Post by abigbadzebra on Nov 4, 2011 0:43:45 GMT
Intro
In the beginning...
OK. This isn't the worst mistake I ever made, but it ranks up there with other times I was disgusted with myself.. I had been looking for a bike all spring and summer. Really, I was dreaming, cause we are in certain circumstances (like my wife is going to a Catholic University for nursing - my wife isn't Catholic) that make it hard for me to justify spending ANY extra money. I was looking at 2-4 thousand dollar bikes.
Towards the end of the summer I realized I wasn't going to have much of a riding season left so my mind switched to buying something cheaper (much cheaper) that I could work on over the winter (and probably beyond), but I'd at least make it operational by the start of riding season.
So I started to look for cheap bikes that needed work, but had solid engines. I looked at a Nighthawk 700s, a Suzuki GS1100, an fz600.. all were still more than I wanted to spend and most weren't worth what were being asked for them.
Found this fz750 and ... to my suprise... the guy will trade for guns. I have several and had actually thought about trying to trade.
So anyway, he drives the bike 45 minutes from his place to come show me the bike. I look over it, realize it needs quite a bit of work, and offer him basically half of what he was wanting (1 gun). I'm sold on that deal pretty quick cause it's no money out of my pocket and a much better deal than I expected to get.
I tear into it over the next few days and come to find the frame is damaged pretty bad. Well, I couldn't tell how bad it was at the time, but some stuff wasn't looking right. I spent a good 3 hrs total probably just looking at it, then realizing I needed a swingarm lift to get the bike straight up and down so I knew my eyes were seeing it right. Did that and could tell pretty quick it was beyond repair.
I'm feeling like crap. Just got screwed, basically. Hard telling if this kid that traded it knew. So I started looking for another fz750 and one would pop up here and there... but there have only been a few and they are always expensive.
I started looking for frames about the same time. I had all but given up on the fz. I was saving for a more expensive one so I could just get something I could ride. Then, just the day before last, an add pops up on Craigslist and a guy is selling parts.
Went to go look, was afraid he'd want too much, but after some talking I walked away with an 86 frame, an 87 frame (missing one piece), shocks from both, swingarm, rear wheel, and other misc stuff for $150.
So the project (though I have yet to define what it will actually aim to be) can now begin again. Bike ran great before, now I got a straight frame and most parts to get it back on the road.
I'm thinking frame-up. Long winter ahead and will be good stress relief. Guy next door works at a powder coating place
In any case, here are just some initial pics of what I'm working with...
More to come...
In the beginning...
OK. This isn't the worst mistake I ever made, but it ranks up there with other times I was disgusted with myself.. I had been looking for a bike all spring and summer. Really, I was dreaming, cause we are in certain circumstances (like my wife is going to a Catholic University for nursing - my wife isn't Catholic) that make it hard for me to justify spending ANY extra money. I was looking at 2-4 thousand dollar bikes.
Towards the end of the summer I realized I wasn't going to have much of a riding season left so my mind switched to buying something cheaper (much cheaper) that I could work on over the winter (and probably beyond), but I'd at least make it operational by the start of riding season.
So I started to look for cheap bikes that needed work, but had solid engines. I looked at a Nighthawk 700s, a Suzuki GS1100, an fz600.. all were still more than I wanted to spend and most weren't worth what were being asked for them.
Found this fz750 and ... to my suprise... the guy will trade for guns. I have several and had actually thought about trying to trade.
So anyway, he drives the bike 45 minutes from his place to come show me the bike. I look over it, realize it needs quite a bit of work, and offer him basically half of what he was wanting (1 gun). I'm sold on that deal pretty quick cause it's no money out of my pocket and a much better deal than I expected to get.
I tear into it over the next few days and come to find the frame is damaged pretty bad. Well, I couldn't tell how bad it was at the time, but some stuff wasn't looking right. I spent a good 3 hrs total probably just looking at it, then realizing I needed a swingarm lift to get the bike straight up and down so I knew my eyes were seeing it right. Did that and could tell pretty quick it was beyond repair.
I'm feeling like crap. Just got screwed, basically. Hard telling if this kid that traded it knew. So I started looking for another fz750 and one would pop up here and there... but there have only been a few and they are always expensive.
I started looking for frames about the same time. I had all but given up on the fz. I was saving for a more expensive one so I could just get something I could ride. Then, just the day before last, an add pops up on Craigslist and a guy is selling parts.
Went to go look, was afraid he'd want too much, but after some talking I walked away with an 86 frame, an 87 frame (missing one piece), shocks from both, swingarm, rear wheel, and other misc stuff for $150.
So the project (though I have yet to define what it will actually aim to be) can now begin again. Bike ran great before, now I got a straight frame and most parts to get it back on the road.
I'm thinking frame-up. Long winter ahead and will be good stress relief. Guy next door works at a powder coating place
In any case, here are just some initial pics of what I'm working with...
More to come...