'93 GSX-R 750 Project

[93formulalt1]

Hey guys, I don't know how many people are following this project, but I need some help. Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to have a "theme" in mind while building something. I'm trying to decide on a theme for the bike. I am trying to keep in mind the basics that I have to work with. The frame is aluminum, and I don't really want to paint it, because if polished, it could really make the bike look good. Heck, it looks good the way it is. Anyways, I'm kind of up in the air as far as what I want to do with the bike right now as far as looks go, it looks like I'm going to be using the stock front fairing and headlight, so I'm trying to choose something that's going to make it really stand out as a unique bike. I was thinking of either "Biohazard" or "Radioactive" symbols on the side of the bike, with the GSXR logo superimposed onto it. . . I think the Radioactive symbol in Yellow with a silver, yellow, and black GSXR logo on it would look pretty cool, then do something similar for the "750" logo for the tail of the bike. The rest of the bike would be all flat black. I'm going to eventually get the side fairings for the bike, but I'm not sure if I'm going to like them or not, so until I see my ideas come to reality, I won't be able to decide if I want them to stay or not. Any suggestions?


Here is one of the first ideas I had, put these decals on the side of the bike. . . I thought that would be pretty cool.


But I also thought that plain gloss black decals on the flat black would look pretty awesome. . . I've even found "black chrome" decals on ebay. I need to get the fairings for the sides and bottom of the bike so I can really get some space to play with here. . . lol

Fairings won't happen for at least a month. Decals won't happen until fairings do. Just trying to get some ideas!

[ITSSLOW]

No fairings!!! Full on rat bike!!!!

[93formulalt1]

No fairings!!! Full on rat bike!!!!

There's some cosmetic damage to the sides of the engine, I kinda want to cover them up. . . But at the same time, that adds character, right? lol

[ITSSLOW]

There's some cosmetic damage to the sides of the engine, I kinda want to cover them up. . . But at the same time, that adds character, right? lol

Totally! I had an r6 that I basically used as a stunt bike. Wasn't perfect but starting at it in the garage you could imagine it transforming into one of the transformers. Plus, IMO, plastics can really date a bike. You could hate a 1993 GSX-R750 and no one is gonna know if you turn it into a rat bike. The second you start rocking it with full plastic and shit people are like "Damn, why doesn't jackass over there get a decent bike?" Rat bikes (like rat rods) are supposed to be a bit trashed and for fun.

[93formulalt1]

Totally! I had an r6 that I basically used as a stunt bike. Wasn't perfect but starting at it in the garage you could imagine it transforming into one of the transformers. Plus, IMO, plastics can really date a bike. You could hate a 1993 GSX-R750 and no one is gonna know if you turn it into a rat bike. The second you start rocking it with full plastic and shit people are like "Damn, why doesn't jackass over there get a decent bike?" Rat bikes (like rat rods) are supposed to be a bit trashed and for fun.

Good point. Nobody would know what it is if I ditch the stock tail and upgrade to something different. . . I saw a water-cooled Gixxer in town yesterday, and it really did look old. . .

I guess you just made up my mind for me! This sucks though, I ran into some trouble with my bank (cancelled 2 car insurance payments for some reason) so I had to pay late fees and 2 months of insurance premiums I thought were already paid. . . Cost me over $300, so no new parts this week. I'm just going to hope that the new tank includes the petcock. I'll go to a junkyard and see what I can come up with for a headlight, mirrors, and turn signals just so I can start riding the bike.

[ITSSLOW]

Good point. Nobody would know what it is if I ditch the stock tail and upgrade to something different. . . I saw a water-cooled Gixxer in town yesterday, and it really did look old. . .

I guess you just made up my mind for me! This sucks though, I ran into some trouble with my bank (cancelled 2 car insurance payments for some reason) so I had to pay late fees and 2 months of insurance premiums I thought were already paid. . . Cost me over $300, so no new parts this week. I'm just going to hope that the new tank includes the petcock. I'll go to a junkyard and see what I can come up with for a headlight, mirrors, and turn signals just so I can start riding the bike.

