I used the money from selling my old FZR600, along with some dough from my tax return, to pick up a `93 Suzuki GSX-R 750. She's the bollocks, but it will take some time to get her mint.
See, someone raced her and messed up the jetting BIG TIME for anything under full throttle. Plus they crashed the snot out of her. Oh, well, the chassis is true, and the motor is strong.
I picked up a Yoshimura engine cover for my GSXR the other day. That's one of the pieces I really wanted to find that they don't make anymore. Eventually, I'd like her to be a replica of the `93 Yosh Supersport bike. Cool bike, cool paintjob. I'll post pics soon!
9-8-03
Well, the more I look at my bike, the more stuff I find
needs replacing. So far I've had to replace numerous grommets, nuts and bolts, including the quick-release fasteners on both side fairings. I've dropped some superfluous bracketry to lose some weight and improve the "busy" look of the bike.
I also ordered some new black handgrips to replace the skanky blue (and greasy grey) grips that were on there. While I was at it, I ordered from Lockhart-Phillips a new lightweight blue anodized aluminum fairing stay to replace the broken one that was on the bike when I got her.
There's a guy I met online with a Yoshimura tach for the `93 GSXRs-he's said he'll sell it to me as soon as he can find it in his garage! Can't wait!
I also ordered some new black handgrips to replace the skanky blue (and greasy grey) grips that were on there. While I was at it, I ordered from Lockhart-Phillips a new lightweight blue anodized aluminum fairing stay to replace the broken one that was on the bike when I got her.
There's a guy I met online with a Yoshimura tach for the `93 GSXRs-he's said he'll sell it to me as soon as he can find it in his garage! Can't wait!
9-21-2003
Well, I decided to drop all the California crap from my bike. I'm picking up some block-off plates to plug up the smog crap from Intuit Racing Products. I purchased a 49-state GSXR600 ECU from a great guy on the GSXR site, www.gixxer.com. (Thanks Bobbychet!! You rule OK!!). This will act like the kit Yoshi ECU by raising the redline by 1,000rpm, and making the ignition curve as God and Suzuki intended!
I was planning on having a valve adjustment done soon, so I went ahead and picked up a set of 49-state cams to give full power to my 750. Since the cams have to come out when you adjust the valves, I'll drop the new ones in while we're there!
I still need a 49-state gas tank. You can use the Cali model one with the 49-state setup, but take a look at the pictures below to see why I want a new one!
Well, I decided to drop all the California crap from my bike. I'm picking up some block-off plates to plug up the smog crap from Intuit Racing Products. I purchased a 49-state GSXR600 ECU from a great guy on the GSXR site, www.gixxer.com. (Thanks Bobbychet!! You rule OK!!). This will act like the kit Yoshi ECU by raising the redline by 1,000rpm, and making the ignition curve as God and Suzuki intended!
I was planning on having a valve adjustment done soon, so I went ahead and picked up a set of 49-state cams to give full power to my 750. Since the cams have to come out when you adjust the valves, I'll drop the new ones in while we're there!
I still need a 49-state gas tank. You can use the Cali model one with the 49-state setup, but take a look at the pictures below to see why I want a new one!
Lastly (as far as I know), I need a set of 49-state 38mm carbs. There's a set on Ebay right now, already jetted for a full Yosh system (which my baby has). Wish me luck!
I'll post pictures along the way, and this can be a how-to guide on converting a `93 GSXR750 California model to 49-state specs. Wow, that ought to interest, uh, someone! Maybe!
9-22-03
Well I finally got my Lockhart-Phillips fairing stay and my new grips. I'll get `em on the bike this weekend and get some pics posted. I'm wondering if I'm going to have to get a new set of coils and coil cables for the bike. The carburation is still shite, and I've been told it could be the cheesy coils and cables Suzuki was putting on the GSXRs at the time. The price of the Dyna replacement stuff?? How about $169!! Drokk!
9-27-03
Well I got the grips on the bike. Big difference!
It now looks more serious, instead of looking like some 'Ravey Davey Bling-Bling stunter who-never-washed-his-hands-before-he-got-on-the-bike guy owned it. Seriously, man, clean your fuggin bikes once in a while!
