Now New owner of a 1400

[BlueDragon]

Looking at those internals also, I'm just trying to imagine how you managed to stop at all, that looked horrific.

Yeah. I was shocked as well.

When I bled the brakes, I did notice that a lot of the pistons weren't moving. but after a heap of external cleaning of old brake dust on the outside of the pistons, they all started moving again.  I then put a old single brake pad in the caliper and pumped the lever until the pistons came out more and cleaned them up.  Pushed the pistons back in.  did another bleed to the point where I used most of the bottle of brake fluid and saw no bubbles in the bleeder line and clean fluid coming out. 

But after seeing this, I think that there was so much crap inside the caliper that it was blocking the new fluid from flowing through.

Still trying to get used to the new brakes..  they've certainly made a difference. 

Now my VFR is crying out for braided lines...     whilst the fluid in it is fine and has always been serviced, I thinking braided lines will also be a nice addition to it.  Problem is the expense, with so many lines I think I'll be up for around $500-$600 Aussie.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

with so many lines I think I'll be up for around $500-$600 Aussie.

Check out WES Moto : https://wezmoto.com/ I got a complete set of std configuration front and rear brake lines plus clutch line, carbolook outer and black stainless banjos for A$285 delivered to Perth WA.  Great quality lines and fast delivery.

Glad you got those brakes sorted out, looked like they had a lot of water in them to emulsify that brake fluid that badly.

[BlueDragon]

Been a little while since I posted anything, but been busy on a project with my son, fixing a GSF250 Bandit for him to learn on.

Anyway, I bought a seat cover off ebay (UK made) and then bought a air powered stapler from the local Bunnings and recovered the spare seat I bought.

[BlueDragon]

So that allowed me to get to work on the original seat that came with the bike.  Which was modified, but was very much on the "hard as a rock" side of things.

After taking the seat cover off, I found out why - the previous owner had an upholsterer add a solid hard foam pad to the seat. Which I then removed and decided to reshape the seat.

[BlueDragon]

bought some seat foam from the local upholstery place. Helps that the owner also rides as well and knows the best types of foams to use and gave me some tips on how to do a proper job, the right tools etc and said that once I was finished, to bring the seat in and he will recover it for me the same as what he did with my VFR, which was a custom leather/velour/textured cover.

Pics of the re-shaping.

[BlueDragon]

Little bit more shaping to do.

But so far the wife said that the passenger part of the seat is supremely comfortable - better than the standard seat we have and the extra height take a little bit of knee bend out as well.

I shape the rider area to be similar to the Sargent seat shape, which I find more comfortable and the added another piece at the front and will add another piece behind it to level out the seat more to stop sliding forward into the tank all the time.

So should be off to the upholsterer in a week or so.

Next up was the GS1000S fairing fitting.

This had become a bit of a nightmare and I almost wished I didn't buy the fairing and just bought a smaller fairing - a lot of which I had seen on ebay - for the CB Honda's.  Which would bolt up to the headlight mounts.  The only reason I didn't buy them was that they looks so small and thought that they were just for looks and would not really do much more than stop the instruments from getting hit with bug splat.

I wanted something with more wind protection for the open road.  With the plan that my wife and I would be doing some touring next year when she is able to take some long service leave.

In fact I was able to buy a brand new set of Givi Pannier racks from the local importer through one of the local bike shops here.  The importer had them in stock.. They are meant to arrive tomorrow.  They fit the V35 panniers - which I will save up for next.

Anyway ...  back to the fairing..

The GS1000S can't fit the 1400 using the standard headlight mounts or the current position - not unless I cut the crap out of the fairing as it extends so far back from the headlight.  It hit the handlebars and it would have also hit the 2 horns above the radiator at full lock as well. Also the front fork slider covers would have also hit it under heavy braking.

So I had to make some new headlight mounts which would raise the headlight about 1.5 inches and also extend it forwards by about another 1.5 inches or so.  Ended up making some template mounts out of 8mm thick aluminum plate which I bought from a local metal fabrication place as an off-cut piece.  Going to a metal place - they expected me to spend $500 on a full sheet about 1m x 3m...  Yeah right..  the piece I bought was much cheaper and should be able to make about 3 pairs of mounts - so the first pair are a "throw away" template to work out the mounting hole locations for everything.  Then I'll make a second pair that will be used on the bike.

The template mounts allowing the mounting of the fairing so that it won't hit the handlebars or the horns at full lock.  Also had to make the headlight adjustment mount as well.

Then bought some 10mm aluminum tubing from Bunnings and my neighbour loaned me his pipe bender so got to work on the template mounts to do a test mounting of the fairing.

[BlueDragon]

Pics of the fairing temporary mounted.

[BlueDragon]

Also fitted up some machined aluminum mirrors I bought from Aliexpress.  Seriously awesome quality and they work really well. Vibration free.

Not sure how much more I will do now or even if this will be finished.

Been thinking about selling the bike and all the spare parts I have for it (spare fuel tank, spare seat - the one I have just reshaped, throttle bodies, spare headlight, blue front fender, oil cooler, original handlebars, Bellypan, Givi racks when they arrive, the list goes on)

Been looking at a Honda CB1100XX Blackbird as the wife really likes it and finds it more comfortable than the 1400 when we test rode one. 

Which got even more tempting the other day when I was talking to a friend on a forum and he found out I had a 1400 and he said he was after one....

[Irish in Oz]

A blackbird belonging to mate of mine lay in my shed for about a year with a problem in the ABS, it's still there he took my FJR for a ride and never brought it back. They are a quick bike but it's too sporty in riding position for me on long rides.

[BlueDragon]

A blackbird belonging to mate of mine lay in my shed for about a year with a problem in the ABS, it's still there he took my FJR for a ride and never brought it back. They are a quick bike but it's too sporty in riding position for me on long rides.

I'm used to the VFR800 Vtec I also have and in fact prefer that riding position.  I find I get a better feel for what the front end is doing.  Whilst I don't mind the seating position of the 1400, I find that I can get the same "feel" for the bike like I can with the VFR.  I'm 6 foot tall and long legs and slightly longer arms than average, but also only weigh 85kg. So to make the VFR comfortable, all I had to buy was a rider footpeg lowering kit which lowered the pegs about an inch and it was perfect for me, along with the double bubble screen. 

That said - we are also looking at a GSX1250FA, but haven't had a chance to ride one yet. 

[Snapey]

You can't be serious. That fairing certainly copped a hiding with the ugly stick.

[Irish in Oz]

The Wes Cooley replica GS1000S, cut away was for indicators and mirrors mounted on fairing.

[seth]

@BlueDragon
I like it and look forward to seeing your bike finished.
It's great to see someone doing something different .
It might not be to everyone's taste but as long it's what you want then all power to you .

[BlueDragon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVmeSD2NlKw&list=PLRnL3qK17Kdco96TEt3I0MqIJZ8708zsp&index=22&t=0s

Was after something like this.

I know a lot of people hate the look of that fairing, but I grew up with the GS1000S.  In fact my older brother had one.

Whilst it's not the "prettiest" bikini fairing, I prefer the rounded look to the very expensive (not affordable) rather sharp edged fairings for sale on Webbike, or the cheaper copy versions on ebay and Aliexpress.  Though I was tempted to buy one of them to try - simply because of the easier installation as they look to just bolt up to the headlight bolts.  But I was skeptical about how much wind protection they would provide compared to the GS1000S fairing.

But I think a mute point now as its very likely I'll be selling off a ton of gear and the bike and buying something else.

[Roo]

  170kms today plus a cigar and a coffee in Pahiatua NZ