My New (Old) Bike
- 500bernie
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3396
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
- Location: Teesside
My New (Old) Bike
Hi Guys,
I picked up my first KR1S at the end of October, having not owned or ridden a bike for a considerable period of time.
I could not even think of owning anything but a Kawasaki having been a triple owner since I passed my bike test when I was 17 (a long time ago).
What better bike to consider than the fastest 250 on the planet!
So I picked up a nice bike off the forum (Red & Grey C3).
And I have now started taking it to bits. I was going to have the frame and swinging arm powder coated but I gave the frame a bit of attention with the wet & dry and solvol.....bugger it, I have just made a job for myself...polishing it all
Not finished yet....
The seals for the KIPS valves looked as if they had been leaking a bit so I pulled off the head and had a good look around....got my first surprise
When I checked the bores they were 61mm (60.94mm to be precise) so I have a Stan Stevens 300
Just as well that I did not start buying bits before I looked!
The engine was very fit with no noises before I took it apart (reciepts for over £500 from BDK with the bike).
But I had a closer look at the valves and found the stems were worn where they make contact with the seals, not very happy and will have to sort out replacements.
Thanks to Lee.....problem sorted (top man!!!)
Thanks to Tambo, Pablo, Ludders, Kawasaki Man and Martin for help advice and bits....
Still have not made my mind up how this is going to end up, I would like to have a vgc standard red and grey body and a kawasaki racing green single seat, if I save up all my pocket money I might be able to get both!
Going to make the end of my finger black and very sore (more polishing that is).
Bernie
I picked up my first KR1S at the end of October, having not owned or ridden a bike for a considerable period of time.
I could not even think of owning anything but a Kawasaki having been a triple owner since I passed my bike test when I was 17 (a long time ago).
What better bike to consider than the fastest 250 on the planet!
So I picked up a nice bike off the forum (Red & Grey C3).
And I have now started taking it to bits. I was going to have the frame and swinging arm powder coated but I gave the frame a bit of attention with the wet & dry and solvol.....bugger it, I have just made a job for myself...polishing it all
Not finished yet....
The seals for the KIPS valves looked as if they had been leaking a bit so I pulled off the head and had a good look around....got my first surprise
When I checked the bores they were 61mm (60.94mm to be precise) so I have a Stan Stevens 300
Just as well that I did not start buying bits before I looked!
The engine was very fit with no noises before I took it apart (reciepts for over £500 from BDK with the bike).
But I had a closer look at the valves and found the stems were worn where they make contact with the seals, not very happy and will have to sort out replacements.
Thanks to Lee.....problem sorted (top man!!!)
Thanks to Tambo, Pablo, Ludders, Kawasaki Man and Martin for help advice and bits....
Still have not made my mind up how this is going to end up, I would like to have a vgc standard red and grey body and a kawasaki racing green single seat, if I save up all my pocket money I might be able to get both!
Going to make the end of my finger black and very sore (more polishing that is).
Bernie
Last edited by 500bernie on Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
- 500bernie
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3396
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
- Location: Teesside
Thanks for the comments guys.
The polishing is hard (especially on the fingers) but knowing me, if I had the frame powder coated, I would damage the finish during assembly and be gutted
So although keeping it clean is a long term commitment, at least it only costs me my time and a bit of solvol!
(I am pleased that they did not do an alloy tank version).
Cheers
Bernie
The polishing is hard (especially on the fingers) but knowing me, if I had the frame powder coated, I would damage the finish during assembly and be gutted
So although keeping it clean is a long term commitment, at least it only costs me my time and a bit of solvol!
(I am pleased that they did not do an alloy tank version).
Cheers
Bernie
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
-
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3926
- Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:29 am
- Location: Oxfordshire
I do like the polished look and I've never had too much trouble maintaining the shine.
You'll obviously not be running it in bad weather, so the time spent keeping it polished and looking nice, is all part of the fun.
You'll obviously not be running it in bad weather, so the time spent keeping it polished and looking nice, is all part of the fun.
Last edited by Luders on Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Tambo
- Heavy Smoker
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- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:10 pm
- Location: Scottish Borders
- 500bernie
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3396
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
- Location: Teesside
- 500bernie
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3396
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
- Location: Teesside
Hi Ted,
Great to hear from another owner in the area (I thought these little buggers were supposed to be scarce!).
It is not as hard as people make out, so long as you have the right gear and some time on your hands.
The large side section of the frame takes an evening to polish by hand, a bit quicker if you have polishing wheels and compounds (I dont, I just use 180 grit, then 240 grit, then 400 grit, fine wire wool and finish with solvol), you can cheat and use the Garryflex abrasive blocks, they work well.
I would be happy to pop over sometime and get you started.
If you started on something small like the clip-on brackets you would soon find out if polishing was for you, it is addictive...not sure if it is the smell of the Solvol or the aluminium dust, or maybe just seeing something cruddy and corroded become clean and mirror finished.
Before and after;
The finished result:
PM me your details.
Cheers,
bernie
Great to hear from another owner in the area (I thought these little buggers were supposed to be scarce!).
It is not as hard as people make out, so long as you have the right gear and some time on your hands.
The large side section of the frame takes an evening to polish by hand, a bit quicker if you have polishing wheels and compounds (I dont, I just use 180 grit, then 240 grit, then 400 grit, fine wire wool and finish with solvol), you can cheat and use the Garryflex abrasive blocks, they work well.
I would be happy to pop over sometime and get you started.
If you started on something small like the clip-on brackets you would soon find out if polishing was for you, it is addictive...not sure if it is the smell of the Solvol or the aluminium dust, or maybe just seeing something cruddy and corroded become clean and mirror finished.
Before and after;
The finished result:
PM me your details.
Cheers,
bernie
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
- Top-shaggy
- Premix Junkie
- Posts: 1966
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:09 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
- 500bernie
- Avgas Sniffer
- Posts: 3396
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
- Location: Teesside
Just as well I have a few more bottles left over from New Year.......coz I can't belive what I just started polishingTop-shaggy wrote:Liking this rebuild, very very nice!
Looks like I better start buying Magners to inspire me to start using the Solvol
I am blaming the Stella Cidre
I will post some photos at the weekend
Cheers,
Bernie
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300