Well I got the grips on the bike. Big difference! It now looks more serious, instead of looking like some 'Ravey Davey Bling-Bling stunter who-never-washed-his-hands-before-he-got-on-the-bike guy owned it. Seriously, man, clean your fuggin bikes once in a while!
The fairing stay took a wee bit of gentle nudging to fit, but is on the frame now and looks great. I still haven't attatched it to the fairing yet, as I'm deciding whether to put the mirrors back on (need a new left one if I do) or just put some bolts through. Looks a heck of a lot better without the mirrors, but would be harder to see behind me!!
I also fixed an oil leak on the bike while I was working on it. Suzuki in their infinite wisdom decided to mount the fairings TO THE CYLINDER HEAD on the `93s. When the previous owner, who must have been a MAJOR TOOL, crashed the bike on the left side, it loosened the mounting screw in the cylinder head. A few minutes taking bodywork off (including the cool quick-release fastener at the clinder head mount), a quick twist of the wrench, and Presto-Chango! No more oil leak.
10-3-03
Well I got my camshafts today! They're 49-state model cams to replace my Cali model camshafts. This gets me one step closer to getting full power out of my GSXR.
Sometimes projects that go on too long can eat at you, especially if you're not constantly trying to move forward on them. There's a really good guy named Dan on the Gixxer board who's going through this right now, on top of a lot of other things in his life. Hopefully everything will work out well for him, and his wife, and he'll finish up his dream bike!
I try to get a couple of things for it out of every other check (that is, the check that rent doesn't have to come out of), but it's going to be a long haul to get the bike the way I want her.
10-10-03
Well, I won the set of 49-state carbs that was on Ebay. They are jetted for a full Yoshi system, which is exactly what I have! My wife did a great job bidding on these for me - she got a bid in at the last minute to win the day (and the carbs)!
At some point I will get a set of Keihins, but for now, I just want to be able to ride without fouling plugs every 5 minutes, and scaring neighborhood dogs with loud backfires! K-Boom! K-Boom!
That was a major piece of the puzzle. Now I need the block off plates from Intuit, but those are relatively inexpensive, around $30 for a set of 4, complete with gaskets.
10-25-03
Well, I finally received the carbs today. The guy I got them from was a pretty crappy Ebayer. Bad communication, slow to ship, packaged with no packing material (just thrown in a box) and he charged me $25 for shipping - the actual amount he paid for shipping was under $9.00. Plus, the carbs had apparently been sitting for quite a while with fuel in them, so they have to be cleaned out. I'd give the guy negative feedback, but then he'd slam me, despite the fact that I lived up to my end.
Oh, well. At least I have the 49-state carbs now, and I won an auction for the 38mm intake boots to match them.
Next decision-Do I run pod filters, or get the airbox-to-carb boots for the new 38's? What to do, what to do...Email me, and tell me what you think!
!!!Update!!!
Decided to stick with the airbox with the 38mm carbs. The general consensus seems to be that the Mikuni's are virtually impossible to set up sans airbox. Now a set of Keihin flatsides on the other hand...
11-8-03
I got the carb-to-engine rubber boots for the 38mm carbs sometime this past week. I was busy working a zillion or so hours, so I don't even know when they came to the house. I'm getting close to having all of the essential parts now--I still need the airbox to carb boots, assuming they are different from the California model ones already on the bike...I'm also pretty sure I'm going to need new coils and wires, so I think I'll get a set of the Dyna stuff in January. The bike should be running awesome in the spring!
11-16-03
Well, I actually took a day off of work. Mostly. If you don't count me having to be at the warehouse (a 45-minute drive each way) at 6am. Plus, I caught up on some reading. Yes, about wine (for the job). After that, I decided to drop some weight off of the bike.
First shot here is the left side of the bike after I removed the tire warning and information sticker from the swingarm, as well as the passenger peg bracket. A solo seat is coming soon, so no need for the extra weight. The bracket, like much of the bike, was ridiculously overbuilt. How about 3, count `em, 3 HUGE bolts securing the bracket. Did Suzuki think that Fat Albert was going to be jumping up and down on the passenger pegs? Actually, that might explain the preload setting the previous owner had on the rear shock...
!!!Update!!!
