Suzuki GR650 - back to work...
- Thread starter Big R
- Start date
Big R
Heaven is so far away.
Re: Suzuki GR650- paint progress
Thanks for the props fellas. Working on the wiring for the tail light, mounting the rear turn signals, the upper mount for the fairing, and cutting the wind screen today. I was hoping to be able to take it for a spin tonight, but I don't think I'll get that far.......
Thanks for the props fellas. Working on the wiring for the tail light, mounting the rear turn signals, the upper mount for the fairing, and cutting the wind screen today. I was hoping to be able to take it for a spin tonight, but I don't think I'll get that far.......
Cafe Redneck
Been Around the Block
Re: Suzuki GR650- paint progress
Bike looks great!!! Paint looks great!!! Awesome job Rich.
Bike looks great!!! Paint looks great!!! Awesome job Rich.
Big R
Heaven is so far away.
Re: Suzuki GR650- paint progress
Thanks gents!
Pete, I'm making the screen out of an old grinding face shield. I think it's polycarbonate? I have a couple of them around, and they come with a blue film on each side to protect the surface until it's ready for use. Very convenient when using a jigsaw to cut the edges down! I used one shield for a template (extra holes, rough edges, scribbled notes with a marker, etc) and then one shield as a finished product.
I'll snap some pics when I get the chance.......
Thanks gents!
Pete, I'm making the screen out of an old grinding face shield. I think it's polycarbonate? I have a couple of them around, and they come with a blue film on each side to protect the surface until it's ready for use. Very convenient when using a jigsaw to cut the edges down! I used one shield for a template (extra holes, rough edges, scribbled notes with a marker, etc) and then one shield as a finished product.
I'll snap some pics when I get the chance.......
peteGSX
Zuk's Rock!
Re: Suzuki GR650- paint progress
Cool, sounds like that should work nicely!
The reason I ask is that I've still to do my fly screen, but that will be made from acrylic perspex. I'll get back to it once I've got the garage sorted but I need to find something with a suitable curve to do some heating and bending and everything I've found so far is too small a radius for what I want... might have to find a plant pot or something...
Big Rich said:
Cool, sounds like that should work nicely!
The reason I ask is that I've still to do my fly screen, but that will be made from acrylic perspex. I'll get back to it once I've got the garage sorted but I need to find something with a suitable curve to do some heating and bending and everything I've found so far is too small a radius for what I want... might have to find a plant pot or something...
Swagger
Putting boot to ass since 1967!
Re: Suzuki GR650- paint progress
I've used plastic buckets to get a nice single axis compound curve. Just wrap it in an old T-shirt and gather up the excess on the back side so you have a nice smooth surface. Peel the acrylic and set your raw piece on a cookie sheet on some parchment paper (ask your wife/girlfriend) and heat at 180* for several minutes. Check it now and then, it should become nice and floppy but obviously not runny. Use some cotton gloves, lift the now floppy piece of acrylic out and lay it over the t-shirted bucket to cool. You can lay another piece of t-shirt material over the top and bind it down but you shouldn't need to. Allow it to cool to room temp before you futz with it, but you should now have a nicely curved piece of acrylic screen material to work into shape.
I've used plastic buckets to get a nice single axis compound curve. Just wrap it in an old T-shirt and gather up the excess on the back side so you have a nice smooth surface. Peel the acrylic and set your raw piece on a cookie sheet on some parchment paper (ask your wife/girlfriend) and heat at 180* for several minutes. Check it now and then, it should become nice and floppy but obviously not runny. Use some cotton gloves, lift the now floppy piece of acrylic out and lay it over the t-shirted bucket to cool. You can lay another piece of t-shirt material over the top and bind it down but you shouldn't need to. Allow it to cool to room temp before you futz with it, but you should now have a nicely curved piece of acrylic screen material to work into shape.
Big R
Heaven is so far away.
Re: Suzuki GR650- IT'S ALIVE!!!
Let me start out by saying: Swag, you sir are a brilliant man. And I've been drinking tonight. I would think that first shirt would also protect the softened acrylic from any surface imperfections in the bucket (or whatever).
