sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Hi people!
Thought i'd share the current progress of my strip and rebuild of my 2001 curvy.
I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to polish the frame, swingarm etc. and also do something with the wheels as they are lets face it, a bit boring!!
Started first by taking the wheels off and stripping them back to metal and had a bit of a play around with polishing them and painting the middles, more to get an idea of what i want for the final result later on than anything.
these are a few pictures of the wheels
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000863.jpg

masked and paint stripper applied, this stuff really doesn't hang about!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000864.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000865.jpg
Then this is after paint stripper and a bit of white spirit and a cloth, surprising how good they look just after stripping paint off.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000866.jpg

Then decided to try it with the inner parts painted gold to see how that looked as hopefully going for a black and gold look eventually on the whole bike.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000867.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000871.jpg
Oh and if you've ever wondered what to do with your old mcn papers when you've finished reading them a million times over and memorised every page(oops sorry, is that just me??:confused:), use them for masking!!!:)

And after however many coats of paint and lacquer and elbow grease later, this is what I ended up with!
Not bad for a trial to see what I thought?
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000875.jpg
That's all for the wheels anyway, now onto the next part!!!!
This is where I began to cry as I saw my baby disappear into tubs!!!:shock:

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

damm im likin the chrome round the edges looks fantastic!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

what did u use to get it to chrome.... i think it would be somthing id like to try at some point

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Paint stripper! Read the post

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

good call :) was too busy lookin at the photos to notice the writing in between

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Being very picky now as they look fantastic, but any chance you could grind all the writing off of the wheel struts? Give them a nice clean look then.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

i like those, might have a go at polish the bike next week , got the autosol and just got to find that elbow grease
"now where did i put that":smt017

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

daaaaamn dude thats brill looking.... certainly not boring anymore, and i especially like the chrome around the edges, well done!!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

that is forkin sweet!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

will having no paint on the wheels not mean they will corrode?

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

You can see in my avatar what it looked like before!
Managed to persuade the missus to let me bring it into the conservatory as it was getting dirty and covered in cobwebs outside, then decided to share the idea of stripping it down and rebuilding it!!
You can imagine the reaction!:reaper:
Anyway here's the start of it!
First job was obviously get it on paddock stands and remove the wheels!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000878.jpg
Just make a note of the nice clean floor(for now anyway, haha!!!)
Next one, side fairings removed and stored away safe for later while I decide what I want to do with them, seat off, scottoiler removed and we start to see the insides!!!!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000879.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000880.jpg

Before I show you the next picture thought I'd share the slight incident we had inbetween involving there being fuel in the tank whch i didn't think was there!!
Ended up getting the wife to fetch a pop bottle and the mop to help rescue the floor!!!!:smt037
Then decided I'd be childish and took it outside in a tub and set fire to it(is it just me that has the urge to burn things now I'm getting older????:smt080)
Anyway after this and her shouting at me for what seemed like hours this is where we finally got to next
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000881.jpg
the iceland bag is an added extra by the way, cost a lot of money you know!!!!!
Then fuel tank removed before I get shouted at again!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000882.jpg
Then to start removing the other bits and bobs!!
Undertray and rear wiring removed
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000883.jpg
By this point I've started to see the dirt and general crap that lies hidden underneath and am realising how much cleaning is actually going to be involved(remind me, why am I doing this??:smt017)
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000884.jpg
As you can see above the only b****y shiny part that was on the bike(the silencer) has been removed also.
Actually while we're on the subject of the exhaust, I bought it off egay, It's a delkavic and cost me just under 100 squid and has removable baffles which basically means it sounds f**king awesome!!!!Oh yeah and the wife can hear me from about 10 miles away!;)
I'm thinking of going to www.exhaustsuk.com in sheffield to get a full stainless steel system with twin exits made and fitted as I had one for my mondeo which I used to own and they did a fantastic job at a really affordable price.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

