Froudy's GSX14

[froudy]

Thought it was about time I sat on here and did a write up on mine.

Buying this bike wasn't planned at all.
I called into Thunder Road Motorcycles, Cwmbran at the beginning of March 2013..Mrs F didn't know what to get me for my birthday, so I suggested a rucksack would be a good idea. We walked in and there just inside was this beauty...



Now at the time I'd only just started back at work after having six moths off because I snapped my Achilles tendon. I was driving the Astra VXR and it was costing me £15 per day in petrol and £6 Severn Bridge toll...Three times a week!!!
I didn't wan't to ride my Bandit as a commuter bike and my KTM DukeII supermoto wasn't a suitable tool for a 70 mile per day, three times a week motorway thrash.
I had a look over the bike..It was pretty immaculate with only 5300 miles on the clocks and a price tag of £5100.
As expected a salesman approached and asked if I was interested in the bike. I said that I might be and it would depend on what they would offer me part ex on my KTM(Expecting very little) He took some details and actually offered me more than I'd paid for the KTM three years earlier

To cut a long story short, I took the GSX out for a test ride and the deal was done. I was now the proud owner of a GSX1400.
I'd better add here, that it was the most expensive rucksack I've ever purchased!!!

Now me being me, it didn't stay standard for long.
I can't remember the exact order of things I've done to it because there are too many (And I'm getting old, and I forget things if they're not written on Post-It notes)

I think one of the first mods was fitting drag bars, nice Chinese lever(That's another story!!!) and bar end mirrors.


Since then the list of mods goes on and on.
Wezmoto brake and clutch lines.
Oberon footpegs.
Re upholster seat.
Beowulf end can and link pipe with Oberon can hanger.
Various Pro-Bolt goodies including Chain adjuster blocks, rear axle nut and titanium chain adjuster bolts.
Hyper-Pro rear springs.
Stainless fittings all around where possible.
Stainless gear rod, swing arm pivot covers, luggage bobbins courtesy of Maxx.
Zeta brake clevis ..


Oberon goodies..


I had a jack up kit fitted for a while. I removed it because although it improved the handling it made it almost impossible for me manoeuvre the bike using my legs..Shame as I liked the riding position.

Stainless cam cover bolts along with PAIR blanking kit..


GiPro with ATRE fitted as well. Along with calibrating the TPS, this improved things no end..Much more throttle response.

Blue clock LED conversion done by our very own electronic's wizard..Thommohawk.


Now as some of you know, I ride this bike all year round in all weathers. The clocks are now on nearly 40,000 and it's beginning to show...Rust frame etc..
So, when I heard that I needed to go into hospital for an operation on my foot on Dec 10th last year I worked out that I had a few days between finishing my last shift and going in for the op. Just enough time to get the bike completely stripped, drop the frame over to Bristol for powder coat.





All went to plan apart from the day before I was due to go into hospital..Phone call.."Sorry Mr Froud, we've had to cancel your op for tomorrow"..So now I have to go back to work before Christmas
I borrowed my sons restricted Mk1 Bandit600 as he'd finished uni for the year. It was already dirty and saved me messing up my Bandit with salt and crap...Thanks Son



The operation was rescheduled for Jan 10th, so in the time I had I was able to refurbish everything, get the frame back and have it all rebuilt.


Engine in..










LED tail light in..


Blue LED clocks..



Everything worked out in the end.
MOT is due in a couple of weeks, by which time I'll hopefully be able to ride again

[Blubber]

i am pretty sure you missed something 

[froudy]

i am pretty sure you missed something 

I reckon I have too...Probably something really important too

[Notty]

Looks good Froudy !! only wish I could do some of those things !! How did you remove the S badge from the tank?

[froudy]

Looks good Froudy !! only wish I could do some of those things !! How did you remove the S badge from the tank?

Thanks Notty

The "S" badge was missing from the tank when I purchased the bike. The dealer didn't want the expense of fitting them either.
I just got a mate of mine to cut some proper "Suzuki" ones for me.
I prefer them to the "S" to be honest.

[lawrie]

Great job there Mr. froudy,  you should be proud of that, looks great.

I've seen the 'pairs' job done before, & excuse my ignorance, but just what exactly is the result of removing the system,  & is it worth doing?

[nod]

looking great,
so talented to do a strip like that,,h
hats off to you,,,,



could you point me in direction of the bar end mirrors ,you have ,,
like them,
many thanks

[froudy]

Thanks Lawrie and Nod

To be honest, my main reason for removing the PAIR system is just to tidy up and de clutter under the tank. To me it's just a pointless system forced on bike manufacturers to make their products "Greener"

Regarding being talented..I don't know about that. I just enjoy doing this sort of rebuild, even if it can get a bit stressful at times.
My lads red Bandit was a nut and bolt strip and rebuild, as was his DRZ400.
Every time I rebuild a bike I say it'll be the last one I'm doing..But it never is

[froudy]

My son rode my bike down for it's MOT today as I still can't ride.
Passed no problem apart from a mention of the exhaust being a bit loud and the number plate being illegal, size and font wise

My MOT man is a biker and sensible when it comes to MOT's

[seth]

 

[Mrg]

froudy

ive got the same on my bike baffles out small plate but my mot and bike mech is a biker to heart so he lets it go as much as he legally can

  huray for bike mech/ mot guys lol   

[Mick_J]

Exhaust noise is "an opinion" unless the MOT station has a standard bike in to compare it with, the station I use don't have any bikes so nothing to compare.

[seth]

my mot guy is great
i took emma's bike a couple of years ago the bulb had blown on the way passed mot as he knows it was changed soon as i got home.
my b/w fork seal went again on way to mot and again passed as bike went off the road for 6 weeks while i had the rechromed.
only think he wont let go is my exhaust but happy to pass the full sized race can.
just not the stubby one .
to be fair it us very loud .

[Basil Brush]

Steve. Your 14 is an absolute cracker - and you are a hero for working outside...

Couple of questions. What levers do you have?  And on your rear shock mounts. You have nice Allen bolts. Did you get them off eBay. Or just popped to your local bolt shop? Mine are minging. I've just took my torque arm bolts off. As they simply show the bike up. Gonna pop to local bolt shop to see if I can get fixed up. Is this what you did?

Many thanks.

[gsxbarmy]

Steve. Your 14 is an absolute cracker - and you are a hero for working outside...

Couple of questions. What levers do you have?  And on your rear shock mounts. You have nice Allen bolts. Did you get them off eBay. Or just popped to your local bolt shop? Mine are minging. I've just took my torque arm bolts off. As they simply show the bike up. Gonna pop to local bolt shop to see if I can get fixed up. Is this what you did?

Many thanks.

You may get a rear torque arm bolt Brian, but you won't get a front one, as its a stepped bolt. If you can get A4 Marine Grade stainless bolts, they fare better in wet weather