On to business.......so me and the Mrs went out with some of the local crew tonight for some dinner and drinks. I kept thinking about what all needed to be done before this bike was capable of hitting the streets but looked outside and saw it was snowing. After changing the drive chain, bolting the exhaust back on, connecting the tail light and signals, double checking all bolts, etc, I figured "what the heck?". Topped off the oil and added some gas and she purred to life after some gentle coaxing. Geared up (did I mention the freezing crap falling from the sky?) and hopped on the bike........and it started to backfire like crazy. Started messing with the mixture screws but that didn't change anything, so I pulled the plugs and sure enough they were fouled. Cleaned them, re-installed them, fired the bike back up, and no more pops. I geared back up and and went to put the bike in first gear - stalled. I assumed it was from the clutch plates sticking since it hasn't been in gear since the Spring. After messing with it a little bit, I did get to ride the bike about 2 blocks uphill (always take a bike for a test ride up hill from where you live) before the 2 bolts on the bottom of the sprocket cover rattled loose, so the clutch lever did nothing. Duck walked it back to the garage and fixed everything up. Finally, got everything what I thought was squared away. Gear up, fired the bike up, and rode it about six blocks. Nothing like riding at 2am when it's freezing outside and snow bouncing off your face shield!
Sorry there's no pics, but I'll get some soon. I do, however, need to finish the upper fairing mount, find a speedo sensor for my Acewell, get some new turn signals for the front end, and touch up any exposed bolts with some paint. That's more of a note to myself since I'll probably forget all that by the time I wake up........
Let me start out by saying: Swag, you sir are a brilliant man. And I've been drinking tonight. I would think that first shirt would also protect the softened acrylic from any surface imperfections in the bucket (or whatever).
On to business.......so me and the Mrs went out with some of the local crew tonight for some dinner and drinks. I kept thinking about what all needed to be done before this bike was capable of hitting the streets but looked outside and saw it was snowing. After changing the drive chain, bolting the exhaust back on, connecting the tail light and signals, double checking all bolts, etc, I figured "what the heck?". Topped off the oil and added some gas and she purred to life after some gentle coaxing. Geared up (did I mention the freezing crap falling from the sky?) and hopped on the bike........and it started to backfire like crazy. Started messing with the mixture screws but that didn't change anything, so I pulled the plugs and sure enough they were fouled. Cleaned them, re-installed them, fired the bike back up, and no more pops. I geared back up and and went to put the bike in first gear - stalled. I assumed it was from the clutch plates sticking since it hasn't been in gear since the Spring. After messing with it a little bit, I did get to ride the bike about 2 blocks uphill (always take a bike for a test ride up hill from where you live) before the 2 bolts on the bottom of the sprocket cover rattled loose, so the clutch lever did nothing. Duck walked it back to the garage and fixed everything up. Finally, got everything what I thought was squared away. Gear up, fired the bike up, and rode it about six blocks. Nothing like riding at 2am when it's freezing outside and snow bouncing off your face shield!
Sorry there's no pics, but I'll get some soon. I do, however, need to finish the upper fairing mount, find a speedo sensor for my Acewell, get some new turn signals for the front end, and touch up any exposed bolts with some paint. That's more of a note to myself since I'll probably forget all that by the time I wake up........
Big R
Heaven is so far away.
Re: Suzuki GR650- IT'S ALIVE!!!
Ha! The freezing cold doesn't bother me so much. It's the ice and crap on the road that you don't see until you're on top of it. Luckily it was warm enough all day that any snow hitting the road was just melting right away. The yard is covered though......
Ha! The freezing cold doesn't bother me so much. It's the ice and crap on the road that you don't see until you're on top of it. Luckily it was warm enough all day that any snow hitting the road was just melting right away. The yard is covered though......
peteGSX
Zuk's Rock!
Re: Suzuki GR650- IT'S ALIVE!!!
Rich: Awesome news!!! Glad she's up and about again
I plan on riding year round this year now the 450's alive again, but I don't have snow and ice to contend with... minimum in winter's probably going to be about 5 celcius...
Swagger: Thanks heaps for that tip. I considered a plastic bucket but thought the temperature of the acrylic might melt it. I'm now thinking I might use my old bikini fairing as the mould instead. Didn't even think about using that...
Rich: Awesome news!!! Glad she's up and about again
I plan on riding year round this year now the 450's alive again, but I don't have snow and ice to contend with... minimum in winter's probably going to be about 5 celcius...
Swagger: Thanks heaps for that tip. I considered a plastic bucket but thought the temperature of the acrylic might melt it. I'm now thinking I might use my old bikini fairing as the mould instead. Didn't even think about using that...
