopped mock up?
Post by: ChristoT on 17 March 2014, 06:50:06 pm
I thought you were too skint to get a replacement bike after the first crash. So where is all this ebay cash coming from on top of buying the Peugeot and Fazer?
Do you have some kind of vision of what you are trying to achieve? maybe a photoshopped mock up?
After the first (sic) crash, I thought I was going to the US on placement. That fell through, I came back to the UK and got a different, paying placement.
The Peugeot came from a loan from my parents (with about a million conditions attached...), and I picked up this Fazer for £250 (within my budget, just).
I am funding the project bit by bit, and am just about succeeding.
Donations of parts or funds are always appreciated though! :)
Post by: midden on 17 March 2014, 09:39:47 pm
Sure you missed off da kawayamahonkida:agreeI have an idea. Build the standard fazer, and enjoy it :)This. I reckon you're going to build it up and then not be able to insure it because it's highly modified.
We spoke about this at the weekend while having a cuppa (and a fry up, Midden) at Rye.
Christo - Hello I'd like to insure my bike
Insurer - Yes Sir, what's the make
Christo - It's a Kawayamahonki
Insurer - OK *click* (as they put the phone down) :b
I may have heard wrong with all clicking of cameras taking snapshots of Granny crunching rather loudy on her humungous chicken wrap.
Twas enough to put me off my brunch it was :D
Post by: ChristoT on 17 March 2014, 10:28:13 pm
I've bought a new swingarm to replace the Bros unit (too much work there), so when that arrives, hopefully I'll make some progress.
Anyone want to buy the Bros arm?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221396189209 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221396189209)
Post by: midden on 18 March 2014, 01:32:06 am
or wear surgical gloves while doing the mechanics and remove at piccy time
You really should be building up a photo collection in anticipation for that mug I mean foc-u tourist coming along and wanting to buy some ;)
Post by: Lawrence on 18 March 2014, 11:53:46 am
or wear surgical gloves while doing the mechanics and remove at piccy timeThus is a good idea anyway, you can pick up a box of 100 for a fiver.
Post by: unfazed on 18 March 2014, 12:14:38 pm
turning into, an all talk, no action post :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 18 March 2014, 12:38:53 pm
Seven pages of posts and Foc all done yet. :'(
turning into, an all talk, no action post :lol
You're wrong there, unfazed. The engine has been checked, and is OK, and a swingarm more fit for purpose has been sourced. Boring stuff, compared to the rest of the project, but necessary.
Pics? Soon! Unfortunately, I'm going to see some friends this weekend, so not much will happen then, but I'll see what can be done.
Post by: unfazed on 18 March 2014, 03:21:18 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 19 March 2014, 09:39:17 pm
A micro mod - tarted up plate, courtesy of dcurzon.
Post by: midden on 19 March 2014, 10:56:44 pm
I'm going to see some friends this weekend,
You have friends? as always pics required
Post by: ChristoT on 19 March 2014, 11:08:14 pm
I'm going to see some friends this weekend,
You have friends? as always pics required
No motorbiking! Going a family friend's birthday party - Saturday will be fun as I get to shoot paintballs at a group of middle aged ladies (who will, of course, be attempting to return fire. ;) )
Post by: ChristoT on 24 March 2014, 10:47:25 pm
Mixture of noos!
The VFR swingarm has arrived, and was briefly offered up yesterday (while dodging showers). It was nearly a direct fit! But the bugger will probably need some light milling to take it down to size. I shall probably hand over to an engineering firm to have it done, and to have the chain run sorted: They have the equipment I lack, and will save me many headaches down the line!
VFR750 swingarm |
I also went round to Deefer's this evening, put the clutch back in, and started cleaning the pistons. On Wednesday, hopefully I'll get the barrels and the sump back on. It's getting there!
And because Exup did it... :lol :lol
PROOF!
Proof Christo works on his bike! |
Post by: ChristoT on 29 March 2014, 10:38:13 pm
As before, I found the VFR arm didn't *quite* fit. Oh well. But then I noticed something on the left side - a spacer?
VFR arm |
It was! I pulled it out, and found it was a cap that sat inside the needle bearings:
Cap |
I then offered it up again. And joy of joys, it was nearly perfect. Almost a precise fit, with the barest amount of wobble (which might even be due to the fact that the bearing ID is larger than the OD of the axle!)
