Refurbing Fork Lowers - options?

[Demonic69]

Hi all.
The fork lowers on my storm are looking a bit... crap.
What do you guys recommend for brining them back to their former glory? Paint, polish, vinyl etc? Anyone on here tarted theirs up?

Cheers

[sirch345]

This is what I did with mine:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... gs#p393249

Chris.

[Demonic69]

Brilliant, cheers for that. How are yours doing since the paint and lacquer?

[artee]

I've done mine black, with a spatter finish.
Looks like oem finish from other bikes.

Roger

[agentpineapple]

I've done 4 set now, easy enough to do. here's a few before and afters

[Demonic69]

Wow, they look awesome! Could you talk me through your process please?

Cheers

[agentpineapple]

I did mine on the bike, with the front lifted, but they're easy to remove and do. I degreased them, the used a scotchbrite pad to remove any flaky paint and to key the surface for priming, then I sprayed tow coats of acid etch primer, with a light rubdown in between coats. then I used Halfords enamel silver paint, iirc it was 3 coats, then a couple of coats of clear lacquer.
I didn't remove the black plastic fork protectors on the silver bike, but I did when I did the blue bike, easy enough using a small block of wood and tapping upwards either side to work them up the forks.

[Demonic69]

What did you use to degrease, and just medium sand paper in between coats?
I could do with replacing the fork seals so might do the lowers while I'm at it.

Thanks

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Wicky]

I've used white spirit in the past for degreasing, but I use isopropyl alcohol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Isopropanol-9 ... CF9cjtcWdw



My fork refurb > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=16127

[VTRDark]

For a very powerful and eco friendly degreasent I cant recommend Bilt Hamber Surfex enough. It has no strong smells or fumes either. Actually all Bilt Hamber products are good and no they are not a foreign company they are British.

http://www.bilthamber.com/car-cleaning- ... /surfex-hd

You would very rarely use it neat and it can be watered down up to 90% depending on what strength you want and what your using it on. As a general motorcycle degreasent I would use 20% -30% Surfex 80% - 70% Water mix. It's great for cleaning old oil spills off the pavement /patio. It makes mincemeat out of gunged up grease and oil behind the front sprocket cover with a bit of light agitation with a stiff brush.

You can even use it as an oven cleaner or water it down somewhat and it can be used as a carpet cleaner or even a kitchen surface or floor cleaner. Fantastic stuff.

[agentpineapple]

as carl said bilt hamber surfex, great stuff and eco friendly. iirc I used 800 or 1200 to rub down the primer. but it depends on how smooth you want the finish, the standard look has a grainy finish, so you wouldn't rub it down unless there were runs in the primer.