|
Post by wayne on Jan 21, 2012 1:07:14 GMT -5
I know owners of multi award winning bikes who powder coat. I guess it's up to the individual.
For me, I've just done a ground up on a RE5 where the owner insisted on paint. It was done professionally by a noted vintage bike painter and I'll never do it again. Far too easy to scratch and damage.
In fact I had the swingarm stripped and redone with powder coat as I was finding it very hard to assemble and adust the rear wheel and chain adjusters without marking the paint. Even if it went together umarked, I'd be dubious about it's longevity (as I'm finding with my personal RE5 rider which has a repainted swingarm).
But horses for courses.
Wayne
|
|
ap951
2nd Gear
Posts: 280
|
Post by ap951 on Jan 21, 2012 10:32:17 GMT -5
I think it all boils down to who is doing the work
I've seen motorcycles that are worth far more then anything I have look absolutely perfect with powder coating, in fact it's hard to tell any difference from paint. However I have also seen powder coating look positively ridiculous, way to think, way to glossy, wrong shade etc. I can honestly say the same thing for paint however with paint you also have the added possibility that surface preparation was incorrect or the wrong type of enamel was used and the paint cracks or does not stick
Find a powder coater who does first class work and is passionate about making your parts look correct.
He's worth anything you pay him
Bill
|
|
|
Post by HGH 770N on Jan 22, 2012 5:00:58 GMT -5
I agree with Mick, Powder coating is thick, but it can hide alot of imperfections and i think give it some strength, but if you ever want to remove it or try to patch or repair it's a nightmaire . Rog
|
|
|
Post by wayne on Jan 22, 2012 5:19:39 GMT -5
Ordinary household paint stripper takes powder coating straight off. I've used it when I wasn't satisfied with a job and sent it back for a redo.
Wayne
|
|
|
Post by HGH 770N on Jan 22, 2012 6:19:52 GMT -5
I had tried Nitromors stipper on my son's Scooter and made a rite mess ,and ended up with a flap wheel in my drill. Maybe I should talk to my freind who's a powder coater and find out what different strippers there are, I will keep you posted. Rog
|
|
|
Post by jm0406 on Jan 23, 2012 18:38:34 GMT -5
On one of my seat bases was thin when I finished with it, so I had the top side coated with truck bed coating. Made it very stiff.
|
|
t140v
3rd Gear
Posts: 422
|
Post by t140v on Jan 28, 2012 18:37:17 GMT -5
Evening all,
I have had my seat base off the bike to weld the cracks on either side before sandblasting, my mate gave me a GT750 seat (J) to see if it would fit while mine was off for repair. The hinge centres are fine but the only problem was the rear support rubbers and the seat lock. However looking at this gt750 seat on ebay it would not take much to convert it to a re5 base. May go for silly money, but if you want a seat base thats no longer available try this on ebay looks very similar to mine . 170768614572 ebay.
Regards Stuart
|
|
|
Post by penny900r on Feb 17, 2012 16:05:46 GMT -5
sometimes patience pulls off!! i have up til yet found either nos ones at a premium for my restored various bike collection.... i have not yet bought an re5 yet, but have bought a belting original seat.. i know its like putting the cart before the horse type, but i will find the bike possibly easier than a good pucker seat? so my advice is keep looking, it does happen!! gary
|
|
|
Post by wayne on Feb 17, 2012 17:23:35 GMT -5
I've seen a GT seat converted to fit an RE5. It was adequate, but didn't look right at all.
Wayne
|
|
|
Post by penny900r on Feb 19, 2012 3:14:01 GMT -5
am sorry boys but powder coating just dont float my boat... i am a bit of a purist, and i can see it a mile off... when i see a bike done in it i just think of bbq"s and beer and garden furniture... correct fastners, correct colours, correct parts, correct finishes... that my take.. but as i said.. only mine..
|
|
|
Post by bdalameda on Feb 19, 2012 11:51:54 GMT -5
Jus a tip - I have bought two re5 seats off of ebay - one brand new one still in the original box and another in almost new condition. Both were listed as belonging to different model Suzuki's. The new one in the box was listed as a GT250 seat. The other seat was listed as a GT185 seat. It is worth looking at other Suzuki seats listed for sale as you may get lucky as I was.
Dan
|
|
|
Post by plipton on Feb 20, 2012 15:06:20 GMT -5
Jus a tip - I have bought two re5 seats off of ebay - one brand new one still in the original box and another in almost new condition. Both were listed as belonging to different model Suzuki's. The new one in the box was listed as a GT250 seat. The other seat was listed as a GT185 seat. It is worth looking at other Suzuki seats listed for sale as you may get lucky as I was. Dan Hmmm.... not a bad idea, so I had a 5 minute browse on fleabay. To my (albeit untrained) eye, this seat cover looks pretty close! For a measly £20 it's got to be worth a punt, n'est pas?
|
|
|
Post by raychappo on Feb 20, 2012 15:22:25 GMT -5
I've had my old knackered seat restored by R K Leighton of Birmingham www.rk-leighton.co.uk/They did a fantastic job considering the seat pan was badly corroded and almost split in two. They welded it up, repaired corroded sections, added new bottom layer of foam (main foam was OK), and made up an exact replica (as far as I can see) of the seat cover. It was well worth the £117 for all the work. It looks and feels like a new seat although, due to the amount of corrosion, the scars can be seen on the underside where it was welded together and instead of using clips to attack the cover, they have glued it as the clips were rotted away. I'll post a couple of pics once I get them on the PC
|
|