Arm offered |
The eagle eyed will spot the bolt isn't all the way through. The reason is I'd just taken it to bits again before realising I'd failed to take pics. So despite feeling like I'd been run over by a bus, I put it back together. And just couldn't be arsed to get the bolt home when it decided to play silly buggers. The things I do for you, eh? :kiss
Looking at the pic, the chain run may not need much modding, but I can't tell until I get the engine back in, but hopefully that should be soon: I only need to get the barrels, sump and head back on, then I get to have fun with the timing. Lucky me. :rolleyes
I now need to find a rear wheel for this arm. There weren't many on Ebay last time I checked, and all were dear. But as Deefer said, who ever heard of a bike crashing arse end first? (Me, actually. I did it on the ZX4... :o Oops...)
More updates when I shake this 'orrible bug off!
Post by: ChristoT on 30 March 2014, 11:27:15 am
(Yes, I'm a grumpy foccer when I'm ill)
Post by: His Dudeness on 30 March 2014, 11:33:23 am
Post by: ChristoT on 30 March 2014, 11:34:45 am
Good news on the swingarm. Who said you can't just buy a load of random bits and bolt them together? :lol
Half the people replying to this thread? :rollin :rollin
Post by: red98 on 30 March 2014, 12:01:27 pm
and ,chain and wheel alingment has to be spot on,i`ll be very surprised if it all bolts together without any real mods........good for you if it does though ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 30 March 2014, 01:06:30 pm
good to see some progress and pictures,well done christo......but....that spacers there for a reason :rolleyes
and ,chain and wheel alingment has to be spot on,i`ll be very surprised if it all bolts together without any real mods........good for you if it does though ;) :)
That spacer is only there on one side. The bearing cap on the other side is a flush fit. I'm guessing that was to help align the chain on the VFRs - but I'm not building a VFR.
Like I said - I'll probably hand over to a proper engineering firm to have the arm fitted, it's just nice seeing things work out more in my favour for a change.
Post by: midden on 30 March 2014, 03:30:37 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 30 March 2014, 03:49:10 pm
Stock VFR750 (RC36 onwards, I think)
Post by: MarkWales on 30 March 2014, 09:51:48 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 15 April 2014, 10:39:27 am
Hopefully good news on the engine on Wednesday, and I've contacted an engineering firm about the swingarm.
Watch this space! :)
Post by: fireblake on 15 April 2014, 10:42:04 am
Post by: midden on 15 April 2014, 02:53:24 pm
Quiet in here...
Hopefully good news on the engine on Wednesday, and I've contacted an engineering firm about the swingarm.
Watch this space! :)
Foccin 'ell I got all excited thinking there was gonna be some progress and pics :'(
Post by: noggythenog on 15 April 2014, 03:12:05 pm
One o these days Christo
Ill have a new bike
& you'll have completed the project
Cue tumbleweed & mass insults :b
Post by: ChristoT on 15 April 2014, 03:48:27 pm
Post by: unfazed on 15 April 2014, 05:39:07 pm
One o these days Christo
Ill have a new bike
& you'll have completed the project
Cue tumbleweed & mass insults :b
& finally make the trip on the expensive ferry to ride around west Corks' coast roads :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 18 April 2014, 04:33:17 pm
Project Fazer 18Apr2014 |
Big, big ups to Deefer666. The engine is back in one piece thanks to his help, guidance and staying late to help me. He has endured endless questions and pestering from me, and even tolerated my eye watering n00bishness at times!!
Also, (again, thanks to Deefer!) I have acquired a full fairing (Skidmarx), and so Project Fazer will be fully faired. Things are starting to happen now. :)
Post by: His Dudeness on 18 April 2014, 05:09:15 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 18 April 2014, 05:10:31 pm
nice one! stick a chain and sprocket on that trolley and you're sorted :lol
:rollin :rollin :rollin
Post by: Chris on 18 April 2014, 05:10:37 pm
nice one! stick a chain and sprocket on that trolley and you're sorted :lol
:rollin :rollin
Chris
Post by: unfazed on 18 April 2014, 06:18:38 pm
nice one! stick a chain and sprocket on that trolley and you're sorted :lol:rollin
It would be some project car to take on the 106 :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 18 April 2014, 06:59:31 pm
nice one! stick a chain and sprocket on that trolley and you're sorted :lol:rollin
It would be some project car to take on the 106 :lol
No way it could be slower!! :lol :lol
Post by: JoeRock on 18 April 2014, 07:06:04 pm
Anyone guess what I'm up to this weekend? :lol
Big, big ups to Deefer666. The engine is back in one piece thanks to his help, guidance and staying late to help me. He has endured endless questions and pestering from me, and even tolerated my eye watering n00bishness at times!!
