are ugly.. any ideas what I should do with them? Lol the paint is worn off in like 1,00000000 trillion places..

I'm in the same boat as you.

I started spraying them with aircraft stripper yesterday.     I'm somewhere between just getting them raw and clear coating them, or painting them.   

You could take them somewhere and have them bead blasted to remove all the paint (NOT sand blasted as it will pit the metal if I understand correctly). Something like that shouldn't cost more than a few bucks. A friend of mine offered to do something similar for $15, so without having a friend...say $30?

After that you could paint them. The only question is how and with what. Personally, I'd go for powder coating because it's absolutely the most durable finish you can get unless you go for anodized.

Another option, after having them bead blasted, is just to leave them bare. Clearcoat is unnecessary because they're aluminum. You could either leave them somewhat brushed looking or polish them with relative ease to a mirror shine. Just depends on what you want. IIRC you have a black bike so the brushed or high-shine could look stunning against the black. Or, it could look trashy and tacky. Dunno!

Quote from: Kijona on February 05, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
You could take them somewhere and have them bead blasted to remove all the paint (NOT sand blasted as it will pit the metal if I understand correctly). Something like that shouldn't cost more than a few bucks. A friend of mine offered to do something similar for $15, so without having a friend...say $30?

After that you could paint them. The only question is how and with what. Personally, I'd go for powder coating because it's absolutely the most durable finish you can get unless you go for anodized.

Another option, after having them bead blasted, is just to leave them bare. Clearcoat is unnecessary because they're aluminum. You could either leave them somewhat brushed looking or polish them with relative ease to a mirror shine. Just depends on what you want. IIRC you have a black bike so the brushed or high-shine could look stunning against the black. Or, it could look trashy and tacky. Dunno!

Bikes gonna be repainted too, Idk the colors yet. but I was thinking about polishing them up instead of painting them.. Might look good, or as you said, RAT BIKE.

I was thinking of doing tetrad colors. I was actually looking to do color's like these.. Gives it a fruity, but older look. while keeping it cool.

Idk, what colors I would do the rims.. I know im painting/repairing the engine coating black, and the exhaust pipes black. Just cause, I don't want people to look at the engine and say "its just a 500cc Vtwin" I want them to look at the bike and say "That's a really sick looking bike!"

Quote from: J_Walker on February 05, 2012, 04:10:39 PM

Quote from: Kijona on February 05, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
You could take them somewhere and have them bead blasted to remove all the paint (NOT sand blasted as it will pit the metal if I understand correctly). Something like that shouldn't cost more than a few bucks. A friend of mine offered to do something similar for $15, so without having a friend...say $30?

After that you could paint them. The only question is how and with what. Personally, I'd go for powder coating because it's absolutely the most durable finish you can get unless you go for anodized.

Another option, after having them bead blasted, is just to leave them bare. Clearcoat is unnecessary because they're aluminum. You could either leave them somewhat brushed looking or polish them with relative ease to a mirror shine. Just depends on what you want. IIRC you have a black bike so the brushed or high-shine could look stunning against the black. Or, it could look trashy and tacky. Dunno!

Bikes gonna be repainted too, Idk the colors yet. but I was thinking about polishing them up instead of painting them.. Might look good, or as you said, RAT BIKE.

I was thinking of doing tetrad colors. I was actually looking to do color's like these.. Gives it a fruity, but older look. while keeping it cool.

Idk, what colors I would do the rims.. I know im painting/repairing the engine coating black, and the exhaust pipes black. Just cause, I don't want people to look at the engine and say "its just a 500cc Vtwin" I want them to look at the bike and say "That's a really sick looking bike!"

Two things...one, you really don't want to paint the motor as it will decrease its cooling capability. You're also going to run into some serious issues with getting it to stick. Second, it's an in-line twin, not a V-twin - I2 not V2 

You could have the motor anodized, which is similar to what the old gen motors were, but it would cost a fortune.

Quote from: Kijona on February 06, 2012, 11:03:43 PM

Quote from: J_Walker on February 05, 2012, 04:10:39 PM

Quote from: Kijona on February 05, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
You could take them somewhere and have them bead blasted to remove all the paint (NOT sand blasted as it will pit the metal if I understand correctly). Something like that shouldn't cost more than a few bucks. A friend of mine offered to do something similar for $15, so without having a friend...say $30?

After that you could paint them. The only question is how and with what. Personally, I'd go for powder coating because it's absolutely the most durable finish you can get unless you go for anodized.

Another option, after having them bead blasted, is just to leave them bare. Clearcoat is unnecessary because they're aluminum. You could either leave them somewhat brushed looking or polish them with relative ease to a mirror shine. Just depends on what you want. IIRC you have a black bike so the brushed or high-shine could look stunning against the black. Or, it could look trashy and tacky. Dunno!

Bikes gonna be repainted too, Idk the colors yet. but I was thinking about polishing them up instead of painting them.. Might look good, or as you said, RAT BIKE.

I was thinking of doing tetrad colors. I was actually looking to do color's like these.. Gives it a fruity, but older look. while keeping it cool.

Idk, what colors I would do the rims.. I know im painting/repairing the engine coating black, and the exhaust pipes black. Just cause, I don't want people to look at the engine and say "its just a 500cc Vtwin" I want them to look at the bike and say "That's a really sick looking bike!"

Two things...one, you really don't want to paint the motor as it will decrease its cooling capability. You're also going to run into some serious issues with getting it to stick. Second, it's an in-line twin, not a V-twin - I2 not V2 

You could have the motor anodized, which is similar to what the old gen motors were, but it would cost a fortune.

Posted that late night derp.

but as some might know I'm a chemistry buff... I'm actually gonna clean off the existing paint from my engine some day..  and anodize the Sh!t outta it! a darker color, just to keep it fresh.. idk why I said paint, I meant anodize lmao.. I was actually gonna try to nickle my exhaust pipes as well.. I like that "shiny chrome" look from the older bikes.. I'm not looking for a bike that hides me from the cops.. - matt black reference.. -

Aircraft stripper will remove the paint if you do it yourself. You can have them sandblasted, but it will get a slightly rough surface (not too bad though). Or have them blasted with walnut shells or baking soda.  Problem with aluminum is it does get surface corrosion - so paint them or start to REALLY enjoy polishing them.

Quote from: Kijona on February 05, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
You could take them somewhere and have them bead blasted to remove all the paint (NOT sand blasted as it will pit the metal if I understand correctly). Something like that shouldn't cost more than a few bucks. A friend of mine offered to do something similar for $15, so without having a friend...say $30?

After that you could paint them. The only question is how and with what. Personally, I'd go for powder coating because it's absolutely the most durable finish you can get unless you go for anodized.

Another option, after having them bead blasted, is just to leave them bare. Clearcoat is unnecessary because they're aluminum. You could either leave them somewhat brushed looking or polish them with relative ease to a mirror shine. Just depends on what you want. IIRC you have a black bike so the brushed or high-shine could look stunning against the black. Or, it could look trashy and tacky. Dunno!

do like i did with my wheelset. ( which i still have ) paint them john deere yellow. and paint bike john deere green. then when you pwn a car in a race, wait for them down the road, and say, how does it feel to be wtfpwned by a john deere?