Bandit fully naked muscle project...MORE PICS...finished

[mowgli0929]

SKIP TO THE BOTTOM(ish) IF YOU JUST WANT TO SEE IT FINISHED


About 5 weeks ago I high sided my 1999 bandit 600 doing about 60mph .

All cosmetic damage really...clocks, lights, handlebars, tank split down the side, frame scuffs, brake levers, footpegs etc etc.

Was really anoying though as I'd just got it looking quite nice (although a bit generic) and figured I'd now have to scrap it as it would cost so much to restore.


But...after my dad said he wanted to go to the manx grand prix I changed my mind! Started what was going to be just a basic touch up but it turned into a huge mind boggling project (for me) with a crazy learning curve!

Before I start...you should know I have noooooo money so everything had to be on the cheap, and also that i'm well new to mechanics etc



First, I started with the tank as it had the slight defect of a big split down the side.
Began by stripping all the old paint off with a drill that had a paint stripping wheel attachment i bought (with an old credit note for B&Q )

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00650.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00652.jpg

Then...the split... 'hmmmm' I thought 'well I can't weld, so thats me f*cked'. Then realised that there was a tractor mechanics down the end of my drive and that the owner owed me a favour

They had a go at welding it but to no avail...apparently the metal is too thin at that point. Luckily though they are clever buggers and filled the hole (which was right on the seam) with loads and loads of solder, which worked great

I then used an angle grinder (drill attachment again...sob) to smooth out the solder and make it flush.

Anyway...i'm sure you're bored without pics, sooooo...

Here's the tank with two coats of primer, then two white coats (btw all paint used in this project was rattle can) :

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00681.jpg

Then I put a wide strip of masking tape down the middle and did three coats of matte black on top:

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00683.jpg

Then 24hrs later took off the making tape to reveal....

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00684.jpg

So..that's the tank, matte black with a white stripe.

Then I moved onto the frame. I took off the fairings on the rear of the bike to get a clear look at it, and that's when it hit me!!! EPITHANY MOMENT! What I'd been trying for AGES with the bandit was to get more clearance between the back wheel and the tail and have a thinner back end, like more modern bikes. I know there were ways to do this...I tried a new undertray etc but couldnt afford some of the more drastic measures. Anyway the 99 bandit tail is horrribly chubby due to the fairings.

I realised when I had the back fairings off how much BETTER it looked with just a steel tube frame and a seat perched on top...almost hovering. Sure...the frame was adorned with lots of horrible metal fixtures etc but I figuered it could all be sorted out.

SO....now I decided that there would be no more fairings at all and all the electronics would have to be relocated.

I took them all off so they were hanging loose and got the angle grinder out (again, just a silly drill attachment one). I'd never done angle grinding before and it was baking hot outside so i was topless...fooolish (had the the old goggles on though )
Cut off all extraneous metal bits on the frame so it was just a couple of bar metal tubes with joining braces, then ground down the wounds i'd inflicted so they were smooth.

I also started to remove the old paint from the frame and grind off the scuff marks from the crash.



https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00656.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00654.jpg

I then wire wheeled (love my drill) and painted the engine matte black. WARNING WARNING WARNING! DO NOT USE HALFORDS OWN BRAND ENGINE PAINT!!!! I used it and recently I had to drain the fuel from the crabs using the drain screws: it STRIPPED ALL THE PAINT OFF! rubbish paint.

anyway...here's the engine painted

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00687.jpg

Since with the new design of the tail I'd decided on the underside of the seat would be in veiw, I decided to paint it. Again, I did 2 primer, 2 white, 3 black. with a stripe identical to the one on the tank. This means that from behind the stripe apears to run all the way down and under the bike.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00653.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00685.jpg

I finished sanding down the frame, masked up everthing else so it looked like a christmas present and started painting. The first paint job I wasn't happy with but i'll show you anyway... two primer, three white, two clear.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00710.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00711.jpg

I thought there was too much white on the bike now because i wanted it to be mostly matte black with a HINT of white. Also it reminded me too much of a mechano set or something...

