What did you buy today ???

[grog]

Today i got a new computer monitor. Full HD 27 inch Samsung LED. So now i can actually perfectly see all you blokes shiny bits, new additions, lovely bikes you build. Old pics on here just like something new. Great buy

[Dusty ST]

Today i got a new computer monitor.

Good to hear someone else is still using a PC!

[KiwiCol]

Now for the HD eyeball upgrade Grog . . .

[SA14]

$135 from Suzuki!

Not sure what I'm going to do with it though.

1) Bolt on as is for the factory look
2) Strip off the clear coat and polish it manually by hand here at home (protect with ceramic crystal coating)
3) Send it in for professional polishing (protect with ceramic crystal coating)
4) Send it in for chrome plating

Also while I was there I bought gaskets and suzuki recommended sealant, and new hand grips! Pretty excited. The second engine cover is also on it's way (1 more week to wait) and was $245 which I still think is cheap give the work and sore fingers it's saved me not to mention the less than perfect finish I'd get from sanding off all the crud and corrosion. I was just asking out of curiosity (while ordering my original grips) and was shocked when he said $135 and $245.

Rang around today for Chrome Plating quotes and they varied from $150  to $600.  I also asked how much for a professional polish as I have the ceramic crystal coating already here (from my day gig). I'm leaning towards stripping off the factory clearcoat and polishing it myself. What would YOU do?

The last pic is off the internet. These were chromed and they look mmmm...shoynee, Me likey.

[grog]

Mate, my cases are stock. Just turned 13 1/2 yrs. still look as new. Ive always kept them clean and wiped over with spray wax. Easier and cheaper unless you really want super shiny.

[SA14]

Mate, my cases are stock. Just turned 13 1/2 yrs. still look as new. Ive always kept them clean and wiped over with spray wax. Easier and cheaper unless you really want super shiny.

Yeah, harsh scrubbing and neglect can set them up to fail but like anything, keep 'em clean and they'll gleam. I do like shiny though because I come from the old school. Plus there's shiny on the bike already with my polished headligh stands, the headlight itself and the gauge buckets so I don't think a bit of reflection will look out of place and once I do the forks they'll also be super shiny. Ceramic coating will keep them that way so that's not a concern anymore like it used to be.

[Mick_J]

Chrome has a poor reputation for sticking to Alloy.  Give it a good polish and use your ceramic coating.

[SA14]

Chrome has a poor reputation for sticking to Alloy.  Give it a good polish and use your ceramic coating.

I think I agree with you. I'll start a thread in the polishing forum for tips on removing the factory clear coat.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I'm a fan of the brushed satin look, be it stainless or alloy, over super shiny.

Agree chrome plating doesn't stick well to alloy.

I also like the hammertone finishes, out of interest, it would be cool to be able to coat your old covers in a hammered finish, black of course, and see how that looks.

I think Red biker on here did something similar with his red 'n black bike?

[Dusty ST]

Just taken delivery of a new BT023 rear - when I bought it I just clicked 'buy it now' on the lowest price on Ebay, only when the confirmation emails arrived did I realise it came from Italy. However delivery in under a week, £90 something delivered, great!
I just hope the Italian spec is as per UK

[SA14]

I'm a fan of the brushed satin look, be it stainless or alloy, over super shiny.

Agree chrome plating doesn't stick well to alloy.

I also like the hammertone finishes, out of interest, it would be cool to be able to coat your old covers in a hammered finish, black of course, and see how that looks.

I think Red biker on here did something similar with his red 'n black bike?

I like all those finishes too but for this bike I want to shine it up a smidge. Started a new thread here in the polish forum to discuss in greater detail.

[SA14]

Thanks to @grog and all the nodding in the oil thread I bought 5 litres of Gulf Western Syn-X 3000 and a new Ryco oil filter (I have the Suzuki filter removal tool) plus 4 x 1 litre Dot 4 brake fluid to flush out the old 5 years old (minimum) fluids in both brakes and the clutch from Repco with my 5% RAA discount. Hope that helps with my 1st gear selection issues. The oil and filter will be my second change in 500km so it'll work as a little mini flush which I wanted to do anyway. While there I bought some medium quality tools because they were 25% off. A couple of mallets (double headed rubber and plastic plus a medium dead blow, some locking pliers and multi headed cir-clip remover. Rainy weekend will be well spent.

[Globalrider]

Bought this yesterday - Works Well!! The lift that is - Time now to fix a few niggly things on the 1000

[Irish in Oz]

One of the best investments I ever made was a scissor lift.

[Kiwifruit]

Nice bit of kit Stan 

4 litres of brake fluid Baz .......  you going to bath in it