This is the top of a fork tree right?   (They are called for trees, right?)

Anyway, here's mine...



As you can tell, it looks like the prev owner had some other keys or something on his key ring, it looks gunked up, but i think its only part gunk.  Theres like lots of little scratches, maybe scrapes?  

Has anyone seen this before?   Is this something that I should paint?  Can this piece be painted?

Thanks y'all.

Powder coated is better ...
http://www.gstwins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5&pos=289
http://www.gstwins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5&pos=290
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: JCHHas anyone seen this before?

Yep.  When I bought my '99 (used) it came with ~1,750 miles and the same kind of "key dings":

Quote from: JCHIs this something that I should paint?  Can this piece be painted?

I haven't worried about it.  Too much hassle, and too much chance to goof it up even worse.  But I agree that it should never have happened....  :x

Still, some of your marks might clean right off with a degreaser.  :dunno:

Yes, my project bike's "Handlebar lower holder plate" had flaking paint and other buggers. The donor chassis that had been left outside for years was in better shape! I used an abrasive pad rotary tool attachment to knock off the loose paint and plan to just clear coat the metal. Naked bikes, naked metal.

Don't look under this plate at the black one. Almost all the paint has flaked off of both on my pair. Cheap paint jobs.  :dunno:

Thanks guys...  I'l try the degreaser.   Powder coating may be a little rich for my taste :/

it would prob only run u a few bucks.

Powdercoating is all numbers ... you have a bunch and you're comming out cheap cheap cheap ... have just 1 and if they wont let you piggy back ... or you have some weird ass color they never spray ... its $75 and cost of powder whihc is couple bucks ... AKA 75 for each color swap ...
My guys let me piggy back ... so cool for me ... and they got decent $$ ... great ...
Cool.
Srinath.

You all would hate my bike. Those long rusty scrates above the ignition are apparently ones I put there trying to get my key in while in the dark. I have other keys on my keyring. Disc lock and stuff. And my alarm remote. If it wasn't on a keyring I'd lose it.



On a side note, I got my new camera. It takes great pics. I took the one of my GS in total darkness.

I have to carry quite a few keys, It's annoying having them in the ignition, scratches aside, cause they always end up wedging themselves between the bar and the upper tree.

But, I'd still rather deal with that than put them in my pocket, and end up with them wedged in my thigh(or worse), during a crash.

you could also buy a sheet of that nice looking carbon colored tape like you see on some peoples tanks and cut it out and put it on there, if you dont want to spend the money powder coating it.

speaking of key rings.  i have one that has two rings.  detachable in the middle. for instance if u have ur car running and u wanna run in the house real quick just pop off the house keys and leave the rest in the ignition.   keep the GS key on one side and the rest on the other!

Yeah mine split apart too weaselnoze, it's very convienent. Motorcycle related keys/remote on one ring, car/house keys/remote on another. The set of motorcycle keys is actually bigger than my car/house keys and remote though :\