Bringing a 1996 GSXR 750 SRAD back to life.
Discussion
I always lusted after the SRAD. I liked the idea of a powerful, light, pointy, aero 750. Last week I saw a low mileage one for sale for a bargain price and even though I would have preferred a blue and white one, I bought it anyway. It was cheap.
Picked it up yesterday. First impression of the bike is that it is FAT. I have two other bikes, a ZRX1100 and a Ducati 999. The SRAD just feels so wide in comparison, my legs are splayed wide when I sit on it. That’ll take a bit of getting used to. The bar position is not as extreme as I was expecting though, probably less extreme than the 999. I‘m 5‘9“ or 175cm tall, with very average proportions and I weight 150lb or about 68kg.
It‘s an odd one, this bike. Looks like it had a big service, then it was not budged for 10 years. The oil in the sight glass looks like it was just changed, and the oil that started leaking down the front fork during the trailer ride also looks brand new. It only has 16k miles on the clock, so it was only ridden just over a thousand miles a year before it was mothballed. The bike looks like it was never ridden in the wet, but it was stored under a carport, so there is an interesting mix of corrosion. Some parts look amazing, some look crap. The tyres are brand new, have never been ridden on, but are also over ten years old.
The plan? Bring it back to an usable condition and use it. I live in a nice area for riding (Bavaria) and ride pretty much daily.
So, I plan to post a few photos and a bit of a diary on here… maybe it will be of interest to others and maybe it‘ll inspire me to work on it a little more devotedly.
The fairings come off today.
Picked it up yesterday. First impression of the bike is that it is FAT. I have two other bikes, a ZRX1100 and a Ducati 999. The SRAD just feels so wide in comparison, my legs are splayed wide when I sit on it. That’ll take a bit of getting used to. The bar position is not as extreme as I was expecting though, probably less extreme than the 999. I‘m 5‘9“ or 175cm tall, with very average proportions and I weight 150lb or about 68kg.
It‘s an odd one, this bike. Looks like it had a big service, then it was not budged for 10 years. The oil in the sight glass looks like it was just changed, and the oil that started leaking down the front fork during the trailer ride also looks brand new. It only has 16k miles on the clock, so it was only ridden just over a thousand miles a year before it was mothballed. The bike looks like it was never ridden in the wet, but it was stored under a carport, so there is an interesting mix of corrosion. Some parts look amazing, some look crap. The tyres are brand new, have never been ridden on, but are also over ten years old.
The plan? Bring it back to an usable condition and use it. I live in a nice area for riding (Bavaria) and ride pretty much daily.
So, I plan to post a few photos and a bit of a diary on here… maybe it will be of interest to others and maybe it‘ll inspire me to work on it a little more devotedly.
The fairings come off today.
Edited by Kawasicki on Sunday 7th November 08:27
That doesn’t look in too bad shape.
I has a 96 SRAD in gold/brown which is probably the only bike I regret selling. Third gear (I think) went on it, which is a known fault of these bikes.
Instead of stripping it down and fixing which actually isn’t too difficult it I took the easy way and traded it in.
I found it reasonably comfortable, I did 200 mile trips regularly. It was a bit thirsty tho’. When I got it I had endless trouble with the engine dying after a period of fast running. In the end it turned out to be the fuel line from the tank was kinking and starving it of petrol. I think it had been replaced at one point with just cheap hose.
Years later in an effort to recapture my lost youth I got a 750Y which in theory is much the same bike but I never gelled with it.
The plastics are in good shape, but not close to as good as yours. Yours looks amazing.
The bike looks great from 10 feet, good from 3 feet, and in certain areas (under the fairing) amazing up close.
I‘m pretty excited about this project! Thanks for your interest. It won’t be a whirlwind/speedy project, as I work full time and I actually like hanging out with my wife and 3 kids. That, and my limited budget, will keep the pace low, but hopefully steady.
Todays 20min task… remove the fairings!
The bike looks great from 10 feet, good from 3 feet, and in certain areas (under the fairing) amazing up close.
I‘m pretty excited about this project! Thanks for your interest. It won’t be a whirlwind/speedy project, as I work full time and I actually like hanging out with my wife and 3 kids. That, and my limited budget, will keep the pace low, but hopefully steady.
Todays 20min task… remove the fairings!
Cheers, don’t expect too much!
Most fasteners still look new, but the odd one has basically dissolved! Odd. No cracks in any fairings, just some cosmetic flaws that don’t bother me.
Took the front fairing/clocks/lights off in one chunk too, then the airbox, had a look at the air filter, it’s like the tyres, ancient but new.
The bike needs one wipe with an oily microfibre and it just gleams. Even the engine. I‘m thrilled. Just one problem so far, whoever last tightened the rear tank bracket to the frame stripped the threads on one side. Easy helicoil fix.
So a couple of crap photos for anyone who’s interested…
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/j94K1yvN.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/x4shJXnx" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/x4shJXnx.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/AhMU7kWk" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/AhMU7kWk.jpg)
Most fasteners still look new, but the odd one has basically dissolved! Odd. No cracks in any fairings, just some cosmetic flaws that don’t bother me.
Took the front fairing/clocks/lights off in one chunk too, then the airbox, had a look at the air filter, it’s like the tyres, ancient but new.
The bike needs one wipe with an oily microfibre and it just gleams. Even the engine. I‘m thrilled. Just one problem so far, whoever last tightened the rear tank bracket to the frame stripped the threads on one side. Easy helicoil fix.
So a couple of crap photos for anyone who’s interested…
Janluke said:
Little bit of TLC and I reckon its going to be a real nice bike
How are the front callipers I seem to remember those 6 pots could be a little high maintenance esp if stood for a while
Funny you should mention them. They look amazing… but they drag massively. How are the front callipers I seem to remember those 6 pots could be a little high maintenance esp if stood for a while
A rebuild with at the very least new seals is on the cards.
podman said:
Have great memories of my SRADs, had a 600 and a 750 in the past, nice and simple to work on and great to ride, only mechanical issue I had was the cam chain tensioner which was a simple replacement.
Have fun with it, look forward to your updates.
Thanks man. It’s hard to believe 1996 was 25 years ago.Have fun with it, look forward to your updates.
What do you ride now?
Kawasicki said:
podman said:
Have great memories of my SRADs, had a 600 and a 750 in the past, nice and simple to work on and great to ride, only mechanical issue I had was the cam chain tensioner which was a simple replacement.
Have fun with it, look forward to your updates.
Thanks man. It’s hard to believe 1996 was 25 years ago.Have fun with it, look forward to your updates.
What do you ride now?
Kawasicki said:
Just one problem so far, whoever last tightened the rear tank bracket to the frame stripped the threads on one side. Easy helicoil fix.
That looks like a "rivet nut". They just drill out.The kits to replace them are really cheap and its an easy job to do.
https://whiterosetools.com/products/bluespot-nut-r...
Biker's Nemesis said:
Kawasicki said:
Just one problem so far, whoever last tightened the rear tank bracket to the frame stripped the threads on one side. Easy helicoil fix.
That looks like a "rivet nut". They just drill out.The kits to replace them are really cheap and its an easy job to do.
https://whiterosetools.com/products/bluespot-nut-r...
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