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How I saved a 93 Red/White/Blue 900RR from certain doom

118K views 788 replies 44 participants last post by  exuptoy 
#1 · (Edited)
I've hemmed and hawed about where to start this thread. Ultimately I decided to put it here, as it's not really about the build as a street fighter, but more so about how I resurrected a crashed RR for free, and got paid to do so.

The back story begins in 1998ish while working for my local Honda dealer as a tech. A 93 Red White & Blue 900RR came into the shop crashed, needing a repair estimate. The upper cowl, headlight assembly, and tail section were pretty smashed up. Frame had "marks" on it, and the swing arm was dented. Adding these high dollar items to the crash estimate deemed the bike a total loss. After numerous attempts to contact the owner in regards to paying the bill (only $58), he never responded. Numerous certified letters went unanswered, and the bike was never claimed by any insurance company. I talked the manager in to turning it into a "standard". That was the term we used before "streetfighter" became the norm.

At the time, making a street fighter was quite uncommon, especially in the northeast. I came up with a relatively cheap way to keep the bike going, getting a single headlight kit from K&L, and the related mounts. Front turn signals from a CB1000, and we had a local upstart metal fab company weld on bracing underneath the triple clamp to add the CB1000 risers and bars. All the original 900 switchgear was used, and new tires were fitted. We had another local guy on a newer RR, and he had just upgraded his exhaust to a full Micron Carbon system, no longer needing the Two Brothers unit. The shop bought it from him for me to use. Perfect. The frame was already polished, however the guy who did it did a helluva bad job, almost sanding off all the lumpy welds. I just cleaned it up a bit.

I talked the service manager in to letting me "build" this fighter during down time and during the winter of 98-99. The manager had aspirations to then own the bike (as the dealerships). I finished the build, using a Second Look seat skin, Sharkskinz tail section, and a tank we had from a different crasher (a 96 RR I believe, with the two hole mounts on the front, vs. the 93's single hole mount).

Being that my dealer was also a automobile dealer, we used their body shop to paint the tank, side covers and tail section in Triumph Racing Red. I was told I needed to make it a "road legal" machine, however never put a gauge cluster on it. I did however mickey mouse an old magna idiot light assy. to the top clamp to at least know if I had high beams, oil, and was in neutral.

This picture denotes the end of the build from 1998. Yeah, that's me, but pay no attention to that. The bike was never sold or bought back by the dealer, we just threw the dealer plate on it and ripped. We called it Project Bike. Subsequent posts will reveal how this bike recently re-entered my life. Enjoy the thread, and upcoming bike porn (digital, BTW).
 

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#3 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

That's the kind of story I like reading. Nice job, bike looks great and even though it's clearly not Honda red, I think its even better. :nod:
Rep given!
Thanks Jondog! I've found that writing them is very satisfying. This one should be interesting. Good content coming up, stay tuned!
 
#4 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

I think most of the folks here are aware that I am not a fan of 'fighters, but I would rather see a bike revived and still riding than to get parted out or scrapped. Good work on it, and a good looking colour to boot!
 
#5 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

I think most of the folks here are aware that I am not a fan of 'fighters, but I would rather see a bike revived and still riding than to get parted out or scrapped. Good work on it, and a good looking colour to boot!
Funny thing is, I'm not sure this bike can be a fighter much longer. A not so distant future may hold a cafe racer............I totally respect that fighters aren't your cup of tea. I personally am privy to the full complement of bodywork as well, however this RR became what it is for the enjoyment of the build and surely kept it from a slow, agonizing, painful death. It's a great story to be told. Hang in there Demon, you'll enjoy the thread. :)
 
#6 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

So the project bike was used through out the dealership as a "shop bike", for if you had your license but didn't own a bike and wanted to partake in the dealer sponsored "rides" throughout the year. Slap the dealer plate on and away you went. I did this a few times, as I was the creator so I felt I was entitled to show it off. This went on for a few years, after I sold my 93 in 1999. I ended up leaving the dealership in 2004, and the fate of the project bike was left in the hands of whoever wanted to call it their own.

Not to my surprise, apparently nobody gave a sh!t about it and its fate was to sit dormant in an off site storage site across the street from the dealership. It was kind of a bone yard for bikes that the owner had collected over the years, which included an S90, CBR1000RR Repsol (which by the way has never been ride. To the best of my knowledge), an 89 Hawk GT as well as MINT CB-1.

