Hi, I'm looking to start a project tomorrow (with the purchase of the donor) and need some pointers. I am looking to 'cafe racer' a 900ss ie. I did want to do the project with a carb model, but my heart and the market won't let me. (I have a superlight 900 and would feel so bad about cutting one up) The ie was challenged by the ugly stick so they are cheap and available... My Q is, does the ie have the same frame (or pretty damn close) to the carb one? My intention is to throw all bodywork away..and probably start afresh, but if it matches my carb one it will certainly help with planning. Any info welcome. Thanks Grant
Visually Pretty much the same grant with exception to the subframe which is different as the pegs are positioned more 916 than 888. however i think it would suit what you’re trying to do better because of it.
If you look at one on fleabay you’ll see the small differences right away. They aren’t a million miles from each other at all.
Good stuff! The bike is already bought. Pickup tomorrow..how am I going to tell the wife??? - The garage is already full of bikes! It's a steal, cheap so got to go for it...just wanted to check I wasn't screwing up right from the off..!
don't turn it over, tell her you bought it for 400 quid as a non runner. then in a weeks time give it the "well bugger me, all it was in the end was a flat battery and a blown fuse that sits buried in the wiring loom."
I did this in the end...I even went as far as telling the seller if my wife rang up to ask....that yes - it was 400 quid!
splendid. spend lots of time fidgeting on it. lots of head scratching, Haynes comic on your lap every night.. give it minimum three weeks of dicking around and then late one night have a eureka moment on the sofa in front of the telly. Utter bewildered exasperation is a must during this forced non start period. "He said he wasn't that mechanically minded but ffs!... why couldn't he just leave it alone!.." Come back in with comments of why the bloody hell isn't that fuse on the main board, those terminals a scabby as you like, why's that connector not pushed home etc etc. She will be appeased as all women like to feel they've got a bargain and thus that good feeling will transfer onto this when you do fire it up.
I find that with some items that it is possible to claim that you have had them stored for ages, since before you were even a couple. I don't think you could manage it with a whole bike but you wouldn't believe what I have apparently had stashed in teh loft or under the bed in the spare(s) room - exhaust systems, fairing panels, forks, tanks. Trouble is, we'vre been together 15 years now - and I think she's beginning to suspect ...
Honesty is the best policy, no need to remember anything, no difficulty with ethics, no need to keep other people away or out of the loop, but most of all it's the respectful and right thing to do. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Failing that lie and hope for the best.
not an uncommon strategy, have used it myself, but we must take care, it's all well and good till the dread day we may find ourselves incapacitated in some way, and the good lady flogs it on for the price we told her was paid!
nay nay my good man... Down the line you start strategically dropping in phrases like .. "crikey the waif, I can't believe that people are starting to look for xyz bike now - there was a time when you couldn't give this stuff away... you know that subframe I bought for fifty quids, well, some bloke paid two hundred for one on ebay last week... madness I tell thee! "
