2006 gsF - Gabby

[steezin_and_wheezin]

This project took entirely too long, but over a year later she is nearing completion. Finally out of my shop and enjoying every minute. I'm going to do a photo timeline of the project in this post. There is lots of info further in the thread if you'd like to read my ramblings

How I bought her, naked and needing lots of attention;


First time hearing her engine run;


After stripping the parts to sell on my old GS;


Installing Sonic Springs;


Front end on;


89 Clip ons, LSL levers, R6 throttle tube, and gauges installed;


German chain guard, R6 shock, and rear hugger installed;


Gimbel rear passenger pegs installed;


First mock up photo with lights/screen;


Swapped the silver for black 89 triples;


Her first time in the sunlight after a long stint in the shop;


Jardine installed;




Carbs rejetted and lunchbox installed;


A little celebration after finally getting her road worthy;




Still more to come!!

[tricky]

Maybe a silly question, but can you bump start it with the starter fuse blown?

[BaltimoreGS]

How does titling work in VA?  I know in MD and PA you are screwed if you don't have a title or the last titled owner willing to do some paperwork.  You might be able to make some extra $$$ from people on this board if you can get clear titles for bikes.  I know I have a parts bike that would be rod worthy if it had a .  Congrats on the new bike and good luck wrenching 

-Jessie

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Added first post here to do better write up on the project.
Original Post

Take 2 on another 2006 gsF parts bike!

The Hunt:
Found a set of full fairings and tank on craigs. Started talking with the seller and found out he's selling the whole bike. So I hit the road for ~2 hour drive, met the younger kid 1 state over, and made the deal. Bought this one for more than $300 less than my last 2006 parts bike.

Bike Info:
A title-less 2006 gsF with 127 miles on the clock. Fairings are in OK shape, looks to have been driveway dropped, some scratches and a couple small cracks. Tank is rusted to shaZam!(luckily I still have a mint black tank from the last 06) everything else on the bike is near perfect condition. Tires are in great shape w/o any signs of rotting. Not hardly a speck of dirt on this thing!

First day of wrenching:
Yesterday was the first time I got to invest a little time in her; The PO had removed all plastics, carbs, some hosing, all lights, and some electrical connections among other things. I proceeded to put the carbs back on, replugged any missing connections, dropped a battery in her and hit the start button.. nothing! Not even a click, the headlight did cut out but it wouldn't even attempt to turn over.

So I went a made another bourbon and coke, found my manual and headed back downstairs

Now with another drink in hand I had a look, this time less head strong. Started by checking things off the list I knew; kill switch, side stand, in/out gear, clutch switch... whowoulddathought the clutch switch was unplugged Plugged it up, rechecked and hit the starter button. POP! starter solenoid fuse blown

Not fishing for any guess of what it may be(at least not quite yet), since I didn't have anymore time to investigate. Although if you have an idea I'm more than willing to put it on the list to check!

I was hoping it would be a replug and ride situation, but now i finally have a GS of my dreams! One that doesn't run, but is fixable!! I'm pretty excited to dig into this thing. Unfortunately with work, snowboard season starting, and a new girlfriend my play time is at an all time low.

I'll get a better photo of it, but for now:


Messing around with the new glass for the t2i:


Progress might be slow, but this bike WILL run again. If everything keeps going well, I'll be titling this beast and making it my primary moto

Thanks for peeping my newest project!

Good News!

Got another hour to dig around, found an old thread where another member was having solenoid fuse problems. He swapped batteries and had no further problems. Gave it a shot with the battery from my 04, and sure enough was able to get a Strong turn over. Now i'll be freshening up the usual(plugs, oil, filter etc..) and we'll she what she can do!

Probably won't have anymore time until next week to work on it.. 

Bad News!

Went to the DMV and got the biggest run around ever. I'm claiming the bike as an abandoned vehicle to try and get a title. short story: I was PISSED haha. Semi-long story: they were telling me I have to do all the abandoned title forms online, OK. I was trying to get a vehicle history report which is Required to be done in person, and is not offered online. Had the correct form filed out and was literally pointing to what I needed and saying "I'm not filing the abandoned vehicle forms." NO ONE could understand.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Better News!

Took an hour yesterday morning to go back by the DMV. FINALLY was able to talk with someone that knew what she was talking about. I feel confident that I will be able to get this thing titled! I submitted one form and started the wheels moving, now a waiting period then send another form. Then another waiting period, annd theeen I can be issued a full title! hopefully haha..

I'll end up with a little less then $50 invested in trying to get it titled, so if it falls through I'll just chalk it up to the game with no hard feelings

If the rain holds out this afternoon, i'll be swapping oil/filter and see how she's runs. I need to read up on wiki again for the break-in process since this units only got 127 miles on her!

[cbrfxr67]

Nice!  How did I miss this thread?!  Keep posting and MAKE time steezin!  Great pics by the way.  (you the man)

[steezin_and_wheezin]

haha preciate it mang!

