So I posted in the intro the clifnotes version but I figured I would post here the full breakdown. The help and advice given so far has already been amazing. So here it goes. I was given the chance to snag a 2001 blaster with a title (in florida = big deal). The bike looked super clean and well taken care of. It started first kick when I went to see it but I did not right it, and assume it was already started and warm when I got there. The bike came home with me and took me a few days to dig into it. Heres my starting point. Not bad I know.
First things I found where the right rear tire was flat (just needed a plug but I didnt like the look of the fat tires anyway) The bike was also wicked hard to start and when I finally did get it going I had to half throttle it or more to keep it running. I still didnt ride it. I got it warm for a few and then shut it off. I knew it was going to need a lot. But the motor sounded strong and compression was ok so I would leave that part alone for now. When I went to take the wheels off I quickly found the bolts to be seized. In fact many bolts on it were over tightened and seized. The bike although in good shape was not very well maintenance. The owner I got it from said they had never then opened the air box. I started ripping it apart. My initial idea was take the entire axle into the shop where I could use heavier tools to get the wheels off and do everything else at the house. quickly ended up like this...
First things first. Lets order some parts.
- Carb rebuild kit
- K&N air filter
- Chain and sprocket 12/40
- Fuel tank petcock
- Front wheel spacers
- Honda rear hubs
- Rear grab bar
- Alba nerf bars
- spark plug
- Front and rear lowering kit
So yeah mostly maintenance stuff and nothing crazy expensive. My goal here was to get the bike running good and reliably first.
Rear grab bar went on first. Just to help with moving things around. I took the front hubs off to check the breaks and clean everything up. I decided on a green and black color but didnt want to go way overboard by painting the frame and stuff. I liked that the frame was not painted and didnt want to ruin that. Started to paint pieces John deer rustoleum. Also had found a good deal on a banshee rear axle and thought I would give that a shot (big mistake there). Also at this point I ordered a few more parts.
Got the rear axle mounted up and the new honda wheels on. Love the wheels. The offset actually pushed them out about 2 inches. The axle sent it further then I wanted them to be. Looked silly imo.
The idea was starting to come alone. Wheels are painted as well as hubs and footpegs. The lowering kit is on the front and wheel spacers push the front out 3 inches. Carb is rebuilt and the bike actually runs but the idle in insanely high. At this point im not completely sure what I did wrong. Did I mess something up during the rebuild of the carb or did I put something on wrong putting it back together. After lots of reading on here, my final guess is it is either a TORS issue (was half removed when i got it), and air leak, or I messed up the carb. So first things first. Take the carb off and double check the needle is seated well, and remove the tors completely.
Yay whatever I did fixed the idle issue. I think it was the tors system. Time to take the bike into the shop. Removing the axle is going to be a pain and I can get it done much faster there. Lets load it into the truck tonight so we can take to the shop in the morning. Of course it fits like a glove with room to spare.
At the shop we install the stock axle. The Alba nerf bars, rear lowering kit, and get everything bolted down tight. This was also the chance to take my first ride. Rode it down the dirt road near my shop and back. It ran great. I was finally excited. I could see the light at the end of the project and knew it would be soon time to rip it. But not before ordering more parts.
So the bike is mostly done. Everything I ordered is installed and it runs and rides great. What else needs to get done. I want to get all the stickers off the bike from the previous owner. They arnt the worst. Just not exactly my thing. Well heres what i ordered and would like to do in the next coming weeks.
- 290 jet for the carb (recommended by another member on here. Thanks!)
- kfx 400 front and rear shocks
- suzuki gsxr 600 katana rear hydro breaks
- Protaper handlebars (shipping from china so ill get them around xmas)
Thanks for reading. Will post more as this build evolves. I still have not gotten a chance to get it out and test it more then just around the neighborhood a couple laps. So that should be fun. I am sure I will want to change a few things once I get out out to ride. I will also try and get a video up as soon as I can. I took a video of it when I first got it day one. I just need to make a current video of it now that its all fixed up.
