first bike/bike project

[slickmick89]

always wanted a bike/bike project so got one 2 weeks ago a suzkui vl 125 intruder going to strip at down and rebuild it put my own stamp on it let the fun begin lol

https://i.postimg.cc/c4h0vZv7/1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/J4pC1qFP/3.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/022hHSNm/2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/4NysHqVr/4.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/BbVWCZHR/5.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/NFVVHJwc/6.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/FR6GWYCb/7.jpg

[stinkwheel]

Looks like it's all there so a good choice for a project.

What are your plans? 18" over standard apehanger bars, flames on the tank, upswept exhausts with tractor lids and a springer front end?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slickmick89]

just going to keep it as is just black out engine and red tank and fenders something along the lines of this just standard bike

[pepperami]

Welcome.
Another vote for keeping it basically standard

Lots of photos or we send a covid infested bat to your house
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[slickmick89]

pepperami - ill try and keep up with the photos lol

pepperami/stinkwheel -- any advice/ recommendations for engine paint looking Matt black alot of vht paints seem to have mixed reviews anything yous have used personally that you would go for thanks

[stinkwheel]

I like the simonize VHT paint or plastikote woodstove paint.

Both give a pretty good finish. You would need to use a VHT paint on the cylinder head and barrel. You could use something a bit less temperature resistant on the cases/covers. I've used plastikote BBQ paint on numerous engine casings, radiators, heat shields etc. It's a bit more satin than the VHT versions so the muck doesn't stick to it so well but without being too shiny. Still heat resistant.

All the above dry quickly and apply easily. Apply a mist coat first, let that go tacky, then several thin coats until covered. Yiu can usually get a coat in after half an hour on a warm day. Once it's dry, most high temp paints it will stay relatively soft until heat cured so handle with care.

The chromed plastic parts are trickier. If you want those black, I'd suggest plastidip. It'll peel off easily but is easy to re-coat. Or vinyl wrap (use 3M or go-home).
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[pepperami]

Following the advice given to me by Mr Stinky in another thread, I can recommend woodstove vht paint.

I’ve not long finished a refurbished exhaust and finished it with black woodstove paint.
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Easy-X]

Cute 125 V-twin, very nice

Also a refreshing change that the plans aren't overly ambitious, e.g. hard tail conversion.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[stinkwheel]

Agreed, first "project" I've seen for a while that didn't lead by chopping off the rear subframe and seat mounts with an angle grinder.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slickmick89]

funny enough was looking to do a bobber build lol but decided then not to lol

what about primer alot say no need onto bare metal??

[stinkwheel]

[slickmick89]

I'll not be doing the body work I'll get them done by a body shop was thinking on getting the frame powder coated to as it's a great job for long term but it would save me a heap of cash doing it myself what yous think podwercoat waste of money?

[Easy-X]

If you can get it powder coated: nice solid foundation to build on
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Bhud]

I'll second the advice to not hard-tail it - keep it as standard. Hardtails are ill-fated right now. You could start off with the perfect frame and engine, and then some dozy driver could total the donor bike you wanted to use for everything else. Or you could buy a nice-looking frame and engine on Ebay and find cracks all over the engine casing, and the mother of all angle-grinder hack jobs on a rust-holed frame. Both scenarios happened here on BCF recently.

Regarding powdercoating, I've heard some say that it's a waste of money. The type of steel used for most bike frames is very slow to rust and resilient to chipping. Suitable paints are easily available, but it all depends on how much you feel like spending.

[stinkwheel]

I paid £168 for a full frame, yoke, swingarm and a few other bits to be powdercoated locally to me. That included all the prep. work.. Clean, degrease, media blast, bung/mask and coat.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[slickmick89]

I'll have a think about the powder coating and see if it's worth it still have plenty to do yet with the engine first lol thanks for all the advice and help appreciate it

[slickmick89]

haven't got much done on the bike with a lot of work on at the minute but we update got one of the cylinder heads all sanded and cleaned and polished the fins so ready for masking of and painting just another 3 to go

https://i.postimg.cc/Cx5JbHxP/10.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/bNC9YD9Q/9.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/7ZShsjhf/11.jpg

[slickmick89]

so got the cylinder head painted and baked over the weekend diy oven £25 for a heat gun and roll of tin foil and duck tape works a treat well happy with the way it turned out

https://i.postimg.cc/vmfMqFY8/13.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PJNR7YWb/12.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/63pj7nms/14.jpg

[Easy-X]

Wow! Looks great

An old oven from Facebook/FleaBay/etc. would be good if you have space/power.
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[pepperami]

Impressed , keep up the good work.
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Riejufixing]

[Easy-X]

[Riejufixing]

[slickmick89]

dont think the wife would be to happy with me using the oven in the kitchen and wasnt going to fork out more cash than i had to for a second one lol hard to beat for 25 quid lol

[A100man]