Post by floog on Apr 1, 2006 10:06:04 GMT
Since buying my late model 1200R several months back in the winter, I have been getting to know the old girl by doing basic service items, and trying to clean her up as she had been parked outside prior to my ownership. The ravages of blighty's salt laden winter months had conspired to eat away lots of fasteners and attack the swing arm, which I'd describe as.....pepperpot now!!
I am not known for my mechanical prowess, but I have to admit I have really enjoyed learning up close and personal how to do things on the Rex.
I know it's not to everyone's taste in the biking world, but I like to see shiny silver, chrome retro look details, and having read that Kawasaki tend to use thin painting over their bolts, I started having a polish up. For a little elbow grease, and virtually no cost (dusters and Autosolvol), I have attained some pleasing results.
My Fuel cap has an outer silver ring but black bolts which I would have replaced for shiny stainless silver ones. I removed them one at a time and polished with Autosolvol....lovely bright chrome look underneath the thin black coating . Cleaned the cap bolt housings, Replaced the new shiny bolts using copper grease, and I think it looks great.
Also polished the bolt holding on the rear brake fluid resevoir....The four big dome bolts holding on the two radiator shrouds plus the smaller single rear bolts.
Carefully polished the front brake caliper bolts (the round ones that hold the calipers together that you DO NOT remove. Polished these in situ and I think they look great now. Also carefully remove the rear swingarm pinch bolts and rear caliper retaining bolts and polished all of these. I even polished in situ the engine bolts which were previously really dingy and now bright and shiny.
The end result, is a bike that I think looks better and more eighties chrome retro, and also the happiness that I have tinkered and undone bits and replaced them with appropriate copper grease or thread locking compound knowing they won't seize up on me.
I have really enjoyed my time in the garage getting to know where bits go, and have fitted front and rear EBC HH pads, taking heed of the excellent info on this site about retaining pins (mine were already pretty grim. But now with some polishing and coating of copper grease they slide in and out freely). Also did an oil and filter change, fitted a K&N air filter and took every panel off to be nosy, grease all bolts and generally have a feret about. For a mechanically minded baffoon, I feel pretty good.
A cup of tea, a warm garage and my Rex and me getting acquainted.....contentment doesn't begin to describe it....
I am not known for my mechanical prowess, but I have to admit I have really enjoyed learning up close and personal how to do things on the Rex.
I know it's not to everyone's taste in the biking world, but I like to see shiny silver, chrome retro look details, and having read that Kawasaki tend to use thin painting over their bolts, I started having a polish up. For a little elbow grease, and virtually no cost (dusters and Autosolvol), I have attained some pleasing results.
My Fuel cap has an outer silver ring but black bolts which I would have replaced for shiny stainless silver ones. I removed them one at a time and polished with Autosolvol....lovely bright chrome look underneath the thin black coating . Cleaned the cap bolt housings, Replaced the new shiny bolts using copper grease, and I think it looks great.
Also polished the bolt holding on the rear brake fluid resevoir....The four big dome bolts holding on the two radiator shrouds plus the smaller single rear bolts.
Carefully polished the front brake caliper bolts (the round ones that hold the calipers together that you DO NOT remove. Polished these in situ and I think they look great now. Also carefully remove the rear swingarm pinch bolts and rear caliper retaining bolts and polished all of these. I even polished in situ the engine bolts which were previously really dingy and now bright and shiny.
The end result, is a bike that I think looks better and more eighties chrome retro, and also the happiness that I have tinkered and undone bits and replaced them with appropriate copper grease or thread locking compound knowing they won't seize up on me.
I have really enjoyed my time in the garage getting to know where bits go, and have fitted front and rear EBC HH pads, taking heed of the excellent info on this site about retaining pins (mine were already pretty grim. But now with some polishing and coating of copper grease they slide in and out freely). Also did an oil and filter change, fitted a K&N air filter and took every panel off to be nosy, grease all bolts and generally have a feret about. For a mechanically minded baffoon, I feel pretty good.
A cup of tea, a warm garage and my Rex and me getting acquainted.....contentment doesn't begin to describe it....