Project Frankenbike

[SlimKlim]

Or Miatabike, I can't pick a name. (Sorry Jake, it'll still beat you).

So I bought something that started life as a 1993 Suzuki GS500 today. I found it near Greensboro. It has two new tires, a new chain kit, a powdercoated frame, a Katana front end, a custom built rear subframe, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

For further reading into the background of the bike and my debate over whether or not to buy it, check these babies out.

For sale Ad:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52584.0

Discussion:
http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9214
http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic....78#p190678

When I went down today the bike looked exactly as promised, tons of new stuff, a little dirty and a little rough around the edges, but its getting close to 20 years old, and its a $1000 bike, none of it worried me. However, the bike refused to start, it gave one little cough and then just cranked miserably for as long as we tried.

I was about to walk away from it, i really was. I knew the motor might need work, but I had been under the persuasion it would start and run, and im too skittish to buy something I couldn't at least see run or make sure it rides straight. After trying to jump it, bleeding the carbs out, fiddling with the petcock and cranking the hell out of it, it still wouldn't turn. The guy swore it was the carbs holding it back, but I had my doubts they had managed to gum up since the last time it was ridden.

He asked us to give him sometime to clean the carbs up and then check it out again, since I was already in North Carolina I figured what the hell, and said okay. So Channing and I went to get lunch and debated the situation. Halfway through my sandwich he sends me a picture of a carb that can obly be described as full of jello. "Well I'll be damned" Again, he is having trouble getting to start, again I'm about to walk away from it, and as I call him, I hear the bike chugging in the background.

Mkay, what the hell, I go back and look at it again, after cleaning the jello out off the bowls and putting clean (but too small) jets in them. And after it chugs and complains for a second it settles into a beautiful purr. Well now we obviously have to ride it. Channing and I cruise around the apartment complex, it won't take much throttle because of the too small jets, but it starts off and rides beautifully.

The idea that I can just rejet the carbs and rebuild them and have it run perfectly gets into my head. So the paperwork comes out. $1000 got me the bike, a blown bottom end with a good clutch and transmission on it, some spare case guards, a spare ported and polished head, spare cams, spare valve cover, original tachometer, a spare front tire and some other odds and ends.

We loaded it up and when I dropped Channing off he gave me a new valve cover gasket and some shiny new spark plugs. I took it home and delicately unloaded it, putted around the yard, then took it in the garage and disassembled it. I need to rebuild and rejet the carbs, replace the rear brake line, put the kickstand switch on, and install or make a license plate bracket, shim the seat to my preference, and set the rear shock to my weight, then it *should* be just fine to ride out on public roads.

After that stuff is done I have a fairly long list of hopes and desires. Some of which include:

- Moving the totally bitchin data recording thing under the tank and putting a stock speedo and tach back on it.
-Replacing the petcock with one from a post 2001 bike
-Replace the tank bolts with good hardware
-Repaint the tank, same cream color (I love it) but it has a big bubble in it
-Do a lot of general cleaning and tidying
-Do a dual headlight swap with a little fairing
-Possibly switch to a ducati monster seat with a cover to go over the rear

This list will probably grow exponentially, but most of them won't require much money, just some elbow grease, which is just fine with me.

Anyway, I got it home, puttered around the yard for a minute and then took it into the garage and took it apart. I took the carbs out and found the right jets in the bag he gave me. I'll get an o-ring kit, a brake line and some other stuff this week.

Oh, I should probably also register it and get it insured, and maybe buy a jacket or something.


**The Skinny: for you non-readers**

I took these things:


And turned them into this:

[DavidM]

Very cool Joey, good luck with all the work. Even though its expensive don't skimp on gear, you'd rather be comfortable.

Trade rides in the fall??

[SlimKlim]

Sure! Are you keeping your miatabike through the summer or are you going for more oomph?

Coincidentally would you be interested in a transmission, clutch, or ported and polished head? 8-)

[.RJ]

If you're anywhere near nova I can help you with the carbs.

[BLINGMW]

haha I see a pissed off dog eyeing you... "didn't you already ignore me enough today?" He's going to chew your front brake line off.

Put those 147.5 jets in there ASAP I want to know if that fixes it!

