Project GSX-Reborn: Episode 5
By Bruce Dunn
Welcome Back to BeMoto Project GSX-Reborn. The story so far...
Episode 5: Mystery Solved!
Originally purchased from a local lad, our Suzuki 2003 GSX-R600 K3 was passed on to Al Fagan from 44 Teeth, who had all the good intentions of doing something with it. He didn't get round to it, so it sat unloved for a few years before returning to BeMoto HQ - where it sat for another few years in a damp garage!
As you’ll recall from Episode 1: Stunted Growth, the bike is a bit of a mystery as far as its past goes - fitted with a set of ugly wrap-around engine crash bars, the sort of thing stunt riders usually fit to their bikes - yet there seemed little evidence of any stunting; the usual tell-tale signs, such is a big rear sprocket and heavily re-profiled (i.e. massively dented) petrol tank to aid 'high-chair' wheelies just weren't there.
Then recently, by chance I spoke to the previous owner, the lad that had bought it from the person who fitted the crash bars and pick-and-mix bodywork – and it turns out that I knew him too! Biking is a small world. It was Ben, who used to work on Bike magazine, and apparently he and a pal had purchased the GSX-R for the sole intention of practising stunts, wheelies and burn outs. As soon as I found this out, I called Ben and he confirmed he'd owned the bike for a short period and got to do wheelies and skids on a strip of disused land. And much to my relief he said the engine and gearbox were fine, which sort of confirms what I had found out by the way the bike fires up and runs perfectly, in fact much better than you would assume by its original appearance.
So right now we're at a stage where there have been some big steps made in the appearance - it's beginning to look like it's actually been cared for, and some of the cash spent is visually evident. As you can see in the pictures we have had the wheels powder coated and there is a new chain and sprocket... and drum roll... the bodywork has been painted.
Applying the Finishing Touches, Almost.
If you remember we got a set of bodywork from the Trackday Addicts Facebook Group that had been half prepped, but needed painting and finishing where the headlight protruded, and the single race seat needed to be neatly sculptured – and all of this was taken care of by Phil Guillou from PGR Racepaint, who's done a cracking job. The final stage for the bodywork is to give it some flash graphics, which will probably be one of the last jobs to be done prior to testing the bike on the track.
Fitting the bodywork is relatively easy because all the panels are the original ABS plastic type. Even the front faring without the headlight cut out fits straight onto the original bracket, which makes it look neat and tidy. A bit of a tip when fitting bodywork is to get new fasteners. A lot of the old screws were odd and rusty. I sourced a universal fitting kit from Amazon for £19.99 which works out perfectly, it even comes with the OE type of rubber well nuts.
Now all that's left to do is to fit a set of rearsets, and I'd also like to get a full exhaust system at some point, but realistically because of the cost I will have to settle for just a fruitier sounding silencer. I will have to see what's out there nearer the time.
Special thanks to:
GSX-R600 K3 Spend So Far... £2,969.17
These are the bits we bought this month.
- Bodywork prepared and painted £670.00
- Fairing fastener kit £19.99
- Rearset kit £76.95
Total £766.94
Tally: £2,969.17 (including the bike)
Target: £3,000 (including the bike)
Also, why not check out our various track and race bike insurance products to see how BeMoto can help insure you, your bike(s) and your race van.
