Decision indecision.

[Fresh Oats]

So, now that I got two bikes (well, 3 bikes but ones not in working order so w/e) I've been trying to get my current project SRV250 finished.
I'm currently painting the tank. I've done all the sanding, removed the dents, I've even put on 4 layers of primer. It's baby bum smooth and ready to paint.
I can't for the life of me decide on a pattern. The colour is baby blue and white, but what pattern to go for is tripping me up.

So the top two contenders are this style with the white in the knee indents...
https://i.postimg.cc/pX4ThGSM/meo2.jpg

and the white being on the main bit of the tank...
https://i.postimg.cc/hP1ngCq0/11882290-10204745237496636-8646102111561206836-o.jpg

But it's also like, what about a white strip down the top of the tank slightly off center to be in line with the gas lid. Maybe a pin stripe either side of this.
BUT what about option 1 AND the stripe? would that be too much?

There's also other options such as half/half with top half being blue bottom half being white. The whole top being white. Something like this...
https://i.postimg.cc/cCMLp0mR/honda-cb550-street-scrambler-2.jpg

or maybe even a fat strip across the tank like this...
https://i.postimg.cc/g091Z8d0/WK-Suzuki-GS450-L-14-Copia.jpg

Oh, and it'll have a small cowl on the back (which will be the baby blue) and two side fairings (which will also be baby blue).



Decisions, decisions KB... and yes I realize I probably should have figured this out before I decided to paint the tank but in my defense the primer is gonna take a couple days to cure. You know, it's not like I've been wrestling with this decision since June or anything...help

[jasonu]

I'll bet you have a beard. All those bikes look like gay hipster crap.
Merry Christmas.

[Fresh Oats]

I'll bet you have a beard. All those bikes look like gay hipster crap.
Merry Christmas.

I don't actually. Though, I bet you have a micro-penis that results in an inability to satisfy women in bed which in turn makes you question your masculinity.

Merry Christmas to you too.

[AllanB]

Cool rides.

I like the first one - and the play on the 'Norton/Yamaha' logo is brilliant.


It will depend on the style you have built the bike - tracker, brat, cafe etc .

If sporty also consider the tried and true racing stripe - there are dozens of variations on the theme. And given it is a Yammy why not a nod to the factory broken racing stripe. See red/white below - just go blue with white stripe.

Or the blue base and use the tuning fork logo as your white accent on the tank.

[FJRider]

I don't actually. Though, I bet you have a micro-penis that results in an inability to satisfy women in bed which in turn makes you question your masculinity.

Merry Christmas to you too.

YOU asked for opinions ... HE gave his. If you don't like it ... Your issue not his.

[AllanB]

I'm detecting some end of year stress on KB .. :facepalm:

OP asked a reasonable question about his build. I'd like to see more build posts going on on KB.

[jasonu]

I don't actually. Though, I bet you have a micro-penis that results in an inability to satisfy women in bed which in turn makes you question your masculinity.

Merry Christmas to you too.

My penis is fucking enormous and is a joy to play with!

[Scubbo]

https://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Yamaha-Bolt-Custom-61.jpg

[Voltaire]

I'm detecting some end of year stress on KB .. :facepalm:

OP asked a reasonable question about his build. I'd like to see more build posts going on on KB.

OP's should be able to delete the stupid comments ( which is most of them).

[jasonu]

OP's should be able to delete the stupid comments ( which is most of them).

But there would be nothing left...

[Fresh Oats]

Cool rides.

I like the first one - and the play on the 'Norton/Yamaha' logo is brilliant.


It will depend on the style you have built the bike - tracker, brat, cafe etc .

If sporty also consider the tried and true racing stripe - there are dozens of variations on the theme. And given it is a Yammy why not a nod to the factory broken racing stripe. See red/white below - just go blue with white stripe.

Or the blue base and use the tuning fork logo as your white accent on the tank.

