Project FZR: Semi Naked

Since buying the FZR I've had a lot of fun and it has proved to be a solid bike, but as the weather will be getting worse in the coming months I have decided to start taking it to bits in order to replace certain parts and give it a well deserved clean up.

At present the side fairing panels have been removed and I've spent an hour or two with wire wool trying to clean up the engine. I still have a long way to go but it is starting to look a lot better.

This is where the top fairing will need repairing.

Left hand side of the bike after a spruce!

Here is how the down pipes currently look.

After a session with wire wool and white spirits I managed to get one of the down pipes looking like this,

I have faith that I can get rid of the corrosion and get these looking next to new again. I removed the Coerce end can as well.

Here is the EXUP valve with the cover off. I had a go tightening the EXUP cables and it still rattles. Having had a play around with the valve if you get two fingers behind the mounting face you can feel play in the valve. When the engine was running I put pressure on the end face and it stopped the rattling, when I removed pressure it rattled again.

The answer? I've bought a set of replacement downpipes with the EXUP valve included from an 11,000 mile FZR 3TJ. When the downpipes arrive I'll strip down the valve and inspect it for any wear. I'll replace the bushes if I have to and just for good measure I'll replace all the plastics caps in the valve too. To finish it off I'll coat the ends of the valve in copper grease before I re fit it. I managed to buy some good condition EXUP cables as well as a replacement set for the future. Lastly, I quite like the unfaired look, maybe I should buy a streetfighter!