Also, (again, thanks to Deefer!) I have acquired a full fairing (Skidmarx), and so Project Fazer will be fully faired. Things are starting to happen now. :)
Have you painted the engine christo, or does it just look remarkably shiny?
Post by: ChristoT on 18 April 2014, 07:07:10 pm
Post by: robby boy on 18 April 2014, 10:39:27 pm
Christo T's motorised trolley :rollin :rollin :lol :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 19 April 2014, 08:11:50 pm
Engine in |
Then (to quote a friend), I realised I done fuck up. To make getting the engine in easier, I took out the airbox. Guess how you get the airbox bacvk in? Yup.
Post by: red98 on 19 April 2014, 09:17:20 pm
Post by: mickvp on 19 April 2014, 09:21:39 pm
Still...think how quick you wil be able to do it now! :D
Post by: ChristoT on 19 April 2014, 09:54:03 pm
I really do despair at what Ive just read... I guess Deefer wasnt about to keep you right this time :lol
Still...think how quick you wil be able to do it now! :D
That was a bit I tried to do myself, at home (not Deefer's workshop)! Just as well I'm handing the swingarm over to professionals, eh? :rollin :rollin
Post by: midden on 19 April 2014, 10:28:26 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 19 April 2014, 10:57:23 pm
Ah leave it out.......it'll make a unique customization
I was thinking of doing the K&N pods. But it's too much of a ballache for now.
Post by: tony22 on 19 April 2014, 11:07:42 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 19 April 2014, 11:21:32 pm
If you un screw the front section of the airbox you can squeeze it in from the generator side, takes a little while to do it but quicker than taking the engine out again.. I did the same thing when I changed the cam chain..
Thanks for the tip! I'll have a try of that tomorrow! :)
Post by: unfazed on 19 April 2014, 11:25:52 pm
So I got the engine in today...
[Limit reached]
Then (to quote a friend), I realised I done fuck up. To make getting the engine in easier, I took out the airbox. Guess how you get the airbox bacvk in? Yup.
:rollin Cut the air box in half and glue it back together when you have it in place :lol
We have all done something like that over the years and the important bit is to hold on to the sense of humour :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 19 April 2014, 11:30:41 pm
Post by: red98 on 20 April 2014, 08:45:59 am
Post by: Deefer666 on 20 April 2014, 02:08:17 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 20 April 2014, 02:52:09 pm
LOL! you knob! :rollin :rollin :rollin
Can't argue there!! :lol
Post by: fireblake on 22 April 2014, 05:18:32 am
Keep on smiling Chris
Mickey
Post by: tony22 on 22 April 2014, 11:01:00 am
I'm going to try Tony's trick first. I think it's hilarious, though still kicking myself as a jackass. My landlord, who was helping me put the engine in, was less impressed! :lol
Is this running yet? :pokefun
Post by: red98 on 29 April 2014, 07:59:58 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 29 April 2014, 09:27:39 pm
So I've half got the airbox back in. Need to finish screing it back together. I also then started looking at the hose routing. Having retrieved the remaining hoses from Deefer, I started trying to fit them to the engine. Well, the engine being in the frame certainly isn't helping!! The guy who sold me this bike needs his tool rights revoked. Muppet. It seems he took every loose bit off the engine, and then lost half the hardware. Grr.
My latest headache (to add to the list) is the main oil feed pipe, that runs from the sump to the head across the front of the engine. And guess what? The middle bolt and the top banjo bolt line up: does the sump bolt? Nope! :wall
I've got a few annoying fiddly jobs to do, I just need to get round to actually doing them. I also still need to sort out the towbar wiring, and finish installing those retaining bolts. Another ballache. :rolleyes
Things will get exciting once I get the VFR wheel though: Because then I can get the swingarm fitted, then the tail fairing, then the zorsts. And those are the major mods (so far) of this project.
(For stage 1, I am sticking with the airbox and stock front end. The pod filters and USD forks will come later)
Post by: red98 on 30 April 2014, 06:59:05 am
Post by: ChristoT on 30 April 2014, 07:35:09 am
Post by: ChristoT on 30 April 2014, 10:12:44 pm
I've managed to source a VFR750 rear wheel for a reasonable price!
