Okay, so I finally got my hands on an ’02 GSXR 1000. Been wanting one of these beasts for ages! It wasn’t exactly pristine, needed some TLC, but that’s half the fun, right?
The Initial Inspection
First thing I did was give it a good once-over. Checked the basics – tires, brakes, chain, sprockets. The chain was looking pretty crusty, and the sprockets were definitely showing their age. Not surprising for a bike this old.
Getting to Work
I started by stripping down the fairings. Man, there were a lot of bolts! Made sure to keep them organized, though. Don’t want to lose any of those little guys. With the fairings off, I could really see what I was working with.
- Cleaned everything up. Years of grime and road gunk had built up. Lots of degreaser and elbow grease involved.
- Replaced the chain and sprockets. Went with a DID chain and some Vortex sprockets – good stuff.
- Checked and clean the air filter.
- Changed the oil and filter. Used some good synthetic oil, of course.
Brakes and Fluids
Next up were the brakes. The pads were surprisingly okay, but the fluid looked ancient. Flushed the old brake fluid and bled the lines. Made a huge difference in the lever feel.
While change oil and filter,I also check the spark plugs, looks good.
Putting It Back Together
Reinstalled the fairings, making sure to tighten everything down properly. Double-checked all the bolts. Took it for a short test ride around the block. Felt amazing! So much smoother and more responsive.
Final Thoughts
It was a good chunk of work, but totally worth it. This ’02 GSXR 1000 is now running like a champ. Can’t wait to really open it up on the open road! Now I am going to take it to a track day to see what it can really do!
