Bought an R6 but...

[pilotgeorge747]

Here's what she looks like at the moment...






The ugliest looking exhaust I think I've ever seen!

Anyway I bought 2003 R6 for a good price mainly just to have something to work on once I get my Ninja put back together (carb issues AGAIN). Once the R6 is back in ridable condition I will determine if I am ready for the upgrade or just sell the bike and value the experience/knowledge I gained from fixing it back up. I've been wanting a project bike/car for awhile and now that I have a garage I can finally do it.

The R6 sure has some interesting history so far. The guy I bought it from has a small shop. The girl that used to own the bike "laid it down" and suffered a bunch of road rash (ATGATT PEOPLE!). Well when she went to the hospital and did some blood tests or something they found out she was also pregnant. Not sure what happened to her from that point on but between that and the $2000 that the guy at the shop quoted her for the damages she decided to just give up the bike. Instead of fixing it up and selling it himself he just needed the space in his shop so he sold it to me.

Here is a list of the major parts I will need to replace...

-Fairings
-Windscreen
-Gauges
-Radiator
-Headlight housing
-Battery

Plus a few other bits and pieces along the way. There is no timeline to completion just as time and money allows.

[nickjpass]

Good luck! This is going to be interesting lol

Are you going to track your progress on this thread?

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

Are you going to track your progress on this thread?

Of course! Basically first order of business after doing a complete evaluation of the needed repairs is to get a battery and gauge cluster for it so I can get it registered (will have to get the odometer verified and the R6 has a digital odometer). Then will come getting the bike actually operational and finally deal with the cosmetic issues like the fairings, exhaust (current one is hideous IMO), and deal with the 2 different wheel colors haha.

It will be an interesting time for sure. But the people over at the R6 forum seem to be pretty friendly already and there seems to be a lot of parts for sale over there (wonder why lol).

[r311music]

Looks pretty good for a wrecked bike. I have to check it out when I come by to drop off your magnetic tray haha. Oh yea so far the sport bars for my 650 are awesome! Plus the new grips have gotten a few compliments lately.

[pilotgeorge747]

Yeah it's not in too bad shape just a lot of cosmetic issues and a few mechanical issues. It also has a few mods done to it already haha. The clipons that are on it are INSANE! I think if I do end up keeping the bike I will try to trade someone for the stock bars as they seem way too aggressive for my taste. It also came with a Dynojet USB tuning module that I checked and sells for almost $300 new.

[greg737]

Well when she went to the hospital and did some blood tests or something they found out she was also pregnant.

Once again people.... ATGATT! (We're talking Jimmy Hat here)

[alex.s]

i see only a single problem...

no seat.

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by greg737

Once again people.... ATGATT! (We're talking Jimmy Hat here)

Haha. I'm thinking about naming the bike after her (name on title) as I still can't find a name for my 250

[greg737]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

Haha. I'm thinking about naming the bike after her (name on title) as I still can't find a name for my 250

If you name the R6 after her then everybody gets a ride, right?.... right?

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by alex.s

i see only a single problem...

no seat.

Oh I have the seat, front brake calipers, coolant reservoir, rear cowling/tailight, and the front bracket that held the headlight housing on complete with some broken headlight pieces. Those parts just weren't attached to the bike but still came with the purchase.

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by greg737

If you name the R6 after her then everybody gets a ride, right?.... right?

Of course! I think Eric will have the maiden ride though seeing after we installed Rob's sport bars he was the test rider haha.

[alex.s]

i think you should bob the tail and throw on an old sealed headlamp and call it a day.


really though make sure you check your wheel, steering and swingarm bearings and races for damage. they get jacked up in crashes

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

Anyway I bought 2003 R6 for a good price mainly just to have something to work on once I get my Ninja put back together (carb issues AGAIN)

Convert your ninja to fuel injection! No more carb issues!

[Mr.E]

Good thing you have so many tools George lol.

[r311music]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

Of course! I think Eric will have the maiden ride though seeing after we installed Rob's sport bars he was the test rider haha.

Haha I was thinking the exact same thing! I'll make sure to be there for that one!

[JLinde1339]

Originally Posted by alex.s

i think you should bob the tail and throw on an old sealed headlamp and call it a day.

yup! love those frames. been looking at these for my next project. nice grab on this one.

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by Mr.E

Good thing you have so many tools George lol.

Thing is as with any major project I'll most likely accumulate even more tools before the bike is finished

[Nemesis]

Congrats, I think.

I hope you paid less than $2000 for that cuz that bike looks like it's been through several hands if not seen the track more than its share.

[Bosgarage57]

I 3rd the opinion of bobbing the rear and streetfightering it! You could go over to custom fighters and take a look around. Depending on how much you got in it, once you buy plastics for it and others to make it OEM will you be able to sell and still profit? (IF you sale that is). Also does it have a clear title?

[pilotgeorge747]

I did pay less than $2000 for it. In fact I paid $1150 for it actually. Also it does have a clear title.

[Bosgarage57]

Wow so you got a good deal, is the frame straight? TBO I'd throw a headlight on it and ride the SOB. Get a feel for the bike, then decide what you want to do from there.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

I did pay less than $2000 for it. In fact I paid $1150 for it actually. Also it does have a clear title.

Good!

So, are you planning of streeting or tracking? I would imagine it would cost more to street it than track it. Finding inexpensive used OEM plastics could be challenging unless you pay MSRP for new. You can always settle for aftermarket fairings (chinese knock offs).