Realized at a later date that when I removed the left passenger bracket, the left front mounting bolt for the sub-subframe (the black tubular frame that holds the shock reservoir among other things) was one of the bolts I removed. The bracket goes between the subframe and the sub-subframe, so I have to figure out a spacer for the front mount.
Picture #2 is the right side of the bike after I removed the piece of metal that covered the rear brake master cylinder. I see no reason for this piece of metal to be on the bike at all; nor do I see any reason it should have been held on with three bolts, including one anchoring it to the subframe. I guess Suzuki just had some extra metal they wanted to get rid of...It's easy to see how SuperSport tuners were dropping 60+ pounds off of the GSXRs by just unbolting extraneous crap!
The last picture is the stuff I unbolted today from the bike that served no real purpose. Geez...
11-22-03
Score! One of the items on my wish list was a solo seat for my GSXR. I just scored one from Ebay for $1.00!!!!
11-28-03
Well, I got my solo seat! Looks perfect-exactly as described in the Ebay auction. Shipping cost $25, but the seller packaged it well, and shipped it Fed-X, so it was very fair. Total cost on this part, including shipping: $26.oo! Ch-chingggg!
I mounted the seat up tonight, and it looks great! A couple of problems presented themselves, however. Number one, one of the mounting brackets has stripped threads. Hmmm, heli-coil, perhaps? Number 2, I cracked the seat a bit! I guess the solo seat wasn't meant to go around the stupid charcoal cannister on the Cali models, and when I went to fasten the front of the seat, I heard a loud CRACK! sound. F*ck. Oh, well, guess it's time to learn how to repair fiberglass! The damage isn't bad, but I want this bike to be perfect.
!!!Update!!!
Removed the charcoal cannister, and the seat still doesn't fit right! My new theory is that it is meant to be used with the hideous carbs cover fairings. Not having them on the bike menat that when I tightened one side of the bike up, the other side was sticking out way too far. So I need to figure out a spacer there. When you start modifying your bike, this is what you get! You've been warned!!
12-17-03
Well, I picked up another piece for my bike. I really like the way triple clamps look when they are painted black. I had intended to grind the ignition mount off of my triple clamp and just wire in a "secret" switch and the have the clamps powder coated or painted black-(preferably glossy)but someone did it for me! The only problem I see is that they painted them bbefore they ground off the ignition mount, so there is bare metal showing through. Not sure what I'll do there yet. If they are just painted, I'll clean up that area, strip them down and have them repainted. If they were powder coated, well, I'm not sure-can you re-powder coat something? Hmmm...
2-22-04
Well, they say it never rains, but it pours! It's been quite a while since I last got to do anything on the bike, what with work and the holidays and all. However, now that I've gotten my tax return (ch-ching!) it's time to get busy again. I've ordered for my bike the following items.
* A new headlight assembly. All 4 of the mounting tabs on mine were broken, and I couldn't find a used one in decent shape. Price with tax and shipping from Ron Ayers: $301.14
* The block-off plates from Intuit Racing
* A Brembo Radial Brake Master Cylinder from Viets Performance. Cost with tax and shipping: $236.99
* A mechanical brake light switch from Yoyodyne that I purchased from a fine gent on Ebay. This allows for use of the brake light, and is much more accurate than the "pressue" switch. Importnt, since this is my street bike. Total cost from Ebay with shipping: $66.00
* A 49-state fuel tank from Bobbychet on the Gixxer board. (Bobbychet still rules OK!!) Cost with shipping: $60.00
* The green hose from Heeters for the brake master cylinder. Should look pretty trick. Total Cost with shipping: $9.99
* New spark plugs, since mine were reet fakked. Cost from Shrout's in Blue Springs: $12 a plug!! Ouch!!
* I also dropped the 38mm carbs I bought off at Shrout's in Blue Springs to have 'em cleaned and to get new o-rings. Total cost? I don't know yet, but I figure aboot $250.00 altogether. I'll update this page when I get the final total.
3-6-04
Well, I got the carbs out of the shop today. Total bill? A bit over $300.00! Ouch!
I actually had a bit of time today to do some stuff on t'bike. I installed the ECU I got from Bobbychet, Then I popped on the first coil and cables (for cylinders #1 & #4).
