Good from far, Far from good - 90s Sportsbike content inside

[MarJay]

So I did a thing...

Henry Cole on the Motorbike show has an occasional saying about the project bikes he buys - Good from far, far from good. This covers my latest purchase I think!

I spotted a bike on Facebook marketplace. It had been for sale for a while, and had already been reduced in price. I liked the livery, and sort of always fancied one ever since I started riding in 1998. This is the sort of bike that would have been hanging around in second hand dealerships when I started riding, but there's no chance I'd get insured on one back then.

Now however, a quote for £50 probably shows me I'm old. The bike too, but mainly me.

I went to look at it, and it had issues. It wasn't starting but the owner said he thought he could fix it. He had already replaced the low pressure fuel pump once, but let slip that he had run the bike with the fuel tap off to try to empty the carbs, and I can't imagine that would do the fuel pump any good...

Anyway He sent me a message saying that he had bypassed the pump and it was running OK, so I went to go for a quick test ride.

There were... issues...

It needs a new fuel pump (already mentioned), the regulator rectifier may be on it's way out (the indicators flashed faster as it was revved), the camchain is rattly, a couple of bolts are missing, the front brake is more of an 'engine braking' style affair, but I'm glad to report that the rear brake is very very good.

But it's weirdly comfy, it seems to corner OK even if the rear shock is VERY soft and it does go OK.

So I had sort of decided I didn't really want it, so I was honest and I told the feller what I thought it was worth. He then accepted that as an offer...



https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0071.jpg

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0070.jpg

I paid the grand total of a grand for this - that's right. A FireBlade for £1000. I'm tentatively happy because I think I can fix many of the issues for minimal outlay... or it could become a huge money pit!

I just about have space for it - and didn't really intend to buy another bike, but I couldn't really refuse. And the worst comes to the worst I could make my money back by breaking it. I don't want to do that though, I want to make it into a rider. Probably not a show bike, but certainly a nice rider.

I open myself up to your congratulations, or perhaps more likely, your ridicule.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[jeffyjeff]

[Easy-X]

Looks amazing for such a paltry sum. Best of luck with the repairs
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[MarJay]

[CrypticCrud]

[stinkwheel]

I can recommend facet fuel pumps as being a nice thing to have.

It's from the era when honda still designed bikes to be worked on so there's nothing you mentioned that would be a total deal breaker. It's not your first rodeo so you knew what you were getting into in terms of costs adding up when it comes to fiddly little things like cables, seals, fittings etc..
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

One interesting event that occurred when I test rode it..

I came back from the test ride and immediately listed the issues:

The aforementioned fuel pump, the possible reg rec, the rear shock being quite soft and the forks being very hard, the missing bolts, the camchain rattle (oh! the camchain rattle!) and the guy said to me:

"Wow, you've sized it up pretty well, and you were only out for 15 minutes."

I was like... well yeah, I've been riding for 26 years and have owned 35 bikes in that time... But I thought about it and I realised a young n00b might not be able to spot those things. So as you say Stinkwheel, this is not my first rodeo!

Oh god. Am I the old hand now? The grizzled old veteran? F*ck I'm old.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[jeffyjeff]

[A100man]

[stinkwheel]

Well, let's look at it this way. You just bought a fireblade.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

[markpc]

I did the same about 6 months ago, bought a 1999 blade, but spent £1000 more than you. That looks a right bargain.

I thought the carb'd Blades were gravity fed? Mine doesn't have a fuel pump, all it needed were the carbs cleaned out. There was no petrol filter, just a gauze strainer in the tank, but that'd split so was letting muck through.

Good luck, but my bet will be that'll it'll be an easy fix. Early Honda's are great, nice and simple

[redeem ouzzer]

That's a bargain. If it runs ok and has six working gears the rest is incidental.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[MarJay]

[stinkwheel]

Another source of rattling on hondas of that era is the clutch basket springs. They can be loud and intrusive, generally changes in volume as you pull and let out the clutch.

They can be replaced/shimmed if you can be bothered drilling out a load of rivets then re-riveting them. I don't think them rattling makes a blind bit of difference to function. My VFR sounds like a Ducati on a stationary hot idle with the clutch out.

[MarJay]

[Rob W]

That is bloody loveleh and an absolute bargain, .

To this day, I still look upon my RR-W Blade as probably the best bike I've owned. Was like riding a 160mph armchair it was so comfortable and the engine was a peach. Shame I snapped it in half really.
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[A100man]

[MarJay]

[sickpup]

Pretty sure thats a RRR or an RRS, they will run without a fuel pump if the tank is full.
The fuel pump you can just solder a new set of points into it, cost about £10 or fit a facet if you want to spend £100.
Often the Fuel Filter has collapsed internally, I might have a few new ones, not sure.
The fork lowers, where the tube enters the knuckle they split on the inside by the disk, it's caused by corrosion. If yours have, let me know, I have a few sets kicking around.
You will likely have to do the 17" conversion, 16" tyres are a bit scarce these days.
Very simple bikes to work on.

Had to change the Cam-chain on mine at 40k, stopped the rattles.

They are fun bikes, very capable even against modern bikes.