I love "rat rods" but IMO "rat bikes" are SOOOO much cooler. They all look like they are from Mad Max to me and thats awesome! Doesn't matter if you are on a 1986 or 2006, they all look the same. I keeps those cocky ass hats out of the picture that see you are the local cruise or car wash and they are like "Wow, before 2000? **** YOU!" Not just that but, you can talk to everyone. New bike guys, old bike guys, guys that stunt, and even cruisers (yes, even the "harley" type guys. Trust me, I've been there and I'll be there in another few weeks.

[93formulalt1]

I love "rat rods" but IMO "rat bikes" are SOOOO much cooler. They all look like they are from Mad Max to me and thats awesome! Doesn't matter if you are on a 1986 or 2006, they all look the same. I keeps those cocky ass hats out of the picture that see you are the local cruise or car wash and they are like "Wow, before 2000? **** YOU!" Not just that but, you can talk to everyone. New bike guys, old bike guys, guys that stunt, and even cruisers (yes, even the "harley" type guys. Trust me, I've been there and I'll be there in another few weeks.

Cool. I was really hoping to avoid the stigma associated with sport bikes by going this route. . . Not to mention, it's mostly cruiser guys out here, I'd like to be able to find some people to ride with locally, not just sport bike guys, you know? The AMVETS post in town has a bunch of guys that ride, I always see a bunch of bikes out front, but there are never any sport bikes, they're all Harleys and the like. I think I saw an R1 out there last week, but I can't be sure, it was dark, and I didn't stop in, I was just driving by.

Oh yeah, I insured the bike today. . . WOW. Cheap insurance! I'm paying like $380/6mos. for the Firebird, for the bike, it's $101/6mos., and that includes $50,000 of medical coverage in the event something happens while I'm riding. I can't believe how cheap it is! Especially considering the Firebird will be driven about as much as the bike this year, and both of them are stored in the winter. . .

[Gottork]

awesome thread nick, I agree with tom too, I LOVE the Dukati Monsters cause of how they look so tough, like Madmaxx stuff.. good luck with it..

[93formulalt1]

awesome thread nick, I agree with tom too, I LOVE the Dukati Monsters cause of how they look so tough, like Madmaxx stuff.. good luck with it..

Thanks. Progress pics to come, I just need to make some progress first. lol I'm waiting on parts right now, the tank is in the mail, and I'm hoping to hear from the guy with the rest of the parts by Tuesday so I can drive out to pick them up.

On another note, the Army owes me about $1,400, it's supposed to be deposited to my account within 90 days of my discharge date. . . 90 days would be June 9th. I hope they get that taken care of soon, that would get my bike finished, and I could start putting away some money for a winter DD.

[93formulalt1]

I spent a lot of time looking at what still needs to be done to the bike, and all the parts I need to buy for it still. It will cost more than I thought to get the bike on the road, and it will probably take most of the summer for me to get it going. I'm looking into getting Adam's bike, the '01 Gixxer 600, so I have something to ride that I don't have to worry about carbs on. I'll either keep working on the '93 in my spare time, sell it complete as a project bike and hope to get out of it what I have into it, or part it out on Ebay. I'm leaning towards the first option right now, since I am so close to having the body work done on it that I can taste it. I just need to buy the rest of the parts one at a time until it's complete. I'm not really too invested in the '93, and I can do everything I want to the '01 while still being able to ride it for much less than what it will cost to accomplish the same thing with the older one. Insurance cost probably wouldn't be too much different between the two either, plus with fuel injection, I'd imagine the '01 would be more reliable.

Any opinions? Should I keep plugging away on the '93 that doesn't run or sell it?

[ITSSLOW]

Keep it. You bought it as a PROJECT bike. If you don't see it through I'd be a bit ashamed in you. The CR250 I bought a few months ago was in worse shape and it looks new now. Just have to put your heart into the project for a bit.

[93formulalt1]

Keep it. You bought it as a PROJECT bike. If you don't see it through I'd be a bit ashamed in you. The CR250 I bought a few months ago was in worse shape and it looks new now. Just have to put your heart into the project for a bit.