It's going to be a cafe racer (he says oiling his stubble). It's got clubman bars on it already and bar-end wing mirrors. I'm going to remove the paint off the controls and polish them up (they're steel, not plastic so that will look quiet nice I think) and I have new levers (silver) and grips (very light baby blue, almost grey) and speedo (black). Going to move the ignition to under the tank, so that will leave the front end clean and minimal with just a speedo and headlight. Frame will be powder coated black. Engine will be painted black except the header cover things which I will have rechromed, and the edge of the fin things, the top large ones, will be polished exposed steel. Bottom half of the front forks will be black. New small silver indicators. I'll make a custom seat which will be black with light blue stitching. (though this is also up for debate because I have been thinking about maybe doing a white seat.). Small rear cowl, same blue as tank and maybe some white depending on tank pattern. Side mounted number plate which will be attached via removed passenger peg mount. Black exhaust wrap (applies more oil to stubble) with shortie silver exhausts. And I'm having some custom side fairings made up by my bike dude which will be thin steel that will be flush with the frame (as opposed to the original which are hideous and bulge out). Rear black taillight under the cowl and I haven't decided where I'm going to put the reflector yet, if I'm going to incorporate it into the seat cowl or have it mounted somewhere with the number plate (though probably not because the NP needs to be lit up by a light so reflector and light might not mix).

So that's what I'm doing.

Hmm, I do quiet like the style of the blue one. I'm not a fan of the broken racing stripe.


YOU asked for opinions ... HE gave his. If you don't like it ... Your issue not his.

I asked for opinions on paint patterns. Of which he did not give I might add.
He made assumptions about me that I'm a bearded hipster because I like cafe racer style bikes. I simple made an assumption in return about him that he has a micro-dick and is self conscious about his masculinity because his girlfriend told me last night. Both assumptions are based on nothing, I mean she could be making it all up. But it's called banter. Good ol' kiwi insult humor banter. I aint got a problem with it.


https://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Yamaha-Bolt-Custom-61.jpg

Hmm, I'm not sure it would work on my style of tank. I have the knee indents.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

[FJRider]

I asked for opinions on paint patterns. Of which he did not give I might add.

He gave his opinion ... the subject matter is HIS choice ... this is KB after all ... ;)


He made assumptions about me that I'm a bearded hipster because I like cafe racer style bikes.

Prove he was wrong ... :corn:


I simple made an assumption in return about him that he has a micro-dick and is self conscious about his masculinity because his girlfriend told me last night.

Your mother was with me last night ... she told me ALL about your boyfriends ... they ALL have beards ... did he hit a nerve ... maybe .. :shutup:


Both assumptions are based on nothing, I mean she could be making it all up.

Assumptions are the mother of all fuck-ups ... and your mother did say you were a bit of a fuck-up.

Perhaps she under-stated your description a bit ... :motu:




But it's called banter. Good ol' kiwi insult humor banter. I aint got a problem with it.

[Grumph]

Some of the suggested removal of paint/polishing of pieces revealed a slight lack of knowledge of just what materials you're dealing with....

I can tell you from experience too that painting an engine but having polished fin edges aint as easy as it looks....particularly if it's done in one piece.

But hey, good luck, you can only learn....

[jasonu]

I'm a bearded hipster

I thought I recognized you.

[pritch]

I have some sympathy for the OP, he did ask a sensible question. My only problem is that what he calls a cafe racer is not recognisable as such to me, nor I suspect to others.

In the interests of science I just did a Google image search for "cafe racer motorcycle". Sadly a depressingly large number look like the abominations favoured by our OP. Ah well I guess it would have been silly to expect a mass of Tritons, Tribsas and Norvins.

[pritch]

Had to scroll a long way down the page to find this. Note that it doesn't have fat tyres, a brown seat, or pipe wrap. It does have mudguards and alloy rims.

Now Grasshopper, *that* is a cafe racer. A triton no less and a thing of beauty.

[Voltaire]

I have some sympathy for the OP, he did ask a sensible question. My only problem is that what he calls a cafe racer is not recognisable as such to me, nor I suspect to others.

In the interests of science I just did a Google image search for "cafe racer motorcycle". Sadly a depressingly large number look like the abominations favoured by our OP. Ah well I guess it would have been silly to expect a mass of Tritons, Tribsas and Norvins.

