Just a garage (incl motorbike content)

Lovely bike!

There are two options with the swingarm, either buy a modified one like I did or buy pivot spacers. Technically spacers make more sense in case you wreck the arm in a crash.

Ah yes the yoke... despite ordering in November I still haven't received what I ordered. The yoke without the ignition barrel looks great but I wouldn't want to leave the bike anywhere without the steering lock on. Another one should be arriving soon I'm told (pictured bottom).

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Amazing stuff, should of scrapped my stupid car and got one of these and some stabilisers.

Excuse me if rude to ask but what's a normal budget for a project like this?

Did lol at the stabilisers. I bought the bike for £2,500 and we're probably at £4,500 now. Famous last words but there's not too much more to go, with some nice wheels and top end work I think we'll be circling around £6,500. It makes no financial sense but enjoy the process and can't see me selling it anytime soon.

It makes no financial sense but enjoy the process

If i had a big garage i would be very content with pouring what spare pennies i have into the Saab and hardly ever using it. It's a fun car to work on and geek out on the old design. It's only because it lives outside and London drivers are total pricks i'm struggling with what i'm about to spend. Don't have a license or much experience with bikes (had a short, reckless stint with a CBR150 overseas) but keep thinking about getting something cool looking just to tinker on as it would fit in my Kei car garage. Crap, now i want a Kei car.

Been there. After feeling a bit dissatisfied with previous car projects I like how manageable things are with motorbikes. If space wasn't a problem then I'd have a luxobarge pillarless coupe in an instant. My garage is an awkward shape so nearly went down the Hillman Imp/Suzuki Cappuccino route but that would still mean no space inside for a workbench or tinkering. Just caught up with project roll neck, didn't realise things had moved on so quickly!

Got to say this is one of the brilliant things about motorbikes as a hobby.

Generally they are pretty accessible with normal tools too. I recently changed the oil on my car and accessing the drain plug was much harder than I expected. I had proper axel stands but using a boot jack and propping shit underneath to prevent the drive getting fucked took quite a lot longer than expected.

I agree with the sentiment above. After selling my car, and motorbike after a partial engine rebuild, it's given me a new found love of the simplicity of a bicycle.

The bike is looking fantastic. Would love to own one of these or a ZX-7R one day.

Let’s see how well this plating process works.
Takes longer to prep and clean than to actually plate.
Unless you start with a completely flawless piece, or have some access to a blasting cabinet, can’t get all the imperfections cleaned out.

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Yeah, you have to polish the hell out of everything to get the nice, shiny finish. For hardware, I think they use some sort of tumbler, with shot or something first. My mate gets loads of hardware cad plated for old Brit restos and they come back perfect.

6 months in the making and the top yoke is finished. I now have a notch for the ignition barrel and it's hard anodised.

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Bomb! The eyes delight in looking at that. So damned well done. How’s the position?

@Jung yeah that didn’t work at all. All the fucking nooks just oozed out rust within a week.

Merci. Position is great, with the larger Brembo lever it can hit the clocks but the longer clip-ons help a lot. I did expect the anodising to be more gold in colour but think it looks great. Shame the front fairing support when fitted stops you seeing the fancy top yoke though!

Would it be possible to make a support that more closely follows the shape of the fairing and loops under the bars without interfering with turning?

Good shout. That's a future project to clean up the clock area. The later K1 GSXRs have screen supports that come from behind the headlight (below). One of these could potentially be modified and Motoholders also make one but it's a bit speedy.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxO1aZ2wJdnIgGI9ohBm3Cw

For your GSXR fetish.
The 5 Cylinder is fucking wild.

Sorry for the late reply. Would love to know how that rides, some Allen Millyard skills for sure. All finished with the rocker cover it looks stock somehow. I've been commuting on the SRAD the last few days and it's performed great.

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This feels like it belongs here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orkv9oBqZtE&t=126s&ab_channel=44Teeth

Pretty epic right? If only I had half the talent. Reminds me of the RSV4 with RS250 bodywork. If you're going to the effort of upgrading each component then makes sense to just switch fairings.

Mainly riding the SRAD at the moment, even if it is just for commuting. I'm trying to make a hidden front fairing support with the help of work's tig welder but will update where I get to.

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front fairing support

How come?

I like tinkering and think it will tidy up the front end.

Ah, so replacing the current one rather than in addition for stiffness or something.

Sounds like some quality tinkering.

Yes exactly. Thought if it's hidden behind the screen and follows the contour of the front fairing that would very satisfying. I'm finding it's a measure a hundred times and cut once kind of job.

Ehhhh why?? I love this fairing supports!

It can all be turned back to standard quickly don't worry, just fancy making something and try (fail) tig welding.