I've paid £50 for a VFR wheel from ebay, which now means I can get the swingarm fitted mid May. :woot !!
In other news....
I've got the airbox fully back in and screwed in, but that oil feed pipe simply isn't playing ball. I'm going to have to visit Deefer again soon, with a hardware shopping list!!
Also checked the radiator. I'm in two minds about it, the previous owner did a beautiful job of fucking up the nuts that holt the fan to the rad: one rounded, one missing, and one ignored. Thanks to Muggins, the cover was also badly dinged (so much so that the fan couldn't turn), and many of the little fins are bent. I tried straightening a few gently, but most just snapped. The fan does work work now though, which is good to know.
Another job that has now climbed up the priority list is sorting out the wiring on the car and the trailer!! :eek
Post by: ChristoT on 04 May 2014, 12:46:31 am
[Limit reached]
Next steps: Work out how the caliper fits (and get a disc, eventually), get some wheel nuts, and get the bugger over the engineering shop for a quote.
Post by: mickvp on 11 May 2014, 04:43:18 pm
A month and a half sans updates? C'mon man! :lol
never mind asking everyone else for updates Christo, wheres your updates?!? :lol
Post by: ChristoT on 11 May 2014, 05:18:32 pm
Nothing to add, apart from the usual crippling l;ack of funds (grinds teeth into oblivion).
So, looking for wheel nuts, I've contacted the engineering shop about fitting, and waiting to hear back from them. Headlamps sorted (thanks Andy!), and a few bits of bling researched. Nowt much, as I've been busting my balls over a work project - which hopefully people will see if they come to Sywell Aero Expo on the 30th of May to the 1st of June. :)
Post by: Ruby Racing on 16 November 2014, 01:17:40 am
Lot of tumbleweed blowing around the place! ;)
Any updates and of course some photos?
Post by: ChristoT on 16 November 2014, 04:07:04 am
Just found this thread.
Lot of tumbleweed blowing around the place! ;)
Any updates and of course some photos?
Project Fazer has succumbed to Project Death: that is lack of money, time, and enthusiasm.
The bike is currently with Deefer, and has been put back to standard as a runner. I'm still debating whether to keep or sell as I can't afford the £400 odd quid it'll take to insure it. Not to mention incurring the wrath of my parents, who have threatened me with everything under the sun if I get back on another bike before I am 100% self sufficient (which I'm not by a long shot).
It's a nice concept, and I will revisit it - but in a few years' time. In the meantime, I have not ridden a bike for 11 months, and miss it every day. :(
Post by: darrsi on 16 November 2014, 10:26:54 am
Happy bunny. :)
[Limit reached]
Next steps: Work out how the caliper fits (and get a disc, eventually), get some wheel nuts, and get the bugger over the engineering shop for a quote.
That is a really nice box in the photo though. :lol
Post by: NorthWestern on 16 November 2014, 11:37:03 am
Post by: Ruby Racing on 16 November 2014, 05:32:14 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 16 November 2014, 10:53:59 pm
Shame. Hope you get back on two wheels at some point. Mind you, this time of year you aren't missing much.
We beg to differ. Cold & wet riding is better than nowt!
Post by: JoeRock on 17 November 2014, 01:18:01 pm
Shame. Hope you get back on two wheels at some point. Mind you, this time of year you aren't missing much.
We beg to differ. Cold & wet riding is better than nowt!
Tried going down the route with your parents of "I either get a smaller, safer bike now, or when I'm self sufficient I'll end up going out and buying a bigger one which will be dangerous as I won't have any experience"?
Post by: ChristoT on 17 November 2014, 02:08:58 pm
Shame. Hope you get back on two wheels at some point. Mind you, this time of year you aren't missing much.
We beg to differ. Cold & wet riding is better than nowt!
Tried going down the route with your parents of "I either get a smaller, safer bike now, or when I'm self sufficient I'll end up going out and buying a bigger one which will be dangerous as I won't have any experience"?
I did.
All I got was a bollocking for being "deliberately cruel". Or some BS like that.
Post by: fireblake on 20 November 2014, 04:04:13 pm
I agree Chris, it might be peeing down but my wife always says when I get home from work I'm always smiling.Shame. Hope you get back on two wheels at some point. Mind you, this time of year you aren't missing much.