As Cafe Racers in the 60's were just hacked up old bike bikes I can't imagine they were all as nice a Dresda Triton.

Where are all the Norumphs, Matchfields, and Tribeams now I ask?;)

[AllanB]

In the interests of science I just did a Google image search for "cafe racer motorcycle". Sadly a depressingly large number look like the abominations favoured by our OP. Ah well I guess it would have been silly to expect a mass of Tritons, Tribsas and Norvins.


You are showing your age now. The term has become generic to the style. Some very beautiful Honda old CB750 based cafe racers have been produced recently.

[Grumph]

As Cafe Racers in the 60's were just hacked up old bike bikes I can't imagine they were all as nice a Dresda Triton.

Where are all the Norumphs, Matchfields, and Tribeams now I ask?;)

Gone to rust....

IMO, the OP is building the modern equivalent of a cafe'd C11G BSA.....

[Fresh Oats]

I have some sympathy for the OP, he did ask a sensible question. My only problem is that what he calls a cafe racer is not recognisable as such to me, nor I suspect to others.

In the interests of science I just did a Google image search for "cafe racer motorcycle". Sadly a depressingly large number look like the abominations favoured by our OP. Ah well I guess it would have been silly to expect a mass of Tritons, Tribsas and Norvins.

If you don't think this is cafe racer wait till you see what I'm gonna do to my CX500. :niceone:

I disagree that it has to be exactly XYZ bike and style. As Allan already said, it's representative of a certain style and there have been many modern takes on it.



Side note, it'll have mudguards. A front one at least. Maybe rear.

[layton]

No wonder people don't do build threads. People seem to criticize more then give helpful information and point him in the "right" direction, remember some of us havnt spent a lifetime building\racing bikes and sometimes just need some Helpful advice. We all have to start somewhere. I personally like the racing stripe, off centre like a s4 Monster

[sidecar bob]

No wonder people don't do build threads. People seem to criticize more then give helpful information and point him in the "right" direction, remember some of us havnt spent a lifetime building\racing bikes and sometimes just need some Helpful advice. We all have to start somewhere. I personally like the racing stripe, off centre like a s4 Monster

I know a few people that criticise openly virtually any motorcycle that they don't currently have in their garage, which often include some fairly noble motorcycles.
I consider these people to be posers & to be using motorcycles as some kind of penis replacement.
A true motorcyclist at heart can see virtue & fun in almost anything with near enough to two wheels.
I'd personally put Drew at the top of that list.

[Moi]

You say you'll have a small rear cowl, also side covers? If you went with the style on the Honda - white stripe across the tank through the fuel filler and down to flow onto the side cover and then onto the rear cowl, however tapper the stripe like a pennant flag... or some variation on that... Cheers.

[pritch]

You are showing your age now. The term has become generic to the style.

Possibly. I'd argue that the term has become generic to a lack of style. A good Norvin or Triton was better than either of the donor bikes. The idea was to make the bike faster, or for the less technically gifted, at least to make it look faster.

The recent abominations make no attempt to improve anything. They just remove stuff, some of which is useful. In this country a bike without mudguards is not going to be ridden much. Fat tyres are added which almost certainly mean the bike doesn't handle as well as it did originally. Add exhaust tape and a brown seat and you've got another candidate for the optimistic sellers thread.

It's probably the nomenclature that pisses me off most. If they called them hipster racers I wouldn't give a shit, but for me cafe racers they ain't.

By now I hope you realise my objection is not to Japanese machinery, a good looking bike can come from anywhere..

[AllanB]

It's probably the nomenclature that pisses me off most. If they called them hipster racers I wouldn't give a shit, but for me cafe racers they ain't.

By now I hope you realise my objection is not to Japanese machinery, a good looking bike can come from anywhere..


I see your point.

And I really like the label 'Hipster Racer' ;) make it a new category.

[WALRUS]

Something-something-brown seat, something-something-exhaust wrap, something-something-beard oil..

In all seriousness, it's your bike.. Do what you like, so long as it makes you happy. You'll cop flak from anyone/everyone as Sidecar Bob said..:


I know a few people that criticise openly virtually any motorcycle that they don't currently have in their garage, which often include some fairly noble motorcycles.
I consider these people to be posers & to be using motorcycles as some kind of penis replacement.
A true motorcyclist at heart can see virtue & fun in almost anything with near enough to two wheels.

