Stainless Bolt Kit - opinions?

[Zim]

I was looking at Chewys site and see he offers a stainless bolt kit. I realise it's just (apparently) 60 odd bolts, but how useful is this 'upgrade'. On his own bike showcase page he describes the ones he replaced himself as "swiss cheese", are they really that bad? (Not as bad as cheese obviously, but bad enough to need total replacement?). Isn't an expensive mod I know but I don't want to mess about for hours unnecessarily. These sort of things always make me wonder - would a respectable bike company really stake their reputation on a bunch of swiss cheese bolts?

[Runako]

Well, its one of those annoying little things that you eventually realise and then feel compelled to sort out once and for all. Example, wing mirror. One of the bolts is losing its thread. Now i did have a lowside and this clearly impacted on the fitting. Ever since then the bolt is prone to loosening (even with a bit of loctite). But it always happens at the worst time, like riding on the motorway in heavy traffic. So I should replace the bolt really, and why not upgrade?

To be more specific, most of the "swiss cheese" bolts and screws are on non-critical parts (in my experience). Suzuki very well knew what they were doing - crap enough bolts to last for a while but strong enough stuff in other areas to avoid major lawsuits. So in answer to your question. Yes, it is a good upgrade especially if you come to discover all these niggly issues or when you start finding it hard to remove parts due to rusty bolts etc.

If you're not really experiencing any of the above then its probably not necessary.

[Elliott]

Your best bet is buy a large mixed bag ~100 bolts in various sizes and when working on the bike replace every bolt you remove. Don't bother going on the rampage replacing all in one go its not worth that much effort.

[Jayneflakes]

I have a full Chewys bolt kit on my bike and can only report good things about it. First of all, it comes with a list of bolts and instructions on where to put them. Each one is of high quality and they look absolutely lovely when in place. The original bolts do corrode over time and start to look manky. One of the bolts on my bike corroded so badly that the head chewed up when I tried to undo it, even with high quality precision tools.

So in my view, Chewys kit makes swapping the bolts an easy and worth while job. :D

[muzikill]

My bikes motor had them replaced during my rebuild with the chewy kit. Looks great to me and the factory bolts were awful looking on the threads.

[NTECUK]

Wot Elliot said ...

[MJC-DEV]

I have the full Chewys Engine set and they look a lot better than the corroded originals BUT as they are stainless going into aluminium make sure you follow proper precautions such as copper grease and watch the torque settings.
Basically a cosmetic only change, however I have replaced most of the other non-critical bolts with stainless due to rust as you can't get the rusted feckers out otherwise (e.g. oil cooler, front mudguard etc)

[LewSpeight]

thoughts on these (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150859196459?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)?

[MJC-DEV]

You will have trouble stopping these aluminium ones from corroding and going white and furry. Ok if you don't ride much in the rain and def not on salted roads.

[bellisan]

I would trust Al bolts for some of the cosmetic parts and maybe light bits, but nothing really structural, and not engine stuff. Disclaimer: IANAE, but I have built a good amount of stuff, and IIRC Al and Fe are roughly similar weight for weight, but not volume for volume.

[craig dow]

hi do you have link to chews site as im going to replace mine over winter
thanks

[Heefy]

Great kit. Good instructions, and it makes a considerable cosmetic difference to the look/condition of the bike.

link here (http://www.chewys-stuff.co.uk/)

[LewSpeight]

I've just got one of these, not really what i was expecting. The main bolts i was after in this kit were the bolts that hold the little black fairing cap/panel things on, (which arent) and the bolts that hole the handlebars on. (or are they already stainless?)
Didnt look too immensely at them as theyre the only bolts i initially needed.

Am i missing something really obvious here?

[Zim]

From what I can see Chewy does an "Engine Kit" and a "Bike Kit". His bike kits are itemised here (pointy) (http://www.chewys-stuff.co.uk/sundry_bolts/sv650_bike_bolts(k3-).htm) and here (curvy) (http://www.chewys-stuff.co.uk/sundry_bolts/sv650_bike_bolts(preK3).htm). Both should have the handlebar clamp bolts, but neither mention the fairing. I see he also has a page for lower fairing washers (http://www.chewys-stuff.co.uk/fairingwasher/fairingwasher.htm). Aren't the fairing panels held in with screws rather than bolts? They're probably more likely to be stainless (I would have thought, don't quote me!).

[LewSpeight]

Yeh but look, 'left handle bar clamp = 1 bolt', and same for right, but i swear the handlebar clamps have two bolts on each side...?

[Bibio]

your bike is a naked so yes two bolts either side for the clamps. these are completely different from clipon bolts that you get with the S kit

[LewSpeight]

Oh that didn't even cross my mind.
That sucks. I'm really regretting buying this kit

[Bibio]

drop chewie an email and tell him it was for a naked. i'm sure he will pop 4 in the post for you.

also the black screws that hold the triangle infill panel on the upper cowling are just that, screws so not classified as bolts.

[LewSpeight]

****. Haha okay cheers lance I'll give it a shot