We beg to differ. Cold & wet riding is better than nowt!
Mickey
Post by: unfazed on 20 November 2014, 09:50:24 pm
I agree Chris, it might be peeing down but my wife always says when I get home from work I'm always smiling.Shame. Hope you get back on two wheels at some point. Mind you, this time of year you aren't missing much.
We beg to differ. Cold & wet riding is better than nowt!
Mickey
:thumbup :thumbup :thumbup
Post by: wraith600 on 25 April 2015, 09:43:35 pm
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,484.0.html (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,484.0.html)
Post by: ChristoT on 25 April 2015, 10:53:48 pm
I'm not a huge fan of the overly large rear wheels. The 600 handles well with the 160, even considering getting a VFR 170 wheel rolled down (I believe that's the correct phrase) to take a 160 tyre. When I get round to it, I'll fit the swinger and find out. But that's a year or 2 away now...
Post by: mickvp on 29 April 2015, 02:44:26 pm
Post by: Deefer666 on 30 April 2015, 09:12:30 am
Quote
i know deef put it back to standard though
Not me guv ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 30 April 2015, 01:36:33 pm
Post by: Dead Eye on 05 May 2015, 02:10:59 pm
Post by: ChristoT on 05 May 2015, 02:21:09 pm
I love how I was reading back over and was having to do double takes on the post dates as this time last year it was "I'll have the swingarm fitted by mid may :D " hahaha
Two things:
a) Tosser. :b
b) I don't think I specified a year! :lol
Post by: midden on 05 May 2015, 05:56:13 pm
Two things:
a) Tosser. :b
b) I don't think I specified a year! :lol
self praise indeed ;)
Post by: ChristoT on 30 July 2023, 10:43:55 pm
Strap in kids, this is going to be a long one.
The project so far: in Feb 2014 I was a fresh-faced 20yr old, and I was off motorcycles having written my last Fazer 600 off in Sept 2013. The replacement bike, a Kawasaki ZX-4, had blown its engine up in spectacular form in December on my way back from France for Christmas. My parents, deciding enough was enough, banned me from getting another bike, and blackmailed me to ensure that I complied. This was a terrible blow to me: not only did my whole friendship network revolve around bikes, I had turned riding into an outlet, a coping mechanism, for any shit in my life. With no coping mechanisms available to me, I was really, really miserable, and desperate to get back on two wheels. I therefore bought another Fazer 600 with £250 that I’d managed to scrape together. Despite it being in pieces (I was handed a jam jar containing the buckets and shims for the head!), I decided to have a stab at a concept build I had been playing around with in my mind. See the previous posts in this thread for details.
Despite my grand plans, I had decided in late 2014 to put the project on hold for a few years and to put the bike back to stock. I had run out of money and time, and was desperate to get a bike, any bike, back on the road. I sold most of the non-standard parts I had: the VFR swingarm, the wheel, the bodywork to help pay to get what I had back on the road.
[Limit reached]
In February of 2016, I eventually succeeded! It was back to standard (mostly), and I was on 2 wheels again. It had taken a hell of a lot of time (and a hell of a lot of patience from Mark [Deefer666] putting up with me!!), but it worked and ran pretty well. Wouldn’t last long though: in July that same year, while pushing hard around a roundabout, I discovered that it is indeed possible to ride off the edge of the rear tyre. At 70mph. My knee down was followed by my everything else down, and we all met the kerb head first, probably still doing about 40mph. End result, a lovely concussion and a very bent bike.
Knob.
To this day, I have no recollection of how I got the bike home, and no idea how the hell it made it: the bike went in tail first and the swingarm had been knocked offset by about an inch. There was also a 2in chunk of alloy missing from the rear wheel, and the bead was visible (still held pressure for 6 months!). The engine mercifully survived, thanks solely to the engine bars I had fitted. My first memory after picking myself up off the road was standing in my front room going “hang on, where’s the bike?” and having to go to the garage to check if it was there. Concussion does weird things to your memory, and that was a rather surreal 24 hrs - including the bit where I thought it was a good idea to drive myself to A&E - which I then did. Thankfully not on the bike.
The project was back on.