So...I messed about with masking tape painted black to see which bits I should paint again (worked brilliantly, much better than just guessing)

Sanded off the clear coat, masked it up again and did three coats of matte black. Also painted exaust, fitted new brake levers, footpegs etc etc

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00719.jpg

Much better!

The handlebars are renthal ultra lows I bought. I really wanted the effect of drop bars so i turned the upside down and reversed them....AMAZING. Feel so much more connected to the road that with the upright old bars I used to have, handles great like this. Dead cheap too. I think its only possible on the bandit because the clamps are so high off the top yoke...ridiculously so in fact.

I really wanted the front end look of a speed triple, but couldnt find any lights in my price range so had to settle for some chrome car headlamps that arnt as big from halfords. I modified the od brackets and the look great!

I then drilled through an inch of steel on the rear footpegs (which killed the brushes in my drill....noooooooooooo!!!) the mounted the rear indicators there which looks dead cool

This is the most recent phot I have so I'll make it the last, you'll have to imagine the rest for now (it's pretty much all done in this pic anyway).

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00723.jpg


WELL happy with the look

I then mounted an old tail light RIGHT UNDER the seat....not at the tail end...under the seat but as close to the tank end as possible. This gives a great clear veiw under the back end and creates an amazing lighting effect at night

Then came the trouble of the electrics and where to put them
They'd all been inside the protection of the tail unit previously so obviously would need some sort of protection. I moved the battery into a tiny space between the frame and the rear suspension, making sure to insulate the points!! Then I gave all the diodes switches solonoids etc etc a good coating of electrical tape and put them in this old petty cash lock box i found lol. Cut some holes in the sides to let the cabled out and screwed it into place on the otherside of the rear suspention to the battery...very neat


So...yeah, that's about it really...sorry it was so long!!! I would welcome any feedback or comments, thanks!


p.s it has been nicknamed 'the badger'

p.p.s I had massive problems with getting it going again...was way beyond my expertise but eventually managed it, only got two cylinders going , recockon it's the diaphams in the carbs?? Its not the coil

[Jenks]

now that looks awesome! Top job!
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[mowgli0929]

cheers mate,

Had the worst bike trip of my life today! Had to ride back from London to somerset on 2 out of four cyclinders!!!! ohh the shame, overtaken by caravans and cost 30 quid in fuel!!!!! Didnt have the tools there to overhaul the carbs and no RAC callouts left.

Overhauling carbs tomorrow...well scared

[virus]

Good work, any chance of some pics from the front?


Cheers
John
____________________
own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Mudskipper]

Now that is actually a Blandit I would be proud to ride.
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Reppyboyo]

For a low budget job thats pretty damn cool.

[tutton]

Where in somerset do'ya hail from then...
and nice looking work!
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[reu]

Some good work there mate keep it up
____________________
125cc Pitbike <sold> Aprilla Mx50 <current>

[neatbik]

Awesome mate

[mowgli0929]

yeah i'll get some front on pics ones tomorrow before i tackle the carbs and put them up....i'm not a huge fan of bandits from the front lol hence no pics, also havnt got round to painting the mudgaurd.

Damn it, I want to ride it! If it does't turn out to be the carbs does anyone know anything else that could cause two cylinders not firing/. Again...not plugs or HT. Cheers

@tutton: I'm near sparkford which if you dont know it is in the yeovil area (ish)

[chris-red]

I like that, I would change the exhaust though I don't like it painted.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[meach]

Nice
I would paint the rims black too though
____________________
2005 xt660x in red, not everyone's cup of tea but neither is coffee
https://www.youtube.com/imeach

[mowgli0929]

Here's a couple more pics, with some from the front as requested. The primer is as we speak drying on the front mudgaurd, so dont worry it will look better than this. I'm not a HUGE fan of the lights, as soon as budget allows I'll be upgrading to speed triple esque lights (5 3/4 inches), might even use some from an of 2cv as they give the same effect

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00726.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00727.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00729.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00730.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00731.jpg

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/DSC00732.jpg

Hmmm....not sure about the exaust myself actually...might strip the black paint off it, we'll see. Anyone else got an opinion on it?

