My Daughter's bike, early in the build.

Just before my daughter left for Basic Combat Training at FT Jackson, SC she picked up this 1986 Yamaha Radian 600...



I wanted to knock out some work on it this weekend and snap a few pics. I'm heading down to see her graduate this week. The bike is still a ways off from being done. It will be a while before she can use it anyway, she has a 6 month school to knock out before she can have it at her post.
She is a huge cafe racer fan, but the Radian's lines don't lend well to that mod so I went a differnt direction with it. Here is the bike so far in it's early stages.
SOME of the crack ups:


The new head light and tail light and I talked her into keeping the Corbin seat:

Where it sits now, headlight & tail mods.

 

That tail light looks really cool never seen that before!

As an idea you could try changing the wheels, they're looking a little outdated. If there aren't any cheap replacement wheels you could at least powder coat them some other color.

 

I'll be in your daughter's grad. this week, I'm in the band here at Jackson. I'm the only guy on the '07 RW&B, if you happen to see me cruisin' the streets of Ft. Jackson.

 

Thinking of blacking out the wheels, will keep an eye out for you Solo. Sadly the bikes are staying here. have to bring our other daughter with us.

 

So i do some final fab on the front of the bike and start to clean it uo with some degreaser. Well, better to find this out now than later. Some moron must have used some bargan flat black on the motor and frame cause it began to shivel up and become a real mess. Hours later I get the majority of it off the bike and I see the extent of dammage this 4000mile bike took. A ton of the bike was paited of over with some rattlecan crap. plugs and plug wires, body pannels, carbs, the works.




Looks like the swing arm has lost some finish as well.

And of course the tank is a wreck, full of rust, bondo all over it. It was cavered in several coats of rattlecan paint so I just just started stripping it so I can start over. I leave for Ft Jackson in the morning.... This is gonna take a while.

 

Keep up the great work as usual, and i'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

Just outta curiousty, are you going with a streetfighter type build...

 

Wow what a job. I can't wait to see how you transform this rust bucket into a showroom stunner!

 

Good luck on the rebuild. It looks like you got your hands full.

 

Well, MAYBE... Not dead set on any "style", just kinda seeing what fits. When it's done I may have to post a "What The Hell is it" Poll.

Yeah, Plus the screaming gold valve caover is leaking pretty bad. looks like it has to come off. Any you engine geeks out there recomend where i can get a new gasket or can this one be doctored up?

 

No work done today, In Fort Jackson
First Squad Leader, it's her bike.

PV2 Persing with Mon & Dad.

 

Congrats! Looks like a Natural Born Killer. Hooah! I remember when I was a squad leader in the army. Ordering Julius Cesar to "push Rome to Egypt". Ahhh the good ol days.

 

Send her my congratulation and thanks for her service.
Keep up the good work on restoring the bike, Keep us posted on the progress.

 

Picked up a Honda exhaust & midpipe in SC at a salvage yard for $20. (Blackbird high side?) Cut the can down to about 10 in & think the mid needs shortened a bit to fit right.



Got the valve cover off and cleaned and painted in engine enamel. The gasket is in great shape, I plan to use some sealant and use it again.


now the down side. I found this when I pulled the cover. Low side, cam abouve the Yamaha #2 I think.

 

Wow, that sucks really bad! Have you thought about what you are going to do?

 

great pics, sorry about the breakages. hope you can sort it

 

Great pics and congrats to your daughter, im certain you are very proud. Wow @ the breakages found, thats pretty crazy.

 

man that's not a good surprise. I hope this project doesn't have to be scrapped.

 

There is several ways to fix those. One would be with an aluminum epoxy. They are cast so welding may not be the right way to go. They realy don't hold much tension so a good epoxy and then drill/tap should be a cheap and long fix. Yes it looks like you've got your work cut out for you getting the bike back in good shape. Of coarse you have the talent so it should be rewarding because it's your daughter bike. Sure looks like mom and dad are proud of their little girl! Tell her thanks for her service for me. One more thing........keep the photos coming. Interested in seeing what your doing and the final results.