Low Budget Purple Project

[Off Road]

[Hooligan]

I sent my oil pumps out to the UK to be rebuilt. It was def expensive but the pumps are now just as they would have come from the factory and the slow leak when the bike is not run seems to have stopped.

[ddeford]

I've been perusing this section of the forum to see how well the FZR400 forks bolt up, but I didn't see it immediately. Can you tell what was required? I have an RZ on the way (gift from my brother) and a full FZR400 frontend that I can easily buy. Before I buy the frontend, I'd like to know if it's pretty close to a bolt-up solution (or if you recommend something else).

[Off Road]

On Dec. 5, 2009, I wrote my 1st post in the Low Budget Purple Project thread, and made the following statements:

Now would be a good time to work on my RZ350 project. No Wife, no Kids, no Boss. , ,

To be perfectly honest, I'm just not into it. At least not tonight.

Anyway, this seems like a good time to start a new project thread and tell everyone know about my BIG plans for a Project Bike

I'm going to post pricing on what everything cost. Let's face it. Most of us are interested in what other people are paying for RZ's.
Besides that, 30% of you will think I paid too much, 30% will think I got a screaming deal and 40% will think I'm lying about the price. lol

I'm also going to post a bunch of progress pics as well.
But, just to let you know, you're not going to see a lot of "high tech bling" and "one of a kind parts made of unobtanium" on this post.

The title accurately describes this Project "Low Budget"!
Hell, it hardly even qualifies as a "Project". It's more like few bolt-on parts and a couple of minor upgrades to the bike.

Well, it's taken me 6 years, but I'm finally getting close to accomplishing my goal.

I've got a frame and a motor, just need to start bolting it together.




But first, I had to install the center-stand spring.

[JonW]

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... or spring :)

[hondaror]

I love seeing these bikes saved and not parted out.

[Off Road]

Got a bit done today, but not as much as I hoped.
Installed a new set of fork seal in the 85 forks.
I also installed a spare set of progressive springs that I had lying around.
I had to cut a 1" aluminum spacer, because the 85 fork tubes are longer than the 83/4 tubes.




When I started building this bike 6 years ago, I installed a new set of tapered steering bearings in this frame.
I pulled the triple tree's and checked them, and they look mint.
They should, they've never been outside the building.

Installed a pretty good, lightly used BT45 tire on the front rim.
(It's the tire I took off my track bike last week)
Just need to add some fork oil and screw the fork caps back on.




Greased the swngarm and linkage pivots, and got the swingarm re-installed.
While I was in there, I installed a Works Performance shock that I had kicking around.
I also installed a new 40T rear sprocket, and a new 110/80-18 BT45 rear tire.

[Off Road]

Got a bit done today, but not as much as I hoped.

Forks are finished and the bars are on.

Swing-arm's been removed due to a change in plan.

[silverstrom]

You might want to rethink that new front fender. Looks like it might be just a bit too close to the wheel

[hondaror]

It needs paint too.

[Off Road]

You might want to rethink that new front fender. Looks like it might be just a bit too close to the wheel

Too Funny.

But you're right, I do need a front fender, and the brace that holds it in place.
You wouldn't happen to have a cheap, ugly, yellow fender for sale, would you?

[Off Road]

In my collection of parts, I found a pretty nice 86 swing-arm.
Since it has bearings in the swing-arm pivot, and the 83 swing-arm has bushings,
I decided to pull the 83 swing-arm and install the 85 swing-arm.

Put it in and discovered that it was 4 mm too narrow at the pivot end.
Checked and discovered that there are 2 washers/spacers that sit under the dust caps.
I didn't have these spacers. I could order some & wait.

Just for fun, I installed the rear wheel, and found that it was about 4 mm too narrow for the swing-arm
Checked and found that the 86+ bikes use a different rear wheel spacer and a different caliper bracket, than the 83.
Maybe the spacer & bracket are a different thickness that the 83 bikes. I don't know.

Anyway, after finding this, I decided to just use the 83 swing-arm.

On to the front end. Installed the calipers and master cylinder.
Went to the parts collection and found some braided steel brake lines.
They didn't fit.
The banjo ends were perfectly straight and the fittings on the lines hit the lower tree.

Decided to just use the stock brake lines.
They didn't fit.
I'm using a set of 85 forks, but I'm not using the oem clip-ons.
Instead I'm running a set of regular 7/8" bars, and they sit higher than the clip-ons.
So, the brake line form the master cylinder to the splitter, was too short.

I went home.

Today, I picked up a new brake line from the wreckers.
Brake lines are all installed. Bars, controls, and new grips are on.
Rear fenders and wiring harness are also in place.

Interesting story on the wiring harness.
My buddy rjreg called me about a year ago and asked if i wanted it. For free.
I said sure, and he mailed it down to me.




I really wanted some braided steel lines on this bike, and was bummed when mine didn't fit.
While I was at the bike shop this morning, I checked on a set of Goodridge brake lines.
Even with my 'good guy, friends and family' discount, it would still cost $150.00.

F*ck that. This is a Low Budget Project.
For the most part, I'm trying to build it out of spare parts that I have lying around.

[silverstrom]

[
But you're right, I do need a front fender, and the brace that holds it in place.
You wouldn't happen to have a cheap, ugly, yellow fender for sale, would you?

No, I don't. That belongs to someone else now, but I do have all of the swingarm, wheel, and caliper parts you're missing. At the 'good guy, friends and family' discount, of course Just sitting on my new yellow bike lift gathering dust now.

[Off Road]

Changed the brake fluid, and bled the brakes.
Installed new brake pads in the rear. Ordered new pads for the front.
Mounted the gauges, turn signals, headlight bucket, and foot-peg brackets.
Got the wiring harness all in place and most of the electrical components are connected.
And I got the engine bolted into place.

Next task is to modify the wiring so that the 85 CDI & Stator, will plug into the 83 wiring harness.

[hondaror]

Other than this, are you working much Steve?