So....
With the mechanicals in order and the engine looking peachy, it was time to start on the cosmetics. And what bigger cosmetic on a gent's motorbike than the paintwork? So mine is looking pretty tired. This bike has clearly spent too much time in the sun without the appropriate SPF!
I've always liked the look of Carbon Fibre components, ever since the Spinergy 4 spoke wheels of my mountain biking days. So without the cash flow to bankroll Carbon Fibre composite body panels, vinyl wrap[size=1em]was the clear runner up.[/size]
[size=1em]Several youtube videos and a healthy confidence in my own hands later, and I set about wrapping my bike in sticky plastic. [/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1259][/size]
[size=1em]You can see just how bad my paint is. The bike is more orangey pink than the 'vivid red cocktail #1' that it should be. And the carbon vinyl sheet looks WAY too flat to fit the panel! [/size]
[size=1em]But after an hour of pulling, smoothing and warming with a hairdryer (I have a heat gun, but the hairdryer slows the heating down enough that I didn't destructively melt anything! "if it doesn't burn your fingers, it won't hurt the vinyl" youtube) I managed to make the flat sheet of vinyl hug the panel.[/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1260][/size]
[size=1em]I particularly liked the way the vinyl is thin enough that it subtly shows the Yamaha decal. [/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1261][/size]
[size=1em]Only shame is that the 'Vivid Red Cocktail #1' now looks worse than ever.[/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1262][/size]
[size=1em]So I guess I'll be doing the rest of the bike now... [/size]
With the mechanicals in order and the engine looking peachy, it was time to start on the cosmetics. And what bigger cosmetic on a gent's motorbike than the paintwork? So mine is looking pretty tired. This bike has clearly spent too much time in the sun without the appropriate SPF!
I've always liked the look of Carbon Fibre components, ever since the Spinergy 4 spoke wheels of my mountain biking days. So without the cash flow to bankroll Carbon Fibre composite body panels, vinyl wrap[size=1em]was the clear runner up.[/size]
[size=1em]Several youtube videos and a healthy confidence in my own hands later, and I set about wrapping my bike in sticky plastic. [/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1259][/size]
[size=1em]You can see just how bad my paint is. The bike is more orangey pink than the 'vivid red cocktail #1' that it should be. And the carbon vinyl sheet looks WAY too flat to fit the panel! [/size]
[size=1em]But after an hour of pulling, smoothing and warming with a hairdryer (I have a heat gun, but the hairdryer slows the heating down enough that I didn't destructively melt anything! "if it doesn't burn your fingers, it won't hurt the vinyl" youtube) I managed to make the flat sheet of vinyl hug the panel.[/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1260][/size]
[size=1em]I particularly liked the way the vinyl is thin enough that it subtly shows the Yamaha decal. [/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1261][/size]
[size=1em]Only shame is that the 'Vivid Red Cocktail #1' now looks worse than ever.[/size]
[size=1em][smg id=1262][/size]
[size=1em]So I guess I'll be doing the rest of the bike now... [/size]
WATCH THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQdQM825SMs