First, yes, this is in the correct forum under "Non FZ6R Motorcycle Section"
Second, I've been keeping a secret. Been busy over on the Ninjette board. After fixing, painting, and putting my wife's now white Ninja 250 together, I felt pretty good. The old 1977 Suzuki GS550 project for my friend wasn't working out. It was gonna need A LOT of specific, expensive, or no-longer-made-and-available parts. So we sold that and picked up a junk Ninja 250.
Wife's bike (sharing cause I know we love pics!)
BEFORE
AFTER (old pic, bike is now fully back together and I've fixed the overspray on the wheels. wind was blowing the painters tape up.....)
So here's the "junk bike" as my friends have been calling it. Different colors primer with different color paint under all the pieces. Doesn't run, been down a lot, bent bars, big dents in the tank, only key snapped off in the gas cap, tires are shot, wiring harness slashed up from last potential buyer failing to hotwire, etc etc etc. "Oh, and it's got a $250 stage II jet kit brah." (and no airbox)
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!
First removed the battery from it's duct tape prison. I'm surprised this didn't fall out just rolling the bike around. Good news, it desulfated and now works perfectly!
The ignition is riveted into the triple tree, so I got a triple, gas cap, and key on ebay from a wrecked bike. Awesome discovery: the slashed harness is between ignition and plug, so I didn't have to rewire, just plug in the new harness - SCORE!
Then I had carb problems for a while. Ended up cleaning them twice. I've never seen jets and screws that tight. Even the GS550 came apart easier. While the carb was in a vice I cracked off pieces of a jet while trying to get it out. Needless to say they are back in secure but fairly gently. We also found out the carb hose routing was WAY OFF
Anyway, now it idles and runs. It's not perfect, but I have a Ninjette guy an hour away that said he'd help me tune it once I get tags on it. That means, TIME TO PAINT!
I went with a Rustoleum Blue Cobalt Metallic. First off, none of these pictures do the paint any justice. It's gorgeous! It shines like crazy in the sunlight. Fades a little once it dries (still amazing) but that's what clear coat is for. For now I'm just doing 2 coats so I can go back later and maybe try to bondo the gas tank.
Things I quickly learned about Rustoleum: It comes out way thicker and faster than normal auto spray can paint. I had to move quicker and from farther away. Very likely you're going to get runs. Practice on something you don't care about.
And yes, this is all rattle can!
Starting to come together
Now just waiting on my new tires
Oh, and I've got a CBR600rr tail plastic, solo seat cowl, and integrated led tail light in the mail >: )
I think this bike looks hideous but the CBR tail fits. Maybe move it closer so it doesn't look so huge and raise the angle a bit. Just a reference for what my bike might look like.
Second, I've been keeping a secret. Been busy over on the Ninjette board. After fixing, painting, and putting my wife's now white Ninja 250 together, I felt pretty good. The old 1977 Suzuki GS550 project for my friend wasn't working out. It was gonna need A LOT of specific, expensive, or no-longer-made-and-available parts. So we sold that and picked up a junk Ninja 250.
Wife's bike (sharing cause I know we love pics!)
BEFORE
AFTER (old pic, bike is now fully back together and I've fixed the overspray on the wheels. wind was blowing the painters tape up.....)
So here's the "junk bike" as my friends have been calling it. Different colors primer with different color paint under all the pieces. Doesn't run, been down a lot, bent bars, big dents in the tank, only key snapped off in the gas cap, tires are shot, wiring harness slashed up from last potential buyer failing to hotwire, etc etc etc. "Oh, and it's got a $250 stage II jet kit brah." (and no airbox)
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!
First removed the battery from it's duct tape prison. I'm surprised this didn't fall out just rolling the bike around. Good news, it desulfated and now works perfectly!
The ignition is riveted into the triple tree, so I got a triple, gas cap, and key on ebay from a wrecked bike. Awesome discovery: the slashed harness is between ignition and plug, so I didn't have to rewire, just plug in the new harness - SCORE!
Then I had carb problems for a while. Ended up cleaning them twice. I've never seen jets and screws that tight. Even the GS550 came apart easier. While the carb was in a vice I cracked off pieces of a jet while trying to get it out. Needless to say they are back in secure but fairly gently. We also found out the carb hose routing was WAY OFF
Anyway, now it idles and runs. It's not perfect, but I have a Ninjette guy an hour away that said he'd help me tune it once I get tags on it. That means, TIME TO PAINT!
I went with a Rustoleum Blue Cobalt Metallic. First off, none of these pictures do the paint any justice. It's gorgeous! It shines like crazy in the sunlight. Fades a little once it dries (still amazing) but that's what clear coat is for. For now I'm just doing 2 coats so I can go back later and maybe try to bondo the gas tank.
Things I quickly learned about Rustoleum: It comes out way thicker and faster than normal auto spray can paint. I had to move quicker and from farther away. Very likely you're going to get runs. Practice on something you don't care about.
And yes, this is all rattle can!
Starting to come together
Now just waiting on my new tires
Oh, and I've got a CBR600rr tail plastic, solo seat cowl, and integrated led tail light in the mail >: )
I think this bike looks hideous but the CBR tail fits. Maybe move it closer so it doesn't look so huge and raise the angle a bit. Just a reference for what my bike might look like.