[Jake]

Looks sweet, congrats! I know nothing about bikes so my best advice is don't wreck it.

Sounds like you have some good plans for the bike... now go get your license and make 'er street legal :thumbup:

[SlimKlim]

I gave the carbs a good close visual inspection, and the O rings and gaskets and stuff seem to be pretty healthy, but I haven't taken anything but the bowls off, and he already cleaned those out. The only carb kits I found were $29 for each carb, so I might just clean everything out, put in the 147.5 jets and reassemble to see how it runs, I already need to replace the rear brake line which is like $45.

I wasn't planning on buying a bike this early, but now that I have it im angsty to get riding. I have like $400 bucks until next thursday when I get paid again, maybe $600 if my ex-roommate every gives me the money he owes me, so I need to try and be skimpy. $150 for a jacket and gloves, $50 for the brake line, $120 to insure and however much to register and I may or may not be broke by the end of the week.

unless Gabe gives me my frickin money, then I'll be alright. *sigh*

I suppose I could be patient and wait, but whatever.

[CaptainHenreh]

Drive to Nova with your carbs, your rebuild kits, and a PBR Tallboy.

I do not think you will regret it.

[SlimKlim]

I totally would, but I work pretty much everyday, so ima half to figure this un out myself.

Drive to Nova with your carbs, your rebuild kits, and a PBR Tallboy.

I do not think you will regret it.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[Kaan]

someone call ginger to see if he's got an old jacket he can give him... i'm not nearly tall or skinny enough to donate gear.

[Kaan]

are you free Saturday? PM me your location and we can try to figure it out.

[V1GiLaNtE]

jesus... now I'm sad... How the hell did you come up with $1k with only 3 weeks into the summer... you must make bank.. I demand rides next time..

[SlimKlim]

Naw, not bank, I just work a ton of hours. And I thats just about what I've been payed so far is $1k, I've been selling a ton of stuff as well.

I just wanna take a chance to say how totally awesome you guys and MM is in general. And some of my other friends too.

Even before I had taken it off the truck, Channing was picking through his garage offering me spare parts and spark plugs and a gasket. Kaan and RJ offering to help me with the carbs despite the difference, Kaan trying to help me scrounge up gear, and my buddy Benn from work hooking me up with a cheap rear brake line and offering to let me borrow gear to start riding with.

You guys are all totally awesome and too generous, thanks for helping me get going and taking my first big bite out of this whole motorcyle/second vehicle ownership thing.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Not sure if it will fit you but if you're in harrisonburg I've got a leather riding jacket you're welcome to borrow.. I'm not there but Evan is living there now.. go check it out if you have the time..

[BLINGMW]

don't get yourself killed and our efforts will not be wasted!

[Levey]

dude i'm one of the rare souls that knows where bedford is, and i also live 30 min from there. im in florence, italy til july 9 but after that we can tear up the streets of bedford county

[Jeff]

Haha, Bedford isn't a Mystery. I'm down there every few weeks. Anne is from Bedford.

[Levey]

true it does have the famous D-Day memorial and....livestock

[flintster55]

Very nice man. I'm a big fan. My buddy here is selling an XL Icon jacket for pretty cheap I think. It fit me pretty well actually, the arms were just a little long so it should fit you even better I'm assuming. Let me know if youre interested and ill try and get some pics or bring it by Martins one day for you to look at

[SlimKlim]

^ I'm interested if its cheap enough...

Well I put the carbs back together with the 147.5 jets and fired her up tonight. She started on the first turn and purred like a kitty, but It still won't rev up quite right. I can slowly twist the throttle and it will rev up just fine, but if you crack it, it will bog and almost stall. I don't know if that means its still running lean or what. Im going to dump the old ass gas out of it (dad says it smells old) tomorrow, and put some new plugs in it, just to get myself on a level playing field. I might have to order 150 jets for it.

I still have no idea what carburetors are, or how they work, so I don't know if syncing them or doing any of that other carburetor black magic would help fix this issue.

I've got a new rear brake line on order, the front brakes look okay and have fluid, but the lever goes right down the the handle, which freaks me out, so I might have to flush them.