Refurbishing the Ace.

[Thunderace]

As you all know, due to a demented bint at Tesco, the Ace suffered some quite severe cosmetic damage.:(

So now left with the decision.......:confused:

New plastics or go naked?

£339 for new plastics + cost of a tank cover.

Or I could rat it up, remove fairing fit a headlight, and leave it at that! £100 at most!

Or I could stick with the gaffer tape and cable tie medication?

What is the opinion?

[Tomor]

New plastics or stick with the gaffa tape. If you are going to be travelling 2 hours down fast a roads/motorways more regularly now, you wont really want a naked. Uou could see how much a plastic weld on your existing fairing would be?

[dirtydog]

New plastics or at least get yours repaired properly.

[Wideboy]

plastic welding!!!!

[Spank86]

I wouldn't go naked. It's bad enough on the speed four at top speed let alone going faster.

[Tomor]

I wouldn't go naked. It's bad enough on the speed four at top speed let alone going faster.

70 is 70 no matter what bike its on ;)

[DJ123]

plastic welding!!!!


^^^ This.

[Spank86]

70 is 70 no matter what bike its on ;)

Yes but the top speed of the ace is faster than the top speed of the four.

I very specifically didn't mention a numerical speed.

[Tomor]

haha

[Thunderace]

New plastics or at least get yours repaired properly.

plastic welding!!!!

There are chunks missing plus not really in my realm of expertise.:(

[Thunderace]

I wouldn't go naked. It's bad enough on the speed four at top speed let alone going faster.

I have owned naked bikes in the past, nothing a manly set of shoulder and neck muscles can't cope with!

Just wish I had some!:rolleyes:

[Spank86]

My neck muscles are a lot stronger than they used to be but it doesn't stop me getting cramp all the time.


Besides, who was talking about the bike? I would be more worried about the impact of flys on your (not so) private regions if you rode naked.

[NTECUK]

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Yamaha-R1-Streetfighter-front-Bikini-Fairing-and-lights-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$T2eC16RHJHQE9nzEzMfuBQ-ti5u+Y!~~60_35.JPGGo naked . Fit a fly screen .
Motorway just lay on the tank and use the rear pegs if you get fed up .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-R1-Streetfighter-front-Bikini-Fairing-and-lights-/160959289930?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2579ebda4a

[Fallout]

Weldage! Put a watch on ebay for ThunderAces being broken, or wait for Spank to crash and pray his front fairings survive.

[The Idle Biker]

Thats a lot of money relative to the value of the bike. Why not have a go at repairing and respraying it yourself?

[Wideboy]

matt black, stealthace

[Thunderace]

Thats a lot of money relative to the value of the bike. Why not have a go at repairing and respraying it yourself?

Ha! I resprayed my old NTV a few years ago and discovered I can't paint for ****! Think I might just stick with the cable ties and gaffer tape as I have no idea how to repair my plastics.

BTW Laurie I agree £300 spent on a bike worth £800 is throwing good money after bad!

@Simon - Ace plastics are surprisingly rare on fleabay, unless you want the back half of the bike, which I don't!

[rb8989]

Try and repair I'd say, great looking bike for its year.. excuse the OT but are they that good? Never ridden one but they come up cheap often.

[Fallout]

@Simon - Ace plastics are surprisingly rare on fleabay, unless you want the back half of the bike, which I don't!

Yeah, doesn't surprise me, but if you do just stick with the tape you can save the search terms and ebay will email you if they appear in the coming months.

[Thunderace]

Try and repair I'd say, great looking bike for its year.. excuse the OT but are they that good? Never ridden one but they come up cheap often.

Comedy Bike mate! Big lumpy engine, not great in the twisty bits! The gearbox although a bit notchy is tremendous, the gears go on forever, also the standard callipers, serviced properly are pretty good.

It will hang with the new boys up to 100 or so, and once you get the suspension right and learn it's rather unique attitude towards corners, you can keep with all but the swiftest in the windy bits!

The fairing is awesome though! I'm only 5"9'-5"10' so that may help but no wind gets to you no matter how fast you want to go!

[Spank86]

It's not as bad as all that in the twistys, although its true its no modern thou.

[Tomor]

So what ya gunna do then?

