Restoring an original Fireblade - step by step

[Spock]

I have taken the first steps in restoring a pretty-good-to-start-with 1993 original Fireblade.

I plan to keep a record for your viewing and reading pleasure (actually - more for mine!).

Here is my first modest start:

Before - Tank with 'Unleaded Fuel Only' sticker and carbon fibre-lookalike tank protector (yuk).



After - (used a hairdryer, my fingernails and some 'goo remover):

[Spock]

This is an old-style 80s & 90s Honda mirror as fitted to my '93 blade - pretty smelly. These are known in Honda circles as the 'condom' mirrors.



This is a new-style (condom-less) mirror - much nicer!



These are the droopy old indicators - large and fugly



Here is the old-style and a modern Honda indicator side by side.



Here is the after pic - much tidier!

[Spock]

A few more cosmetic enhancements:

The black plastic of the old fairing inserts was sun-faded so I lashed out on new trims:



Ditto the chain guard



New chain guard (still waiting on the sticker)



Finally (for now) the bars ends were rusty - can't have that! So:



A big job I have to do next is fit my new sprocket set 15/44 (stock 16/42)



These should give it some 'get up and go'!

[thro]

Nice.


Hey spock, any reason you didn't go for the new honda style smoked indicators? Just wanting to keep it more authentic? They're the same size/shape as the ones you fitted, just with an orange bulb and smoked lenses...

[Cam]

Looks slick as.

[Spock]

Originally Posted by thro

Nice.


Hey spock, any reason you didn't go for the new honda style smoked indicators? Just wanting to keep it more authentic? They're the same size/shape as the ones you fitted, just with an orange bulb and smoked lenses...

I did consider the smoked ones (as per the indicators on my 2007 CBR125R) but then I found that each indicator costs $100 (and I needed 4) whereas orange lens ones aftermarket exact replicas are available for 'only' $50 each. At half the price it was an easy choice - orange lenses it was!

btw - I tried swapping over the smoked lenses and bulbs from my CBR125 to the wife's 2003 CBR954 (which has the same shape indicators but with orange lenses). Lenses swapped over no probs - but there was a hitch - I couldn't swap the orange globes over. I found that Honda now use their own bulbs with a slightly different bayonet. Annoying. Bloody Honda!

[thro]

Ahh bugger :|


I know guys in the US are keen to have the aussie/euro 600rr (1000 too?) smoked indicators imported, all they get is orange *old style* ones on their new bikes

[Pie-25]

good job. looks good so far from what i can see. im a real CBR fan. hope to get my own little 250 soon. good fun

[phildo]

Just for the sake of being an anal bastard perfectionist, isn't it a legal requirement that bikes have a "Unleaded Fuel Only" sticker on the fuel tank?

Personally, I don't care... but it's one of things that an over enthusiastic cop can use to put a yellow sticker on a bike, resulting in frustration and costs in getting the bike inspected.

[Spock]

It was the case, but ever since leaded fuel has been phased out, the sticker is now redundant.

[Prodigy]

awsome bike cant wait to see it in front of me like the work u've done to it too nice and simple but makes a big difference

Keep up the awsome work see you on thursday morning

[Rob]

Glad to have you back in Hondaland - (if you ever left)

/welcome

[Taz]

hey spock where did you get the mirrors and how much did they cost as i want to replace mine

[Spock]

Originally Posted by Taz

hey spock where did you get the mirrors and how much did they cost as i want to replace mine

They are 2000-2001 Honda VFR800 mirrors (the last 2 years of the gear-driven cams VFR).

[Taz]

Thanks...i scratched both mine by leaving them in the trailor after trackday 2 years ago...

[Spock]

Here is another step or two in the restoration:

Old rear indicators (hmm, no one likes droopy ones... ):



New rear indicators!



And what of the old indicators? you may ask,

Well, they are now doing excellent duty on my 1987 XBR500 (which the prev owner had fitted with aftermarket indicators). Keep your Honda all Honda!



Here is a pic of the XBR500 as piloted by 'Ollie'.



A closeup of Ollie:



Next up is fitting the new shorter gearing via new sprockets: Here is a pic of the new rear sprocket on a fastidiously clean rear wheel:



Alas, there always has to be a hitch: Now the chain is too short! I wouldn't have thought -1 tooth on the front and +2 teeth on the rear would have put the chain outside the adjustment range but there you have it. Aghrrr!

[Eukanuba]

I need a new chain guard, the 2 bolts that hold it.. and a couple of those mirrors..

Got any links to where I can locate some ? I'm in the same boat - a beautiful bike, with a few touchups required.. man, those mirrors.. yuk !

[Rob]

Im liking where this is going Nen. Great stuff - The 1st of the real superbikes!!!

Any chance we can see Ollie as a Lolcat you reckon?

[Spock]

Originally Posted by Eukanuba

I need a new chain guard, the 2 bolts that hold it.. and a couple of those mirrors..

Got any links to where I can locate some ?

Your local Honda dealer! You need 98-01 VFR800 mirrors (and also the rubber base plate - you can reuse the existing nuts and bolts).

Originally Posted by Rob

Any chance we can see Ollie as a Lolcat you reckon?

More than likely. Stay tuned!

[Weapon_X]

LOLZ