Saved from the Scrapyard -Budget Motorcycle Restoration - Honda CBR600F3 Part 1
Part 1: The Bike, The problems, The strip down.
August 2022: In this current cost of living crisis I need cheap economic transport. My budget is tight, but using my own time & spannering skills I think I can make this happen. Not metal sculpture, but the same philosophy I take on it in respect of sustainability, recycling and making good the things we have. So important to me and all of us in the coming years ...
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I just happen to have a motorcycle license and now, after a few years away from two wheeled transport ... my 9th Honda CBR. She was tired, unloved, tatty, one foot from the grave ... but a legend! She actually had a valid but short MOT and I rode her home about 80 miles. Whether or not she should have had is open for debate! Some of the things I found were pretty uncool to be honest.
Anyway ... it's time to give her a fresh chance but I'm trying to do this on a tight budget ... under £1500 all in, and that has to include the bike, tyres, chain, spares, paint ... and anything else she needs to make her safe, reliable, legal and at least somewhere near her former glory. Any savings I can make will generally come through the fruits of my own labour ... and thats the main message and inspiration I hope to give from these next 3 videos. If I can do this, probably so can you!
Don't bin it, save it! Make better use of the resources we have. Sustainability, making good and getting the maximum out of what we have is so important for all of our futures.
In order to achieve this I will use any and all resources available to me, taking advantage of KZfaq tutorials, bike forums, facebook groups and blagging the odd favour here and there!
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I took a bit of a punt on the bike, generally trusting the word of the seller and what few pictures were posted. Generally speaking the ride home gave me alot of confidence in her potential, but she was very cheap and the reasons why soon became apparent.
The most urgent issue was the frame, surface rust everywhere. Not yet a structural problem but one that would have killed her in a year or two if untreated. So that was the main job and it necessitated a total strip down ... which also gave me the opportunity to find all of the other problems and give her some long overdue care and attention, not to mention giving me an all new appreciation of what she is, what she can do and, more importantly, an in depth knowledge of her every nut, bolt and mechanism.
I've already fallen in love with her, she's my baby! It is my mission to save her, keep her and enjoy many years of future riding. She's not quite the Honda Fireblades I used to ride but she is truly a legend and she's got more than enough for me these days, as well as doing 60mpg and costing a mere £20 / month to tax and insure (with breakdown cover thrown in) Now THAT is economical transport!
This will probably turn in to 3 videos. I had hoped to do it in 2 but there is a lot of content to edit and I want to make this a useful video for other CBR600F3 owners and (having spent 130 hours on the job) give as much of an in depth insight in to what is involved in tackling this sort of thing for anyone out there considering giving it a go.
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My history on bikes / mechanics:
I've owned ten bikes over the years, starting with a Yamaha TZR 125, and then going through the full range of Honda's 1990 CBRs. 3 CBR400RRs, now 2 CBR600Fs and 4 of the mighty CBR900RR Fireblades.
I changed an engine on one of the Blades once, but that's pretty much it. Never worked on a bike aside from that. I would describe my mechanical ability as 'handy with a spanner'. I've done plenty of services on my own cars, fluids, filters, brake pads, the usual kind of thing. Maybe a rocker cover gasket or a new alternator on the odd occasion, but far from any level of real in depth experience.
So these videos will, I hope, show that if you are able to do those sorts of things, then you can do this too. It's just time, patience and desire to do it. But be under no illusion, this isn't for the faint of heart, know what you are getting yourself in to or you will end up like so many others, with a box of bits and no motivation to tackle what will seem like a never ending task with no finish line in sight!
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Part 1 is the strip down, assessment, fixing problems and getting the frame restored.
Part 2 is the rebuild, the start of some cosmetic fixes and the first start!
Part 3 is the remains of the bodywork, a few finishing touches, a test ride or two! ... and a breakdown of my costs and time.
Hope this is of interest / use to you. It is one of the most satisfying projects I've ever undertaken.
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