[Wideboy]

I'd say it's more of big boy's bike, It's no slouch on the track. I'm 6'3 and 16st and with a fair bit of climbing around I can get the thunderace to shift around pretty quick. I've had comments made when I've turned up on tracks with it as it has a reputation as being an arm chair but you can soon but those comments to bed. definitely needs the suspension to be set up properly though, but once that's done its a dream to ride. On the road its a big battle ship with a long lazy gear box at low revs (for around town) and at top end its seriously ****ing nuts. I've ridden R1's and i like to think of it as the R1's sensible big brother.

I originally looked at them as its the only super sport I can comfortably sit on.

[rb8989]

I'm nearly sold, is the suspension adjustable or like the sv where you have it in bits to get the forks to play ball?

[Fallout]

If you can get one in good condition like Spank did for £900 then it's a no brainer!

[Spank86]

Yup the suspension is adjustable,

Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea how to adjust it or what to look for if I was so I just ride the damn thing.

[Wideboy]

Adjustable. I copied the settings from ride magazine (I think it was) and they're article on the best bike for 1500 quid. The thunderace won so they did an article on whats best for it ect. The magazines rider was of similar stature so I copied the settings they had for track and tweaked them abit after over a few miles and it felt like a completely different bike. Could probably do with some more tweaking and I've even considered rebuilding the forks and shock plus a full system, but not sure I want to be spending that sort of mullah on a 16 yr old bike.

Spanks was an unbelievable bargain. In fact, im convinced he did more than he likes to let on to get it at that price. Hussy.

[Mark_h]

Mr. Spank, Give this (http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm) a read ....

[Fallout]

It goes without saying Ad provided favours for savers.

[rb8989]

LOL. I'll keep my eyes peeled. A friend of a friend has one but it's battered from offs and has the loudest can I've ever heard on it. That put me off a bit but I've seen some tasteful examples on the bay. Insurance is cheap for the power too.

[Spank86]

It goes without saying Ad provided favours for savers.

Ha, the guy was an idiot, a low price for the Bike AND I got to do all that.it normally costs extra!

[NTECUK]

Just do this
http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/Custom/yzf-r1-streetfighter.jpghttp://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/Custom/r1_streetfighter.jpg

[The Idle Biker]

Just do this
http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/Custom/r1_streetfighter.jpg

Now that's nice. Mr Ace, you now have a plan. Get to it ya slacker!

[NTECUK]

little bikini fairings work better than you think.
the one on the shiver GT is only small. but makes a marked difference.
Go forth and re invent it too.
The Street Ace :)

[Thunderace]

Now that's nice. Mr Ace, you now have a plan. Get to it ya slacker!

I have not the time or the money to do that! Mrs Ace has said keep it for another year and she'll let me buy a shiny new one! I smell a Superduke!:cheers:

[The Idle Biker]

Mmm Superduke! I approve.

[Wildkid]

Im actually Drueling..

[NTECUK]

I have not the time or the money to do that! Mrs Ace has said keep it for another year and she'll let me buy a shiny new one! I smell a Superduke!:cheers:

Then Duct Tape it is then ;)

[rb8989]

Funny thing is you'll easily see your money back in a years time for your deposit!

[Thunderace]

Then Duct Tape it is then ;)

Most likely!:(

Funny thing is you'll easily see your money back in a years time for your deposit!

Ha! My old bus is worth less than the petrol in the tank!;) To be fair she's been reliable, and mechanically sound the whole time I've owned her. Apart from when I got some dodgy advice on clutch fluid. (carlube dot4 boils in an Ace!)

But she's done a lot of miles, got a homemade exhaust and serious cosmetic damage!

[Winder]

Get some isopon aluminium mesh from Halfords for £1.50.

Tape the fairing together at the front, cut the mesh to shape of the rear of the fairing so it covers both sides of a crack, take a hot soldering iron and press it on the mesh so it heats up and sinks into the plastic fairing. This will hold the fairing solid.

Remove the tape at the front and, if you can be assed you can plastic weld the cracks out but the mesh at the rear should hold it all together.

For bits actually missing you could find a similar colour plastic, cut roughly the same shape and just melt it in.

I've used this meathod a few times for cracked fairings cause its cheap as chips.

[Fallout]

^ really like that idea. Sounds pish easy, cheap and strong. Nath, you could at least do the mesh bit easy and just forget the plastic weld.

[Wideboy]

oh just gently heat the mesh on the hob and float it in

[Spank86]

I reckon you could do it pretty easily, if you're coming down at any point I'm sure sme of us would be happy to lend our advice while you do it.

The advice might not be worth much but I always find these things easier with moral support.

