So, my friend crashed his '01 GS, and gave it to me as a gift.  I bought all the stuff to fix it up and make it how I like it, and holy crap:



Total: $999.98 for parts, $120.60 for shipping

I'm not complaining.  For my money I'm going to have a rejetted GS with decent suspension and Pilot Powers.  This is just fair warning to anyone that might be thinking about starting a project like this. 

With luck, I can sell my original '01 GS for about $1,100 and it will be like doing all those upgrades for free.  (Hopefully more, because the other bike also has a Kat shock and Sonic springs, but only folks on this forum would appreciate that.)  I will also have a stock GS rear wheel, rear rotor, and shock in perfect condition to sell.  Someone will probably be willing to buy the damaged frame (looks like only subframe damage) and old sprockets (only 4,500 miles).  So maybe I'll make out pretty well in the end.

I suppose I should promise pictures.  The empty frame is in my garage (It only has a front wheel right now).  Most of the parts are there, and a few things are being shipped.  I'll update my progress as it happens if anyone is interested.

Cool can't wait to see it. 

What the spring rate on the sonic springs, if they are .90kg/mm or .85kg/mm I will take them

coll0412  - They are .90kg/mm.  If I sell the bike to someone that doesn't "appreciate" (ie "pay for") the sonic springs, then I'll return the bike to stock and make them available on the board.  But we're talking next year, so if you're in the market go ahead and buy them directly from Sonic.

where'd you score the SV 1/5 throttle tube for <$20 shipped?  I've been wanting to pick one of those up.

Quote from: Mandres on December 07, 2006, 07:58:43 PM
where'd you score the SV 1/5 throttle tube for <$20 shipped?  I've been wanting to pick one of those up.

I just bought it OEM from RideNow.com along with some other stuff.  You could get it from bikebandit.com or flatoutmotorcycles.com or a million other sites that sell OEM parts.

stillo, $1000 for an '01 is pretty cheap. especially with all the new parts included in that price. You could sell it for far more than $1100.

200$ for a frame? Wow! Those go for a song here, because they are usually left after the Breakers have partet out the bike.

Quote from: Mandres on December 07, 2006, 07:58:43 PM
where'd you score the SV 1/5 throttle tube for <$20 shipped?  I've been wanting to pick one of those up.

Got mine on ebay for about the same price.

I know what you went through. I have a couple of bikes that started out as budget projects but have grown...and grown. Hopefully I will actually use the parts that were put aside for the upgraded ones. Sometimes ebay sucks....especially when I find the "that looks cool" part.

Yea aint it cool. BTW you did all that work for free.
I try to limit the scope of "busted" that I buy. I dont want to do much more than actual technical and hard to figure out work.
Electrical problems, carb problems and general tech. Dont care about paying more for non crashed and near complete bikes. The valve adjustments, carbs and rejet and electrical trouble shooting and fixing is all I want to do. I have most of the parts I would need, and I know enough about it to guage if I will screw myself just from looking at it. been burned by a few and I am hoping to avoid it. Still once in a while I end up with sheite that has sawed through the case with its cam chain and end up spending $100+ on stuff long before I even get it to turn over.
Like I have said, buying a cheap bike - its not for cheapskates. 
Cool.
Srinath.

Geez Chuck, we're about in the same boat when it comes to that stuff. I just started tearing mine down. I haven't done a tally..but judging by my bank account..I've almost exceeded you  Note to self: no more wrecking. BTW any apartments up for grabs anywhere over there? AJ is getting anxious...apparently she doesnt like the cardboard box plan 

I have a house available for rent, but it might be too much $$$.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1182.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

This was the starting point.  The '01 was mostly stripped, with the engine and electricals still mounted.  Everything else was removed, except the twisted fork.  You can see the swingarm on the desk in the background.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1168.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

Here's the '01 swingarm.  It bothered me how dirty it was.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1181.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

I cleaned it with the goop I use to degrease my hands.  It worked pretty well.  Then, since my wife wasn't home, I washed it with dish detergent and rinsed it off in the bathtub.  It came out pretty nice.  I masked off the parts that shouldn't have water in them beforehand.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1184.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

The '04 frame is black, so the swingarm has to be black.  First I primed it up, and set it to dry.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1170.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

While I was waiting for the primer to dry on the swingarm, I started to grind the rusty old exhaust.


Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1171.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

That's a before and after.

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1172.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

I photographed the wiring so I'd have some chance of setting it back the way it was.


Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1176.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

Full size: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/PICT1188.JPG -- Gallery: http://gsproject.codefarm.org/

A little more grinding on the pipes.  Making progres.  I only do this about 2 minutes at a time because it's really boring and messy.