I live in a fairly suburban area in florida so I need to find a good place to ride and test besides my neighborhood. I have only ever been to crooms one time. I did like it but it might not be the best place for a build like this one. I still would like to go to ocala. I really like the sandy trail ride, but need to find someone to ride with as its pretty open and im not familiar with the area yet.
First things I found where the right rear tire was flat (just needed a plug but I didnt like the look of the fat tires anyway) The bike was also wicked hard to start and when I finally did get it going I had to half throttle it or more to keep it running. I still didnt ride it. I got it warm for a few and then shut it off. I knew it was going to need a lot. But the motor sounded strong and compression was ok so I would leave that part alone for now. When I went to take the wheels off I quickly found the bolts to be seized. In fact many bolts on it were over tightened and seized. The bike although in good shape was not very well maintenance. The owner I got it from said they had never then opened the air box. I started ripping it apart. My initial idea was take the entire axle into the shop where I could use heavier tools to get the wheels off and do everything else at the house. quickly ended up like this...
First things first. Lets order some parts.
- Carb rebuild kit
- K&N air filter
- Chain and sprocket 12/40
- Fuel tank petcock
- Front wheel spacers
- Honda rear hubs
- Rear grab bar
- Alba nerf bars
- spark plug
- Front and rear lowering kit
So yeah mostly maintenance stuff and nothing crazy expensive. My goal here was to get the bike running good and reliably first.
Rear grab bar went on first. Just to help with moving things around. I took the front hubs off to check the breaks and clean everything up. I decided on a green and black color but didnt want to go way overboard by painting the frame and stuff. I liked that the frame was not painted and didnt want to ruin that. Started to paint pieces John deer rustoleum. Also had found a good deal on a banshee rear axle and thought I would give that a shot (big mistake there). Also at this point I ordered a few more parts.
Got the rear axle mounted up and the new honda wheels on. Love the wheels. The offset actually pushed them out about 2 inches. The axle sent it further then I wanted them to be. Looked silly imo.
The idea was starting to come alone. Wheels are painted as well as hubs and footpegs. The lowering kit is on the front and wheel spacers push the front out 3 inches. Carb is rebuilt and the bike actually runs but the idle in insanely high. At this point im not completely sure what I did wrong. Did I mess something up during the rebuild of the carb or did I put something on wrong putting it back together. After lots of reading on here, my final guess is it is either a TORS issue (was half removed when i got it), and air leak, or I messed up the carb. So first things first. Take the carb off and double check the needle is seated well, and remove the tors completely.
Yay whatever I did fixed the idle issue. I think it was the tors system. Time to take the bike into the shop. Removing the axle is going to be a pain and I can get it done much faster there. Lets load it into the truck tonight so we can take to the shop in the morning. Of course it fits like a glove with room to spare.
At the shop we install the stock axle. The Alba nerf bars, rear lowering kit, and get everything bolted down tight. This was also the chance to take my first ride. Rode it down the dirt road near my shop and back. It ran great. I was finally excited. I could see the light at the end of the project and knew it would be soon time to rip it. But not before ordering more parts.
So the bike is mostly done. Everything I ordered is installed and it runs and rides great. What else needs to get done. I want to get all the stickers off the bike from the previous owner. They arnt the worst. Just not exactly my thing. Well heres what i ordered and would like to do in the next coming weeks.
- 290 jet for the carb (recommended by another member on here. Thanks!)
- kfx 400 front and rear shocks
- suzuki gsxr 600 katana rear hydro breaks
- Protaper handlebars (shipping from china so ill get them around xmas)
Thanks for reading. Will post more as this build evolves. I still have not gotten a chance to get it out and test it more then just around the neighborhood a couple laps. So that should be fun. I am sure I will want to change a few things once I get out out to ride. I will also try and get a video up as soon as I can. I took a video of it when I first got it day one. I just need to make a current video of it now that its all fixed up.
I live in a fairly suburban area in florida so I need to find a good place to ride and test besides my neighborhood. I have only ever been to crooms one time. I did like it but it might not be the best place for a build like this one. I still would like to go to ocala. I really like the sandy trail ride, but need to find someone to ride with as its pretty open and im not familiar with the area yet.
