Caliper refurb 1989 FZR600 - recommendations?
Caliper refurb 1989 FZR600 - recommendations?
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Discussion

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Very near to completing my resto of my '89 FZR600 after re-acquiring the exact bike 35 years after I sold it.

Everything done now except brakes. I've got braided steel lines, but all the calipers look st and the rear caliper is in dire need of a refurb. May as well get all three done and get it ready for the spring. Wasn't going to get them done - but now they let the whole bike down so need doing.

Does anyone have any direct experience of who to use for restoring / refurbing calipers for painting, new seals, nipples - new everything basically - so I can ship them off for the work over the winter months?










AceOfHearts

5,917 posts

209 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Superbike Surgery

https://www.superbikesurgery.co.uk/

Check him out on Youtube, he posts regular videos, including ones of caliper rebuilds if you wanted to get an idea of his work. He is an excellent mechanic

Jazoli

9,392 posts

268 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Stick blue spots and the master cylinder off a fazer 600 or 1000, they are a cheap and worthwhile upgrade.

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Thankyou; he is now fully booked until March 2026, so this may work but given that he states he's not responding to any emails now before 5th January, I might need to find someone else.

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Jazoli said:
Stick blue spots and the master cylinder off a fazer 600 or 1000, they are a cheap and worthwhile upgrade.
Thanks but I don't want to do this, want the bike as original as possible.

twibs

231 posts

156 months

Friday 3rd October
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powerhouse in Chesterfield ?

the cueball

1,585 posts

73 months

Friday 3rd October
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I use Powerhouse on Ebay for all my rebuild kits (I think they are now called "Brakemasters" on there, always great quality and they offer a rebuild service.

£58 for a twin piston rebuild.

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Thanks, now have quotes from Powerhouse so will probably go with them.

Biker's Nemesis

40,430 posts

226 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
I've had 4 FZR 600's over the years, I had the chance to buy my last one 17 years ago for £800, I regret not buying it.

Anymore photo's of it?

0ddball

900 posts

157 months

Friday 3rd October
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SuffolkDefender said:
Thanks, now have quotes from Powerhouse so will probably go with them.
Good luck. The guy is a complete loon.

Gaz Said

5 posts

8 months

Friday 3rd October
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Why not do them yourself?

You have obviously got the capability.

The worst part is getting the pistons out, but an air line and some g cramps to wrangle them away works.

I've done quite a few over the years and never found it too taxing.

Get a kit with seals (including the seals for the caliper halves), use red grease and replace any fluffy pistons.

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
0ddball said:
SuffolkDefender said:
Thanks, now have quotes from Powerhouse so will probably go with them.
Good luck. The guy is a complete loon.
why do you say that?

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Friday 3rd October
quotequote all
Biker's Nemesis said:
I've had 4 FZR 600's over the years, I had the chance to buy my last one 17 years ago for £800, I regret not buying it.

Anymore photo's of it?
I’ll dig some more out and post them up. This wa my bike in 1989 with 600 miles on it, found the same bike for sale in September 2023 with 43000 miles on it so it’s been around the block!

IAN1967

286 posts

188 months

Saturday 4th October
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I used raggedmoto.com for the rear calliper on my 2000 SRAD, would recommend them

SuffolkDefender

Original Poster:

258 posts

114 months

Saturday 4th October
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Few more pics. Lower fairing needs fitting and the exhaust is blowing for some reason at the moment around the headers, can't quite figure out why, but once that's done and the calipers are back on, should sail through the MOT.

When I had it when I was 17/18, I went to the south of France with it and a then-friend on his BMW. When I last rode it about 18m ago, I drove it 20 miles away and thought it was possibly the most uncomfortable thing I've ever ridden unless you're doing 75+mph when the riding position starts to work smile

I came across the bike purely by chance aboutn two years ago, and thought it'd be a quick and easy rebuild but once I got into it, realised there were several problems. First and foremost, the engine was completely shot. Couldn't find another decent FZR600 engine that hadn't done a million miles, so a YZF600 Thundercat engine has been put in it's place (noting my comment about keeping it as original possible, this was the only option tbh) and wiring loom - that was done by a specialist near me. Then wheels, frame, other bits powder coated, engine and electrics refitted. Bodywork was smashed, bits of fairing missing, splits in both lower fairing panels - so that went to Dream Machine for a full refurb. I tried fitting the YZF exhaust but it doesn't fit under the fairing so the FZR exhaust is going onto the YZF engine, which is probably why it's blowing, but it seems to fit well visually, so a little more digging around is required. Then that's pretty much it. It's well over budget and I've spent far more than it's worth, but it's so nice to have it back after all this time.

South of France 1990



Fresh off the transporter Sept 2023



Fresh off the transporter Sept 2023



Sept 2024



Post-rebuild Sept 2025



Edited by SuffolkDefender on Saturday 4th October 08:04

Huntsman

8,899 posts

268 months

Saturday 4th October
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I bought one around my 20th birthday, on finance, in mid 1991, it was the 1989/90 model, twin round headlight, so reduced to £4000 on the road.

I'd only ridden Lambrettas and Vespas.


rodericb

8,221 posts

144 months

Sunday 5th October
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I had one of these for my first "big" bike, albeit a B model. It would be ace to have one again.

Marquezs Stabilisers

2,056 posts

79 months

Sunday 5th October
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My experience of buying refurbished calipers from specialists who are well rated on the scene for my car: next time I'll do it myself.