Suzuki RL250 Mania

[Westy]

Shiney!

30 minutes with 400 grit W&D, 30 minutes with 600 grit W&D, (I'll add another 30 minutes of 1000 W&D), Decent once over with Brasso, Decent once over with Mothers Mag and Aluminium Polish and a Dremel with a flexi-drive and polishing wheel (It saves your finger).

[David Lahey]

If there is any oxide present, starting out with a genuine 3M scotchbrite scourer soaked in aluminium de-oxidising cleaner reduces the wet-and-dry workload by a factor of 10.
Another point is that jap aluminium is often coated with clear laquer, so using paint remover before the de-oxidising step will save lots of hard labour too, if there is any lacquer left. Common items coated with lacquer from new on jap trials bikes are engine covers, fork sliders, wheel rims and triple clamps.

[Westy]

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the tip. The covers didn't have any clear left but the front shocks do.
Is there a particular name or brand of oxide cleaner I should grab?
By the way, do you think it might be worth chucking some molasses in my steel tank? If so, where would I get the wonderful black goup from?
Maybe if I buy some Krispy Kremes, chuck em in a blender and pour the slop into my tank it could possibly have the same effect?
Westy

[David Lahey]

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the tip. The covers didn't have any clear left but the front shocks do.
Is there a particular name or brand of oxide cleaner I should grab?
By the way, do you think it might be worth chucking some molasses in my steel tank? If so, where would I get the wonderful black goup from?
Maybe if I buy some Krispy Kremes, chuck em in a blender and pour the slop into my tank it could possibly have the same effect?
Westy

Whatever brand your local paint shop stocks. Up here it is Septone brand.
Wherever your local primary producers buy their farm supplies from
Yes - good idea - and see if the motor will run on it while you are at it

[trialsmutha]

ive had good results with natual anodizing on fork legs,rims and tripple clamps after polishing, if you want that factory look! If its a high polished finish you like, but dont like the idea of constantly re-pollishing you can clear powder coat it, you lose around 5% of the shine. but it lasts for years.

[garrison]

...
Maybe if I buy some Krispy Kremes, chuck em in a blender and pour the slop into my tank it could possibly have the same effect?
Westy

Don't do it! a russian town was wiped from the map in the 60's when a local tried something similar with yak fat (KK donuts are 120% synth-yak-fat) in his Ural.

Molasses is $2.50/litre at the local horse supplies joint. Take your own bottle.

[David Lahey]

...
Maybe if I buy some Krispy Kremes, chuck em in a blender and pour the slop into my tank it could possibly have the same effect?
Westy

Don't do it! a russian town was wiped from the map in the 60's when a local tried something similar with yak fat (KK donuts are 120% synth-yak-fat) in his Ural.

Molasses is $2.50/litre at the local horse supplies joint. Take your own bottle.

Yeah it's not bad on toast too and much cheaper than at the supermarket.

[Westy]

Hey Trialsmo. I like the anodising idea. I find polishing relaxing but if it cuts into my riding time well, that's something else. I'll look into it. There are a few powder coaters in town too. My bike has alloy Takasago's on it as original gear. I suppose i'd have to take them off the hub to get them anodised. Then if I am going to do that, new excel's are only $270 each last time I bought some anyway. Hmmm there's some thought there.

[Westy]

I got more parts in the post today. The ferry finally crossed the Murray and I got my PE250 sprockets. Yesss! I tell ya. That 11 tooth sprocket is gonna me the bike go unbelievably slow.
It's slow already with the 15 and 50. 50/15=3.333 and 50/11=4.545454.
So if I am correct,

1st , 36.234:1 (36.234)(3.333) = 120.768

2nd , 26.996:1 (26.996)(3.333) = 89.985

3rd , 24.161:1 (24.161)(3.333) = 80.529

4th , 12.943:1 (12.943)(3.333) = 43.139

5th , 9.599:1 (9.599)(3.333) = 31.993

and

1st , 36.234:1 (36.234)(4.545) = 164.684

2nd , 26.996:1 (26.996)(4.545) = 122.697

3rd , 24.161:1 (24.161)(4.545) = 109.812

4th , 12.943:1 (12.943)(4.545) = 58.826

5th , 9.599:1 (9.599)(4.545) = 43.627

Where would these ratios be good?

[Westy]

Righto trialers,
I need some advice. I got a quote to grit blast my frame. I am having difficulty trying to decide if I want to powdercoat or 2pac the frame of the RL.
Powdercoaters say PC is better. Sprayers say painting is better.
If I paint the frame I'll do it myself because I like painting.
I want the frame to be metallic silver. What do you say?