SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Morning all!

So I've bought myself a curvy SV to do a sort of 'future-retro' cafe racer project on.

I'm not a mechanic and this bike will be mostly cosmetically changed, and simple-to-do mods at that, but thought I'd post about it here.

First off, here's a current photo of 'before' and a Photoshopped 'after'....

http://www.eugenereisch.com/bike/sv6..._v3_before.jpg
http://www.eugenereisch.com/bike/sv6...t_v3_after.jpg

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

So, thus far I've done...

- Undertray and seat cowl
- Reverse cone silencer (gonna design and have fabricated a new hanger so I can remove the footpegs)

Coming in the next couple of weeks...

- Poly26 retro fairing
- Round headlight
- Brown seat and grips

Things to be painted
- Forks (will spray in situ)
- Frame (will spray in situ)
- Swingarm (will spray in situ)

MUCH further down the line, I might attempt to design and have built a new subframe/seat unit... but that's a long way off.


Quick question on spraying, anyone done their swingarm/frame/forks? What paint did you use?

(And yes,I know I can powder-coat, but I'm not mechanically skilled/experienced enough to strip my whole bike)

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Had mine powder coated chrome silver, there's pictures of mine in my pictures.

It's not a bad idea to do strip the back end down and at least grease all the bearings and linkages.

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

As mavi says strip it to the frame and powder coat as the bearings probably need to be done

Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Tapatalk

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Yep, so I've decided to strip the swingarm and powder coat it

I've tripped at the first hurdle though! The front header stud nuts are buggered and they're not coming off without a fight. Gonna have a local pro get them off for me and basically remove/refit the exhaust, as having fought with (and eventually won) similar issues on past bikes I have neither the patience or the inclination to battle the headers off and end up drilling out the studs when they inevitably snap... my mech can have the pleasure :)

He'll also release any other horror bolts connected to the exhaust system for me so I have a clean slate... and clean bolts/nuts/studs.

I'll report on progress :)

Then I can strip the swingarm at my leisure and move forward.

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Swingarm/powder coating question, I assume to be powder-coated ALL bearings need stripping out, and attachments removed etc, they just have a 1-piece swingarm to work with?

Not sure what a powder-coat process involves

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Yep, guaranteed to snap even if you wave a spanner at them

Yes, remove all bearings as powder coat will kill them, the linkage mount bearings will probably be difficult to remove without destroying them, but replacing them isn't a bad thing

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

UPDATE....

So, the bolts did indeed turn to powder as soon as I waved a spanner at them. Quick trip to my local mech and they're sorted.

In the meantime, I've fit the new fairing and screen (yet to be painted) and fit a reverse cone silencer (sounds soooo good), bar-end mirrors, ditched the grab-handle, rear fender/indicator assembly, new under-tray and added some new bullet indicators.

Next step is having the fairing painted, fit (and then paint) the seat hump when it arrives and then start on the frame, wheels, swingarm and forks, paint the fairing bracket... lots to do!


Here's how she's looking currently...

http://www.eugenereisch.com/bike/sv650/sv_wip_v2.jpg
http://www.eugenereisch.com/bike/sv650/sv_wip_v1.jpg

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

Looking mighty fine

Re: SV Curvy retro racer project
 

After much deliberation, oggling of this Triumph cafe racer and realising that the imminent birth of my second child will likely mean no time to tinker for a good long while, I've decided to keep the wheels/frame/swing-arm silver and go for a grey metallic scheme.

So, here's how I'm hoping it will eventually look...

http://www.eugenereisch.com/bike/sv6..._angled_v1.jpg

I can always add some pin-stripping tape and metallic vinyl graphics for details later