My L9!

[Columbo]

Its not a massive build thread but I will be doing a little work to her.

She's a 2000 reg L9 with 26k miles on the clock. In pretty good condition besides from a little rust and corrosion here and there.
The idea is to remove the corrosion and protect against it coming back and give her a little "refresh" while I'm at it.
So far, I've not found anything "Wrong". Suspension is set for a lighter rider so that'l get sorted.
I'm also going to replace the Head, Swingarm and wheel bearings, just to be on the safe side.
My mother turned ghost white when she saw it (I'm 18) so I need to keep her happy by making sure the bike is 100%.
After that is done, it's the basic stuff.
Double Bubble Screen, braided lines etc.


Here she is!

[cookiesol]

[RedexRobB]

Looking good!

[Columbo]

The first photo was when I picked her up in Cardiff at 3 in the afternoon.
I got back to London at 7pm.
By 9pm she looked like this...



I got the rear fairing off too but I didn't snap a picture.

The side fairings were held to the infills with CHEWING GUM!!!!

Now that everything is off the bike and I can get a good look, the work can start.
There is an absolute fookton of corrosion and dirt EVERYWHERE.

I've been putting together a list of stuff to do.

So far it goes like this -

Standardise fairing bolts (I removed a weird mix of all different shapes and sizes)
Fit 33bhp restrictors (Arrived today, ordered yesterday!!!)
Investigate a chunk missing from the left fork. The throttle cable has worn it down over the life of the bike. Gottta find out if its safe to ride on and how I can stop it from getting worse.

[Columbo]

Progress has been slow since I dont have massive amounts of space to store all the parts.
I've had to spend time organising the garage to allow me to keep going.

Need to get my hands on a set of paddock stands so I can make it a little easier.



Carbs will come off next, then some electric bits and the cooling stuff.
Once its a rolling chassis, I'll replace the head bearings, swingarm bearings and suspension linkage bearings as well as the wheel bearings front and rear..

[Columbo]

I decided to remove the lights and some electric bits.

Don't let monkeys wire up your after-market indicators!


Yes, the wires are wrapped in electrical tape and then wrapped again in duct tape.
That was a pain in the ass, only to discover that the wiring itself was also shoddy!
Bare wire, wrapped around a spade connector and soldered!

All lights removed and some bullet connectors will be fitted!

[Columbo]

Its the small jobs that are slowing me down.
Obviously the previous owners figured they could do it themselves and made a pigs ear of it...

Supergluing the number plate on...



It's slowing me down so much because I cant afford to break anything.

Exhaust obviously didn't seal too well...



The battle continues!

[Columbo]

1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100. Right?



Now just gotta drop the lump and split up the frame for powdercoating.

[monstermotogp]

very good read keep up the work!

[Columbo]

Dropped the engine!

[Columbo]

Got a new job in a motorcycle workshop. Loving it but 40 hours a week there as well as an evening shift delivering pizza means I haven't had much time to update anything. Lots of progress with the bike though!

Frame is stripped and ready for powdercoat!

Annoyingly, when I took it apart, the right ignition coil wouldn't budge so I had to take it to work with me where I had more tools at my disposal.



The yokes had also seized on so I had to beat them off too.



Just waiting for some rivnuts to arrive so I can drill out the existing ones and send it off.
All colours will be matched but the paint is wearing through so it needs doing.

While its away, I'll be rebuilding the forks and a set of GSXR calipers to put on it.
Also, I've been putting a little money aside each month so I'll be able to afford a Nitron Race shock (3 - way adjustment). I've found that the 2-way adjustment on the track shocks are a bit of a compromise. They compress too slow and rebound too fast. This way, I'll be able to adjust them separately.

[cookiesol]

the progress n process of doing up a bike

wooots! keep it up mate!

[Columbo]

Frame is powdercoated!

An unexpected expense means the bearings will have to wait until payday but the important bits are done!

[Columbo]

Nice big chunk of progress in the past few days.

Started with valve clearances and found something a little nasty.

Cracks in the chrome on the inlet cam lobes. Decided to let it fly for now but will need replacing at some point.
Engine went in the frame!

Bearings went in the swingarm!

Swingarm and shock linkage got mounted up!

Oh no! The Preload adjuster on the shock is completely seized! Good excuse for a Nitron!
Back wheel and yokes went on!

And then the forks. clipons and sidestand to allow it to stand up!

Finished off with the subframe!

I want to point out that everything from the 3rd image and onwards was done between 5:30pm and 10pm.

Next step is the loom!

[cargo]

chrome cam lobes ?

Whatever next