She's Gone!

I've managed to sell my GPZ500s at last, the bloke came to pick it up
last night and seemed delighted despite a last minute oil leak worry .

Must admit I was sad to see it go but relieved as well as I've been
bricking it that it would get stolen (not insured for the last 3 months).

Dunno what to with the fairly fat wedge of cash sitting in my safe at
the moment. Up/down grade to something a bit newer/more reliable [1]. Or
replace all the things which need replacing, the current count is tyres,
chain a couple of HT leads and try to fix up or replace the broken and
scratched bit.

Hmm.

[1] Actually that's not fair it's only not started once and that was
after a month in the garage not on the Optimate. Still there's always
worries with an older, high mileage bike aren't there?

 

What about your bikes?

 

Bet it doesn't have a Datatool alarm fitted like the GSXR in question.

I have to say, before I sold it to Steve it never failed to start for
me, but then I used it daily.

 

Alarm drains the battery though I hadn't used it for 4 weeks!

 

I had until November but when my car got nicked I had to ensure the pool
car they gave me was on site during the day or lose it.

I shall mostly be riding it a lot more now. Looking at what's available
for the money I would have were I to trade in I think I'll be better off
doing it up. I have to say this was always my preferred option anyway

 

It'll be worth doing. Not only does it look bloody good when it's
sorted, for a spend of around 500 quid, you'll put the value up by
around 1k.

 

I know, had a quick scan on Auto Trader yesterday and there were older
bikes for over £3k. My brother-in-law has a car parts business and may
be able to help out with repairing and spraying the plastics if I get
them repaired rather than replaced [1]. Mind you one of his suggestions
was to mock Carbon Fibre all of the panels which would look gash in the
extreme

Didn't start again this morning Stupid forgot to Optimate again

[1] Sourcing parts in the right colours seems to be a bit of a challenge!

 

I assume by that, that you're not buying new? If you are getting new
then Streetbike will have no trouble getting hold of bits.

Ebay is worth keeping an eye on, as is http://www.alkamoto.co.uk/# for
fairings.

 

True enough although that obviously bumps up the costs a fair bit.
Getting new ones is always an option but I'd definately prefer to get
them from breakers or Ebay, however they do seem to be rare as rocking
horse shit.

I was thinking of getting a new/used top fairing and getting the side
panels patched and resprayed since there isn't so much damage to them.
Still it depends on cost. I have a quote from SB for replacing the top
fairing on my GPZ and that was over £400. Factor in replacing the sides
as well and you are probably talking £800+ for replacement brand new
bits. That's doable but I was hoping to do it for a bit less than that!!
Then I could afford new tyres chain, clutch and a trackday from the
money for my old bike

I am doing regularly nothing thus far though

 

I do have a quote from Streetbike for everything it needs. I thought
I'd given it to you when you bought the bike but maybe I forgot. I'll
look it out and scan it for you. Everything new came to around a
grand IIRC, but that was:

indicators (45 quid a pair I think),
screen bracket (90 quid),
screen (60 quid),
top fairing (350 quid),
both sides (220 each),
pillion peg and bracket (70),
mirrors (45 quid pair).

Replacing some bits with pattern would bring that down to around 800 I
think I worked out.

 

That would be great actually I don't recall seeing it the other day when
I was checking through the stuff you gave me but I can always have
another look.

? Why. Aside from *still* not working occasionally they seem fine to me.

Some options on Ebay at the moment so we'll see what happens with those.

This could be the only thing I actually need since it's probably going
to look shite if I get it welded. I've got someone coming to have a look
in the next couple of days so will find out more then.

? Again why is one of them damaged, mind you given how often I take
pillions ...

Certainly an option for mirrors innit? Not sure about a pattern fairing
though, can you get them colour matched or do they have to be painted?

Cheers anyhoo!

 

Scratches on the lefthand side one and proper ones for the back rather
than minis.

Yeah, on the other hand my mates Dad has a company that does plastic
welding and repairs. I'll find out f it's the sort of thing he can
do.

The left hand one I think is scratched. Remember Streetbike put
things down on the list even if they had the slightest scratch on them
because they assumed it was an insurance job.

Yeah pattern mirrors are around 20 quid I think.

Fairings are normally just fibreglass with clearcoat on, so they'd
have to be fully painted and decalled.

 

Hmm I'll ask my dad the same, one of the companies he does work for must
do plastic welding.

Ahh okay so not all of them are actually necessary, that's cool.
Actually I knew that since on the quote for repairing the Kawasaki they
put stuff down which I didn't even think was damaged. Still I guess they
know better than me!

Do you know what I've got used to riding without a right hand mirror .
I took my dad's new bike out [1] for a spin the other day and thought
what a novelty it was to have a mirror on both bars . Still I will
definately end up getting new mirrors one way or another.

That's what I've been finding out this afternoon. Still given the
quality of painting done by the guy recommended by my brother in law it
could still be a miles more cost effective option. Say £300 for all
three replacement parts plus the cost of decals.

Here's an interesting question, can you get a kit to update Datatag if
you replace marked parts? I heard this somewhere but might be imagining
it, told the bloke who bought my bike to talk to them since there are a
couple of unmarked bits on it.

[1] BMW R1100R, most bizarre experience it was too.

 

That's a good point actually. I have no idea where the transponders
are. Probably frame, tank, engine and wheels. The fairing panels are
probably painted with the microdots. Best to ask Datatag I guess.
They may be able to send you a kit with the same id as the one already
on it. Can't be an unusual request, after all, a lot of bikes get
crash repaired after being tagged.

Reminds me, I must register the Alphadot on the Thou to me.