paint

what's involved in prepping the surfaces? Apart from anything else,
there are stickers (and a couple of CF-style tank protectors) already
on there which will need to come off - is this included in the
"Prepping" or do I need to do this myself first?

bit modern for you, I suppose.

 

darsy wrote

Cleaning and abrading and then cleaning again, mostly. The lumps have
to filed flat and the remaining surface covered in zillions of
microscopic scratches.

It is time consuming so you should get some discount if you do it
yourself. However, it needs to be done right to get a pukka job so it
could be argued that it is money well spent if you don't have the
confidence/abilities to do it yourself.

 

Probably better if you gave them it as is. Prep will probably be:

flatting down (sanding) using a mechanical sander to manufacters primer;
dealing with any rust spots or previous filler (the factories have been
known to use it); filling dents, dings and pock marks; then hi-build
primer (part filler part primer); flatting down (again and again);
knifing filler on any tiny imperfections; primer; flatting down (again);
/then/ top coats.

A bit 1997 "Performance Bikes" meets M&P catalogue for me.

 

thanks for that.

there's some truth in that, but it'd suit the bike in question.

 

darsy says...

You can achieve a perfect finish with spray cans, if you take your time
and prepare the panels properly. I've just finished painting the large
centre sections of the Thunderace, and you can't tell they were done
with Simoniz gloss black cellulose spray cans.

 

I can fill tank dents. I've had practice. You'll never see the join
once it has been painted, mister.

 

I'm a lazy impatient bastard.

you undoubtedly took much more care than I could ever muster.

<fx: light bulb>

Hey, you want to paint my bike for me?

 

Nah, I like the sound it makes, and CF is obviously tricker than the
original plastic.

it's the RHS that's bad - it has a play of about 3cm that it can slide
into the frame, detaching itself from the fairing. I was thinking
about taking it all off and putting it back on to see if it makes any
difference.

The fairing - am I right in thinking that it's not dull paint, but
just unpainted black plastic?

well, if you do, let me know what you want for them.

I've no real desire to have a lasting impressing of your nuts, thanks.

 

yeah, but how much less effort is this than just spraying the
non-dented silver tank black?

 

yup - bodge tape to the rescure once again.

the exhaust - it's not the springs that hold the two bits of tube
together that are missing - the actual end can, where the pipe goes
into it, I kinda expected that to be a welded joint - it's not, and
wobbles a good bit - though changing the position of and tightening up
the end-can clamp has helped a bit.

 

OK, ta - is it fixed on the bottom or something, because casual
inspection didn't turn up anywhere to put a spring.

 

found it now.