honda xbr500 cafe racer - we only have 2 months to completion

[carbon moto]

Im trying hard to finish the xbr soon so i did some more work today on the project.
My favorite job of all painting with a bit of masking too (about an hour in total masking the tank & seat).
Before masking i flatted the body work back with 240 grit on the da & lacquered the carbon to fill in the imperfections in the resin,(which you always get in the form of tiny pin holes) repeat this a couple of times, this gives a nice perfect surface, flatted the 8 or so coats of clear back using various grades of wet & dry down to 800.
First pic are both units masked & ready to apply the silver base coat
Then the base coat applied
& lastly in fools gold.
tomorrow i will be removing the masking which will take hours, lightly flatting the new paint back to remove the ridges & then clear coat over the lot, probably 10 -15 coats so the checkers are laying flat & there is a depth to the finish

 

[carbon moto]

Well i couldnt wait to get into work this morning to rip all the masking off, took me around 2 hours to unmask & then remove all the glue that the paint mask left behind.
I just had to try them on the bike! i always get this excited when doing paint work.

A quick flat with 800 wet & dry a good wipe with panel wipe, a rub over with the tack cloth & back in the booth for quite a few (read lots) of coats of 2 pack lacquer,I used 700ml on these 2 parts (can paint 1/2 a car with that)

In between the numerous coats of clear i decided the front disc looked bland so i decided to drill it in a similar pattern to the standard xbr disc - get this fitted tomorrow after counter sinking it

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Wow. That is beautiful in so many ways. Well done sir.

 

[braveryk]

O.O That paint job is serious business. I love it.

 

[phat13]

Lovely project , great colours,nice drop u lacquer mate

Cheers Wayne

 

[ridesolo]

Wow! Beautiful... from a guy who usually doesn't care much for the checkers...

 

[john83]

That looks fantastic!

 

[carbon moto]

Many thanks for the comments
really appreciate them.
just the foot pegs & hangers to finish off then its done.Seat pad should be ready on monday.
Will get it mot'd come the better weather (around april)ready for the shows.
We will be building 3 x gs550's as soon as we get back in the new year & these should be finished by april (yes all 3 of them)

 

[sinbad85]

i have nothing to say except "wow"

 

[carbon moto]

Had a nightmare with computers & internet since christmas, had some access at work but mainly working from the iphone, all now sorted.
THE BIKE IS FINISHED AT LAST
Im very happy with the result except the rear sets which i hate the look of.
had it running it started up 2nd stab of the starter button- sh1t its LOUD,TOO LOUD
Will have to baffle it before i ride it or i will loose what bit of hearing i have left.
It did start to leak a bit of oil but a quick nip round the allen bolts for the clutch case & it was sorted.
The rear sets are now off & awaiting a bit of modification with my new milling machine, mill out a recess & paint it the fools gold colour & polish the rest.The seat pad will be here on thursday then
its going under a cover till march when i will mot it & have a bit of fair weather fun on it.

Just started a new project gs550 i will start a new thread- will be making a full conversion kit for the gs550 / gs750

 

[jeffw]

Love the paint work on the bike

 

[VonYinzer]

Go here and say yes...

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=45271.msg496359#msg496359

 

[carbon moto]

Go here and say yes...

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=45271.msg496359#msg496359

cheers mate
many thanks you have just made my day
really appreciate it

 

[carbon moto]

Just a few silly little jobs to do to finish the xbr (wire rear brale light switch, polish up rear brake cable bracket, fit seat pad & bolt up the filler cap) then a photo shoot at the end of the week, will post some pictures
new thread started for the gs550 project
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=45369.new#new

 

[carbon moto]

FINISHED IT OFF TODAY
then took her for a quick blat up & down the yard (1/2 mile long each way)
it is actually quite comfortable but far too loud, must put in a baffle & sort the jetting
for the exhaust & filter

 

[2en0]

The frame color is soooo nice!

 

[carbon moto]

thanks.
its a candy called fools gold over metallic silver base coat

 

[Wangofree]

That bike is one for a calendar shoot. BOTM I'm sure is in her future. I voted for it. Excellent work!

 

[carbon moto]

cheers mate
here is a little video of the bike started up
you will understand why i need to quieten it down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4_amV1iT58

 

[two-smoker]

Wow... Guess I'm a little biased, but that doesn't sound loud to me. Seriously.