Project Shirotori
(shiro=white tori=bird in Japanese)

So, the journey has been a long one so far, from highs and lows in this relationship its come so far. We've travelled over thousands of kilometers, going to several places, across towns, cities, states just for getting the kicks for an adventure. I loved her and she was faithful. Before the reader thinks that I am talking about a relationship between a man and woman, you're mistaken. This is about my first love, that is my motorcycle.

I don't know how it came to this point, but only last month I had contemplated on selling off my motorcycle because I had the opportunity to get hands on a more powerful and technically better motorcycle because my wallet permitted to. But, fate kind of disallowed me not to sell off my motorcycle and I couldn't get a new bike.

I wondered. This wasn't the first time I tried to sell her off. Had been in a situation like this before too an year ago. But I couldn't sell her off due to unforseen reasons that cropped up later. Finally, I just gave up and thought I'd just work on the motorcycle I have, which is entirely mine from the day one.

At first long distance touring was so addicting that everytime I had spare cash I'd just jump on the bike and go away somewhere even if it'd seem pointless to anyone else. At first being the noob I was, faced a lot of problems which annoyed me but still I wasn't deterred from riding long and hard. Slowly maturing as a motorcyclist I invested in riding gears,touring luggage & tools. Became far more knowledgable about the tech aspects so that I'd know the bike from inside out. I covered even more kilometers after that.

Slowly but surely later on I was getting annoyed by every little problem I faced. Wear and tear was evident, and some major headaches, some due to my own fault, some unknown reasons. There were moments where problems accumulating had me contemplating on selling her off. But somehow I just couldn't. But as time passed and due to other personal constraints I couldn't ride as much as I wanted to.

Present day, I was losing interest in motorcycle touring. Due to a rather hectic college schedule I rarely went out for a ride in recent months. Was this the end of motorcycle touring for me ?

Well even if it was, I'd refuse to let go of it just like that, it seemed painful just to think about quitting motorcycling as a tourer. In order to sustain an interest in anything you like to do, a change is necessary. In whatever form, small or large doesnt matter. Monotonous activity tends to put barriers even in a person's interests. Problems can be forgiven when there's a sustainable interest in the field.

So I thought of giving my motorcycle a complete overhaul, full replacement of parts from top to bottom and then set out for a long ride back to home in the vacation. Other than that, here's the change which my motorcycle currently is undergoing:

Cosmetic Changes

My bike before :-




This is another stock photo of the bike, but in red:-


which was photoshopped to this :-


So the project began ...

First the body parts such as the fuel tank, side lower and rear panels, headlight masks were taken off and had the existing paint layer completely stripped off until the metal underneath showed. The parts were duly cleaned with a non-corrosive solution and after drying, 4-5 hours were spent in painting the bike.

The parts now after drying and laquering
















Rest of the album link
ImageShack -

Technical changes / replacements

New engine bore + piston + valves
Timing chain and chain tensioner
Clutch assy.

Brake pads and shoes
Chain sprocket set
Steering cone set, swingarm bush

Front forks oil recharge and oil seal replacement
Rear monoshock oil recharge

Headlamp wiring to the HID replaced with thicker gauge wires.
K&N Air filter to be replaced with a modified stock airfilter unit.

IRC front and rear tyres.



Once this is done a long ride awaits back to home. I just want the days now to fly by so that I can start off on the first ride of the year 2010.


Today's update (29/12/2009) : Wheels have been sent to be painted. Initially didnt want to paint them as they were looking new but the colour now compared to the forks and swingarm makes it look faded.

Most of the wiring issues sorted out and replaced. Earlier there used to be a problem of blowing fuses at random. (reminds me of someone ) Found out some of the wires were somehow cut/chewed upon (most probably mouse / rat)

Assembly of the bike should start tomorrow

Today's update (30/12/2009) :

Lot of progress made today, wiring issues sorted out, charging voltage at 14V,


Wheels, Swingarm, Footrests, Front Forks + Mudguard go into their respective places. Rusted parts will get a minor touch up paint, and mainstand and side stand will be taken out tomorrow for some welding works.





Front View, Mudguard and IRC front tyre looks good ;P HID ballast now resides firmly under the console.



Drivechain being mounted, although the rear sprocket had very poor finishing despite being a genuine showroom bought product.



Indicators finally working after rejoining the wires which had been chewed upon by a mouse (probably)



New bore, chain tensioner etc etc, the cylinder head looks bad in contrast but washing will do it good. Will probably get it painted in better quality somewhere else than what was offered here.


Tailpiece and rear side panels go into place with dull black finished grabrails.



Tank, middle panels go into place, will be removing them tomorrow because the airfilter unit still needs to be worked upon




Another view, the tank looks much bigger than when it was in black :O !



More to come tomorrow ! !