'89 GS500E First Bike Project (The Spartan)

[mustangGT90210]

I'm gonna have to search down one of those belly pans, looks so good!

[jacob92icu]

another one bites the dust... I wish I could get my hands on one, but they're so expensive lol. They would be a really great addition to your airtech fender and aggressive riding position mustang.

[mustangGT90210]

I knowwww lol. And I have the gixxer pegs from the wiki already ordered as well to replace the big bulky stock ones. Should move my feet a little down and back as well. Not by much, but every little bit helps, and they look soooo much better. Coupled with the cafe tail I'll be fabbing up for this thing... I might just have to keep it

[IAmSpartacus]

*Ahem*

Uh, excuse me gentlemen- this thread is supposed to be about my bike    Though you now have piqued my interest in some new pegs...


Well, I finished up the sanding on the belly pan, fender, left tail plastic and the front wheel and started on the rear wheel and the other tail piece. Today I hope to finish the tail plastics, rear wheel and strip down the tank for bondo. If all goes well, I'll have some progress pics later tonight.

I tried using a mild stripper (the chemical ) that was supposedly safe on synthetics. It worked so-so on the fiberglass but chewed the plastics up, so my shortcut turned into a life lesson- don't take shortcuts. Spent about 4 hours yesterday just doing detail work on the plastics to get them smoothed down and I'm sure I'll spend at least another 2-3 today. My hands are killing me, lol.

[IAmSpartacus]

Well, I didn't get quite as much done this weekend as I'd hoped, but everything but the tank is ready for primer (wheels not pictured):

[adidasguy]

Eastwood has a product called PRE - you use it clean all the dust & oil off (hand oil, too) before painting and between coats. East wood and others have tac cloths. They pick up the sanding dust. Not sure what you have, but look into the stuff for removing dust & stuff between coats and before the first coat.

[IAmSpartacus]

Hmmmm... I was just planning on using good 'ole dish soap and water. Is there a drawback to that method?

[adidasguy]

Dish soap leaves a soap film.
Get the right stuff at a local paint place. Prep and cleaning really makes a difference for the paint to stick and last.
Cleaners get the soap and oil off. Tack cloths remove dust.

Colorrite has some videos on touch up painting that shows how to use their products. Eastwood also has videos on car painting. Either on their site you u-toob.

[IAmSpartacus]

Dang it adidas, ignorance is bliss. You're just creating more work for me! 

[adidasguy]

Dang it adidas, ignorance is bliss. You're just creating more work for me! 

I am creating LESS work for you. Less work in that you won't have to sand it all off and start over because of a soap film that lets the paint slide off. 

Is it time for another cat? Should I wait until tomorrow to add a cat to this thread?

[IAmSpartacus]

True. Now if only chemical cleaners were as cheap as dish soap. Checked out my local NAPA and they only sell jugs of it for $75. Too rich for my blood. I saw the PRE came in smaller bottles for around $20, so I'll probably order that. One bottle should be enough, right? [Nervous chuckle]... Right?!

My bar end mirrors came in today and I'm really happy with them. Short 4" stems and ball sockets for full range of motion. The stock mirrors were just a pain in the rear to adjust on top of lacking any sort of pizzazz. The new mirrors compliment the low profile of the clip-ons too.



And due to Mustang's comments, I of course had to order a set of pegs (front and rears). Price was too good to pass up- $20 for 4 bare aluminum pegs (didn't want anodized as it tends to scuff and wear off). Should match with the frame color nicely.

With any luck, I'll be painting this weekend... Unless I have to wait on the PRE to be shipped. Ugh...

[adidasguy]

PRE is very good. You can get small bottles or a spray can. That's all you'll need. That and a few tac cloths.

[yamahonkawazuki]

agreed, you only want to do the job once 

[IAmSpartacus]

agreed, you only want to do the job once 

At this point, I don't even want to do it once, lol.

I ordered the PRE, but unfortunately Eastwood doesn't offer express shipping- only ground.

[adidasguy]

It is not Eastwood - it is the GOVERNMENT. They are getting so pissy about how you can ship the really good flammable chemicals --- ground only.

[yamahonkawazuki]

It is not Eastwood - it is the GOVERNMENT. They are getting so pissy about how you can ship the really good flammable chemicals --- ground only.

yup. like shipping firearms via fedex. ( air only) hazmats ground only. etc. rules and regs. 

[IAmSpartacus]

Oh, and here I thought it was the whole universe that was against me finishing this project in a timely manner. What a relief that it's just the US government that plots against me... 

[PatheticPuma]

Oh, and here I thought it was the whole universe that was against me finishing this project in a timely manner. What a relief that it's just the US government that plots against me... 

They plot against us all, no need to feel singled out haha.

[mustangGT90210]

You're gonna love those pegs! Mine just came in yesterday and sadly I couldn't get to my vice to make the needed modifications tomorrow that'll get done, and I'll throw up some pictures for ya

[jacob92icu]

How much were your guys pegs? I really want to get rid of these nasty rubber blocks haha, plus mine are breaking currently.