I just came across a bike with a black engine/crankcase cover that is posted on this forum:
(http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/4435/cimg0668nd5.jpg)
Seamax also had a black cover with carbon fiber look but it was a group buy.
My covers are in really good shape, just really like the look of it in black instead of the stock grey. Could it be painted easily or is it a bigger, more expensive job?
While I am here, does anyone know if aftermarket emblems are still floating around? Need on for the right side of the bike. Bike bandit has the part for $13 so not looking for anything too expensive but curious if there are any takers. Thanks
Any ideas? Know in general powder coating is the way to go to paint metal, but seems like it would be expensive. Are the covers just cosmetic/ protect things or are the vital to something else?
On a bare bones budget like the GS, you can be just about 100% sure that most everything, especially engine related is vital. That being said, if you really really want to, you can paint the covers without even taking them off the bike, Just mask everything else around the covers, prep them for paint and spray a few light coats of high heat BBQ paint of your choice. You can get the matte black finish for about $5 a can if you want the same look.
Quote from: RSK70 on April 30, 2011, 12:33:40 PM
Any ideas? Know in general powder coating is the way to go to paint metal, but seems like it would be expensive. Are the covers just cosmetic/ protect things or are the vital to something else?
I had my covers PC'd, wasn't all that expensive...The little plastic round covers also got PC'd but they look like Butt, I'm replacing them with some cheap Home Depot 4-5" round SS discs/washers that look like there for flashing/roof jobs...Super Cheap....I have like 1000 in my garage from a past roofing job, like $5 for a box of 50 or something like that.
(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/36740/2882335420073478356S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/9304/2374608140073478356S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/47501/2098348420073478356S600x600Q85.jpg)
My bike is at an era where black was stock anyway - but as mentioned, you can mask and hit it with BBQ black (which I have done to mine with satisfactory results) - I prefer the semigloss, but you can choose flat or gloss - whatever floats your boat.
You might get a nicer job with more work (pulling the engine out and painting it separately), but that's not something you should do in riding season unless you have a spare bike to actually ride.
The "Suzuki" on the left does nothing - the case is solid under it. The one on the right covers up the hole in the pickup cover that you can see on Fry's pictures. If you are missing the one on the right, slap some duct tape over the hole until you get something else to replace it.