For those changing out their coils, please note; when you buy new coils and wires they may not come with the plug ends. Mine did not. It is necessary to unscrew the plug caps from the wires a few turns. You can then pull the wires out of the caps. Then insert the new wires into the plug cap as far as they will easily go, then screw them on the rest of the way. Easy as you like, but you have to know to do this. Thanks to Bobbychet, who rules OK, for the info, and thanks also to FastCat for passing it on to him!
I still have to put on the second coil, and that looks to be more of a pain in the arse. I'll post some pics tomorrow, and you'll see why. The coils is completely buried behind the radiator fill cap. Grrrr...
Next off was yanking the fuggin' charcoal cannister off of the bike. Ahhhh! Now that gave me a bit of satisfaction. Damn thing probably weighs 3 lbs, plus all the stupid hoses getting in the way of everything.
I also put the Brembo Master Cylinder on the bike. Strewth, does it look cool!?! Again, a couple of unforseen problems arose:
#1. The Yoyodyne brake light switch has 3 wires coming from it, a blue, a black and a red one. The old switch had only 2 wires. Hmmmm...
#2. The brake line coming from the junction box won't reach the master cylinder. It looks like I'm going to be spending some $$$ on a set of custom stainless steel brake lines.
The new headlight is on as well, but I need to buy a couple of nuts & grommets for it (not to be confused with British cartoon characters "Wallace & Grommet.")
Also bought a new Hein Garicke leather jacket at Shrout's Powersports today. Usually $469, I got it for $269!!
5-22-04
Well, a couple of things have transpired since I last added to the site. I picked up the nuts, bolts and assorted rubber bits to mount up the new headlight. Also, I got a set of Galfer custom stainless steel brake lines from Jeff at Viets Performance. Jeff's a really good guy; I think it's a pretty small operation, but he's gone above & beyond for me a couple of times for this project. I expect I'll be calling on him for help more as it goes!
I actually had the beast running two weekends ago! She sounded great; none of the backfiring and sputtering stuff that used to scare the neighbors (and me!) anymore, but she fouled out a couple of the plugs again. I think I need to get the carbs synched, and may need to do some jetting work, but she's getting close!
Got some great news the other day from Bobbychet (who to this day rules OK!) from the gixxer board. Bobby gave me first dibs and a nice price on his red SRS suspension link, and his Fox shock! These are two pieces I've been really wanting for the beast, but they are hard to find. The SRS link especially is rarer than hen's teeth. I can't wait to get those parts on my baby!!!!
5-28-04
Well, I found out some interesting news today. Looks like Fox has gotten out of the motorcycle shock business! However, while they are no longer manufacturing shocks, they will still service them. Contact Shane at 1-800-FOX-SHOX.
Mine will need a new spring preload collar at $25. It aslo needs a new spring ($95) and a revalve ($175) to work properly with the SRS link. Getting a bit pricey at this point, but who said perfection was cheap?
6-12-04
Woo-hoo! I got the Fox and the SRS link in the mail yesterday from Bobbychet (have I mentioned he rules OK?)! I'm not going to pop `em on just yet, as I definitely want to send the shock off to Fox to be resprung & revalved. Can't wait, though!
My future wish list for this bike is not small, nor is it inexpensive. But this is my prize possession, and no expense will be spared. In the future she'll have:
*An Ohlins steering damper
*An aluminum gas tank, preferably with dual filler caps (getting really rare...not that they were ever exactly common).
*Titanium-nitride-coated front forks. I'll probably have the uppers anodized gold as well.
*A new paint job, cause man she needs it!
*Flatsides
*An Airtech pressurized airbox
Green colored brake fluid lines from the master cylinders to the remote reserviors from Heeters. - Received!
*Since I won't be able to carry passengers (awww), I'll drop the passenger pegs, and get a Titanium muffler bracket from Lockhart-Phillips
*Also, she'll go on a serious weight loss program. The new 750s are a full 100 lbs. lighter. Suzuki apperently forgot for a while the whole "light-weight race-bike-with-lights" thing they started with the GSX-R line in `86.
Gixxer.com, a site dedicated to GSXRs!
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