GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: ryott52 on August 30, 2012, 06:45:41 PM

Title: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on August 30, 2012, 06:45:41 PM
After driving my taurus and glaring at riders for far too long, I've finally gotten back on two wheels. I have a CBR600F3, and I'm going to the DMV tomorrow to get tags!
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: weedahoe on August 30, 2012, 10:27:40 PM
Woo Hoo!! Congrats
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: cbrfxr67 on August 31, 2012, 07:21:05 AM
 :dunno_black: where pics?!!!!!!!!!!!

and need rider review comparison!

por favor!
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on August 31, 2012, 09:09:46 AM
Pics will follow, it was dark when I got home last night and I'm stuck at work all day today.
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: piresito on August 31, 2012, 10:01:01 AM
Quote from: cbrfxr67 on August 31, 2012, 07:21:05 AM

por favor!

És português?!

Quote from: ryott52 on August 31, 2012, 09:09:46 AM
Pics will follow, it was dark when I got home last night and I'm stuck at work all day today.

No excuse, we want porn! :-P

Congrats on the new bike!
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on September 06, 2012, 09:29:52 PM
Here it is ladies and gents! http://imgur.com/yX1Ud

And so far I can say that it is faster and easier to wheelie than a GS, but requires more frequent shifting due to the i4 powerband. I'll have a report on the ease of oil changes after this weekend!
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: Janx101 on September 06, 2012, 10:39:41 PM
looks nice enough .. i dunno the model much tho ..

i do like the side fairings!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: Twisted on September 07, 2012, 01:50:20 AM
These bikes are supposed to be pretty much bulletproof. Only bad thing I have heard about them is near impossible to get one with low k's as everyone hangs on to them.
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: cbrfxr67 on September 07, 2012, 08:59:16 AM
Looks good except for those mirrors.  I hate the stock mirrors.  Need more pics!  Oil change is a breeze.  Hope to hear more thoughts on it as you ride it more.
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: SAFE-T on September 07, 2012, 11:16:41 AM
Lots of aftermarket mirrors for that bike, and the '00-'01 VFR800 probably fit as well.
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on September 07, 2012, 01:02:09 PM
I am not a huge fan of the mirrors either, but they're going to be on there at least until I get a new safety inspection. I got this one with 23k, so low miles for a 96. I'm considering losing the fairings and going naked, in which case I'll probably get a set of bar end mirrors or something. That's all in the future though, for now I'm just enjoying riding after a long hiatus.
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: SAFE-T on September 07, 2012, 02:45:02 PM
Honda's designed with full bodywork are usually fairly ungainly underneath ~ I would keep it's clothes on
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on September 07, 2012, 03:01:25 PM
This one isn't too bad. Maybe with some strategically placed fiberglass like this one it'd work out ok http://www.machwon.ca/f3/fornow6.jpg
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: codajastal on September 07, 2012, 03:11:38 PM
Very nice. Congratulations on the new baby.




(http://i.imgur.com/yX1Ud.jpg)
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: cbrfxr67 on September 10, 2012, 07:58:44 AM
Completely agreeing with Safe-T on keeping fairings on.  To me they look retarded.  The lines are all wrong for fighter conversion without major attention to fabbing up new bodywork.  There are a couple on cf (knifemaker87 and knuckles) that look spot on, so it can be done.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd353/newhntr/bikebuild002.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/SocialTransient87/CBR1.jpg

Love underbelly exhausts!
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: piresito on September 10, 2012, 09:07:13 AM
Keep fairings on...the only thing I would mess with, woud be the tail.
When I was searching for a CBR, I always tried to get a 97/98 due to the tail section being less "square". Anyway, wouln't pass a good deal with a 96. I ended up getting a F4, which is a good bike also...
Title: Re: Finally have a new (used) bike!
Post by: ryott52 on December 28, 2012, 03:56:46 PM
Well I've had the bike for about 5k miles now, so here are some thoughts and what I've done.

First of all, the only thing I've had go wrong with the bike was a wheel bearing going bad up front. Easy fix, the hardest part was waiting on shipping for the new bearings.
Some idiot knocked over the bike, scratching up the right side fairings and breaking the stock mirror and brake lever. That gave me an excuse to pick up some bar end mirrors off ebay. I think they look much better than the factory ones.

So far the only real maintenance I've done is an oil change and the usual chain cleaning and whatnot. The oil filter is a car type filter, so it's accessible without going inside the motor. It is a bit hard to reach, but taking off the side fairings makes it a bit more accessible. It's faster than a GS, and the fairings have definitely helped keep me a bit drier in the rain we've been getting on and off the last month or so around here (at least when I tuck in).

Fuel consumption is sitting at around 40-45mpg when commuting, and a bit less than that at higher revs on back roads on my off days. I picked up a shop manual, and I'm going to do a valve check at some point just to make sure everything is in spec, but it's a Honda and as Twisted said they're pretty hard to kill, so I doubt with its current mileage they'll be too far off factory.

I'm considering changing the paint color. I'm stuck between black, fire engine red, or a Redskins theme. The first two I can do myself, the third would require someone with a slightly more artistic touch and a bigger investment than I think I want to make right now. Also, the stock seat is not as comfortable as it could be, I'm considering picking up a Corbin if I can find a good deal on one.