Also, after everything is said and done final price to get bike up & running shouldn't exceed $2200 total as that's usually the price for these bikes (yr/make/model).

[cuz]

the next BEST thing to riding is working on the bike

[pilotgeorge747]

Yeah the frame isn't bent. Luckily the bike had frame sliders on it and from the looks of where they are mounted it appears that the R6 easily mounts on frame sliders unlike the Ninjette where you have to add a mounting bracket to the engine mounting bolts. I haven't decided on if I want to make it a streetfighter or replace the bodywork. It really depends on if I decide to keep the bike or not. Also if I do go with new fairings I will most likely get a cheap ebay complete set unless I can find a good deal on a decent OEM set. I plan on $1000-1500 (if I get new fairings) to get the bike up and running.

[pilotgeorge747]

Well decided I'd update my progress. So far I've ordered a battery, radiator, gauges, Stator cover and gasket. The gauge has been installed although the fairiing stay bracket that it is attached to may need to be replaced. I will be working on installing the radiator and connecting/flushing the brakes most likely later this coming week.

I just installed the battery the other day and just recorded a short video earlier tonight to show how bad it sounds with the cracked header pipe.


EDIT- Can't figure out how to embed Photobucket videos on this forum so sorry it opens in new page

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

I plan on $1000-1500 (if I get new fairings) to get the bike up and running.

If you find yourself spending more than $1500 to get her up & running (with complete bodywork & all) then yeah it definitely wasn't worth it IMHO.

But if you're okay with that then who cares, right?

[pilotgeorge747]

Well so far for the parts I've bought for it I've paid about $250 total. The only other part I really need to make it minimally ridable is the header and I can find one of those for about $70. I'm really starting to consider making it a street fighter as then I only have to get a sealed headlight. The stock R6 headlight housings start at about $200 used.

[saxnbass]

Street fighter or cafe racer it! Been telling you that.

[alex.s]

screw bodywork man. throw a seat and some lights on and call it a day. ride the bitch to hell and back

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by alex.s

screw bodywork man. throw a seat and some lights on and call it a day. ride the bitch to hell and back

Werd!

If you're just in it to make it run...naked is to go.

[Kevin2109]

Hey man, your bikes missing some parts

[pilotgeorge747]

Originally Posted by Kevin2109

Hey man, your bikes missing some parts

Uh oh! Thanks for the heads up! Bike has been taken out of service until further notice.

[pilotgeorge747]

Well I think it's about time I update my progress on this project. I haven't done much to the bike since my last update but I have off work until March 10th so I will be doing as much as I can during that time. Tonight I installed the new stator/stator cover and sealed up the cover where it was leaking oil. I also now have the bike running on it's own power and was even able to rev it up, drop it in gear, test out the clutch, and let her roll a few feet for the first time in who knows how long haha.

Oh and the current styling plan is to keep it a streetfighter modeled after the Yamaha FZ8. I already bought a cheap ugly headlight just to make it street legal but will eventually swap that one out for a decent one.

Will update with pics as I get a little more done to her in the next few days.

[NDspd]

Originally Posted by pilotgeorge747

Well I think it's about time I update my progress on this project. I haven't done much to the bike since my last update but I have off work until March 10th so I will be doing as much as I can during that time. Tonight I installed the new stator/stator cover and sealed up the cover where it was leaking oil. I also now have the bike running on it's own power and was even able to rev it up, drop it in gear, test out the clutch, and let her roll a few feet for the first time in who knows how long haha.

Oh and the current styling plan is to keep it a streetfighter modeled after the Yamaha FZ8. I already bought a cheap ugly headlight just to make it street legal but will eventually swap that one out for a decent one.

Will update with pics as I get a little more done to her in the next few days.

Sounds like you're having fun. If I had the money/time I wish I had a project bike to work on.

[r311music]

Good to see you finally have some time to work on the r6. I'm starting to dig the looks of the fz8, so I like the current plan to model it after it. Are you going to get risers for the handle bars to make it more upright like the fz8 or still keep it aggressive like the r6?

[Klondike1020]

All my bikes started out like this one. Didn't hear them run and defiantly not bringing them back to stock lol.

But the most I've paid is 800 for my ninja and it ran and rode. Didn't come with a single usable fairing lol

You will be very happy with that bike as a street fighter! I love the r6 and fz s

[pilotgeorge747]

I'm considering making te bars higher because IMO streetfighters look kinda weird with aggressive clipons like those currently on my R6. I think I'm going to wait to ride if with the current bars before I decide whether to hassle with the bars.

A quick update as of yesterday the bike has fresh brake fluid and now there are functioning front brakes. Also after a quick check it appears the stator is working and the battery is now charging while running and the regulator appears to be working as well.

[saxnbass]

Clip on risers or full bar (like a Renthal; not sure what they're officially called)?

[pilotgeorge747]

Well I think I'd have to do a full bar because I don't think I'm going to be able to get clip ons high enough. The only thing is I'd probably have to get a new triple tree that has the mounts for the bar? Come to think about it I think I still have Rob's bar from his 650 still in my garage haha.

[Klondike1020]

You don't need a new triple just get a riser kit or clamp kit. You could also drill two holes and mount them Mx style.
Mx bars or flat track bars rock on fighters
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...id=57307354848

Or get a riser type mill of the lower radius and drill and tap four holes
Or these would work.
You get +2 withe the triple top mounts and another + 2 or so from the Mx bars
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...id=19413775542