[Fallout]

The advice might not be worth much but I always find these things easier with moral support.

+1. I was getting ****ed off in my garage yesterday with all the mess and lack of organisation. I decided what I need is someone else to help me make tough decisions like ripping **** out, otherwise I stand there dithering then go in and have a cup of tea.

[Mark_h]

Hot mesh, a naked flame, soldering irons, delicate fairing work, rampant dog bouncing about and pig obsessed hotty looking on disapprovingly. I see an instructional video right there....... Brian .. Phone....

[Wideboy]

I gutted and tidied my garage end of October.... I had to do it again yesterday. **** everywhere.

[Fallout]

It's getting rid of the ****. I have a fridge freezer in there that needs to go, a crate/box full of crap like pine cones the previous retarded owners used to burn in the fire (hence why it's a sot filled fire hazard now) and then admittedly some of my crap like an old foosball table I never use, a petrol lawnmower etc etc. Stuff that isn't easy to shift.

[Spank86]

+1. I was getting ****ed off in my garage yesterday with all the mess and lack of organisation. I decided what I need is someone else to help me make tough decisions like ripping **** out, otherwise I stand there dithering then go in and have a cup of tea.

That's why we blitzed your garden so quickly. When your on your own its too easy to take breaks and dither.

[Thunderace]

Get some isopon aluminium mesh from Halfords for £1.50.

Tape the fairing together at the front, cut the mesh to shape of the rear of the fairing so it covers both sides of a crack, take a hot soldering iron and press it on the mesh so it heats up and sinks into the plastic fairing. This will hold the fairing solid.

Remove the tape at the front and, if you can be assed you can plastic weld the cracks out but the mesh at the rear should hold it all together.

For bits actually missing you could find a similar colour plastic, cut roughly the same shape and just melt it in.

I've used this meathod a few times for cracked fairings cause its cheap as chips.

That's a plan!:smt023

[The Idle Biker]

Or if you prefer a less elegant but less hassle approach, pot rivet the pieces more securely together, with some Aluminum plate on the inside. Just done my trackbike fairing with Dzus fasteners. Piece of pi$$ it were.

[Thunderace]

Whoo hoo! New speedo cable arrived today, the refurb' begins!:D

However this does mean she'll start clocking miles again!:(

[Thunderace]

So one more day at work then 12 off!:D So it begins!

Got,

Speedo cable
Shiny new feck expensive NGK iridium plugs
Braided lines (front only)
Oil + filter
Air filter
Fuel filter
2 ltr of Dot 4 (gonna finally get all the air out of the clutch);)

To get,

Fork oil (suggestions?):confused:
Front tyre
Chain + sprockets
Isopon aluminium mesh from Halfords and use of a soldering iron (fairing repair attempt):smt105

May attempt a decent clean while I'm at it!:rolleyes:

@Spank - do you want a carbon front mudguard? I'd very much like to swap?:thumbsup:

[Thunderace]

@Spank - Getting back to suspension, this is what I used to set mine up, was a touch much for the road so I dialled it all back a bit and it was a dramatic improvement!:thumbsup:

http://www.syn-ack.com/thunderace/files/acesetup/AceText.htm

[Tomor]

take a loot in your manual(if you have one) at the fork oil. I stuck in 15w (stock 10w) as I am a fat *******, but you should be fine with whatever it reccommends. If you go the whole hog, for springs have a look at k-tech and hyperpro for prices. most are usually a kit with oil aswell as springs

[Spank86]

So one more day at work then 12 off!:D So it begins!

Got,

Speedo cable
Shiny new feck expensive NGK iridium plugs
Braided lines (front only)
Oil + filter
Air filter
Fuel filter
2 ltr of Dot 4 (gonna finally get all the air out of the clutch);)

To get,

Fork oil (suggestions?):confused:
Front tyre
Chain + sprockets
Isopon aluminium mesh from Halfords and use of a soldering iron (fairing repair attempt):smt105

May attempt a decent clean while I'm at it!:rolleyes:


It won't make you any quicker you know.


@Spank - do you want a carbon front mudguard? I'd very much like to swap?:thumbsup:

Can do, I don't care.

If I don't like it ill just spray the fecker black

[Winder]

That isopon mesh is good because its really easy to bend to any shape you like. However, if you want it MEGA NINJA strong (but it's a bit of a **** to bend into the correct shape) just get some of that chicken wire stuff from B&Q or nick it off a farmers fence

[Thunderace]

It won't make you any quicker you know.

