I plan to take my Fazer 600 off the road for 2 or 3 months, as of tomorrow. Not because I mind riding in the winter (I have a CBF125 for that), but because I have a list of things I want to do. I bought the bike 5 or so months ago, in OK condition. She needs a bit of TLC though, and winter is a perfect time for me.
I have made a list of what needs doing, and my budget is only £200 (+/- 10%). I will do all of the work myself, with a bit of help from a mate (when needed) who is a mechanic.
I am not including the cost of any additional tools I may need, although I doubt there will be any. Also, I already have some of the stuff required, and will not include the cost of that either. I have not included an air filter in my service either, as I fitted a K & N within a few days of getting the bike.
Winter Work on Frazer
Braided Brake Hoses (Full Set F/R)/ Brake Fluid Change
Calliper Re-Condition/Seals
Wheel Alignment
Spark Plugs
Oil Change (Already have it)
Engine Re-Paint
Philips MotoVision Headlamp Bulbs (Both)
Heated Grips
Clean Inside Lamp Reflector
Investigate Tapping Noise from Engine
Clean Carburettors
Remove old alarm and fit new alarm with remote start
Fit GPS holder with 12V Auxiliary socket (Already have GPS holder)
Genesis Performance Chip (Already have it)
It might seem ambitious on just a £200 budget, but I recon it is possible.
I will keep you all posted on progress and tell you where I got the stuff from as I go. If any of you have experience of any of these jobs and have some advice, great. It all helps.
Cheers
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
That's a good point. I actually bought it for a CBR, but sold that bike before I fitted the chip. I have contacted the manufacturer of the chip, in Canada. They very kindly offered to exchange the chip I have for the correct one. I had considered that point, but these guys have been doing this for years and I admit I am investing a little trust in them. We'll see how it goes. The worst that can happen is I have a different chip from the one I have now, and it still won't do anything. Nothing lost really, except a stamp
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
I think Fazerider is probably wondering where you are going to fit the chip! The only chips I have come across on my FZS600 are in the paintwork :\ . Of course I could be wrong.
Nice list of mods.
I find a 12v auxiliary socket very handy and have fix it into the fairing side panel. Connected straight to the battery with an in-line fuse. Some prefer to come from a feed that is only live when the ignition is on.
I think I will fit the socket under the seat, in the big box area with a permanent feed for phone charging and so on... As for the chip, if it's the same size as the one I'm returning, it will fit away nice and neat. I am not commited to a location yet, but when I get her in bits, it will become clear (I hope). The biggest job for me will be sourcing that engine noise and fixing it. Looking forward to getting the hoses on. The breaks are all spongey and soft. They stop the machine, but could be a LOT better.
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
Braided Brake Hoses (Full Set F/R)/ Brake Fluid Change - The club used to get a discount from HEL braided brake lines. From memory it is cheaper to buy clear plastic rather than coloured. Do get stainless banjos as anodized will
chip and fur up.
Calliper Re-Condition/Seals. Front is a good move. Rear - don't bother, try to get a FZS 1000 caliper instead as it is much better.
Wheel Alignment, Spark Plugs, Oil Change (Already have it) - Service. Include balancing the carbs.
Engine Re-Paint - Smoothrite in a spray can works well. Been using it for years! Not heat proof but seems to last just fine.
Philips MotoVision Headlamp Bulbs (Both)
Heated Grips - Only good if you wear summer gloves. Winter gloves are thick with insulation. This insulation keeps the heat from the heated grips out!
Clean Inside Lamp Reflector
Investigate Tapping Noise from Engine - Likely the camchain tensioner. Search for it on here or the old site (where is hot poop?)
Clean Carburettors
Remove old alarm and fit new alarm with remote start - Why if you are short of cash?
Fit GPS holder with 12V Auxiliary socket (Already have GPS holder) - I fitted a aux socket under the saddle to charge phone. Waterproof sockets are more expensive so you can save a bit of cash there by siting the socket there.
Genesis Performance Chip (Already have it) - Waste of time!
Don't forget to check bearings, chain and sprockets, and fork oil.
