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newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of TLC
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:14 pm
by tubehead
Hi Everyone
Have just bought a 1989 900ss which came fitted with 998 front end and a box of parts including a 2004 1000ss swingarm and a after market shock to suit which I will fit once it has been rebuilt .
It looks ok but everything has been slapped together and it needs some sorting so I plan to strip it down and just get everything cleaned up before riding.both rear footpeg mounts were just hack sawed off which pretty much sums up the previous owner approach to modifications but the basics are there for a nice bike once it is sorted.
Will post some pics once I get going.
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:59 pm
by 900streetfighter
Nice, sounds interesting. I love modified bikes.Those swingarms are well des in uk. I got one for my naked SSie and had it polished. They look so much stronger and stylish compared to earlier arm and address a few problems they had. I'd like to see the 916 fork/yoke arrangement.
Cheers, Keith.
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 2:18 am
by tubehead
As I bought it.Looks ok but on closer inspection it was pretty slapped together.

- 88 900ss.jpg (92.79 KiB) Viewed 12861 times
Here it is naked.Have cleaned the frame up and welded some new tangs for the new exhaust hanger .Fitted later swing arm (straight bolt on with a bit of shimming)and fitted the rebuilt shock which I got back today.It's a FG Gubellini which I have never heard of before but the guy who rebuilt it said it is a good shock.Did the front seals in the forks and bled the brakes.The wiring is almost sorted and I have bought a acewell speedo to use while the old clocks are rebuilt.Some how my 2 days off have disappeared.
The front triple clamp is off a 888 which was machined to fit the 998 front end.
Will fit the body work today I hope to take a quick test ride before I strip it again to do the belts and valves.
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 9:06 am
by 900streetfighter
Very nice. Always liked that colour scheme. Keep an eye on that KN oil breather, they can oil your rear tyre apparently!
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:50 am
by tubehead
Ready for roadworthy inspection.The motor in this is not stock though the last owner did not say it had been modified but it makes my 93 ss with 41 fcrs and mufflers seem gutless compared to this old girl!Mono's in the first 3 gears off the throttle and revs out much faster than my 93.
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:57 am
by paso750
I`d really like to hear that exhaust

Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 9:16 am
by 900streetfighter
Careful with those yokes then, they have been bored out to take the fatter legs, probably not much meat left. Don't overtighten the pinch bolts and they should be fine.
Bike looks fantastic, I think the 2:1 would improve torque, what carbs are they?
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 9:43 am
by paso750
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 2:04 pm
by tubehead
900streetfighter wrote:Careful with those yokes then, they have been bored out to take the fatter legs, probably not much meat left. Don't overtighten the pinch bolts and they should be fine.
Bike looks fantastic, I think the 2:1 would improve torque, what carbs are they?
yeah the whole fork triple clamp combo had me confused because the 998 showa SBK forks are 53 53mm at both clamps and the 888 was 54mm on the bottom and 50 on top so it must be a 998 lower and the magnesium 888 top clamp has had 3mm taken out of them.I think 3mm is ok but the guy who built this originally got the basic's right but attention to detail was a little lacking and actually the bike was dangerous in many areas when I got it.It is now sorted and a pretty mean ride for a bike that is going on classic registration
but I will keep an eye on that top clamp for any cracks.
The exhaust is a Gia.ca.moto which is another name I have never heard of and has a carbon can originally which also came with the bike.The Mivv can currently fitted just sounds very angry which I like.
On my first test run the rear header was hitting the original swingarm and half the springs were missing so the can blew off with the shonky rear mount and the whole thing ended up on the road on.

Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 4:55 pm
by ducinthebay
Bike looks great. Should be lots of fun to ride. Someone did some work to get that swingarm on that motor. No small feat. Certainly checked off all the boxes of what cool parts you could put on a Sport.
Hope you like it.
Cheers, Phil
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 6:47 pm
by 900streetfighter
Ive had 53mm bored SSie yoke on my 907 for last couple of years. no problem. ie yoke is slighter chunkier than your early version. Im totally confident its safe but I polished the anodising off so I can keep eye on it.
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 9:44 pm
by bmw851
Help me here Tubehead, I've seen that Triumph in the background on another forum, and it's one of those where the hell did I see it moments....
Re: newbie with a just bought modified 89 900ss in need of T
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:13 am
by tubehead
Triumphrat.net most likely .It was last winters project build cost had to be under $2500 including the price of the bike.