I didn't really leave the dealership on the best of terms (I was given a choice of a lateral pay move, and lose the manager title). At the time of me leaving my hobby had become my career, and I began to hate my job. So I left motorcycling all together. Being that the dealer was in my home town and I had an accord, a snowblower, a lawn mower, a weed whacker (all Honda) it was inevitable that I would be back in there at some point soon after. Well, not the case. I didn't step foot back into the dealership until about 4 years after I left. That brings us to 2008, and I had subsequently lost my job then too in the countertop industry. I ended up with a 1972 CB350F that was given to me by my buddy Dave who sold me the 93 RR I used to own ( not a blade, but the rebuild was well documented with digi photos for a general discussion thread in the future) with the engine out and the top end all apart. I got that back together and rode it for a year or so, re establishing my connection with the dealer.

From there we get to 2010 when I decide to sell the 350F which was a cool bike all things considered. I began my career as a local "town employee". Cut to 2013, where a theft of car tires is taking place at the Auto portion of my local dealer. The sales manager from the motorcycle department responds to check the vehicles that were damaged. Oh yeah, it's 0230 in the AM sometime this past June. For some reason we get talking and he tells me, "hey, you know we still have YOUR old project bike here just collecting dust." Hmmmmmmm. No, I didn't know that. Interesting. I asked him when the last time it ran was, and he said maybe sometime in 2008 but he wasn't sure. So I tell him cool, I'm VERY interested and I will talk to the GM of motorcycle whom I've known since 1988.

I had a number in my head all things being considered (well mostly a number that I thought would be an outright steal). I met with he GM and we hashed out a quick deal for the bike. I offered cash, and he agreed. The catch was that I had to get a title and get it registered. That consisted of 4 trips to DMV and some schmoozing. Oh, and I thought $500 bucks was a fair price. He agreed. Sold.

I knew I had some work to do, and the first step was the battery. I got the new one in, and thumbed the start button just to see if it turned over. Yup, nice and easy she spun. Full compliment of oil on board (from who knows when, still a light golden brown). I took the tank off and and the airbox. No mice, no chewed wires, just years of dust. It's time to go into the carbs. The tank was empty, and it still had the fuel pump. Pump was swiftly deleted. I have more pics coming, but seeing that its 0256am and I'm on my phone with limited capabilities I'll have to update tomorrow with some nice bike porn.

Stay Frosty!

This is how she looked when I rolled her off my truck the next week.
 

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#8 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

great story ian looking forward to the update on this one :)

Thanks Chops!

So the first thing I needed to do was clean the thing up a bit.. Check. Then, get the thing running...........oh boy, well not too bad some money here and there, but nothing major. The best part about this deal I made was that there was a FREE 99 RR that came with the 93! Yup, you heard right, a FREE bike! However, it too was crashed, and in more dire straights than Project Bike.

And so the work begins..............


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#9 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Heck yeah man I'm digging the thread. Were the carbs stored with fuel or ran dry? The red thing is what you currently have right? Also I like the silver crashed bike. What ever happened to it. I'm sure its soon to come. :-

Haven't seen this thread till now. Keep it coming!
 
#10 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Heck yeah man I'm digging the thread. Were the carbs stored with fuel or ran dry? The red thing is what you currently have right? Also I like the silver crashed bike. What ever happened to it. I'm sure its soon to come. :-

Haven't seen this thread till now. Keep it coming!
Yeah I have the red bike legally on the road and am riding it. The silver 99 is stripped of all bodywork (it was all smashed and the tank needs your handy work to fix lol). The carbs are going to be the best part of the beginning of this thread. Not dry, varnished to sh!t. That took a while to clean. Many photos to come.

The 99 was also at the shop next to the red bike sitting there leaking oil and not run since 2004, just after I left he dealership. They TOLD me to take that one too when I bought the red one. Hahahahahaha. Gotta get the motor repaired on the 99. The carbs are clean, and that may as well be its own thread far in the future. I'm not going anywhere here for a while!!!!!!
 
#12 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Awesome thread, loved your last one as well.
Thanks Mike, very appreciative.

So I gotta get a look at the carbs, so lets start there.

Remove the tank. Note the nasty looking fuel valve. This one still utilized the fuel pump, but I robbed the actuator and the petcock from the 99 to delete the 93's fuel pump. Photo of that to follow down the line.