I had been keeping an eye open for parts, and slowly accumulating them - after all, the project was on hold, not completely dead. In April 2016, I had managed to get my mitts on a complete VFR750 rear end: wheel, calliper, suspension, the lot! Then in May, I managed to buy some almost new carbon exhausts for a 2009 R1 for a song. I managed to buy a set of R1 forks in April with a front wheel following in September. I asked a firm in Derby to modify the rear shock mount on the frame of the bike as the single sided swingarm’s shock isn’t central. This was duly done. Badly. I got a toolmaker to press the Fazer’s steering stem into the R1 lower yoke, and got a local friend of mine to help me make some spacers for the swingarm. It was starting to come together mechanically!
[Limit reached]
On a completely unrelated note: in January 2017, my girlfriend dumped me, 2 days before I flew to the Netherlands for my grandmother’s funeral. Three months later, I moved from Derby to Leighton Buzzard and in August that same year I met Katy.
Somewhere along the way I had managed to lay my hands on a Ducati 748 biposto rear fairing and pillion seat. With Mark’s help, we started to modify it to fit the Fazer subframe. I had decided early on I didn’t want to reuse the Ducati tail lights, and we managed to find a set of lenses that fit the shape rather nicely. But seeing as the lightbox behind them was too big, I took on the task of designing and making my own PCBs and my own custom tail lights. Gen 1 was a learning experience, but would ultimately not be used as they were not fit for purpose.
[Limit reached]
After many weeks of swearing at it, Mark convinced me in 2018 that it would be far easier to buy a Ducati subframe and use that rather than trying to butcher the Italian plastics to fit the uncooperative Japanese subframe: a case of close enough to look like it might work, but not close enough to actually do so without an inordinate amount of work. By 2019, I had finally got organised enough to arrange for the old subframe to be cut off and the new one welded on. It fit the bike surprisingly well!
[Limit reached]
Katy had been very supportive of me getting back into bikes, and while she joked that she thought the Fazer didn’t actually exist, she humoured me rambling on about the project. In late 2019, she even braved going on the back of my recently acquired FJ1200 - the bike itch still needed scratching! - and decided she really rather enjoyed it! I therefore had to buy some Ducati 748 pillion pegs in 2020 so she could continue to ride with me once the project was done. The FJ being a bit of a dog, it was sold a few months later to help with a downpayment on a house... which came with a garage!! But because I clearly can’t help myself, the FJ was replaced with another wreck of a Fazer, which was rebuilt and which I have been riding since I got it running again in November 2021. This bike would go on to be cannibalised to help get the project back on the road.
[Limit reached]
Another completely unrelated note: Katy proved she was actually insane in July 2022 when she said “I do” and married me. My best man, Richard, was a friend I had made at University through our mutual love of motorbikes back in 2012 when we were both still on 125s.
[Limit reached]
The start of 2023 brought with it a renewed enthusiasm to get the bike finished - in no small part thanks to a private track day in France I was invited to by some friends. As a result, the bike was relocated from Mark's unit to Stotfold Engineers, run by Terry Ives in Biggleswade. Terry is an absolutely fantastic machinist, a proper old school engineer, and can fabricate most things asked of him out of metal - a skill I’ve definitely put to the test. Here we started work at a furious pace. Starting with the rear suspension: ever since 2016 the shock was held in position by a calculated stack of washers - not good enough. Terry reinforced the widened upper and lower shock mounts and made the correct size spacers. He also had to extend the suspension pickup points on the swingarm: the VFR carries its dogbones fairly close together, the Fazer's sit relatively wide. He did a beautiful job considering he was welding 30yr old cast aluminium with God knows how many contaminants in it! We also replaced all the suspension bearings in the bike (excluding the engine), and modified the left side of the wheel and the left fork stanchion to accept the Fazer speedo drive. A word of advice: don't do this, it’s a pig of a job. Terry did manage to get it to work eventually, but the net result is that there isn’t a single unmodified part on that side of the front end - including the speedo drive itself which needed boring out and trimming down to fit.
[Limit reached]
[Limit reached]
The tail unit only really sort of fitted the bike, especially at the front, so Mark performed some plastic surgery, and we got the seat unit trimmed to a point where it sat nicely on the frame. Seeing as there was no chance of any seat base fitting the bike, we made our own out of fibreglass - wrapping the frame, tank, and tail unit in pallet wrap and masking tape and laying up directly in situ. Once this had cured and was trimmed, I made a tongue to locate under the rear tank bracket and fiberglassed this into the seat base. For the first time, we also got the end cans fitted onto the bike and started thinking about how to plumb them in.
