hey guys i just picked up a 88 for a pretty good price and i got some questions. first, the forks are scary mushy, can i fix this myself, and what do i need to do so. second, i know what a 600 should feel like, and this feels really sluggish, more like a fiftycc. my guess is the carbs are gunked up, so is there a way to clean them or do i need to rebuild them. i'll probably get a manual, but if yall have any advice id be stoked. thanks and im stoked to have found this site
jason

 

That is a question only you can answer. It will require pulling the forks out of the triples and off the bike (not too hard with the right lift) then dissassembling the forks (again, not overly difficult IF you have a good tool set) and putting stiffer springs in and/or a heavier fork oil. Not the hardest of tasks, but not for a first timer with a socket in their hand either.

What 600's are you comparing it to? An RR or 6R will make it feel pretty sluggish. An FZR should make your CBR feel like a barn burner. If they are gummed up, pull the carbs and just clean them. Or try runnig something with Ethenol in it for fuel. That will also help clean any varnish out of you ****. I would give it a good tune up. Clean/Sync carbs, new plugs, clean/replace air filter. Change oil/filter, flush the brake lines with new fluid, replace the almost assuredly shot brake pads with new ones and replace the chain/sprockets (if need be. Go -1 up front too) with a 520 if you do it. Replace the tires, **** man, you got a new bike. It will FEEL new too. Do all that stuff up until the chain/sprockets for a basic "Tune Up". It'll never be the same. Good luck and welcome.

 

trust me, once you get it running 'right' it is nothing like a fiddy. i would add something, but gixxereater pretty much took care of that.

 

thanks guys, i appriciate it a lot, this will consume my weekend im sure, ill let you know how it goes
jason

 

before you take the forkes apart check the air pressure in them first. Mine wee very mushy as you put it when I first got it but they were fine after i put some air in them and I have a 89

 

thanks! i just discovered a sticker on the gas tank that says fork pressure should be between 0-6 psi. so i guess i'll try that route. i just got the bike and spent today stripping off all that damn plastic fairing and the stock undertail. the first step in building my budget dream fighter. all the fairing is for sale. if anyones interested i'll ebay it. as well as all the turn signals.

 

ebay or just sell it here man.
I'm game if the price is right and the peices are in good shape.

 

how much you lookin to get for the plastics?

 

xrvapunkx, yes I had the same problems with the forks being a little soft.

I did a rebuild with new seal and dust caps using 15 weight Belray fork oil at factory specs and 8 psi in each fork, and this works well for my back road twisty needs, I have bottomed the forks out several times hard so I need to figure out if I need to find stronger springs or go with a pvc sleeve to fit on top of each spring set to stiffen up the front end. I will let you know how it works out.

Check ebay for seals and cap sets, these units were used in several Honda models and are 1/2 the price from your local Honda shop.

here is a link to photos of my SF Hurricane.

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...rricane%20SF3/

One thing I did change was the wire harness route, I was using the left intake air passage to run the harness from the headlights and speedo to the main wire harness.

I found that at full left turn the forks pinched the harness between the frame and left fork tube, so I ran the front harness wires under the fuel tank to the left of the front tank mount, and this corrected the problem.

goog luck on your project! johnboy

 

is that 8 psi nitrogen? good looking fighter too, real clean. i really have no idea where to put the wiring harness, i guess under the tail since it really wont fit anywhere else. also how did you get the dual lights off of the stock single light wiring. my freinds that are engineers tried to give me a long drawn-out way to do it, but i figure i could just ask you. is one high beam and the other low, or do they both switch at the same time?

the plastics that are for sale, are pretty much just make me an offer, im not trying to get a lot for em just enough to buy some small rebuild parts. so any fair offers are considered. heres a link with pics, just copy and paste it i guess

http://www.witmedia.net/jason/jasonpic.html

jason 804-714-5811