Honda 87 CBR600F Hurricane, project

[Buffalo Bill]

Noticed right away just how similar the CBR600 steel frame is to the GSX750F Katana steel frame. But scaled down some.
The Honda 87 CBR600 engine design is a decade more advanced than the oil cooled SACS engine.

[GregT]

Not sure what metal plating they had originally but it's definitely not chrome. Soft whitish silver, has to be zinc. But they were all black from the factory. The muffler pipe is aftermarket (Kerker-Supertrapp?)

Looks like a PO has stripped the OE black coating. What is left may be the factory anti rust plating done prior to black coating.
Nothing wrong at all with the stock header setup on those. People here put aftermarket pipes on them but I never found anything more than a slipon tailpipe and muffler to be necessary. At one point I remember having a first year Fireblade in the shop for tuning alongside a 600. It was only the newness of the Fireblade headers that let me tell which pipe was which, They're visually identical.
As an aside, the pipe on your Suzuki doesn't look optimal for that engine. They really don't like small dia pipes.

[limeex2]

When introduced in 87? they just killed the ranks in road racing, 600 production class, the fast guys could do some damage in the 750 class. They still make a great track day bike. A person I meet at a local track day buys every one he can get, keeps his track day bike going and E-bay's the rest. Says it more than pays for his expenses.

[GregT]

When introduced in 87? they just killed the ranks in road racing, 600 production class, the fast guys could do some damage in the 750 class. They still make a great track day bike. A person I meet at a local track day buys every one he can get, keeps his track day bike going and E-bay's the rest. Says it more than pays for his expenses.

They could indeed do damage in the big classes. Back in the day, I did a head for an out of town customer and told him where to set the cam timing. He went very well on that bike himself - but the best came when he loaned it out. A young Simon Crafar was looking to move up from 250 production class racing so it was loaned to him to ride at Wanganui street races. Si finished up second in the open F1 class on it - and then got disqualified for riding an undersize bike, LOL.
Every time I see the bike owner, he and I have a laugh about that.

[Buffalo Bill]

When introduced in 87? they just killed the ranks in road racing, 600 production class, the fast guys could do some damage in the 750 class. They still make a great track day bike. A person I meet at a local track day buys every one he can get, keeps his track day bike going and E-bay's the rest. Says it more than pays for his expenses.

Hey that's all real encouraging! I'm already lusting for a track day with this bike.
It makes sense to track it before I paint the body panels, in case I dump…
Already looking at everything I can unbolt, lights and brackets, mirrors and seat. Then put a race tail and seat on it.

[Carter Turk]

Hey, I thought you weren't into middle weights with only 70hp?


"I don't get using a SV650 on track. It's got the right weight, wheels and tires, but only 70HP??
You corner just as well, but 300 ft later you're left behind."

[Buffalo Bill]

Hey, I thought you weren't into middle weights with only 70hp?


"I don't get using a SV650 on track. It's got the right weight, wheels and tires, but only 70HP??
You corner just as well, but 300 ft later you're left behind."

Fair question. Looking back at my history, I jumped straight from a Kawi EX500, to my GS1100G. Then into a GSX750F that felt good, but track days are full of newbees on new liter bikes, they pass you on the straight, then bog you down through the corners.
Put a 1127 GSXR engine in there and I got a monster bike, maybe too monster, as I'm jumping out of the corners and ripping up to 130 mph, then hard braking into corners. Kinda intense.
I restored a couple 550s GS and Seca, liked the 550 Seca. Both way too slow for track days, I'd probably get buzzed all day.
Never owned a proper 600 sport bike. this will be interesting

[Buffalo Bill]

Working on restoring mechanics…

Some progress can be seen here, detail cleaned front wheel, and water hoses, new front tire, Engine Ice coolant. Painted the headers.
Pulled out the radiator and hoses, for better access during valve adjustments.
Great results after valve adjustments, compression is 1-4, 175-200-180-200 psi.
Waiting for new sprockets and chain. Have new rear tire ready. Brakes need to be bled.
You can see I have both L and R mirrors, the white mirrors sitting in the box.
Tires are Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S20 EVO, 140/70-R17H, & 110/70-R17H

[nvr2old]

Movin' right along.. Should be a very nice track bike. 600's are a great way to stay in the hunt even against 750's and are so much more fun then a 500 class bike.

[Carter Turk]

Fair question. Never owned a proper 600 sport bike. this will be interesting

I'd never ridden one till last March. An 08 Ninja 600 at Chuckwalla.
Was weird riding a rented unfamiliar bike fast on a track I'd never been on, with an open format no session or groups.
Some fast folks were out there, but it was fine.
The rev limit was also interesting coming from the old dinosaur.
10-14.5K was where in wanted to be.

The 93 F2 I bought for $100 last year is a plague for me now, as the new owner, did not change title and the bike was impounded.
I was the last known owner, so the towing company has sent me to collections. Ugh. Probably get stuck with bill.
Thought I might take it to the track, probably would've been fun.

[eil]

Not to hijack a great project thread, but...

The 93 F2 I bought for $100 last year is a plague for me now, as the new owner, did not change title and the bike was impounded. I was the last known owner, so the towing company has sent me to collections. Ugh. Probably get stuck with bill. Thought I might take it to the track, probably would've been fun.

That sucks... and it's why I always make the buyer sign the title and a bill of sale when I sell a vehicle. I ask to see their driver's license to verify that the name and address matches up with what they wrote, and then I take a picture of both documents. (Not the license, though.)

Do you have anything to show that the impound happened after the date you sold it?

FWIW (and I am not a lawyer), in most cases collections agencies have zero power. All they can do is annoy you with phone calls and letters. And even then they have to stop when you ask them appropriately. But of course it various by state and they don't always play by the rules, to say the least.

[Carter Turk]

Apologize Bill, just had to mention another project CBR.
My initial intentions were the same as you, take it to the track.
I failed on my part with the bill of sale.
Been awhile since I sold anything...
Did a thread about selling the bike @ 12:30am
and it's come back to bite me.
Still might be some recourse, but chances are slim.

I'm sure the 87 CBR will be a better affair.
Looks lile you've made good progress so far.
Cheers!

[Buffalo Bill]

Well this 87 CBR is 32 years ago tech, so glad I found very good radials that actually fit, that I can trust through the corners.
Would be great fun if there was a vintage bike track day organization, be on the track with similar performance bikes. Get to see many vintage bikes on the track.
AHRMA only comes to my track once a year, and I'm glad for that!!!
This talk has inspired me to register for the AHRMA roadracing school, will be at my track in August.

[Buffalo Bill]

Started working last night, worked till finished today.

Got the wheel cleaned up, new tire mounted, new sprockets and chain installed.
Had to hammer out the axle bolt with a dowel rod, it was jammed up with dried crud between the bearings.
Old tire was 23 years old, must have been the last time the axle was out!

Work space after 6 hours!

[Carter Turk]

Oh yeah... fresh rubber, chain & sprockets.
Be railing soon!