[Limit reached]
Once we had laid out where most of the components went, the bike went to a friend of Mark’s to have the link pipe made. I wanted twin underseat exhausts, and I wanted them to be properly functional. As a result, we ended up modifying the exit of the headers (to point it straight rather than kicked out to the side) and put together a 1 into 2 pipe. It was a tight fit, clearing the frame with millimetres to spare. But clear it did, and the net result looked glorious. Once this was done, and the bike was back at Terry’s, we were able to make a new battery box to accommodate a new, shorter battery, make mounting provisions for a new rear brake reservoir, and lay the harness onto the bike and locate all the components. At this same time we made a new mount for the seat lock and trimmed the side covers to fit the remodelled frame geometry.
[Limit reached]
The Gen 1 tail light boards had been badly designed, mostly due to my lack of knowledge in electronic design, but I still wanted to do something bespoke. As a result, I asked the head of mechatronics at work for some design advice on how to make them better. Net result, the LEDs that originally barely glowed were now bright enough to blind me, and needed some significant throttling to have even a passing chance at legality. I found some PCB design software online, taught myself how to use it, and designed all new circuits. Rather than make my own boards this time, I instead bought 5 boards to my design from a Chinese firm called PCBWay. After handing over £35, about a week later my boards were delivered. At least I got the design right on the second attempt… The boards assembled very nicely, and after blinding myself repeatedly while giggling like a maniac (gotta test them somehow!) I had one fully populated with components, with a second as a spare. I had also bought a 3D printer to help with a number of projects, and so designed and printed a new enclosure for the new boards to sit in. The lenses were cut off the old light box and Araldited onto this enclosure before the whole thing was assembled onto the seat unit.
[Limit reached]
With the bike back in one piece, the next step was to undo all our hard work and take it all to bits! In the space of about 4 hours, the nearly complete bike was stripped to a completely bare frame, and was taken to Perfect Coatings in Meppershall along with the front fairing subframe, the fairing bunny ears, the sidestand, the centre stand, and various fairing brackets. Full credit to them, they did an absolutely gorgeous job to a ridiculously short deadline. The tank and all the panels went to Mark for priming, and the bike started to go back together at breakneck speed.
[Limit reached]
Remember the track day I mentioned? Well, this was now under a week away, and the bike was still a small pile of bits. I got damn close, but eventually had to face reality - I was due to leave the UK on Wednesday, and at 11:30pm on Monday, the bike was back in one piece but with multiple issues preventing me from getting it to MOT the following day: it ran, but was leaking coolant from multiple hoses, the clutch seemed permanently engaged, the handlebars hadn’t been made yet, and the headlights were stubbornly refusing to work (HIDs are great when they work and a royal pain in the arse the rest of the time). I reluctantly waved the white flag, and travelled over in a friend’s car instead. The track day was a blast though, I managed to scrounge a go around the track on a ZX10R and a VTR1000, and vowed to repeat the experience on my own bike next year.Once home, those last minor niggles were swiftly resolved one by one. The rubber hoses I had reused were thrown in the bin, and a spare set of silicone hoses I had were fitted instead (I had originally not fitted them as blue hoses wouldn’t fit any of the paint schemes I was considering. Blue bikes are slowest!). The headlights were rewired and eventually were forced into submission. The clutch was fixed by changing the actuator in the sprocket cover that had got snarled up. And Terry finished making the clip on bars - by modifying a set of Renthal bars fairly extensively. Net result, on the 12th of July, the bike went for MOT and passed with no advisories. Not the end of the project, but a damn good milestone! [Limit reached]
Initial observations from the first ride: the back end was far too hard, the preload needed dropping quite a lot (was perfect 2 up however). While the bike turned more slowly - hardly surprising considering the wider tyres front and rear - it felt really nicely planted, and gave no indication of any vices. Dropping the rear preload three clicks turned it into a different animal completely with a gloriously light front end - even playful - and a firm but planted rear. The carbs weren’t yet properly set up and the bike was running rich; this meant that the exhausts burbled beautifully on the overrun. The exhaust tone was really nice, noticeably louder than stock but nowhere near antisocial. I was running a standard VFR750 rear sprocket, a full 5 teeth smaller than stock FZS, and the effect on the acceleration was significant. I’ve not fully decided, but I think I might aim for stock FZS gearing or bias it slightly to enjoy lower revs on longer journeys. For getting used to it, the current setup is acceptable. The new riding position is glorious - the rider’s seat is quite a bit longer than stock as well as being lower and narrower at the back. Add the clip ons and the stance is sportier than the Fazer’s sit up and beg without being full sports bike, and leaves enough room for me to really tuck my 6’3” frame behind the fairing. Needless to say, I love it.
