so today the landlords were out when i got home from work. so i quickly grabbed the angle grinder and cut off a few of the tabs i wont be using on the frame. still have to grind the welds off but that can wait. you can see all the green tape as marker to which ones to chop
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320iCar, on Flickr
next i grapped the flapper wheel and buzzed off all the residual paint left on the tank, as well as the huge amount of bondo that was still there. so i think for now i might just keep the tank as is. let it get weathered and eventually find a new tank (the same or custom) to properly paint. though that is a long way down the road.
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then made the measurements for my new front end, and i can't even believe it but it pretty much bolts up. steerer tube is the same dimensions, its crazy. going to have to check the bearing cup profile though. the OEM front uses loose bearings (40 total, all which fell out when i took the front off lol) but the newer gsxr uses an open bearing ring, but you can still pack it with grease. might need to press in new cups, we will see.
ps: '06 gsxr front end with wheel and tire is significantly lighter than '77 kz650 front with no wheel
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320iCar, on Flickr