I have a new bike!!!

[Villager]

Well, sort of. I've replaced the tank and resprayed the tank, mudguard, tail plastics and frame. Here are the results.

Before:







During:








And here are the 'after' shots.











I'm really happy with how it's turned out. I must have spent sooooooo many hours doing this, I'd have been crushed if it had looked rubbish. I spent £30 on a new (used) tank, £20 on primer, paint and petrol resistant lacquer, £10 on decals, and £10 on sand paper. £70 all in.

The instructions on the petrol resistant lacquer insisted that the paint must be fine-sanded to a matt finish to achieve the correct gloss finish afterwards. I was reluctant to do this, and was initially disappointed that it doesn't shine as it might, but the slightly matt effect is growing on me. I'd be interested to see what others think.

Oh, and I realise that the chain is slack: I installed my 14t sprocket, then it started pouring with rain, so I didn't get a chance to tighten the chain or test it out!

[Jay_wolf]

Love the matt black look 

[Villager]

One other thing - I have some stickers left over, and there's prolly no point putting them on eBay, so if anyone wants them I'm happy to pop them in the post. Despite appearing gold in this shot, they are in fact "metallic silver", as seen on my finished bike.



I agonised over whether to put one of the 'S's on the mudguard, but went for 'less is better'. Ditto tank decals.

[Villager]

I also have a question: after reconnecting the new tank, the fuel pipes are now full of air rather than petrol. When I fill the tank am I ok to just carry on as normal or is there some sort of bleeding process that I need to carry out to remove the air?

[Jay_wolf]

I had fuel starvation , from removing the tank , alot of checking and giving her a rev , and it was working fine,

Ill take those off ur hands , my bikes due for paint soon , and they would help Thanks !

[Villager]

Excellent, I hate wasting things. PM me your address and I'l send them tomorrow.

[bucks1605]

Nice work! The bike looks great. 

[beRto]

Excellent work! 

after reconnecting the new tank, the fuel pipes are now full of air rather than petrol. When I fill the tank am I ok to just carry on as normal or is there some sort of bleeding process that I need to carry out to remove the air?

The "bleeding" process is accomplished by turning the petcock to PRIme and letting the bike sit for a couple of minutes. This allows time for fuel to flow through the fuel lines and down into the carburetor bowls; the air gets pushed out the carburetor vents in the process.

[510]

Very nice! looks a helluva lot better than before. You did a really good job with the paint job, the decals are a nice finishing touch.

[houston_gs500]

Cheers, looks great man.    Brilliant! (always wanted to say that).  bucks1605 up above and I have been going back and forth about painting and colors, etc.  so we know what you went through.  It's nice to know that across "the pond" gs owners are experiencing the same tasks.  I even appreciate the masking photos as I was trying to figure out how to do it myself.

Decals came out great too.  Question - did you put a clear coat on it?  Will it stand up to scratching, etc.?

Pete

[Villager]

Part of me regrets not going for a more radical colour scheme that would really catch the eye... but alas.

I used a petrol resistant lacquer on top (see here). It promises to dry to a "tough, durable shell". I hope so.

Using paper and masking tape is very fiddly (took me about 20 minutes to get it all covered, but I suppose the only alternatives are completely dissassembling the bike, or using a brush rather than a spray can - which would be easier, but I had a can of silver spray handy!

The hardest part was getting a smooth finish on the tank. The replacement tank had small imperfections / dents and it's impossible to simply put some filler in the dent; you've got to smother it over the whole panel and create a whole new finish. I must have spent 10-15 hours sanding, filling, resanding and priming to get it right.

[510]

Quick question though, is that a standard license plate over in the UK? It's almost twice as big as the ones over here in the states.

[Villager]

'fraid so!

[Affschnozel]

Ha,mine is bigger 

[ohgood]

That matte black looks great man ! I guess your side of the pond gets 'flash to pass' on all their bikes - or is that a mod you've done yourself ?

Nice sv650 mirrors too. The clip ons / grips /all looks fantastic.

I see others are posting like mad - where did you buy the graphics ? That turned out great on your tank !

Congrats, looks cool !

[Villager]

www.bikedecals.co.uk/

The flash button came with the bike - I've no idea whether it's stock or not.

I didn't realise the mirrors weren't stock either!

I'm loving the heated grips personally - no more frostbite on my morning commute!

[bucks1605]

I guess your side of the pond gets 'flash to pass' on all their bikes - or is that a mod you've done yourself ?

I was wondering what that thing was.

[simon79]

We have the "flash to pass" or "passing" button as stock on all our vehicles here in EU. I think it's mandatory.
Is there a reason you don't have that in US?

[simon79]

Oh, and nice bike!
Love that colour. Reminds me of a Duc Monster Dark.

[ohgood]

We have the "flash to pass" or "passing" button as stock on all our vehicles here in EU. I think it's mandatory.
Is there a reason you don't have that in US?

The newer bikes have flash to pass. I don't know what year it started here. I was just surprised to see an older model gs with it.

There are allot of things I'm surprised we don't have in the US actually