[chris-red]

If you can afford it get Tl1000 or gsxr usd forks, that would look the tits
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[alt101uk]

A lot of hard work there, fine looking bike

[The Tot]

I was gonna comment on the exhaust earlier but thought i might get slagged cos i have a distinct and renown prejudice for people who find any excuse to use matt black paint on anything!

The minimalistic looks are cool, but my personal preference on the headlight is to move them between the top and bottom yokes so that it gives the bike a more aggressive stance than making it look like Johnny5 or Wall-e.

Exhaust, personally i would have polished it to bits. What was it, titanium?

The way see it is that some company has spent R&D money to develop a flame scorched patina only to have it covered with matt black, but that's cos i'm always partial to shiny bits.

Try polishing out all the scuffs and use autosol to make the downpipes and end can swish... doesn't matter of the rest of the bike is matte, cos my opinion is that exhaust looks ghastly. Still, with no money, it's a good minimalistic style you've put on the bike.
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[mowgli0929]

@ Titz

Very very true about the headlights, they are getting moved tomorrow, I was just lazy and didnt want to make new brackets + it was all very last minute until 2am trying to get it ready for a trip i needed to make the next day. Will get it sorted.


About the exaust...hmmmmmmm, yeah I know what you mean, I was particularly disapointed with the finish of the paint on it. I'm completely undecided as to which way to go. I don't really like chrome on the bike so...dunno.

I've done a (SHOCKINGLY bad) photoshop to compare the two: black and original


https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/mowgli0929/bike%20project/compare.jpg

I didn't like the flame blue on it as I felt it added too many colours and detracted from the look of the bike...a plain chrome one MIGHT make it look better...bit less rat bike. Oh well I can always strip the paint. Anyone got an opinion on the comparison pic?

[The Tot]

I reckon any standard stainless steel exhaust off ebay would do nicely - flog the one you have - even if its scuffed, there's going to be a buyer for that sort of "tat". Bandit exhausts are pretty common with the 3-bolt bolt-on arrangement - i think ZX6R G-J end cans fit straight on so give that a go. Although seeing your pic it looks like the link pipe has been sawn off and had a slip on put on - in which case measure the outside diameter of the pipe and get a can to fit (51mm??) - loads knocking about for 30-40 quid if you snipe. In which case the world is your oyster.

Also, get some wire wool and scrub off the rust on the bottom yoke - you may want to just get some hammerite and hammerite over the rust or lacquer it?

It'll be interesting to see how this bike progresses - it's got a buell firebolt/CityX look to the rear seat which i think looks cool
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Dr. DaveJPS]

on an aside personally i hate side numberplates like that, i've always thought a better way would be to mount the numberplate on a mudguard bolted to the swing arm (like the little one on GS1200's). but is just my opinion. nice project thou mate.
____________________
"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[mowgli0929]

Nah..fuck a new one, If I do decide to go back to titanium I'll just strip off the black paint like i did on the tank...can is a scorpion and sounds fucking imense, no way i'd change it

Disagree completely about the numberplate i'm afraid, I don't want ANYTHING blocking the veiw between the seat and the wheel, hence no mudgaurd hugger etc (got a bandit hugger...looks sooooo shit)

[Dr. DaveJPS]

https://astonishingbikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/bmw-r1200gs-adventure-450x354.jpg

was the lower one that is over the wheel i was refering to. so wouldn't ruin your space and would stop the level of cak staining your new white line
____________________
"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[mowgli0929]

aha, genius! I like the idea a lot. Thanks mate

[Type_Mo]

nice work, but I THINK ya shoulda painted the white bits yellow to match the wheels, and cut a lil bit off the can cos its too big. just enough so the tip of the can is flush with the edge of the tyre. but good work anyways mate
____________________
- Typhoon ?0 - Yamaha DT125R - Aprilia SR125 - Yamaha DT125R - Honda Hornet 600 -

[chris-red]

A couple of hours and some Autosol you could have that can fully silver.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[DaveH]

Terrific effort

A very cool looking bike...especially once the front look is sorted

You coudl maybe get some aluminium plate for between the rear subframe spars and hide some of the electrics from view?
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https://www.timhastingsracing.co.uk/

ZX7R & ER6F