On lunch today I'll be heading to the post to mail the previous owner the last form needed.  If all goes as planned I should have her titled by the end of this month!

I'm meeting a guy this afternoon for some extra bits and pieces, so start up will have to wait a few more days

[steezin_and_wheezin]

HAHA I laugh at my own high hopes of having the title by the end of this month

Still playing the waiting game. No word back from the previously registered owner. 20 more days max until the certified letter gets returned, and I'll be able to get the title.

Will hopefully be trying to start her this week!

[steezin_and_wheezin]

She's up and running!! Video below(sorry it was late and i didn't feel like editing in music..) and for those who are bored I wrote more about the finger numbing work involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLWkK_uGjTg

The parts bike is lower on the list so its outside while 04 is inside my shop with no forks.. Finally found the determination to face the cold and get the last few little things knocked out.  With some liquid warmth and a headlamp you can accomplish anything! Luckily i didn't have much left to do. First up was getting the carbs back in and hooked up. Then some fuel so i used the tank and petcock from my 2004. Bolted the exhaust up, and dropped in some fresh oil. 

Double check, turned the key and nothing but a good strong turn over. sounded starved for fuel. tripled checked that i had the petcock on prime, yup.. took 2 seconds then it hit me tank petcock was still off haha.  flipped that over, and gave her a go.. got some heavy sputters, a few pops then some life. stopped to fix a pretty bad exhaust leak. it didn't matter it was running! although the more i listened the less i liked it. sounded like only 1 cylinder popping. used the quick trick of pulling the wire to see if both cylinders were chugging. pulled the first, sounded the same. yanked the second, immediately died. first one shocked me still so i new it was getting power. 

jumped back in the shop and grabbed a rusty spare plug. dropped it in and hit the starter, bloaw!!! sounded great. started then the choke took over and it rev'd right up. i was stoked! let it warm up for a minute or two. checked around the bike, everything looked good. pulled the clutch and dropped it in first with no problems. eased on the clutch and got excellent response. then started to mess with the throttle a bit, i could rev it slightly, but any drastic throttle increase would bog it down. i know i have read plenty of threads with similar problems, but figured it was a good stopping point for tonight.

Most updates to come

[steezin_and_wheezin]

quick shot when i was setting the cam up:

[cbrfxr67]

Steezin all your camera shots look like art to me.

[BaltimoreGS]

Steezin all your camera shots look like art to me.

+1

Great angles and depth to the pictures   

-Jessie

[steezin_and_wheezin]

thank ya thank ya!

i'm really excited to have it up and running. first time i've brought a parts bike back from the dead instead of hoisting it onto the chopping block.

back at our home mountain snowboarding for the weekend. next week i plan on tuning up some more and trying to get it out on the neighborhood roads for some more testing.

sent one more form to the bikes orginal state to confirm that there is no liens on it.

also already have a long time friend committed to buying my 2004 if i can get the 06 road ready. i'm pretty stoked on that, i'll have another friend to ride and wrench with

[steezin_and_wheezin]

I've dubbed here Gabrielle. Gabby for short since she's young and I expect her to be talking to me none stop her whole life haha.

Still a waiting game on the title.. I will know for sure by Feb 10th, and if all's well with original state my title should be printed without a hitch.

I got a few minutes to mess with her last night. I put my airbox on, fully charged the battery to see if that would help any. I probably didn't let her warm up as much as i should have, but it was getting later and didn't want to be a bother. She's still getting major bogging with throttle is cracked. It will idle fine but when any throttle is opened it get nasty, lots of popping, rough revs, and would die every now and then. I'm going to pick some new spark plugs up after work, and maybe swap the coils from my 04 just to be sure.

It's running, now just to get it running right

[xunedeinx]

I can see why you need the fairings, LOL. VERY nice find, and the frame is SO CLEAN!!

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Didn't get anytime last night to get down there.. Back to make some more turns on the local mountain this weekend.  I'll get the new plugs in next week and see how she does.

@ xune - Still have the complete set of black/grey 2006 fairing collecting dust in the shop. Was just after those blue tail fairings of yers haha

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Hell yes! Just came home to find a notice of a certified letter return!! Pretty sure that's the letter I sent to the previous owner. If unopened.. I just staple it to the LAST form I have to submit

That's 1 of the last 2 hoops I have to jump through before getting this baby titled.  Now just to hear back from the DMV if there's a lien holder. If no(and letter is unopened) I will be able to title her by Feb 10th as planned.

Wish me luck! 

[Kijona]

Hey just out of curiosity, what kind of camera are you using to take these pics? The bokeh seems a little too crisp to be a P&S. Is it a DSLR of some kind? If so, what lens are you using?

[steezin_and_wheezin]

shooting with a canon t2i. the photos in this thread were with my fixed 50mm. check out the video i post of the first startup, i have a clip recorded with the fixed 50 as well my sigma 10mm fisheye.

[xunedeinx]

Your pics are sweet. Take more!!