GSXR 600 SRAD Project
Discussion
I've just bought a 1997 GSXR 600, it's not in good condition, but it will be a nice project I think. I'm going to clean it all up and rebuild it as a track bike. It will be done cheaply though, as I've never been on a track yet (on two wheels), so there is not need for expensive trick bits yet.
I only have one picture so far, I'll have to tidy/finish the shed before I dare take more!
First thing is to strip it down a bit, clean it up as much as I can, and identify what bits are missing. Things like the rear suspension don't look too good, and I am missing a number of fixings, brackets, plastics, etc. The tail piece is from a K3-K4 I'm told.
I'm going to buy a Haynes manual for it, am I right in thinking this should help pinpoint what's missing? Where's a good place to look for bits for these, apart from ebay?
I only have one picture so far, I'll have to tidy/finish the shed before I dare take more!
First thing is to strip it down a bit, clean it up as much as I can, and identify what bits are missing. Things like the rear suspension don't look too good, and I am missing a number of fixings, brackets, plastics, etc. The tail piece is from a K3-K4 I'm told.
I'm going to buy a Haynes manual for it, am I right in thinking this should help pinpoint what's missing? Where's a good place to look for bits for these, apart from ebay?
I've many times contemplated doing this and I'll be looking at this thread with interest.
In my short experience, Haynes manuals are good but they sometimes 'omit' some details of what procedure to follow. Like going to change the lightbulb on Sprint ST will require full removal of the nose cone and taking off the lights cluster
However they are good in so much that they give you all the torque values and fluid levels required at the beginning of each chapter. Look on ebay for one, should be cheap for a used one and sometimes you get the tips written by the previous owners when Haynes themselves have been a little economical with details. Regardless, it should cover 95% of what you need in terms of instructions.
In my short experience, Haynes manuals are good but they sometimes 'omit' some details of what procedure to follow. Like going to change the lightbulb on Sprint ST will require full removal of the nose cone and taking off the lights cluster
However they are good in so much that they give you all the torque values and fluid levels required at the beginning of each chapter. Look on ebay for one, should be cheap for a used one and sometimes you get the tips written by the previous owners when Haynes themselves have been a little economical with details. Regardless, it should cover 95% of what you need in terms of instructions.
Alex@POD said:
I'm going to buy a Haynes manual for it, am I right in thinking this should help pinpoint what's missing? Where's a good place to look for bits for these, apart from ebay?
I doubt the Haynes will be much help in identifying missing parts, though it will help with torque figures and dismantling/reassembly sequences etc. By far the easiest way to see what should and shouldn't be present is to use on of the on-line microfiche services such as Ron Ayers. A genuine Suzuki workshop service manual would also be a good investment if you can pick one up cheaply.
Mr2Mike said:
I doubt the Haynes will be much help in identifying missing parts, though it will help with torque figures and dismantling/reassembly sequences etc.
By far the easiest way to see what should and shouldn't be present is to use on of the on-line microfiche services such as Ron Ayers. A genuine Suzuki workshop service manual would also be a good investment if you can pick one up cheaply.
Thanks, I didn't know about Ron Ayers, that's a gold mine!By far the easiest way to see what should and shouldn't be present is to use on of the on-line microfiche services such as Ron Ayers. A genuine Suzuki workshop service manual would also be a good investment if you can pick one up cheaply.
A nice track bike once it's finished.
However I hope you got it for pennies because buying missing bits for it isn't going to be cheap or easy and at the end of the day you've still only got a bike worth a few hundred quid.
If it was me I'd have started with a complete bike. You can still fettle and add to your mechanical knowledge but with the knowledge that the bike is all there.
Nice project. I race a '96 GSXR750, so have played about with these a little. Later model parts fit fairly easily, i'd be looking at a modern radial front end, master cylinder, and prehaps wheels. Race shocks come up on ebay fairly often too.
Easy to get these to handle well, and weigh much much less. Mines sub 170kg now on Bemsee's scales, post race...
Easy to get these to handle well, and weigh much much less. Mines sub 170kg now on Bemsee's scales, post race...
Drawweight said:
A nice track bike once it's finished.
However I hope you got it for pennies because buying missing bits for it isn't going to be cheap or easy and at the end of the day you've still only got a bike worth a few hundred quid.
If it was me I'd have started with a complete bike. You can still fettle and add to your mechanical knowledge but with the knowledge that the bike is all there.
As far as I can see it's only a couple of plastic bits, the bracket for the mirrors, and the indicators. The little piece of fairing that joins both sides are the rear is missing too, oh and all the screws I need, but a fairing bolt kit will solve this. However I hope you got it for pennies because buying missing bits for it isn't going to be cheap or easy and at the end of the day you've still only got a bike worth a few hundred quid.
If it was me I'd have started with a complete bike. You can still fettle and add to your mechanical knowledge but with the knowledge that the bike is all there.
Other than that it rides fine, the clocks work, etc so it can't be missing much. Hopefully!
Timbo_S2 said:
Nice project. I race a '96 GSXR750, so have played about with these a little. Later model parts fit fairly easily, i'd be looking at a modern radial front end, master cylinder, and prehaps wheels. Race shocks come up on ebay fairly often too.
Easy to get these to handle well, and weigh much much less. Mines sub 170kg now on Bemsee's scales, post race...
That looks good! I think I'll hold off on the new front end, calipers, etc. When they start being a limitation I will do something about it, I can't see it being this year though! Easy to get these to handle well, and weigh much much less. Mines sub 170kg now on Bemsee's scales, post race...
Well it's been a while since I updated this thread, nothing happened for a while and I forgot about it!
I've done some work on the bike though, track bodywork, correct rear end, larger radiator, race wiring loom, new chain and sprocket with shorter gearing, rebuilt brakes, and a general service.
It's been on track 3 times now, runs well, and its limits are currently far beyond mine!
I'll have to do some work on the suspension over the winter as it's too soft and bouncy right now.
I've done some work on the bike though, track bodywork, correct rear end, larger radiator, race wiring loom, new chain and sprocket with shorter gearing, rebuilt brakes, and a general service.
It's been on track 3 times now, runs well, and its limits are currently far beyond mine!
I'll have to do some work on the suspension over the winter as it's too soft and bouncy right now.
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