Dave wrote on 08/01/14 at 04:25:31:Yep, our bike is considered a "learner" bike and as such, they get a lot of drops while folks are figuring out how to ride. In the process the bikes pick up some scrapes, dents and broken turn signals.
Using compressed air and torches might just be a bit beyond what she can do - seeing as BONDO is a new concept for her. I might even believe that Karen doesn't own a set of torches, and that unlike some of us, she hasn't spent endless hours breathing gasoline and paint fumes.
I would suggest that she continue to look for a "second" tank, and fenders to work on. That way she does not have to stop riding while her tank and fenders are being painted and/or she experiments with her body shop skills. She can use the bike with the side panels removed - and finding extra side panels can be a bit tough.
Ultimately to get the paint color scheme she wants, she most likely is going to need a professional to spray the paint for her, and fixing a tank dent will most likely be a part of the process.
Karen: Tell us a bit about your abilities....and how you expect that the paint update will happen. Do you expect it will be something you can do yourself - or do you have some professional help in your plan?
MUFFLER - I am not a fan of loud bikes either, and the DYNA muffler turned out to be a very nice sound on the Savage. They are louder than the stock muffler - but are not obnoxious. They are cheap and easy to come by, and the local Craigslist, eBay or the Marketplace on this forum you should be able to get a pristine one for $ 40, and a less then perfect one for much less. I suggest you buy the RYCA angle adapter - it makes the process of fitting the muffler much easier with less fiddling.
Dave
oh I've got access to all that. Hubby does automotive repair, but NOT body work, so I haven't ever had any exposure to that kind of thing. we've got welders, torches, air, etc. but his professional opinion was that the dent would not be fixable by those methods... once I get it on the road (brakes are a MUST, tires are next in line) I can go by some body shops and get their opinions maybe.
forgot to add, I plan to take the parts to someone to have that done. Hubby does have a paint sprayer but he uses it for minor touch ups, not full part jobs. and I'm comfortable turning my own wrenches when needed, but I usually take it to the shop where he works so that I have access to his tool box.
here's the color scheme I want... it's still a nice enough bike to be worth painting. (The prior Rebel 450 died a slow death of rust from prior neglect)