MarJay's 1995 FireBlade project - lots of small jobs

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I had some time this evening so I fitted the replacement brake discs. The brakes are WAAY better. Not perfect yet, but they work like brakes now rather than trying to stop by doing nothing.

The bike is so much fun, but the issue for it's place in my garage may be comfort. The reach to the bars is just. so. long!

But it does look cool, it rides nicely and it takes me back to the '90s.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0491_101.jpg
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

blurredman · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

I know you would have preferred golden, but I think the black suits it well.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Took it for a quick ride again this afternoon. It just rules. It's uncomfortable, and it doesn't really like pootling along - although there are bikes that are worse. But it feels like the 90s somehow.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0499.jpg

And... the BRAKES WORK. They don't just work, they work *well*. Ok... so it's probably the worst out of my 5 bikes in terms of brakes but good brakes are extremely important to me, and my bikes happen to all have good ones. The two Suzooks have Brembo M4 calipers, and RCS19 Master cylinders, the Street Triple has a fantastic Nissin setup that can allow the bike to roll along on the front wheel at will. The KR1S has a fully rebuilt braking system and weighs about 120kg so will stop on a dime.

It may be the brakes continue to improve as they bed in, but I'm very happy. The bike is now rideable. It flicks into bends with a reassuring feel. It's not twitchy or nosey, but it also feels like the front and back are together. Which is weird as it's a 32 year old bike with 42k miles, and yet the shock feels good! I can see why this bike was such a revelation back in the day. It just works so well as a package. Even the comfort was much less of an issue on my 1.5hr ride, which I think is to do with the warmer weather, and not having a cold breeze blasting my neck.

I also had something of a weird experience where the back end stepped out slightly on a roundabout. I think there was a crack in the surface that is turning into a pothole. It did scare me a bit, but the thing that sticks out in my mind the most is how the bike felt like it had it under control. It did not react unexpectedly and it gave me plenty of warning before gaining grip again with no drama. I am so happy that I got this particular bike. I was extremely lucky to get a bike whose issues were all pretty much easy fixes - although my other half does say that she thinks it might be because I know what I'm doing a bit, maybe? I'm not very good at blowing my own Trumpet to be honest. Unless it's an actual Trumpet, which I can play a little.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Can now confirm that the headlight is excellent, and the main beam is probably the best main beam on any vehicle I've owned - Maybe not including the HID lights on the Porsche... but it's certainly the best main beam on any bike I've owned.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Went for another ride yesterday. It's so f'in good. It's not just good for a 30 year old bike or whatever, it's just a good bike! I can imagine plenty of people who bought these back in the day regretting getting rid.

The riding position is still a bit insane, but I am contemplating getting the camchain tensioner properly sorted and keeping it. I just need to do some more stretching/yoga/pilates/take ibuprofen/whatever to cope with that long reach.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I have caved, and I found an end can from a manufacturer who existed in period, and it was on offer. I got it for £115.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0684.jpg
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

Nice find!
____________________
Now: A100, SRX250, XJ598, FZ750, SL1000

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600, Skorpion, GT 250

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

At the weekend I gave the bike a quick polish and finished fitting my Quill exhaust. The bracket was in a weird place, because I think the downpipes are not standard but are some sort of aftermarket stainless jobbies. I had to do some judicious dremeling to make it all fit properly, but fit it does.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0725.jpg

I'm pretty happy with it. I can't get over how nicely it rides.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/img_0726.jpg
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Quick update with respect to comfort. I was still shocked that the bike is such a stretch to the low bars, and was considering fitting a set of raisable clip ons, so I had a bit of a study of the bike to see how hard it might be. In doing so I found that the clip ons were not butted up against the top yoke. I wondered if this was a factory thing, so I dug out a book written by my new friend Bertie Simmons and I found a picture that showed that the clip ons most certainly should be as high as they can be. So I dug out my H6 Allen key and raised them by about 5-6mm ish. Not 100% sure because they were fractionally different left to right.

Result? It’s better but still not perfect. I rode it over to see my parents which is about a 40 mile round trip directly, I think I did about 50 miles and although it was uncomfortable, my neck was not groaning under the strain. What I need to do is take the bike out and wear my track lid which has a different collar design. I think wearing a road oriented lid on a bike with such an extreme riding position, especially with the bulge at the back of my Shoei GT air 2 might be pressing on my neck and making me have the aches. It may just be that little old me with short arms might just be not the right size for this big Japanese bruiser, but its a classic big bore sports bike that owes me £1500 in total so I want to work out if I can keep it, at least for a while. It also might be the very best looking bike I’ve ever owned. If it’s not, then it’s a toss up between this and my RGV250 VJ22, with my NC30 maybe taking the third step on the podium.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

TL/DR I have a similar experience...

Ive not been happy with the riding position with my Falco. It came with high-er (flat) bars top yoke conversion and a hacked about fairing. I put it back to original which might have been a mistake for me. I'm 5' 8" and a bit. The OEM set up means its a stretch to the bars and while I have my feet flat on the ground -its awkward and not much (leg bend) left to paddle about on it. As a consequence (maybe) I dropped it at walking speed on a slow turn Embarassed

I'm now reticent to take it out. I've raised the oem bars as much as I can and I'm thinking of lowering teh seat. Its a georgeous looking bike (IMO) but is it for me? Slow riding a big V twin about town is also 'cumbersome'..

____________________
Now: A100, SRX250, XJ598, FZ750, SL1000

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600, Skorpion, GT 250

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

to v or not to v · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Nov 2020 Karma :

feck me, this forum is populated by midgets Razz

____________________
Moto Guzzi V7.