Donatello's money pit

[Donatello]

Hey guys, for a couple of years I always wanted a GSX 1400 but since my friends always had fast new bikes I went with them, my last bikes are a KTM 990 SM, then a Z750-R and the last bike before my GSX 1400 was a MT/FZ 09.
What attracts me the most to a GSX 1400 is just the size of the bike, it's so big and the lines resemble the oldschool superbikes from the 80's. I've always wanted to build a GSX 1100 with upgrades brakes, suspenion and wheels but why would I bother when Suzuki already offers the whole package?

The father from a friend had a GSX 1400 and when he died of cancer my friend asked me if I wanted the bike from him, the price was good and the bike had a few upgrades in the form of a GIVI top holder and a MDI fatbar with B-king mirrors. So since two weeks I'm now an owner of a GSX 1400 and I already had some plans with it so I made a list:

- New oil + filter
- New tires
- Powdercoat the white wheels black
- Exhaust, I really want an Akra 4-1 titanium exhaust
- refresh lower front forks, there is some oxidation
- Gear indicator in the rpm gauge

New oil and filter is easy, but new tires and powdercoat them black meant also new bearings and since the wheels came out I took out the front forks to paint.
Since both wheels had to be removed I had to put the bike up with a crane and I also started to remove the exhaust because there was a company on ebay that sold the Akra exhaust. As many people here know the exhaust bolts are a pain in the *ss the remove. I already socked them a couple of days in oil but sadly one broke off. I also send the gauges to Paul in the UK so he can fit the gear indicator and switch the oem background lights to white (not a fan of the blue)

The bike before I rode it home



Snapped bolt.



Luckely I have a father who rides old pre-WWII Harley's so he knows a thing or two about snapped bolts. I also just did a turbo build on my MX-5 so I'm no stranger to rust.





I bought the Akrapovic on ebay but I got a message from the seller it would take 4-6 weeks to order the exhaust if that was oke or else they would refund me. Since I can't find the Akrapovic anywhere else I said I would wait, but today I got the message they can't deliver until october at earliest.... That means the rest of the summer riding with the stock exhaust that has a rattle on both sides (probably loose parts in the exhaust). If someone can point me to a new or good as new titanium Akra please let me know!!

On the bright side yesterday I managed to win on ebay XJR1300 ohlins rear shocks (the good ones) for a steal (seller still has to contact me tho so I hope everything goes well) maybe a good moment to buy ohlins/hyperpro front springs also.

The bikes that inspired me to buy and modify a GSX 1400:



I know this one was from a member on here, can someone point me to his build topic please?

[gsxbarmy]

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=2210.0

Bike since sold.

The original build topic was on the old forum, kanerdog kindly re-created the above topic for posterity 

[Tony Nitrous]

The bikes that inspired me to buy and modify a GSX 1400:

Owned by Des here in Brisbane.
Not sure if it's his first or 2nd 1400.
The first one was stolen (on CCTV) and never seen again.

[Donatello]

Ok so after thinking everything trough what I wanted to do I made a list and went shopping on ebay, amazing to see how much more stuff there is in the UK compared to the rest of Europe.


What I've done:

I already send the dails to Paul (Tommohawk) to fit white LED's and the gear indicator
Air filter (also needed, see photo)


In progress:

ignition and alternator cover refurb
Wheels are almost done getting powdercoated black with new Angel GT tires



Waiting for parts:

I won Ohlins XJR shocks on ebay for only 300,- euro's, should be here in a couple of days
Braided brake lines
New progressive front springs (Hyperpro)
LED indicators from China


To do:

Install new front fork seals and bushes
Refurb the front fork
Install the full Akra system I bought on ebay UK, really happy with this since it makes the bike look so much nicer.
New wheel bearings (really needed, see photo)

Still searching for a passenger rest left side without the exhaust mount.












Stuff I want to do in the future:

New/aftermarket oil cooler
Matt airbox sidecovers
Aftermarket rider pegs

[KiwiCol]

Speaking of money pit, have an add up when you're done & let us know what the bike owes you / how much you've put into it.  That'd be very interesting I reckon.

[seth]

@Donatello you have a pm about parts you require .
Seth

[Donatello]

@Donatello you have a pm about parts you require .
Seth

Didn't got it yet? Could you try to send it again?

[seth]

Pm just resent 

[Donatello]

Spend my day off sanding and polishing the side covers, I wanted a more brushed look so I used a red scotchbright pad as my last step, then I covered it with 3 coats of heat resistant clear coat.
I sprayed the Suzuki logo black then sanded the overspray off with a higher grit sanding paper.

I could have done them more thorough but the small corners took a lot of time and between working on the bike I also had to care for my 3 month old baby.

[KiwiCol]

They've come up nice, not meant for close ups, but looking at them from standing, they'll look very smart & a bit different to the usual (mine) polished cases.

[seth]

That's a different look
And for one I like it .

[Sweaty]

They've come up nice & should blend in with the swing arm.

[Donatello]

They've come up nice & should blend in with the swing arm.

That was the idea  from a total view of the bike it looks the same finish.

[Masterbates]

I really think you nailed it @Donatello brushed looks better then polish IMHO    The black Suzuki lettering nearly looks like a factory option

[Sweaty]

They've come up nice & should blend in with the swing arm.

That was the idea  from a total view of the bike it looks the same finish.

As they say "great minds think alike"