1st Time out after winter brush up

[mudplugossa]

Safely tucked away in the garage since end of October, a little fettling and a few new parts.
Throttle balance as it was snatchy low down when crawling, rear shock spacer, Jaws upgrade on forks with 10w oil and new fork seals, MTC cans in RED. Polished fork legs brake lever, gear lever, footrests and hangers. Carbon fenda extenda.

Took it out today for 1st time this year.....feck me anyone know how to put arms back into sockets? forgot what it was like.
Have to say the suspension upgrades make a huge difference to the handling, it now want's to drop into a corner rather than push it in, front feels oh so more planted. Carbon fenda extenda saved the front from getting covered in sh..1t Overall, pretty pleased@tu*

 

[silverfox.xx]

How many miles on it, looks very tidy... centre stand could like mine do with a touch of paint.

 

[mudplugossa]

It's a 2001 with 13,102miles. Bought it from a guy who lives 500yds down the road, didn't even know he had a bike!!

Undecided whether to have centre stand powder coated or use hammerite spray ...............powder coat I think

 

[Dickiebird]

It's a 2001 with 13,102miles. Bought it from a guy who lives 500yds down the road, didn't even know he had a bike!!

Undecided whether to have centre stand powder coated or use hammerite spray ...............powder coat I think

Got mine powder coated middle of last year. Done 3000 mls + since then and so far so good, just have to keep wiping a small amount of Scottoiler oil off it now and then ! @tu*

 

[mudplugossa]

Powder coated it is@tu*

 

[laupd]

Looks great...

What did you do to clean up the front forks ?

Mine are showing signs of surface corrosion and was thinking about options.

Like the idea of a polish up, then maybe some of the other alloy bits and bobs.

 

[mudplugossa]

The forks were pitted but thankfully not too bad.
I probably went against all the rules of polishing, but the results are very good.
Started with 400's wet or dry, I used 3 in 1 oil as the lubricant. This got rid of the pitting and any old laquer and any high spots. Followed this with 800s and oil. Finished off with 1200s and oil but rubbing one way only. This leaves the surface very dull and you wonder if youv'e done the right thing. Then brasso which brought up the shine then finished with Solvol autosol. Each leg was about an hour.
Gear & brake lever 25 mins each, I also removed the casting marks with a fine file first. Footrest hangars about an hour as they have a slightly stippled pattern on them to start with they still need a little more work on them.

The forks were out of the bike and stripped, as I put new oil seals in along with the fork spring upgrade.
All work was put in the vice which made things easier.
I may at sometime invest in a polishing kit, but, the results I got were in my opinion very good and I had all the bits in the garage anyway.

 

[laupd]

Thanks for the tips mate. Sounds straight forward and certainly looks the part. Reckon I will be giving that a go. Let you know how I get on

 

[markyboy3]

Thats how i did all my alloy mate " wet n dry " then the polishing kit , but i got alittle carried away ,lol and ended up polishing every thing,
if you invest in a polishing kit youll eventually get a chrome like finish and it only takes a quick wipe over to get it nice and shinny again with no need to keep polishing to get it right again

 

[mudplugossa]

Blimey that is a nice job!! Bet you need sunglasses to look at it in the sun.
I am going to have to buy a polishing kit.@tu*

 

[silverfox.xx]

I've seen Marks bike in the 'flesh'. It really is a cracking bike.. :bow::bow:

Were you trying to sell it a while back Mark?

 

[markyboy3]

yes mate but it was like cutting my hands off ,and the wifey said that if i sold it i cant have another one (moody ole cow)lol but to be honest i cant think of much else to do to it apart from waveys on front and rear, i just need to convince her the old discs are knackered first.

 

[silverfox.xx]

Try the 'they're warped' and will fail the MOT trick.

 

[markyboy3]

ill have to try that one on a day when she's in a good mood, it might be a while yet though lololol8rfl@,

 

[silverfox.xx]

Take her for a ride, while braking shake the bars... yup, thats the discs warped dear...

Carefully ride home so as not to use the brakes, worried look on face, pulse the brakes when coming to a stop..

more worried look on face....

Phone me up to confirm symptoms.. make sure she's in ear shot.. speaker phones ideal..

Job done. @tu*

 

[faithsdaddy]

Just out of curiosity, what would a bike in this sort of condition go for? Am thinking of buying a Blackbird.

How do they feel compared to a VFR? Have a late 750 model and an early 800.

 

[silverfox.xx]

Just out of curiosity, what would a bike in this sort of condition go for? Am thinking of buying a Blackbird.

How do they feel compared to a VFR? Have a late 750 model and an early 800.

Which bike, several picture on this thread.

Most who have changed from a VFR prefer the Blackbird.. In short they feel quicker and smoother. Find one at a dealers and take it for a test ride.

Expect to be give black ones, cus they're crap and pay a premium for fast red ones.

 

[markyboy3]

"pay a premium for fast red ones." 8rfl@8rfl@8rfl@8rfl@

 

[faithsdaddy]

Which bike, several picture on this thread.

Most who have changed from a VFR prefer the Blackbird.. In short they feel quicker and smoother. Find one at a dealers and take it for a test ride.

Expect to be give black ones, cus they're crap and pay a premium for fast red ones.

I guess Mark and Mud's. Say that because they both look in great condition. Is there anywhere around Guildford that I could try for one?

 

[silverfox.xx]

Not my area, so I can't advise. Try searching ebay for local dealers/blackbirds.