I've been struggling with this project for almost a year. Before I knew what CBR forum was, I bought a bike from a guy from Craigs list. I didn't know anything about bikes so I brought a friend, who took one look at it and said: "take it!" So, I thought I was getting a good deal on a 1999 CBR 900 with less than 5000 miles on it. As it turned out it, it had all sorts of problems. I tried to do the cosmetic work on my own: removing stickers, repairing the cracked fairings and other detials. End the end, I spray painted as I didn't care I just wanted to get on it and ride! One of the many things the guy didn't mention was the burned out clutch--which I replaced....

I didn't mind having an ugly bike in NYC, but upstate at school, I wasn't looking too cool. Anyway, wiping out doiing a wheelie sidelined the bike for a while. I replaced everything. All new fairings, the twisted subframe (which was probably twisted when I got it) Swing arm, front wheel, etc..... The last piece I needed was the dented gas tank. I looked everywhere! Ebay for months, emailed all the sites that said the specialized in repairing gas tanks and they wanted 500 dollars. I was going to bite the bullet and get a new one, when I found a guy from EmpireGP who hooked me up! For a fraction of what I was going to buy a new one for.....

I haven't figured out how to add picture but when I do I will...... But if you guys have any dent work Look this guy up!

 

Hey man, all I can say is at the end we've learned and had a good time doing it. Life with out adventure is not to exciting. Projects like this are well rewarding and give us more adventure. Johnny

 

Yes, too bad I had to learn the hard way, both in buying a used bike and pulling off the throttle when the wheel comes up. The bike doesn't even look the same. I will post pictures of the what it looked like before and should get it back in a week or so. But I've learned a lot from reading on the forum and can't wait till the "heat tab" in the sky starts warming up!!!!

 

I'am pretty lucky to live in south texas. We get a couple of days of winter and alot of riding. The sport bike seen has'nt been around enough out here though and there are many that by bikes and three months later sell then. My wife and I have been riding for a long time. Ive been through my share of falls. Johnny

 

My only commemt is I too would rather buy a bike that has some problems and fix it then spend on the upwards of $10,000 on a bike that I am so scared to drive hard cause I owe so much and it sooo expensive to repair. I own a 97 900rr and a 06 600rr. the only reason I own a 06 600 is cause I bought it for 500 bucks with 1400 miles on it, I needs some work but I am a fabricator (SP) and love to have one off bikes. this one is going to get a full chromoly tail and tank cover. I think I am going to stay with the theme and do the front fender and rear hugger out of chromoly also.

[IMG]local://upfiles/10118/A18ED890CF3D436483E390902C391AA8.jpg[/IMG]

 

Can't wait to see the finished product, I work on drag race cars and we use chrome moly for the cages because its stronger and NHRA allows us to use smaller tubing because of the strenth whitch makes the cars lighter whitch is what its all about. Johnny

 

that looks like it will be nice when its done.....Can't wait to see the finished product...... Damn Cold in NY we're at least a month or two before riding season.... Anyone have ideas on helmets.... I have a HJC and wanted to uprgrade but noticed the cost for a nice looking one is a bit crazy....

 

I've got HJC as well but last month denis kirk had a good sale on the nolan helmets and I bought a flip up for 100 bucks and really like it. Wind noise is quieter on my HJC and I still fill more comfort on it as well.Johnny

 

what do you mean?..like just letting go of the throttle when the wheel comes up or opening the throttle all the way...everytime my wheel has come up ( 2 or 3 times by accident) ive just snapped the throttle closed and it sat right back down no problems

 

The bike had all sorts of problems, some because I'm a newby squid and didn't have the right gas/air mixture, and had new clutch plates and it seemed to sputter one day--so I gave it a bit more gas, and I confess to letting the engine rip a little and I popped the clutch: The next thing I know I was doing a wheelie--and I figured what the hell I'm up here-- lets see how long I can stay and I didn't back off the throttle or engage the rear brake--and I felt like I was going to go backwards--halfway down the block--so I shifted my wieght and set her down--not so safely. Lesson learned. Snapped handle bar, destroyed stator cover, trashed left fairings..... 1000 cool point, and a little skin rash.....