Wanting to "Pretty Up" My Suzuki Marauder GZ125 K2

[GoGoAkimbo]

Hi There,

First time bike owner and currently not to long having passed my CBT.
Currently Driving a Suzuki GZ125 K2.

Im slowly learning how to fix bits and bobs that are essential to the running of the bike with the help of my partner. But i was wondering what sort of things i can get to "Prettify" the bike.

The bike was sat on a friends drive and given to me to fiz up. Its currently in good working order and performing as i would expect it to given its size and CCs its not too bad for 11Horses.

I got some side bags that are pretty nice and fitted them with the racking. But im wondering what other bits and bobs and nick nacks i can look for to add to my little bike to make it look a bit shinier and nicer.

Sorry if this seems like a really girly question. But im intrigued.

Any help would be welcome.

A list of bits ive done so far
Exhaust has been replaced (cheap as hell because a friend gave me the part) to get rid of heat damage to pipe.
spokes have been cleaned up on wheels.
mirrors were replaced as were rusted and pitted +
Removed some bits of rust on black frame and painted.
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Female. First time bike owner, currently driving a Suzuki Marauder GZ125 K2. Passed my CBT 3 months ago. Looking for small snippets of advice on here.

[Doovy]

Personally I'd remove the 'Powered by fairy dust' stickers. I'd also take measures to remove the L plate.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[GoGoAkimbo]

The Fairy dust sticker is a personal preference. But fair play.
Measures are being taken to remove the L plates but untill then I want to make the bike look a big nicer lol.
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Female. First time bike owner, currently driving a Suzuki Marauder GZ125 K2. Passed my CBT 3 months ago. Looking for small snippets of advice on here.

[Ste]

Get rid of the L plates and then you can stop wasting time on a tiddler.

[gorillaonabik...]

[GoGoAkimbo]

So, That was awfully helpful,

Aside from "Pass your test get a bigger bike."

Anything else.

The passing the test and getting a bigger bike aint happening yet.
This is likely to be my bike for quite a while. For a myriad of reasons.
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Female. First time bike owner, currently driving a Suzuki Marauder GZ125 K2. Passed my CBT 3 months ago. Looking for small snippets of advice on here.

[GoGoAkimbo]

[Baffler186]

Less is more in this case I think. Spend your money on keeping it looking new and shiny (ACF50, shampoo, chrome shiner stuff or whatever you use). IMO it looks better and will sell easier
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[nowhere.elysium]

It's a 125 commuter that's already been made into a suboptimal shape as it is - no amount of 'prettifying' is going to disguise that. Ride it, get good at riding it, buy something 'pretty' when you do decide to go for your test. 4-stroke 125s will never be fapbait for anyone worth talking to.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[GoGoAkimbo]

[MarJay]

Sell, buy new bike.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[G]

[P.]

As said, aesthetics are personal. To be honest the only way to pretty up a cruiser is to put it in a crusher and set the remains on fire but evidently tastes differ.

[grr666]

Female in 'asks for opinions and then argues with them and does what she wants anyway' shocker!!!
You may get the sort of answers you are looking for on Facebook. People on here actually like bikes.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[hedgehugger]

Give the seat a makeover.
Buy some funky material of your choice (I fancy doing the er6 in red snake vinyl!), and give the seat a temporary cover.

Here's one I did earlier!
https://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/ferretmonsters/zebra%20ninja%20seat/ninjaaaa.jpg

[Ste]

[ScaredyCat]

[Robby]

Not a lot you can do realistically.

You could go for the long and low look with flat bars, smaller front mudguard, rear mudguard shortened and rear seat removed, narrower seat. A lot of time and money to get it looking right.

You could try to make it look simpler, by removing all the badges, stickers and chrome. The probably is that everything is chrome/fake plastic chrome. Then the colour would be wrong, so it would need a respray. Again, lots of time and money for little reward.

Or you could just ride it. If you don't like the look, buy something you do like the look of. Far cheaper than trying to alter what you have.

Also, if you modify it, it'll be utterly worthless when you come to sell. The people who modify 125s are also the people who fiddle with carburettor settings to try and make it go faster, fiddle with the exhaust and engine for the same reason, or commit Nuremburg-grade atrocities in the wiring loom for no reason whatsoever.

[Doovy]

Tint the indicators so they're not so amber.