Here you can see the clutch perch and pivot bolt. I had to also rob that from the 99 because some years ago the dealer took the one off the 93 (it was originally a Shadow VT750c black actuator with the threaded lug for the mirror) to put on a bike they had in service. Bums never replaced it. So, the screw being used for the pivot bolt was actually some kind of nasty course thread wood screw jammed in there by the previous owner of the 99. I only used it to make sure the bike shifted gears, etc. Unacceptable.

Rats nest of wires, I cant really remember tearing into the harness like this, but I guess I did. I had to delete the second headlight feed, and clean up the horn leads. But its ugly under the airbox. This will get cleaned up once I get the gauges going, etc.

Carbs are out, and 2 of the 4 slides are stuck, wont budge.......errrrrrrr:rant:

The 2 needles and slides that were stuck, UUUUUGLLLLLLY!

Nasty floats, and look at the slow/choke circuit brass jet. They feed fuel to the Air Cut Off Valves (the plungers that open when you actuate the choke cable). When those get plugged its almost a death sentence. I got lucky and got them sorted out. I have a specific wire gauge set from Honda. A special tool for cleaning carb jets. I love it. I'll throw a pic up here with the part number. If they are still available its a must have tool for antiquated carbureted motorbikes. lol

Hope they're still available if someone tries to order them.

Main jets, emulsion tubes, and slow jets soaking in a nasty bath of carburetor cleaner and stale fuel varnish. I cleaned them all by hand, with elbow grease and a wire brush. Came out awesome.

So I tackled the small bits first, then tore the carbs down to nothing before separating them and putting them in the ultrasonic bath for 4 hours.........Details on that coming up.

Automotive exterior Fuel tank Fender Gas Vehicle


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#13 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Ever notice how Ian likes to give us little bits at a time and stand back laughing as we scroll down the page to find the rest that he hasn't included yet?!?!..... bastid.... Good job so far, I guess I'll be sitting here waiting for the next post now.... again.....
 
#15 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Ever notice how Ian likes to give us little bits at a time and stand back laughing as we scroll down the page to find the rest that he hasn't included yet?!?!..... bastid.... Good job so far, I guess I'll be sitting here waiting for the next post now.... again.....
Hahahahahahahahahahaha. So true. And thanks.

I have a hard time finding computer time. I work the graveyard shift with limited to no Internet while at work. My phone is the only source then, and it's limited. I wish I could get through an entire post without stopping, but the truth is it takes me a good 30-45 minutes to create the photo timeline, downloading and uploading and jockeying them around so the post has some flow. I'm using photobucket now, and it's a PITA to put 60 pics there at one time, waiting, and then trying to put them in order. I have so many pics it will make your head spin (and I know you love them). So I try to keep the suspense up and desire high. lol

I'm not bitchin, just explainin. I wish I was more fluent and had more time to sit at the computer, I would have sooooooo many more posts. I can't even find time to ride lately!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, this one is from my phone, as I'm about to do nappy nap time. And besides, a post here, a post there, will always have you coming back for more. :D
 
#14 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

I like how its always split up helps keep the suspense on whats next.
HONDA tip cleaners holy F$@& that's awesome. I'm definitely getting some. I only pay 1.50 for mine lol. Same things but don't say Honda. So yours are WAY cooler. Those are carb tuner best friends
Dang those needle and slide looked crusty. All stock or had bike been jetted before?
AND those HONDA tip cleaners is there one small enough for the tiny hole on the primary small jets rangeing dirtbike too? Mine never so I gotta use single strand copper wire. Also do your cleaners have knurls down the sides of them for say fileing jets to enlarge holes?
 
#16 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

I like how its always split up helps keep the suspense on whats next.
HONDA tip cleaners holy F$@& that's awesome. I'm definitely getting some. I only pay 1.50 for mine lol. Same things but don't say Honda. So yours are WAY cooler. Those are carb tuner best friends
Dang those needle and slide looked crusty. All stock or had bike been jetted before?
AND those HONDA tip cleaners is there one small enough for the tiny hole on the primary small jets rangeing dirtbike too? Mine never so I gotta use single strand copper wire. Also do your cleaners have knurls down the sides of them for say fileing jets to enlarge holes?
It's got a Factory Pro jet kit in it. The needles came out and scrubbed up ok. I think when it was originally crashed it had a V&Hss3 pipe on it that was toast. The jet cleaners are smooth, not knurled. Yeah the smallest one fits through the non-removable choke jet, at least on these carbs. The carbs on the 99 were actually worse. More to come tomorrow. :thumb:
 
#17 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Awe well knowing there just smooth I don't need them. When I'm tuning jets for custom pipes and stuff for dirtbikes I never buy jets only needle I'll file thru the jet to enlarge it just enough. Sometimes ill sand the needle, Takes time but by afternoons over its smooth as butter thru low to high mid etc. I do a lot dirtbikes and stuff is where most my carb tuneing comes from.