Thanks for the input Alan. . I find the heated grips I have on the wee (R & G) bike fine with my winter gloves (TUZO). To be honest, as the bike is off the road for winter, I might not need them anyway. As far as the re-paint goes, one of my neighbours is in the powdercoating/re-coating industry and recomended a brush on paint as the spray can get a bit messy if you are not used to it, which I am not. I am not much of a sprayer...I put up another post entitled engine noise regarding the, erm, engine noise. I though it may be the cam chain. I'll check that first. The alarm that is on it does my head in. It self-arms after about 15 seconds, which I find a pain. I have an alarm from another bike that I will see if I can modify. The manufacturer recons not, but I'll try. The Performance chip I have already. Have you had experience of these on a big bike? I put one on a 125cc, so its hard to tell if it made a difference to its 11BHP! Chain and sprockets are good. New renthal kit fitted just before I bought the bike and its mint. Fork oil, good point sir. Its on the list.
Cheers
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
The paint arrived today. The engine repaint is the first job to be done. I am still waiting for the brass brush bits I ordered to help remove the pits and rust spots around the bolts.
Once I have the engine painted I can get the tank off and have a look to see what this noise is (Cam-chain?). I am hoping the chip will have arrived by then too, so I can fit that whilst I have good access. The 12V socket will go in at this point too, as I want a charger for a GPS mounted up near the handle bars and no tank will make this job easyer. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110779413090?r...3D1&_rdc=1
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
I think the point everyone is making but you seem to be ignoring is, where do you intend fitting the chip? You can only chip the ECU on a bike (or car) that has an ECU which is only a bike (or car) that has fuel injection. You have carbs, you do not have fuel injection so you do not have an ECU so you do not have anywhere to fit a chip.
RustyRider, I am not ignoring the issue. I had said in an earlier post that I had though about it and don't know if or how it will work. All I can say for sure is that the guy from the chip manufacturer knows the situation with my particular bike and recons they have something for it. He never said what though, could be a sticker . He could be wrong about the chip, I could be wrong in the understanding of his explination. There is nothing to be lost here, so it's worth a shot. I will keep you posted.
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
And I got a set of rebranded Oxford Grips from the shop below for just £28 delivered! They are the same as the oxford ones only they say Roxter and the switch is different. But for that kind of money, who cares.
Hope the paint stays put and doesn't turn to crap like all my attempts do!
And heated grips are amazingly effective. People kept nagging me to get some, in the end I did... and then couldn't be bothered to fit them for ages 'cos I knew half a dozen Watts wasn't going to make any difference faced with a wind-chill of -40ºC and winter gloves insulating my hands from the puny amount of warmth. I was wrong. I can now manage a commute home down the M3 in freezing conditions without suffering the horrible pain of thawing fingers once I get home.
No hoist to get the engine out I'm afraid...It is better than it was, belive me. As far as the alarm goes, I have one on my CBF125, and it has worked without fault for 3 years. I have also fitted one to my CBR600, my friends Blade and my neighbours Yam XJ 1300. All working fine . Maybe you got a duff one, or fitted it incorrectly? What specific issue did you have with it?
The old system is out now anyway, and I put the new one in yesterday, although I can only get the remote start working with the key in. Did the Fazer come with a factory fitted immobiliser as standard?
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
Fazerider - I have never painted an engine before, but my neighbour is in the powder coating type industry and gave me some pointers. The prep took a good 4 hours to get rid of all the crap. I then jet washed the engine with it running and let it dry. I used a hairdryer to finish it off then gave it a first coat after letting the engine cool down a bit (hold your hand on the fins for around 10 seconds, if you can do that without pain, its good . I let it dry for 24 hours as instructed, then ran the engine for 10 minutes to get rid of any condensation on the engine. Let it cool down...and gave it another coat. The paint is nice and thick and freshens the engine up. I would have liked to remove it to do the job, but there is only so much time/money to invest in a 12 y/o bike. Over all I am happy with the outcome, although maybe some people may not be. Glad you, like me, enjoy the benefit of a little head on the hands during the winter. I found on my CBF that the addition of hand guards, it is even better. The guards break the wind and keep the worst of the rain and snow off, allowing a litter vortex of heated goodnes for my hands to get a proper sweat going, which is always nice
Not quite sure what to do with my early mid-life crisis. Ideas on a post card to P.O.BOX 150...
. He could be wrong about the chip, I could be wrong in the understanding of his explination. There is nothing to be lost here, so it's worth a shot. I will keep you posted.