very well put my friend!!!!
yeah actual process was a bit more in depth
Here is the process I took anyway:
1. Nitromors paint stripper applied with a brush, dabbing not brushing
2. Rub crap off with kitchen roll/blu roll
3. White spirit on a cloth wiped over surface to remove any remaining bits, grease etc. Also it neutralises the paint stripper as if you don't do this(lazy gits) it will pit the alloy and there you have it, you've just wasted all that time and effort!!!!
4. Use quality polishing kit(not cheap ass polishing cloth and my mums first polish from wilkos!) Find out where I bought the poishing kit from later on in the thread.
5. Polish a bit more, and a bit more, and oh yes you guessed a bit more!!
Oh and btw it's not a finished product yet as i said it was just a trial.
NEEDS MORE POLISHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Once I get round to actually doing the finishing job on these I will be redoing the whole process anyway and yes will probably have a go at doing exactly what you mentioned above!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Once they are completed use a polish, for instance I'll use Mer polish which I have for my car anyway which will protect the finish.
You will have to redo the polishing every 6 weeks or so dependant on how much you use it with the Mer or similar!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Anyway carrying on!
I then removed all the rest of the bits that were lets face it, getting in my way and then removed the rear subframe which I plan to repaint or powdercoat as it looks like it has seen better days!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000885.jpg
Oh and notice how at this point the floor is still quite clean!!!How long you reckon that'll last???
DISCLAIMER!!!!
Next stage, I cannot be held responsible for your stupidity(you know who you are) if you remove the rear suspension without supporting the middle of the bike!
This would definitely not be advisable, come on I might have had broken the tiles then I would have been in the s**tter!!!!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000886.jpg
This, OMG, it's dirtier than a russian lady of the night(you know what I mean), here's a slight clue:safe:!!!!
get what I mean????
And this is even dirtier, if that's actually possible?
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000887.jpg
Next one, just a different angle with the shocker removed, oh and notice the nice shiny toolkit on the floor, courtesy of halfords for just 39.99, down from 89.99 in the sales!!!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000888.jpg
I wondered why the rear cylinder didn't seem to be firing correctly, maybe it's something to do with the kitchen roll in the rear manifold,lol!!!!How did I miss that?
And here!
The coolest and sexiest unicycle in the world!!!!!!:smt043
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000892.jpg
Yeah I'm getting shouted at for using all the kitchen roll aswell!!!
Women??

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I may have forgotten the camera was here at this point, because the engine has come out and headlights and clocks have been removed!!
however had the assistance of my pregnant wife to remove the engine!! She is a star you know!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000905.jpg
Oh yeah and floor is really dirty now, splatterd with coolant, oil, grease and yes lots of sweat!!!!
Surprised actually how light the engine is, even the wife can lift it!!!!
Last engine we removed took 3 of us and was a damn site heavier(ok it was a gpx1100 engine made of cast iron, granite, lead, I don't know it was just fecking heavy)
Now for one handsome piece of mechanics!!!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000904.jpg
I've even sat it on one of the wifes nice fur cushions off the bench!!!:rant:
Right, I may need your help with this one!
I keep staring at the photo and can't seem to work out what's missing.
What do you recon??
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000906.jpg

Bit of a jump again I'm afraid!
Was getting late and wife was moaning about having to clean up at stupid time at night so thought I'd better get a shift on, plus losing valuable cod4 playing time!!!
Removed rest of wiring and other few pieces and this is what we're left with, about 4 plastic tubs later!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000907.jpg
So there you have it, one bike completely dismantled.
And apparently that's the easy bit!!!(My *ss)
Next part to continue with the start of the cleaning and polishing stages!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I'd love to be able to do something like this!

Got any other plans? gsxr suspension, new rear shock? :wink:

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Loads of plans my friend, Just not sure how to carry them off!!:confused: gixer suspension would be a great one trying to get hold of the though is another matter. more progress will follow later today with examples of polising!!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

There are people on this forum who will say what the hell are you doing that for!!!!

Get out on your bike and ride it..

But not me, as my Sv is gradually being cleaned up. Not to concourse standard, just clean.

