To keep my 91 FZR1000 or upgrade to a daytona?

[ouchmyhand]

I have recently found that my second and possibly third gear are beginning to crunch when shifting into gear. ( i swear i didn't do all the damage)

After my inquiries this will involve pulling almost the whole motor down to fix the gearbox, which is really quite expensive and will take a lot of time i don't really have. I cannot find a cheap motor to build whilst still using the current one so I am very seriously considering getting a newer bike.

I have two questions that i would really appreciate answers on. i am 6ft3 with long legs and the FZR1000 was one of the first big bikes i felt comfortable sitting on when shopping for my first litre bike, so many bikes just aren't an option for me as i just don't fit. Somehow i fit quite comfortably on my FZR, (except my wrists hit my knees when turning tightly).

1) Why do so many people fix the old fzr1000 when it may be more economical to get a newer bike with less problems? I really like my bike but can't justify the quoted $2k-$3k for a gearbox/engine rebuild. to still have a bike that is only worth $5k anyway. Please talk me into fixing the bike if it is indeed such a good bike as i haven't had many bikes so do not know what i am comparing it with.

2) I have recently found another bike that i am physically comfortable on, a Triumph Daytona, '95 - 06. naturally the newer low km ones are preferred as they will hopefully not require much (expensive) work for some time. I like most things about the daytona's i have tested so far, but it doesn't seem to pull from down low as well as my fzr, which for street riding (what i do) is one of the things i really like about the fzr. Top end pull is not used too often on the street (for me )

Any opinions or comments from the resident brotherhood gurus, (or anyone with an fzr) are most welcome as my experience is very limited.

Thanks,
Ed

[dragracer1951]

Do the work yourself for $1500 and know that it was done right. You never know for sure when you have some yahoo in a shop do it.
You'll learn a lot about yourself and your bike too.

[sickle44]

If it makes you feel any better Ed, I'm in the same process as you are, however, I'm not throwing, but am definitely spending quite a bit of cash on my machine, SSSarm, GSXR front Forks, R1 Subframe, and then comes the motor!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, bikes are a lot like signifigant others, there's much you admire about them but there are none that are perfect and you'd always like your bike to maybe just do....or maybe if.... you get the picture.

Can't say what it is for you but for me, I enjoy wrenching(most of the time) and I enjoy customizing. It was either buy something else or dump a tonne o cash into my old one.(either way the $$$ were about the same anyways) Most newer stuff, you're so ass over tea-kettle on or bolt upright. The FZR fits like no other for one and it wouldn't matter if I owned an MVAugusta F4, there would be something about it I just didn't like and wanted to change. The choice was quite obvious for me, hope you come to terms with it the way you need to.

I've heard all kinds of stories of how guys always wished they still had that one they sold and never should have. Hell, I still miss my Seca 750 and it was a big tub'o'shit compared to the FZR! (And anything else for that matter.)

[willi]

have you tryed changing the oil. its meant to be changed every 4 - 5000k's. the gear changes get clunky when the oil is due to be changed. also is your clutch operating correctly??? just a thaught

[ouchmyhand]

Thanks for the comments.

I am in the process of adjusting the valves and tuning the engine. I'm also giving it an all round service, including changing the oil/filters etc.

Part of the reason is to make sure my FZR is in the best possible condition it can be when i make my decision. So I my be lucky enough to have the oil change alleviate some of the gear change problems.

If i do fix it myself, I'll definitely need a second motor/gearbox to rebuild whilst i keep my current one going as I use it as my commuter quite often and can't afford to have it off the road for too long, (assuming too long is the length of time i would take to rebuild a motor and gearbox).

I was quoted $1800 for a bare motor yesterday. Where in Australia can i get a reasonably priced FZR motor and if i did this i would use the yzf750 gearbox, quoted at $550. I understand from all my reading here that i would be best off using a 94 or 95 motor with a yzf750 gearbox. is this the best option?

Ed

[stan]

Hi ED,

I recently helped one of our NZ friends find an FZR engine in OZ for his race bike

There are plently of find a part type web sites around

http://www.autorepairers.com.au/search/ ... _parts.htm
or
http://www.ansearch.com.au/reference/motorbike_parts

There is others, i will pm you when i find them
Or simply trade in the FZR and get the Daytona.

stan

[Noidly1]

It will cost a lot less to repair the tranny and refresh the engine and perform a few upgrades than what a new bike could cost. also, you will save money on insurance if you keep your bike. I am sure insurance will be higher for a new bike.

I am in the same shoes as you. I have a 90 fzr400 with a 600 motor. I crunched a gear and now I am going through the whole engine. I may end up spending 2 - 3 grand in the end but thats a lot cheaper than a new bike and I will know it's right when done...

[stan]

I pay a premium on my insurance for riding an older bike

I'm over 35, have a good driving /riding record, and my insurance premium is not that far off what i paid for an R1 back in 2000

Why i pleaded to the insurance man............
Not a lot of FZR's sold in OZ means quality parts are hard to find and cost heaps, due to the fact at best my bike is not worth much more than a couple of K, it becomes a right off very quickly

stan

ED, buy the Daytona