Like I said, if I do keep it, it's going to be an ongoing project, and it won't be done this year. I have just been finding more and more things wrong with it that I don't think I can afford to replace. There are a couple of bolt holes in the engine that are sheared, there's a bolt broken off in the left side of the engine, it leaks oil, needs a new chain, brake rotors and pads, front forks, fuel petcock (may or may not be included with the gas tank I just bought), and a bunch of other parts. The fuel petcock alone runs over $150. The front forks are about the same price. I have no idea how to take care of the broken bolt holes at the bottom of the engine, and the bolt broken off in the engine, I'm not even sure that I want to bother with that one. There is a bunch of stuff wrong with this bike. If the previous owner would have reported the accident to his insurance, I'm sure it would have been totaled. I want to ride this summer, so I can stop putting so many darned miles on the 'bird. It's making noises, smoking at startup, and I'm not sure how long it's going to last before something happens.

I guess I'm not really out too much if I do keep it as a long-term project, buy a part every paycheck until it's done. I'm still hoping to pick up Adam's bike, so I can ride this year without having to put much into the bike. Not to mention, I'd be helping him out.

[ITSSLOW]

Like I said, if I do keep it, it's going to be an ongoing project, and it won't be done this year. I have just been finding more and more things wrong with it that I don't think I can afford to replace. There are a couple of bolt holes in the engine that are sheared, there's a bolt broken off in the left side of the engine, it leaks oil, needs a new chain, brake rotors and pads, front forks, fuel petcock (may or may not be included with the gas tank I just bought), and a bunch of other parts. The fuel petcock alone runs over $150. The front forks are about the same price. I have no idea how to take care of the broken bolt holes at the bottom of the engine, and the bolt broken off in the engine, I'm not even sure that I want to bother with that one. There is a bunch of stuff wrong with this bike. If the previous owner would have reported the accident to his insurance, I'm sure it would have been totaled. I want to ride this summer, so I can stop putting so many darned miles on the 'bird. It's making noises, smoking at startup, and I'm not sure how long it's going to last before something happens.

I guess I'm not really out too much if I do keep it as a long-term project, buy a part every paycheck until it's done. I'm still hoping to pick up Adam's bike, so I can ride this year without having to put much into the bike. Not to mention, I'd be helping him out.

It's all easy fixes though. Why are you set on running a 93 GSXR petcock? Modify the tank to run a different one. You could pick one up off another bike for probably $10 in good working order.

[93formulalt1]

It's all easy fixes though. Why are you set on running a 93 GSXR petcock? Modify the tank to run a different one. You could pick one up off another bike for probably $10 in good working order.

Because it has 2 fuel lines and a vacuum line that I really don't want to deal with. Not to mention, the holes for the petcock in the tank are oddly shaped, and a regular petcock wouldn't connect to it without welding the original holes shut (there's 3 of them), drilling another hole, and somehow welding a nut into the tank that another petcock would thread into. If it's as cheap to get another petcock that would work, I might look into that option. . . I'm really hoping that the new tank comes with a petcock, but if it doesn't, I'm going to keep my eyes open for a used one that I can make work. The coolant tube is what I'm going to have to get creative on. . . It's a pipe with a 90* bend on one side, that has a mounting bracket on it. I may be able to make something that works, but it won't look good. It also needs new brakes front and back, a new chain, and I'm not even sure what the condition of the motor and trans is in, all I could go on was the fact that it turned over and that the outside of the engine wasn't banged up *too* badly.

[93formulalt1]

Just another update for those of you who are interested. . . Still waiting on the gas tank, I did go out and finish prepping the wheels for paint, I just need to get some masking tape before I will be ready to spray. I'm going to pull the carbs next week, and a friend of mine is going to help me clean them. Then I need to do an oil change, coolant tube needs replaced then refill with coolant, and it should be good to go. Still trying to find someone with the right tools to sync my carbs for me, I'm sure they'll need it.

I'm still looking for a new headlight, I'm thinking a single round headlight would look good, and I'm going to find a pair of handlebar-mounted mirrors with LED turn signals.

I'm not giving up on this bike, I'm just getting another to help keep me from rushing this one. I don't want to do any more damage to it just because I'm getting anxious, you know. After I finish the 750, I'm not sure what I'll do. I'd like to get a chopper project next, so I may finish the 750 and sell/trade it to pick up a chopper. I may be too attached to the 750 to sell it, and wind up selling the 600. Maybe I'll just keep them both, and say screw the chopper. Meh, I don't know what will happen then, I need to focus on now.

If only the guy with the front forks would call me back so I can start reassembling the front end. . .