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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> One Happy Lady here
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Message started by Haggis on 04/28/12 at 12:12:16

Title: One Happy Lady here
Post by Haggis on 04/28/12 at 12:12:16

Got my bike back on the road last weekend :D bought it a year ago and only did a mile before it died on me, >:( anyway, long story in another post.

My mechanically minded mate got it picked up eventually (after a very long winter) Anyway, it is running great now, done a bit of commuting and a couple of ride outs over the last week toting up around 250 miles (and smiles) loving it!!

It's a 1993 purple colour (suzuki call it blue). It needs a bit of tidying up, the paint work is pretty good and the chrome generally shines, but the engine and other metal parts are letting it down.

So what can I do? I'm in Scotland so it is going to get hit with all sorts of weather conditions, how can I get the metal to shine and keep it that way, any ideas?

I have also had a look for accessories and am struggling to find anything that will give it a bit more bling 8-) has anybody found any shiny parts meant for other bikes that fit!

Dee ;D

Title: Re: One Happy Lady here
Post by Dave on 04/29/12 at 10:10:08

I have been shopping for a used bike, and I have noticed that they can get corroded when left in damp areas. I don't know if the bike is any more susceptible than other bikes - or that the used ones were just not taken care of and polished much. It appears the spokes corrode and lose the shine, and the clear coat on the aluminum breaks down and lets the hubs and engine cases lose the shine and turn dull gray. Also the aluminum on the starter is not coated and corrodes.

The spokes and wheel hubs are difficult to make better without taking things apart. The engine cases are easily removed and the clear coat stripped with a good automotive or aircraft stripper. The engine cases can then be polished.....and left uncoated or clear coated. You can also bead blast the engine cases and have them painted or powder coated.

One other option would be to fly me over to Scotland and let me work on the bike for a week or two! ;D I could polish the bike when I was not out exploring.

Post some pictures so we can see what kind of cleanup is needed.

Title: Re: One Happy Lady here
Post by Haggis on 04/29/12 at 12:07:00

Thanks Dave
I will post up pictures soon as I can, having said that I have spent most of today with a scotch pad and some wet and dry on the worst side of the engine case,(left side) did not a bad job and after a polish it has come up okay, pretty good actually, the other side looked really dull and grey but the clear coat is still intact so I'm gonna have a go with the scotch pad etc, with that side too.

Also found a chrome cover for the brake light on ebay, highway hawk end of line for £5, so let the bling begin 8-)

Hold the thought on the trip to Scotland for now :D

Title: Re: One Happy Lady here
Post by Dave on 04/29/12 at 13:17:39

547F6275757E47797C637F7E100 wrote:

Hold the thought on the trip to Scotland for now. :D

Having just read what your name on this site is.......I think I might hold off my trip to Scotland. At the very least.....I would be bringing some of my own food with me.

I just took a picture of the bike I just bought. It is a 2007 with only 265 miles on it. The paint and chrome is like brand new, and the wheel hubs and spokes appear new. The engine cases are the only part that really shows corrosion. Having sat in a garage for 4 years has allowed moisture to get under the clear coat and corrode the aluminum. My plan is to take the cover off so that I can do the updgrade and install the softer timing chain tensioner spring - and while the case is off I will strip the clear coat and polish the cases. I plan on coatin the cases with ZOOP to prevent corrosion in the future.

Title: Re: One Happy Lady here
Post by Haggis on 04/29/12 at 14:42:49

Quote:

Having just read what your name on this site is.......I think I might hold off my trip to Scotland. At the very least.....I would be bringing some of my own food with me.

Ha Ha, don't blame you, I can't stand the stuff!!!! :-/
Thanks for the pic, mine looks a bit like that now after all my hard work, haven't got the mechanical know how to remove the casings, but will keep plodding on with the bike in one piece. Will post pictures when i'm happy with what I've done
Dee