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Hi all! Just thought I'd say hello to the board - I've been lurking for nigh on three years, grabbing useful info from all sorts of folk on this forum, but now it seems like those days might be at an end.
It all started with a dilapidated GSX600F I picked up off craigslist for $400. I fixed it up, swapped out old parts for new, and kept finding out what a great little bike it was. I drove through thunderstorms and to San Diego and back in a day (from East Bay Area... and I took the long way around when heading south). I have an entire closet devoted to tools and parts for the Kat (for those "just in case" moments) and used oil filters making a modern-day representation of the tower of Pisa. I've run the gamut from heart-grabbing fear to boredom to simple, ridiculous joy.
But then a lady decided to sideswipe me in the middle of traffic while trying to get out of her slow lane. I probably could have made it if she hadn't kept turning into me, pulling the bike out from under me and sandwiching it into a van ahead. At least I braked and saved the leg, eh? But then I ended up missing my exam review while waiting the two hours for police and tow truck to arrive.
I've held onto it for the past few months with a sort of grim optimism that some spit and polish would put it back on its feet. Actually, it might, but I haven't had the heart to check it out. But anyways, if anyone could use a mostly functional '93 600, let me know. Otherwise the insurance company is giving me about ~600 for the salvage. But with the rest of the damages, that means I'm getting about ~2300 (so I sat on trains for seven hours today to look at an '02 SV650S). The SV650 has a great little motor (freshly rebuilt, actually) and it's light and surprisingly quick, with a smooth, predictable powerband. But as I was riding today, I couldn't help but miss that little kick the Kat had at its peak. But I didn't really push it, so we'll see.
If anyone would like to consider my bike, here's a quick rundown:
-right engine cover cracked - big oil leak from there and possibly elsewhere
-gauge cluster impacted into forks, pinning them from moving freely
-naked! sorry, I don't really like the stock plastics and they came cracked anyways
-35k miles, lots of regular checkups in the garage
-pretty standard stuff, Yoshimura 4-into-1, stiffer Sonic springs, 14/45 RK/Vortex, Metzeler Z6s, EBC HHs, rebuilt carbs and brakes
I probably just need to get a big vise and rebend the cluster mounting pieces, and possibly replace the whole thing. And then the engine cover would probably run me 40-50 tops to replace it new. It's just the whole thing is very depressing. I didn't even drive for a few months.
Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do with it? I don't *really* need three bikes (I have a '93 Ninja 250R I fixed up too, but it's not practical enough for any long-distance commuting), but the Katana *was* my first bike. Otherwise, hello everyone and maybe goodbye?
[+]: Okay, so I probably can't repair the front cowling brace. But I could pick up a new one on Bikebandit for ~125, find a new cluster, new signal generator cover for ~35, oil flush, and maybe new turn signals/mirrors. Any idea what the resale value is?
It all started with a dilapidated GSX600F I picked up off craigslist for $400. I fixed it up, swapped out old parts for new, and kept finding out what a great little bike it was. I drove through thunderstorms and to San Diego and back in a day (from East Bay Area... and I took the long way around when heading south). I have an entire closet devoted to tools and parts for the Kat (for those "just in case" moments) and used oil filters making a modern-day representation of the tower of Pisa. I've run the gamut from heart-grabbing fear to boredom to simple, ridiculous joy.
But then a lady decided to sideswipe me in the middle of traffic while trying to get out of her slow lane. I probably could have made it if she hadn't kept turning into me, pulling the bike out from under me and sandwiching it into a van ahead. At least I braked and saved the leg, eh? But then I ended up missing my exam review while waiting the two hours for police and tow truck to arrive.
I've held onto it for the past few months with a sort of grim optimism that some spit and polish would put it back on its feet. Actually, it might, but I haven't had the heart to check it out. But anyways, if anyone could use a mostly functional '93 600, let me know. Otherwise the insurance company is giving me about ~600 for the salvage. But with the rest of the damages, that means I'm getting about ~2300 (so I sat on trains for seven hours today to look at an '02 SV650S). The SV650 has a great little motor (freshly rebuilt, actually) and it's light and surprisingly quick, with a smooth, predictable powerband. But as I was riding today, I couldn't help but miss that little kick the Kat had at its peak. But I didn't really push it, so we'll see.
If anyone would like to consider my bike, here's a quick rundown:
-right engine cover cracked - big oil leak from there and possibly elsewhere
-gauge cluster impacted into forks, pinning them from moving freely
-naked! sorry, I don't really like the stock plastics and they came cracked anyways
-35k miles, lots of regular checkups in the garage
-pretty standard stuff, Yoshimura 4-into-1, stiffer Sonic springs, 14/45 RK/Vortex, Metzeler Z6s, EBC HHs, rebuilt carbs and brakes
I probably just need to get a big vise and rebend the cluster mounting pieces, and possibly replace the whole thing. And then the engine cover would probably run me 40-50 tops to replace it new. It's just the whole thing is very depressing. I didn't even drive for a few months.
Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do with it? I don't *really* need three bikes (I have a '93 Ninja 250R I fixed up too, but it's not practical enough for any long-distance commuting), but the Katana *was* my first bike. Otherwise, hello everyone and maybe goodbye?
[+]: Okay, so I probably can't repair the front cowling brace. But I could pick up a new one on Bikebandit for ~125, find a new cluster, new signal generator cover for ~35, oil flush, and maybe new turn signals/mirrors. Any idea what the resale value is?
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