G'day guys, any ideas/help will be appreciated. Gotta 87 cbr1000, the fork legs look pretty crappy. I guess they are powdercoated? was thinking of rubbing them back or stripping the paint off, anyone done this? is it hard to do? does it look any good? any other ideas??? did a search didn't come up with anything, thanks...

 

Taking off the fork legs is pretty straight forward, but you will need a manual or something, as it's to much detail to get into here, as it involves removing the front wheel, brake calipers, undoing the triple clamp, etc, etc. I've done it a few times when I've needed to replace fork seals and so on (which your going to be doing anyway) It's not big job, and the average bike jock can do it, as long as you don't rush it (hey were smarter than most, we ride bikes & Hondas to boot). You will need a set of Allen (hex) keys. a set of decent spanners & Sockets and a torque wrench. Just be accurate when you replace the fork oil and remember that the fork springs go in a certain way, (tappered end goes in 1st). and you will probably need a hand to get the top fork nuts in, (you'll know wot I mean!) And don't be a cheap bastard, replace all the seals with new ones (buy the kit). There nothing worse than doing all that work and having your seals go a month later, just cos you wanted to save a few bucks.
Getting rid of the old paint is another matter, but I that should not be to much of a problem once their off, really all you have to do is think about wot sort of paint your going to use! Cos if you just going to spray with can paint, then in about a week they will look as daggy as they are now, the paint needs to be durable to take all the stones and other debris that hit em. Maybe a two pack paint?
Good luck, and do it.

 

Hey dude, just looked up your profile, and your from Oz, where? maybe be able to point you in the right direction for getting your forks painted. I'm in Newcastle NSW

 

Hey pacemaker, how are things, thanks for the info. i'm in the blue mtns, i get up your way a bit, have a sister @ tumbi umbi, one at gosford, and a nephew in the area... what's your ride?

 

Woz up in TBM's 3 weeks ago, cold bloody place then! I have a CBR600 F3 that I've had since new (bought it at Gosford!) and the guy that sold it to me, now works at Frasers at Broadmeadow (Newcastle), how weird is this, your probably related to my wife or something.
I only just found this forum a while back, and it's a good place to hang out. good to know there are like minded people from all over.
Been thinking about your front forks, and unless you wanted to go back to bare metal and then finish them off with "clear" you can probably do the prep work and sand them off and get them ready for painting, I've heard that there are a few places in Parrmatta & Sydney that I'll try and track down. unless you know someone up there, cos they really need to have a good "baked" enamel on em.
But clear would be the easy out. let us know how get on
And by the way, I used to live on the Central Coast

 

pacemaker, haven't thought it through yet, am doing a wider front wheel at the moment and thought that the forks could look better. if i went back to bare metal + clear is that more work + bucks than the baked enamel do you think? if you get more info on the places in Parra would appreciate the info. i will ask around here also.
i'm at woodford, half way up the mtns, i'm over winter already!!! i'm sick of being cold!!!
c ya and thanks again...