Wish I hadn't bothered...

[KLR600]

Trying to polish my downpipes

Thanks to this thread,

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=117489

having £20 in my wallet and having the day off I thought I'd give it a go.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/dull.jpg

Thats what 10 year old, 22,000 mile pipes that have never been polished and rarely cleaned look like. I couldn't even remember what colour they were when I got the bike so out came the autoglym and the wire wool.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/bitbetter2.jpg

That's what I managed after about 2 hours and dead arms. Not great but better than before. I don't why I thought they'd come up more shiney than that, perhaps I should just invest in a full stainless system and be done with it! Or maybe I should of spent the 2 hours actually cleaning my engine, it definitley needs it!
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
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[derbi x-treme]

give it a go with a wire brush attattchment on a drill or angle grindr that will take it off in seconds then go at it with the autoglym and wirewool to get the polished finish.

to be fair they look alot better and the downpipes in the link werent nearly as dirty to start wiht as urs were

[FreshAL]

Good work

Clean isn't about getting it spotless first time, just keep cleaning it an get it a bit better each time

[Dazbo666]

I actually went down the opposite route with the GPZ...
I bought and fitted brand new stainless steel pipes recently, but sprayed them with high temp black paint first
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[KLR600]

Thanks guys, I may get some wet and dry sand paper soon as I don't have a drill but I was a bit scared to just go at it with wet and dry first time because I wasn't sure how scratched they might get. I'll probably do some on the engine first though, get it nice for the summer
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
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[garth]

Bollocks to cleaning it, go and teach yourself to wheelie.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[KLR600]

Ha ha, if it wasn't my only form of transport and didn't have wobbly wheel bearings I would of learnt to do that instead! Can't really risk trashing my bike without having a backup although I have been toying with the idea to get another (cheap) bike just for messing on, maybe a 125 so I can teach the missus to ride aswell!
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
<My Bikepics Page> <My Yootoobes> <My Websites> <My Photos>
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[garth]

I use my xj as a work hack. My main form of transport. Still takes a hell of alot of abuse.

Go on you big girl, first gear, 4k revs, clutch in, whack on the power and bobs your uncle.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[MIKEY B]

Why dont you spend the 20 quid on a polishing kit from ebay like I did.

Roughly an hours worth of work and look at the difference:

Before:
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GSXR 1000 K3 "Silver Bullet"
Yamaha XS 650 Hardtail bobber

[MIKEY B]

After:
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GSXR 1000 K3 "Silver Bullet"
Yamaha XS 650 Hardtail bobber

[MIKEY B]

I still need to do the collector but I left it on purpose as I am contemplating chopping it off to fit in with my custom exhaust idea.

You will need to borrow a reasonably powerful drill to use the polishing kits.

Mike.
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GSXR 1000 K3 "Silver Bullet"
Yamaha XS 650 Hardtail bobber

[KLR600]

Do you have a link to the kit? I should probably buy a drill if I'm going to start polishing my bike aswell really. Any recommendations for cheapish ones?

I might go and try some wheelies later......
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Now: '00 Kawasaki ZRX1100R - Past: '84 Yamaha DT125, '89 Kawasaki KLR600, '97 Yamaha XJ600N
<My Bikepics Page> <My Yootoobes> <My Websites> <My Photos>
<Take Cool Photos!>

[MIKEY B]

Will see if I can dig out the link, if not just type polishing kit in the motorcycle parts & accessories section on ebay.

Mike.
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GSXR 1000 K3 "Silver Bullet"
Yamaha XS 650 Hardtail bobber

[Visitor Q]

[binge]

I whipped my headers off today, Ive got quite big plans for the NC29. Not sure weather to buy a set of Stainless headers, or take mine in for chroming.

I had a blast at them with 40 Wet and dry, Then with some 1200 wet and dry before blasting over it with a bit of autosol and a rag. The bits ive done have come up spot on. But for the £20 its going to cost me in sand paper and autosol to do it myself, I think ill just pay the extra and get them chromed.


Good work though dude, Just get them finished!
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- Honda XL125S - CBR400 NC29 - VFR400 NC30 - CBR400 NC29 - TL1000R - TeeZeR Pit! - Bandit 12 - YZF450 - LuckyMX125 Pit! - Demon X XLR 140 Pit!
- Stomp KZ 160 Pit! - Demon X D-link 140 Pit! - CRF50F Mini-Pit - MonsterMoto 155cc MiniSM - Honda Chaly 150cc - Yamaha 98' R1
- Honda Chaly 140cc - Thumpstar 190cc 4v MiniSM - Aprilia RS125 Pit-Bike -

[craigs23]

Has the world gone Gay? What's with all this recent cleaning melarky?

[binge]

[st3v3]

I'm just going to leave mine looking like a mucky shed, no point trying to fool anyone On the note of a bigger bike up ^there^ I'd say get an nsr125, they are ok for learning new things on, won't be too expensive in damages and you could learn the missus, then sell it on for roughly the same amount = almost free bike for a while.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done