[Limit reached]
So what’s next? Well, the bike is currently just in primer and will need proper paint - probably this winter. The pillion seat needs recovering, and the rider's seat needs foam and covering. I’m currently sitting on hacked up bit of 40mm race foam which does the job but looks terrible and isn’t the comfiest. To be honest, those are probably the main two things that need doing before I can legitimately call the bike done. I have some plans for the engine, probably a winter project. I do have a few minor niggles to address: the gearing needs sorting, the indicators are cheap and try to fall off every so often, and the exhausts aren’t quite symmetrical yet (need to try to tweak the clamp straps - again). I also need to improve the rider pegs, the centre stand stopper is a little too short,one of the HID ballasts has a rather iffy plug, etc etc… nothing major, all just little kinks that I need to iron out as I go along.
This bit threatens to stray into mawkish sentimentality, but that isn't the intent. I've been working on this project for a third of my life; it has outlived 3 girlfriends, 4 jobs, 4 house moves, 5 cars, and 1 hang glider. Since starting this project, I've graduated from University, met and married my wife, become a homeowner, and rehomed a cat. I've met and been able to ask for help from some remarkable people along the way, far more skilled than I could ever hope to be. And they have helped me finally see my vision through. Or more accurately, they helped see through the mad idea of a spotty teenager who was too bloody minded to give up.
Post by: ChristoT on 30 July 2023, 10:51:17 pm
The spec list - for now:
- 1999 FZS600 frame and engine
- 1999 R1 USD forks and wheel, modified to take FZS600 speedo drive
- Standard blue spot front callipers, braided lines
- One-off clip on bars, 2001 FZS600 switchgear
- Standard FZS600 front fairing, HID headlights
- SFS Silicone coolant hoses
- K&N air filter, standard airbox
- Yuasa YTZ10S battery
- OE lower engine bars
- Pyramid Plastics belly pan
- Full stainless exhaust system, 4-1-2 header & link pipe
- Twin underseat Pipe Werx carbon silencers (2009 R1)
- Ducati 748 Biposto rear subframe
- Ducati 916 Biposto tail plastics - heavily modified
- Custom rider’s seat base
- Ducati 916 pillion seat
- Ducati 748 pillion pegs w/ carbon heel plates
- One-off custom tail lights (custom PCB, 3D printed enclosure)
- Mini indicators all around
- 2007 R1 tail tidy
- VFR750 single sided swingarm, suspension pickup points widened to use FZS600 shock & linkage
- eBay special rear hugger
- VFR750 rear brake calliper, braided line, eBay special reservoir
- Hagon rear shock w/ jack up kit dogbones
- Extended centre stand
- Michelin Pilot Power 2CTs
Post by: BBROWN1664 on 31 July 2023, 08:46:13 am
Excellent work and well done on getting there in the end.
Post by: unfazed on 31 July 2023, 10:37:03 am
I love perservence and I am looking forward to seeing the end result.
Looks good so far and is certainly different.
Post by: ChristoT on 31 July 2023, 08:18:11 pm
Post by: basher on 25 August 2023, 07:59:08 pm
Post by: robbo on 28 August 2023, 06:54:58 am
Thanks for sharing, and the very best of luck with the fine tuning over the coming winter. It’s all downhill now,
:) :thumbup :thumbup
Post by: ChristoT on 28 August 2023, 09:42:26 pm
Amazing work man, im only restoring my 98 and i cant imagine the amount of stress and work going into basically creating your own bike. fair play and I know you'll see it through to the end :thumbup :thumbup
Basher, I've been keeping half an eye on your build thread - coming together nicely! Rotten luck with the heads though.
Your perseverance and vision are truly a credit to you. To have seen your project through over such a long timescale and despite the trials and tribulations of life, is amazing.Thanks Robbo! Been a long time coming. Time to enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing, and the very best of luck with the fine tuning over the coming winter. It’s all downhill now,
:) :thumbup :thumbup