I own an old Ducati that rattles and a dumb, modified scooter.. People hate them, I love them because they make me smile and I will modify (or not) as I see fit. Fuck other peoples' opinions :)


I have some sympathy for the OP, he did ask a sensible question. My only problem is that what he calls a cafe racer is not recognisable as such to me, nor I suspect to others.

In the interests of science I just did a Google image search for "cafe racer motorcycle". Sadly a depressingly large number look like the abominations favoured by our OP. Ah well I guess it would have been silly to expect a mass of Tritons, Tribsas and Norvins.

I hear your point, and the suggestion of "Hipster Racer" might be a bit more accurate. Valid and fine. It's like when people refer to a brand new band as "Classic Rock/Metal". They might sound similar, they might sound bloody awesome, but they aren't classic, you know? Classic Cafe Racers are just that, I view the current barrage of taped headlight, brown seat silly things as well intended homages to that age..

Except for all the CX500's.. They can fuck off.

[OddDuck]

+1 to the new term Hipster Racer... yes this should happen. Optimistic Sellers first and see if it catches on in wider usage?

Cafe Racers: I actually really like the style but as Pritch says, it's become badly diluted... the whole idea was to make the bike go better, on short, intense, informal (yeah ok illegal) street circuits. The style comes from that requirement. It wasn't about posing, there was a genuine reason for the bikes to be modified.

OP: I quite like the very first bike shown, nice clean and simple. Good on you for doing a build and having the guts to post about it. I guess the hostility comes from seeing too many previously good bikes reduced to crap projects and then dumped on TM? I know there's a 900SS on there right now which has been ahem "cafe'd" and it makes me wince every time I see it.

[george formby]

I hear your point, and the suggestion of "Hipster Racer" might be a bit more accurate. Valid and fine. It's like when people refer to a brand new band as "Classic Rock/Metal". They might sound similar, they might sound bloody awesome, but they aren't classic, you know? Classic Cafe Racers are just that, I view the current barrage of taped headlight, brown seat silly things as well intended homages to that age..

Except for all the CX500's.. They can fuck off.

This is the only post I have read in this thread, very well put if I may say. The CX bit is a bit harsh.

Sidecar Bob nailed it, too. If it does what you want and puts a smile on your dial then that entitles you tell everyone else to get fucked.

I learned that when a mate bought an MZ for Scottish winters. The sniggers turned to amazement when he put skis on the engine bars. Best winter commuter ever.

[WALRUS]

Eh, my folks have been through two or three CX500's over the years. Each to their own, but they just don't butter my egg roll.

[AllanB]

You know what I really like about the CX Hondas (400/500/650).

They were produced at a time when Honda had some balls and was experimenting and doing exciting stuff.

Now they do what? Mainstream safe shit.

Fuck that, Euro arse-hole politicians want to kill the internal combustion engine - now is the time to show the world truly exciting engines - fark the car world is aware of this and presently producing what may soon be the last crop of petrol powered supercars.

I want to see triples, fives, sixes, turbos, superchargers - shit that gives me wood standing outside the shop window at 11pm after a few IPA's and a curry. Stuff that makes me consider 'borrowing' from the kids education accounts ........

[Fresh Oats]

You say you'll have a small rear cowl, also side covers? If you went with the style on the Honda - white stripe across the tank through the fuel filler and down to flow onto the side cover and then onto the rear cowl, however tapper the stripe like a pennant flag... or some variation on that... Cheers.

That's an interesting idea and I do appreciate the idea. Just, not for me sorry. I'm not the biggest fan of flowing paint jobs, I prefer when each component (tank, panels, cowl) are all their own separate thing but all match each other in the overall design.


OP: I quite like the very first bike shown, nice clean and simple. Good on you for doing a build and having the guts to post about it. I guess the hostility comes from seeing too many previously good bikes reduced to crap projects and then dumped on TM? I know there's a 900SS on there right now which has been ahem "cafe'd" and it makes me wince every time I see it.