The laws of physics mean that it is impossible!;)

If your're serious 'bout the mudguard I'll pop the carbon one on when I come down.

[Thunderace]

Oh I forgot doglegs, maybe a full size Ace for me!

@Spank - do you want my old ones as your'e tiny?

[Spank86]

I've got shorter ones if you remember but I'll stick with it being set up properly, I can't flat foot any bikes so not bothered by height.

[Spank86]

If your're serious 'bout the mudguard I'll pop the carbon one on when I come down.
If they're the same then I really don't care either way. I take it it's fake carbon.

Theres a load of that crap on the bike anyway.

[Thunderace]

Genuine carbon fibre! But the finish is the same as all your stickers, cheers matey!;)

[Thunderace]

All plastics removed and so much fell apart when being removed I've decided to go for new plastics as it is a lot to repair and lots of bits missing or so small it's ridiculous!:( Pics to follow!

On the plus side all new bits bar doglegs fitted!:D Need another bod for that!

The Ace looks like a real thug naked! It's tempting!

[Tomor]

stick up some pics!

[Thunderace]

Will do tomorrow, camera battery is charging and takes hours!:(

[Thunderace]

As requested........

This used to be the nose cone, the white bit in the gap is the tape that used to hold it, also check the bottom right for more damage.

12245

All the little pieces that aren't lying on the tarmac somewhere in Hampshire!

12244

Thug Bike!

12243

I think she looks quite sexy like that!;) May just give her a polish and slap a headlight on her?:confused:

Got loads more pics of the damage to both side panels, clock surround and bellypan, but the ancient laptop is taking too long to upload the pics!

[Jammy]

I reckon that looks phat with no fairings! looks better infact :D

[Spank86]

That's fixable.

You don't need to shove the little bits back in, just fill the gap.

[Tomor]

3M wrap? Will hold it together aswell. Then you can have whatever colour you fancy :)

[Thunderace]

That's fixable.

You don't need to shove the little bits back in, just fill the gap.

All those little bits plus the ones that are missing are the bolt holes in the plastics, if I fill 'em in I will not be able to put 'em back on.:(

[Spank86]

That's why the good lord gave us drills.

[Thunderace]

I know I could fart about with fibreglass matting, waste money, **** it up, ruin what is left of the fairing, then drill holes in it and watch the fairing fall off next time I ride it!:smt115

As we all know, if I can't do it with a ratchet, spanner, pliers or hammer it will be a disaster with my heavy handed approach.:rolleyes:

The plan was to use aluminium mesh, pull the cracks together and use a soldering iron to melt the mesh into the back of the plastics. (even I could do that) But the tiny bits are too small to do that (unless I develop asbestos fingers), so I went to local Halfrauds nearly died of shock at their prices, then went to local hardware store, had a chat with old duffer who sold me some super strong plastic adhesive (resistant to everything by all accounts), brought it home, cleaned and dried all joins (as per instructions), glued all the bits in place, left it overnight, in the morning the bits came off with very little persuasion, so I'm not gonna trust adhesive to hold the plastics on at high speed!:(

So I think I'll just wait until my new plastics get delivered (2-4weeks!!!!!) so may bodge a headlight and some clocks on it for now!:confused:

[Wideboy]

You could tack it together with glue then mesh it. I used some of that jb weld last week on supporting the back of a small crack and it worked pretty well. I've used alot of plastic glues and found pretty much none of them work. Put the sv through some highish speed Saturday to test everything held and it did

[Thunderace]

Rodger that! Jb weld........off shopping now!

[Winder]

If it's only a few weeks until your chinky fairings show up just put the clocks back on and Roberts your fathers brother. If you really need to use it in low light just gaffer tape a big torch to the front.

[Thunderace]

Well I finally relented and bought some matting, resin and hardner!:roll:

Bloody easy!:thumbsup:

Used Winders mesh and soldering iron method (combined with Gavs glue it first) to put most of the little bits back. Works bloody well!:smt041

Now she ain't pretty but at least she's solid!:D

Will post pics as soon as the camera and laptop start playing ball again!

Question - For the bolt holes that are no longer there, I have fibre glassed over the hole and I'm planning to drill a new hole in the fibreglass. Will it hold?

[Spank86]

Might need some washers.

Plus you'll want to check for cracks after a bit. If they form you could re fibreglass with the washers embedded in it.


Also don't use too much pressure when drilling.

