Noggy, you been on Exup's polish lager again?
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.