Auspanglish Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 My '03 VTECker was showing signs of having reached full life expectancy... at 96,000 Km a decent percentage of which took place on the race track... I had used and abused her to the limit... despite carrying out thorough maintenance, it just isn't a track bike. The clutch basket had been eaten away by the outer circumference of the friction plates... this meant they no longer slid smoothly within this housing thus translating into a horrid rattling when cold, at first, but the situation had deteriorated such that it ocurred when warm as well. Due to conscutive overheating at the racetrack (even got to see the instrument panel blinking on and off as a warning of critical engine temperature)... the heads were leaking (ever so silghtly, but nonetheless leaking) oil. Successive CCT problems were indicating cam chain wear. The catalytic converter was surely contaminated by now. The wiring harness and charging system woes would stick their head up far too often... (2 Kentucky fried stators, 2 fried R/Rs.. several connectors... wires that would go brown and show signs of overheating... not even the VFRNess would save me from stator failure... it wasn't until finally doing the yellow connector fix and installing a mofset R/R and Mercedes Benz connectors that I was able to enjoy 20,000 electrical-problem-free kilometers. The suspension was shot, for the second time around... having gone through 2 rear shockies... two sets of front springs... Doing the math on replacing parts, and yet still ending up with a motor that was no longer worth maintaining I knew replacing clutch basket, timing chain, catalytic converter, rear and front suspension, and so on and so on... that is to say, replacing all the parts one by one just wouldn't be economically feasible ... and on seeing an '06 that had been deemed unsalvageable by the insurance-mongers but which was really still in good nick (small fissure in the steering head of the frame from a head-on collision at low speed... but very little further damage)... I figured... it's Franken-time!! And so it was decided, I would graft my '03 frame and front end onto a front-ended '06... The receptor bike (onto which I would graft my frame, front end, fairings and fuel tank). http://img846.images...1735/thor1e.jpg http://img705.images...2066/thor2o.jpg http://img542.images...2738/thor3g.jpg http://img207.images.../5300/thor4.jpg http://img546.images.../7668/thor5.jpg http://img109.images.../3379/thor6.jpg http://img526.images.../9373/thor7.jpg http://img39.imagesh...9768/thor8z.jpg http://img42.imagesh.../954/thor9h.jpg http://img402.images...4579/thor10.jpg http://img684.images...183/thor11n.jpg The donor bike (donating frame, front end, fairings and fuel tank) May the fun begin... Almost there... Finished product V4-driven trolley. Leftovers Many thanks to Kaldek who came to the rescue in terms of the compatability between VTEC V.1 and VTEC V.2 model wiring harnesses and also between Euro and US CPUs... Above all I am eternally indebted to Wookie and López for the use of the former's garage and the hands-on assistance from both, without which, this would never have been possible. To celebrate victory, I took my face-lifted VTECker home via an extremely convoluted 4 hour route of twisties at about 1000 m above sea level... a few suspension adjustments and it was like having a completely new bike... for around 1000€ all up. A fraction of what it would have cost me to replace all that was worn out on my original '03er. I no also have the benefit of the newer improved VTEC engagement histeresis and what may be an improved rear shock as well (black spring). The wreck cost me 800€... it didn't come with the CPU so I bought a US one at 100€ (adiós HISS... if I had wanted to retain HISS, I would have had to purchase the full kit of HISS unit, keys, fuel cap, seat lock, etc etc and they go for around 500€... the red HISS light still blinks when the bike is off)... having the wreck delivered cost me 150€. I have already recouped some 800€ selling off the leftover parts so this will surely turn out to be a completely free mod.... and over time I will actually even get paid for updating my bike. As all parts are Honda and from the same model on paper (road worthy cert indicates the motor as: G-RC46-E on all VTECs over here at least)... no paperwork is required at the Traffic Dept or other vehicle road worthy inspection centres etc etc... it's just like a replaced all the parts on my bike except the frame and front end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer800Canuck Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Great work! How long did it take you? And yes, by the time you sell all the leftover parts, you may just come out ahead!!! How many km on the wreck you bought? Did you swap the odometer from the wrecked bike? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 Great work! How long did it take you? 4 days, from sun up to sun down... and several slabs of San Miguel, which obviously slowed up progress (as did the occassional having to back-track on assembly due to routing/orientating some cable/part the wrong way which required undoing enough to reroute/reorientate the cable/part). Half of the time I was working solo. I was on holidays and decided it would be cool to lock myself in a garage and go through the eye of the VFR. And yes, by the time you sell all the leftover parts, you may just come out ahead!!! I most definitely will... although it may take longer than I would like. How many km on the wreck you bought? Did you swap the odometer from the wrecked bike? 30.000 km. The wrecked bike did not come with CPU nor Instrument Panel (Odometer), (they were actually valid working units but according to the owner the workshop accidentally threw them out with the broken fairings, lights and front stay, bloody dopes)... but I have the official Honda workshop maintenance schedule from the original Dealers... I bought my '03 with 30.000 km also... funny coincidence. I have effectively taken 66,000 km off the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer kaldek Posted August 1, 2012 Member Contributer Share Posted August 1, 2012 Damn that is CHEAP! I spend $3800 on my wreck (but then all bikes are way more expensive in Aus). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 Damn that is CHEAP! I spend $3800 on my wreck (but then all bikes are way more expensive in Aus). I wouldn't even have contemplated it if it wasn't going to actually make a profit.. well, I Pinochinose a little there.. for the value-adding effect I was willing to risk breaking even. ;) Do keep in mind that we r in a serious financial rut here in Spain and you can get a perfectly roadworthy VTEC v.1 for 3500€. The seller was asking 1200€. I called and after swapping stories I explained that a wreckers wouldn't even offer 500€ for the "bike" (friend has a bike wrecking business), I offered 800€ and he did not hesitate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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