[Thunderace]

That's why the good lord gave us diamond tip drill bits!;)

That washer idea is not a bad one old Spanky chops!:thumbsup:

[Spank86]

Whatever its made out of just drill through slowly.

Don't want to stress the new joins or you'll make very fine cracks round the hole.

And small cracks only get bigger (calm down guys, I know what I said).

[DJ123]

And small cracks only get bigger (calm down guys, I know what I said).


<snigger> :lol:

[Wideboy]

depends on how think the fibreglass is. Did you buy sheets of it or is it that tinned resin and fibre mix?

sheets will hold but that tinned stuff can be pretty brittle, i used it to bodge up my old work bike, although it worked it had to keep redoing it.

[dirtydog]

Also don't use too much pressure when drilling.

Block of wood behind the bit you're drilling would be a good idea as well

[Spank86]

Always helps.

Stops you blowing the back out. I always forget that because I only drill walls.

[dirtydog]

Always helps.

Stops you blowing the back out. I always forget that because I only drill walls.

Well it would if you were drilling all the way through the wall ;)

[Spank86]

I am.

[dirtydog]

Fair enough, guess it depends on the size of the hole you're drilling as well ;)

[Spank86]

Difficult to fix a but of wood to the right place when doing it solo so I learnt to do it the hard way (or in less salubrious neighbourhoods just blow a chunk out and run).

[Thunderace]

Update!

Brother in law has nicked my end can so he can stubby it, and he's modified the bike somewhat?:confused: So still off the road for a little while yet!:(

On the plus side it now sounds awesome!:smt003

[Tomor]

eh?!?!?!?!? stubby your already stubbied can?!?!?!!?

[Thunderace]

eh?!?!?!?!? stubby your already stubbied can?!?!?!!?

Yarp! Just above the bracket! To get rid of the burble and get back the rasp (apparently?) he is a bit of guru so I'll leave him to it. Next time I'm at his I'll take a pic of his bikes so you can see how perverted he is!

Also I went to make a cuppa and left him on his own with the Ace for 5 mins and he came into the kitchen asked for the scales, so I got 'em out then he returned from the garage with an arm full of bits plonked 'em in the scales which maxed at 1.75kg and said "that'll get you and extra mile an hour or two" it was a pile of hose clips and brackets, various nuts and bolts and a few bits of plastic, I went straight outside to check and I'm buggered if I know where he took them from but he reckons they're unnecessary??????

He has also pilfered all the hydraulic clutch parts (master cylinder to slave) and said he'll sort the air problem???????

Most worrying is the fact he was only here for 45 mins or so?:confused:

[Tomor]

either he is a genius, or you better say you love the wife and kid when you next go out on it ;)

[Thunderace]

Slightly worried that Yamaha fitted unnecessary components???? But there aint much he can't do to be fair so we'll see if I survive or not?:confused:

[Thunderace]

Ace is all taxed and MOT'd!:D:D:D

Not had the exhaust shortened yet as I had to retrieve it for the MOT. Will be getting done next weekend.

@Spank86 - can no longer get my feet completely flat on the floor so she's deffo higher at the back, not really been the weather for a handling test but she does feel a touch more responsive???

BTW - Unforeseen complication with the doglegs! Higher rear causes headlight to dip so idiot at the garage adjusted the light to pass and somehow managed to wedge his fat apelike arm in the nosecone and when he yanked it out broke one of the shady plastic screws that holds the screen (WINDSCREEN) in!

[Wideboy]

bringing the back up will make it drop into corners slightly quicker but it will require more effort to bring it back up for a sequence of corners. Thought about do mine

[Thunderace]

Took her to work today, now slightly puzzled???? As the weather was OK beans were given and now the front is quite lively as in popping up really easily????

Before it just spun up the rear, is this change down to the slightly shorter wheelbase??????

[rb8989]

It could be that the rear is stiffer now meaning less "power sag" therefore popping the front up?

Could also be the seat height, a bit like raising the seat on a pushbike.

[Winder]

Maybe that 1.75kg he took out was all in the nose cone and now the front is lighter :)

[DJ123]

I'd go with the suspension geometry is different, the sharper angle is preventing the rear suspension form compressing as much therefore creating a pivot point when there is no more give.
Increase the pre load and see if this cures it.

[Thunderace]

Only one click off max already but I'll give it a go.

[DJ123]

What other adjustment does the rear shock have, Damp and rebound as well? If so increase the rebound if you can, see if that helps.