Can't wait for more build info :)
 
#20 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Thanks NC03GT, and LC as well. I've been away again for the States' Labor Day Holiday weekend so I was not around to get any posts in. So I think I left off with getting the carbs out and freeing up some stuck slides. Once those came out, It seemed to go pretty much as I planned. A few special orders for some O-rings that had dry rot, and the Ultrasonic bath. They cleaned up nice.


O-rings on the fuel junctions - all replaced



All Split up and ready for their bath. A quick look and you would think they are a set off a V-4 (RC45 wouldda been nice! lol)



Back from the bath and ready to go back together. Time consuming, but I see it as mental health and stress relief. :)



So during my rebuild I noticed that on the top of the emulsion tube in the bore of the carb were these little brass deflectors. They seemed to be glued in, and after the ultrasonic bath I mistakenly knocked one loose. I thought it was odd, but nonetheless cant have these things flying off at speed. The other three were barely holding on as well. I deleted them. And when I took the 99's carbs out, I noticed Honda did not put them on those carbs. That solidified my decision, and away they went.



The larger top part of the emulsion tube (where the Jet Needle sits) is where they were attached. No longer!



Fuel pump and associated plumbing removed.........



In lieu of a newly rebuilt 99 petcock assy.



I had a bit of a time getting it back together as it was being a little Cheeky. I found a parts breakdown once I got my manual and figured it out. The old vacuum valve was missing the solid plastic disk, and I couldn't figure out where it went. No worries, got it right.



Carbs back in and runs like a champ!!!!!!! Got em synched up and DONE. I got it registered and insured, and is on the road. Next up for this bike is a 600F4I gauge cluster a 17" wheel, and a winter tear down, polish, and clean. Thread to continue................



Ebay $150, not too bad I thought...



And vfrman sent me a nice looking 17" front wheel. Pic coming soon!

Peace for now!

17" NC30 front

 
#21 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Pheww I hated having to order those expensive orings for the fuel and air T's I looked everywhere for them saw all kinds of orings here and there differnt stores, nothing was close enough. So I Broke down ordered them too. But not a drop or leakage :)

Cool deal with 17" inch wheel conversion are you gonna still beable to use the fender?
AWEEE YEAA polishing can't wait to see it. Makes me wanna go make mine even shinier with hours of sweat and labor lol :-/

When do you plan on starting these projects?
Ill be patiently waiting in the meantime
 
#23 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Riser is from a CB1000, as well as the bars and front turn signals. The stock clamp was modified to fit the risers. Ignition is still in the stock location. But that may change when I start to mount up the 600's clocks. The idiot light cluster is off an old junked Magna we had laying in a box of scrap parts at the shop during the initial build. Ugly, but it worked.



The clean up and re polishing will be over the winter, prob Nov thru March. The 99 will hopefully have a running engine by then as well. Then I have to figure out its fate. Sell, part out, or keep to get some track time under my old belt. Been waiting 20 years to get on a track. Well see. The 93 will most likely be a keeper forever.:idunno:
 
#24 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Whats the mileage on that bike Ian?
Do you ride alot or just now and than when you get the time?
is the gauge gonna be winter project too or it going on soon with the wheel?
iv already got 17" front wheel like to see if fender fits?
I rode in rain again other night I need a front fender and rear tire hugger
 
#25 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Whats the mileage on that bike Ian?
Do you ride alot or just now and than when you get the time?
is the gauge gonna be winter project too or it going on soon with the wheel?
iv already got 17" front wheel like to see if fender fits?
I rode in rain again other night I need a front fender and rear tire hugger
I'm not too sure about the mileage. Records from the dealer back in 98 said 8k. I tossed the original gauge cluster back then. So I can't remember. The engine isn't a match from the original purchase back in 93. I would venture a guess by the amount of carbon on the valves that its over 30k but totally a guess. I think the new cluster shows around 17k. I ride it sparingly. Not as often as I would like to. I haven't been on it in 3 weeks or so. Don't worry about the front fender, on my original 93 I had a 17" Performance Machine front wheel on with a 70 series tire. It fit just fine, no rubbing.