Fit some renthals.

Fit some new grips.

Do whatever you want.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[Papa Lazarou]

Cafe racer it. I dare you.
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Current bike: Honda Blackbird 1100 and a little 250.

[Rogerborg]

[Fladdem]

Hmmm. Make it look prettier...

1, Remove number plate

2, Wheel away everything else

3, Wheel in a Yamaha 3TJ (Feel free to use the prettiest motorcycle of your choice)

4, Re-attach number plate to modified Marauder

5, Profit?


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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[deadwolf]

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bWWRsRKRBM/TurN4RE1gYI/AAAAAAAAQ88/KEdv2eOluhY/s1600/fist.jpg

Because #YOLO
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Motorsapien Art

[parkmoy]

It's your first bike and of course you love it and want to do things to it. Nothing wrong with that, but no matter what you think now you will want/get a bigger bike when you pass your test. So it's probably not worth doing cosmetic stuff as that will affect your resale value.

Stick with what Rogerborg and Baffler186 suggest, ride it, enjoy it, and have fond memories when you move on.

[Teflon-Mike]

Spend your money on a Haynes manual, oil and grease and other essential maintenance; don't matter how 'pretty' it looks if its not working!

Get rid of the L-Plates! NOTHING looks good with them on!

CBT isn't a 'licence' its your first lesson; would you expect to be let loose on your own in a car, after just one lesson? No, right!
Well if you are competant enough to be on two wheels on the public road, you ought be competant enough to get a frigging licence to prove it; if NOT get the fuck off before you hurt some-one, most likely YOU.

You don't have to book an expensive course to get a licence, and need not be a 'big-bike' licence; you can still self book, and take tests on your own bike; which as you have a 125 will limit you to the A1 - 125 'only' licence entitlement for the effort, BUT.. if you are competent enough to be on the road... you ought be able to pass the feckers! If not? Well, take the hint!

Theory/Hazard £33; Mod 1 £15, Mod 2 £75. Thats £120 of money WELL spent, to get rid of the one part of that bike that will ruin ANYTHING you try to make it look better... the unqualified numpty in the saddle making it wobble .. sorry, the L-Plates! (you may well still be an ugly numpty in the saddle, BUT at least you wont be an unqualified one!)

DO IT. It's the best place to spend your cash.. sod trying to make the bike LOOK better, try making yourself RIDE better... training may help, but process of practicing for the tests will go a long way in the same direction.

IF you go for bigger-bike licences later, then that cash is an investment; you will know the ropes; you'll have done and passed tests once, so doing it over on a bigger bike ought be a breeze once you have done enough to get a handle on heavier more powerful bike; so should mean less money spent on more expensive training, and more confidence of a pass for it.

If NOT? Well, then a 'full' A1 entitlement on your licence is a 'once and forever - never to be repeated CBT Cert', so in two years time, you wont be having to shell out another £120 (price near enough of getting an A1 licence) on another 'first lesson' just to keep wobbling about with ugly L-Plates on your bike.

Otherwise ? Just ride the little fucker. Use will a) get you the experience towards being a better rider and looking less numpty like in the saddle, AND b) will inform you what sort of accessories are most useful, like panniers or rack, or a top box to store your hat, or better lights to see unlit country roads, or a quieter crash hat or more water-proof boots, or warmer gloves.. all far more useful and important than the actual bike; as you find out how you use the thing and what is more or less important..

But we have been trying to tell you, 'LOOKS' is pretty NOT important.. it don't get you places any faster, any safer, any more comfortably or any cheaper, and when the number one excuse when we get knocked off is "Sorry-Mate I DIDN'T SEE You" who the heck do you think is going to be looking at you? Let alone CARING what you look like?

Seriously, when I clean my visor after a good ride, I don't pick over the insects and think "Oh what a pity, that must have been a very pretty dragon-fly, before the last thing to go through its mind was its arse!" I don't! and nor do the other road users who don't see us at all much different (IF they actually see us to begin with!)

Don't sweat the small stuff, and how it looks is small stuff; stop thinking - start riding; get miles under your wheels, and get a licence, make yourself a better rider, sodf making the bike 'better' they come and go, YOU have to last a life-time... so make THAT the best it can be, then just use the bike and adapt, as necessary, to suit that use.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'