Mr72's Wreck Restoration

[mr72]

Oh, I know an FI bike can break down. But in this case it's not like I'm a noob with these carbs. I have carefully nursed this thing for a long time and had just checked and serviced it and it still wouldn't run. Not being now to get it to run to begin with is my frustration.

In the past couple of years riding with my dad 100% of our breakdowns have been the supposedly reliable Japanese bikes. Not a single issue ever with my British bike.

I need to find someone parting out a ninja 400 and swipe the FI.

Chance of me trying to ride the GS again before I get there Triumph fixed is about zero.

[mr72]

To add to the story, I had to move my GS off of the street up to my garage yesterday so I was prepared for the worst going down to start it up. But I can't get a motorcycle up my steep driveway unless it's running under its own power. I steeled myself for the fight to start and keep it running, put the choke on full, turned the key, and pressed the start button. In less than one full crank of the engine, I mean in like 1/10 of a second, it fired up and immediately revved to 7k rpm. I turned down the choke to try to get it to rev down and eventually adjusted the idle speed down so the choke rpm was 5K, and after it had been running only about 30 seconds I turned the choke all the way off and it idled at 1500 rpm. I ran right up the driveway like a scalded cat.



Plan today is to find a little time to go out and start it up, ride around the neighborhood a little bit just to see if it will work. Maybe I can get it to warm up so I can set the idle mixture and speed.

Never a dull moment with old motorcycles.

Boy how I miss my Triumph!

[mr72]

Started the GS and tried to let it warm up in the driveway and see if it would ever idle. It won't. It idles with the choke on partway as long as I don't let the idle speed fall below about 2500 rpm. Once it goes below 2500 rpm, it dies. To keep it running I have to set the idle speed way too high, which results in extreme "hanging idle" but once the idle falls it dies. Won't restart without the choke on partway.

I give. Gonna rain tomorrow. Not going to risk riding it today. I'll wait for the Triumph to be done, then I'll mothball the GS until I find the motivation to spend a whole freaking weekend working on it and have my trailer waiting to go pick it up when it dies on the side of the road.

[cbrfxr67]

Fun with carbs!  yeaaaaa  I feel your anguish.  You'll get it though.  "spend a whole freaking weekend working on it"    I picked up a 883 sportster with carb issues.  Talk about simple!  Got it rolling and it runs great.  Been a blast riding it around.  Where pics right,...
clicky for bigger, don't want to clog your thread

[mr72]

hey hey! Looky here!



It's still not totally finished. But it's got fuel in the tank and air in the tires, battery is charged, it's ready to ride!

I have to work out fitting the correct front fender and replace the rear right footpeg, put one backordered part on when they come in from bikebandit. But nothing is keeping me from riding it except for time and weather.

[SK Racing]

That looks absolutely gorgeous. Glad that you got the front wheel and fork sorted out. 

[mr72]

I actually did ride it a little bit today. It works great, everything is basically perfect. Front brake is kind of soft but I don't know if it's just the pads need to re-bed with this rotor.

But I think the battery is shot. Took monumental efforts to get it started. Battery charger says it's charged and it won't turn the bike over. It's always something.

[Bluesmudge]

I actually did ride it a little bit today. It works great, everything is basically perfect. Front brake is kind of soft but I don't know if it's just the pads need to re-bed with this rotor.

Most likely just needs some miles to re-bed like you said. I have had the same experience with new calipers/pads/rotors on cars and motorcycles. Seems soft, like you didn't bleed the brakes enough. 100 miles later all is well and you never think about it again.

[cbrfxr67]

Lookin Sweeeet!

[mr72]

Brakes didn't improve with mileage so I thought maybe they got fork oil on them. They did. So I cleaned the rotor and caliper and the pads, but still brakes were no good. Put in a new set of pads and WOW. That was the ticket.

So I went on a 1.5 hr ride today and the bike was perfect. I had actually ridden this same route just a day or two before my wreck and it felt like it had only been a week. It was a really nice time and everything worked out brilliantly. Can't believe the bike is back better than ever.

[cbrfxr67]

         

[iamhiding]

That's a funny looking gs bit of a triumph'ant... rebuild and a very bonnie'... bike  okay I'll stop now, I don't have... all day'tona and triumph puns don't come easy  :icon_mrgreen:good stuff man 

[mr72]

got the original fender mounted correctly and here's the finished product:



Like all decade old motorcycles, there is always one or two things to fix or make perfect. This isn't a show quality repair. But it is better than it was before the wreck.