I think the wheel and gauges are going to be over the winter. I don't want to take it all apart now, we have some of the best riding weather in the fall. But who knows, maybe I'll get motivated and try and mount up the clocks before then.
 
#26 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Sigh of relief, good to hear that the fender will still fit I need to get one!
really 3weeks. I go 3 hours I get pissy and I can't deal with it. Lol not 3 hours really but 3 days ill wanna die. Especially if shes running and just needs to be turned on.

I'm ready for fall to get here it'll cool down to 85 vs 105

Pheww. Over 30k.. you know what that means right.??
#3 rods on the way out :-(

then battery
then r/r
then stator

Hahaa just messing with ya!

Seen quite a few f4i gauges going on 900rrs same with vfr swinger.
What does the f4i do better. Still have no fuel gauge on 900rr isn't temp sender different. Need speedometer healer and think something else too?
I haven't done them I don't see the point ..
id like to run smaller gauges digital speed and tachometer rpms
also wanna make my tank 6gallons with f4i fuel pump and fuel float for fuel gauge

Ready to see some progress and your build Ian :)
 
#27 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

For some reason unknown, I stole the entire rear brake set up off the 99 and put it on the 93. I also had to take the foot peg mount and hardware as well, as the master cylinder is off set vs. the 93's. Easy enough, the whole unit just got unbolted and snaked it in. Good to go.





A keen eye would know that the 93 has black calipers.



900rrHonda, I don't know why the 600F4i gauges are so sought after. I read in LambChops's revamp that he did it, and it was so cool 2 years I figured I had to do it too. hahahahahahahaha I guess the rage is the digital read out, the easy of connections, and the clock. I got a face plate from LC, as he had a spare and fitted it up. Looks awesome. Yeah, I still gotta get a speed sensor from a 95-96-97, and a healer, but what's a build without adding needless items?!:smilebig: Progress is slow on this one, as I've been in some training and my kids are knee deep in fall sports, neither of which fall on different days, so my wife and I are in two different towns with one kid at the same time. Time management is key. Anyhow, updates will follow as they happen.

600 clocks



Prior to new Tach face



And Installed Thanks Chops!!!!!!!




Oh yeah, and I had to repair a broken stud. No worries. Bought it like that.





 
#29 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

So I haven't hung the keys up just yet for the bike. It's been so great outside here recently I just couldn't take it apart. So, I decided to get even more motivated to ride it. I took the CB1000 bars off and put the 99 crashed bars on. Gives it more of the Cafe look.



So I may get another ride out of her again before she's stripped and cleaned.
 
#31 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

So I haven't hung the keys up just yet for the bike. It's been so great outside here recently I just couldn't take it apart. So, I decided to get even more motivated to ride it. I took the CB1000 bars off and put the 99 crashed bars on. Gives it more of the Cafe look.
View attachment 57575

So I may get another ride out of her again before she's stripped and cleaned.
Looks great Ian love that!! :thumb:
 
#30 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Oh yeah, and this has given me some motivation as well. I haven't bought it yet, but a friend of mine let me borrow it because it was too small for him now. lol fits me just fine. If the price is right it's an early Christmas for me!



Now just need some matching boots! Yeee haaw
 
#32 ·
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Thanks LC. Thinking of going aftermarket clip ons for a racer look, and trying to find nice rear sets as well. Tough being its so old now. Gonna do some frame sliders and still gotta get the loom going for the 600 clocks, as well as a bracket to hold it. I might lose the giant headlight too. With the straight bars on it I guess I used a different clutch cable (I can't remember half the stuff I did to this thing originally!!!). The 93 originally had an almost 90 degree bend in the cable right off the perch. This one and subsequent 900's are straight. So it's mad long. More to come here once she gets put away.
 
#33 · (Edited)
Re: How I saved a 93 R/W/B RR from certain doom

Ok, Some random shots before she REALLY gets put away for the season.........:eyebrows:

Then a request for your trusted input.

Taking the straight bars off



Stole the clip ons from the crasher 99











After a good wash








So now the question, the Dunlop Sportmax II tires are from the 12th week of 2000. Does anyone believe that I shouldn't be running them? The closer I get to the chicken strip on the left side there is a noticeable squirrely feeling as if the rear end is gonna wash out. The problem I have with letting them go is they are like brand new as far as tread depth.

Rear



Rear



Rear



Front



All input welcome, thanks guys and gals. Hopefully I can get the build going soon with the clocks and other work.

Cheers
 
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