One question.....














Can you polish my swingarm for me, I just haven't got the time or patience to do it :p


Nice job, keep up the good work

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Yep, now thats what I called Stripped butt naked.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Looking forward to seeing this.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I just hope you labelled all the bits as you took them off :)

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

who needs labels????
I've stripped so many bikes in my time that I could just about do it with my eyes shut!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

C'mon we want to see it going back together now.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

well, next stage!
order the polishing kit, which I've got from www.thepolishingshop.com
I paid about 51 quid including next day delivery and this is everything that came in it
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000913.jpg
apparently this is everything you need to give your metal a mirror finish!
This is the swingarm after using the 80 grit abrasive compound just to take the paint and other lacquers etc. off.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000914.jpg

Then there are a few different stages to follow but when you get round to the polishing part this is what it starts to resemble
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000917.jpg
Very shiny I'm sure you'll agree:smt060
The whole process only took roughly 2 hours to do one side of the swingarm, well worth the elbow grease i think!
Then carried on the following evening with the rest of it!
This is what it looked like when I'd finished.
Obviously when I have started rebuilding the bike these will be done again with the polishing compound and mop to really bring out the shine and remove all the god dam fingerprints!!!
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000918.jpg
Then decided that I'd have a go at the forks next as I did hand rub these with wet and dry last year and then used autosol on them to polish but were never quite as good as I wanted so this is how the polishing kit makes a big dfference as you should see here
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000919.jpg
This is where I have got to so far in the picture below which is the current progress of the main frame.
I am just using the 80 grit abrasive compound at the moment to remove everything and start to get rid of the imperfections in the metal.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...n/P1000920.jpg
Please be aware though each stage of grit you use you must do it in a different direction with each one as otherwise you'll never remove the scratches.

Well not much more to say or show now until probably tomorrow night as that's as far as I've got at the minute.
Hope you all like the progress so far

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

There's going to a lot of polished metal going on.

gonna look well bling innit :)

Are you also going to need to polish and reapply the protective glaze to the swing arm and polished areas of the frame regularly (potentially a bit awkward), or did you have something more permanent in mind?

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

i take it you have another bike to ride, cos once you have put this back together you won't want it getting dirty now will you. :D

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

2 things are needed apply normal bodywork polish like mer or turtle wax etc this will protect the finish, also you could lacquer it if you wish, but that can dull the finish badly in some cases!

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I really don't want to get caught in the rain on it thats a fact, no haven't got another one (yet) but am looking towards winter to get a small winter hack to blast about on!!:smt040

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

i have a Chituma CTM 125-c for wet weather riding... google it, its blazin...... :D

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

oooooh all that shiney metal :) oooo i need the toilet.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I would love to have a second bike to do this to, one for keeping pretty and one for riding everyday and throwing into gravel traps.

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

i need to man weee

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

Did somebody mention chrome?.......well,would've been rude not to:)

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...-2000006-1.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...-2000009-1.jpg

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

haha dammmmmmm

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

where on earth did you find chrome brake calipers

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

you have far too much time on your hands

less cleany more ridey

looks good though, kwack is jelous

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

When I saw the wheels I thought yeah yeah, beat you too it on that one mate, and I did it all by hand:rolleyes:.......


........but then the swingarm, hubba hubba hubbba, I think, well actually you really don't want to know what I think!!!!
Absolutely top marks sir:smt038, something I've not seen, is the original curvy swinger polished.
Now look what you've done, I thought I'd been cured of turning my machine into a tarts handbag....but mwahahaha you don't have a custom top yoke..lol!:p


BTW you can polish your bike to your hearts content, and you can ride it too...funnily enough some don't think you can do both ;-)

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

I have a spare one to polish this winter, I'd seen a partially polished one on evilbay, which looked nice

Re: sv650 stripped and being cleaned/polished
 

i am indeedy! :) i love a clean polished bike! altho i do ride more than clean nowerdays so my bike is'nt looking so clean :(