Yea, like I get it, I've seen some of the trademe links posted. Some of the shit people makes truly makes you wonder what the fuck they were smoking when they thought that that would be a good thing to do.

I'm not changing anything in terms of performance apart from new exhausts. I've been riding around on the clubman handlebars since my previous warrant (July) and actually prefer them to the stock handlebars. So like it's gonna be rideable. Also, if you've ever seen a stock 1992 SRV250, they're not exactly the best looking bikes in the world so it's not like I'm chopping up some classic beautiful thing.
The reason why I'm doing it up in the first place is because it's not a looker to begin with so anything I do is going to be a big difference and it's actually a very nice bike to ride for my daily commute. And I mean it only cost me $1500.


Eh, my folks have been through two or three CX500's over the years. Each to their own, but they just don't butter my egg roll.

Ya know, now owning one, I can totally see why people don't like them. :P
I still fucking love it though, still my favourite bike. If I had the money I'd buy another one. No I wouldn't, I'd buy an R100. But still.


+1 for term hipster racer. :niceone:

[Fresh Oats]

So, the controls on this bike, the buttons are faded as fuck. The control casing is all steel (aluminium I think) and it's just all the plastic buttons that have faded and look horrible.
I don't want to replace the entire controls because they look nice polished up. But I can't seem to find replacement switches. I've read that a heat gun directed at the plastic can bring the pigment in the plastic back out but I'm a little skeptical. Does that work? Or does anyone have another tip for dealing with faded old plastic?


ps: I went with the first pictures design.

[pritch]

Or does anyone have another tip for dealing with faded old plastic?


I use this, works on red as well as black. Works better on some plastics than others.

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/mothers-mothers-naturally-black-trim-and-plastic-restorer---355ml/366466.html

Armourall might be worth a try if you know someone who has some?

[F5 Dave]

Possibly. I'd argue that the term has become generic to a lack of style. A good Norvin or Triton was better than either of the donor bikes. The idea was to make the bike faster, or for the less technically gifted, at least to make it look faster.

The recent abominations make no attempt to improve anything. They just remove stuff, some of which is useful. In this country a bike without mudguards is not going to be ridden much. Fat tyres are added which almost certainly mean the bike doesn't handle as well as it did originally. Add exhaust tape and a brown seat and you've got another candidate for the optimistic sellers thread.

It's probably the nomenclature that pisses me off most. If they called them hipster racers I wouldn't give a shit, but for me cafe racers they ain't.

By now I hope you realise my objection is not to Japanese machinery, a good looking bike can come from anywhere..
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to pritch again."
Hipster toilet racer. Hence the brown seats.

Must go squeeze out a poo.

[husaberg]

KEEP IT SIMPLE
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/21/48/fc/2148fc47941b56560e21e31a3a46bdac.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1567/26565363116_0e0fecf3bd_b.jpghttps://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery_M-Z_16/Yamaha%20IT%20490%20%201.JPGhttp://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/suzuki-rk67.jpg

[F5 Dave]

Damm, now I want my YZF SP back.

[tanken2]

yes keep it simple

[pritch]

yes keep it simple

Ah yes. Spare a thought for Franta Stastny who punted those around Europe to some effect back in the day.

[Fresh Oats]

Too late for simple.

I'll post some pictures of my handy work for all to brutally judge me (and my first time painting, well, anything, really) when I'm finished with the touch ups and clear coat.

[pete376403]

Ah yes. Spare a thought for Franta Stastny who punted those around Europe to some effect back in the day.

And Bill Ivy. Didn't end well for him.

[husaberg]

Ah yes. Spare a thought for Franta Stastny who punted those around Europe to some effect back in the day.

or Bill Ivy who got punted by one
Jack Findlays wife refused to let him ride one.


And Bill Ivy. Didn't end well for him.

Sorry missed yours


Damm, now I want my YZF SP back.
looks like that Jamie James one has 6 piston AP brakes in 94.
I think the next year he lost the championship with a Exup that decided to shut itself in the last race

[tanken2]

look awesome bike , even comes ready painted in your colour