When you want to remove the tank, does one normally empty the fuel first? I've read about the bolts to remove, and hoses to unplug...then I started thinking, hey shouldn't I empty the fuel so it doen't spill out?
My first time, what do you guys do? ( I want to get the air filter to change it)

The power commanders are for fuel injected right? So what options are out there for guys with carbs?

Thanks for any insight!

 

Mine wasn't empty when I removed it. Low does make it easier to handle by yourself. First I turned of the fuel petcock, then ran the motor for a minute to drain a little fuel out of the tube. You then remove the screw in the fuel petcock **** and remove it. Remove the rear and front gas tank bolts. Prop up the back of the fuel tank with something a couple of inches tall. You can then get under it and remove the hoses from the tank. On mine, a 94 900rr, the petcock stays attached to the tank and if I remember right there are three hoses to remove. A drain, a vent and the fuel hose. The fuel hose is the only one with a tough clamp. Needle nose pliers took it off with no problems.

As far as power goes, carb jets and exausts are the easy changes that come to mind. Mine came used with an aftermarket Yosh pipe. I've been meaning to take it in and get it checked out to see if it could use a bigger jet. It feels like it could use a touch more at times. Not week by any means, but like on the theshold of a full pull.

 

Two bolts in front, one under the seat. Turn the petcock to off, pop off the fuel and vacuum lines (screwdriver or fingers), undo the bolts, lift it out with a slight rotation so the petcock handle clears the triangle in the frame. When you pull off the fuel line, you might get a little fuel down your arm. No big deal. It'll evaporate in a minute or less anyways.

As for the second question: jet kits. PC3 and the like are for fuel injected bikes.

 

And figure out where you're going to put the tank down BEFORE you remove it. I make that mistake a lot. Just lay a towel on the ground so it doesn't get nicked. Might get some fuel on it though, so make sure it's one you don't mind.

 

Follow those instructons and you'll be o.k.!

 

So how did it go?

Looks like a yellow '99 in your avatar. That's the only color scheme I like as much as or more than the yellow '98.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm going to tackle this project thursday night. I wanted to this weekend, but things got crazy. So it had to wait. Yeah, it's a '99. It came with a yoshimura RS-3 full exhaust. It sounds beautiful! I don't know if it has been re-jetted or not, so I'll have to probably take it to a shop and them go over everything.
I'm still new to all this. I surf the "search" button here daily. I think I've printed off like 200 plus pages of info from here, hahaahaa. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about my bike. I love it! Thanks again everyone.

 

Oh yeah, I also just got my Cycle Cat UCS1 rear stand. So I wanted to wait until I had that to work on it. I finally got a rear stand, wooooo!

 

Best way to learn is to start opening it up on your own.