Repainting Engine/Belt Covers and Exhaust Pipes?

[Grug]

Hey guys,

I've just ordered an integrated LED taillight for my '99 Monster Dark 600, and will perform a tail chop as soon as it arrives. And since I'm going to be chopping up and repainting part of the frame I figured I might as well consider some other cosmetic touch ups whilst I'm at it.

Due to a bit of leaked battery acid the engine (alternator?) cover on the left side of the bike has suffered some fairly ugly corrosion, so I want to repaint the engine covers to freshen up the bike. I've heard VHT paint is pretty good for this. Does anyone have any words of wisdom on doing this?

The bike's frame was also yellow originally and some of the paint on the frame and wheels has flaked/chipped off so I'll touch them up at the same time.

I was also wondering whether it's possible to do anything with the exhaust pipes at the bottom of the bike (which have turned brown/rusty(?))? Is this possible with paint?

Here's a little photoshop mockup of the sort of "freshening up" I'd like to do:

The bike as is:


Its possible future?


Or maybe this?


Any thoughts or opinions on this? Do you like it/not like it? I'm very new to bikes so any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Mark

[bigjer61]

My vote goes for the black option on the timing belts and clutch cover. While you at it, maybe you could paint that yellow suspension hoop as well? VHT is not the perfect solution, but it will hold up better than most spray can options. I also attached a quick PS of your bike sans-mickey mouse (for your viewing pleasure).

[Grug]

Originally Posted by bigjer61

My vote goes for the black option on the timing belts and clutch cover. While you at it, maybe you could paint that yellow suspension hoop as well? VHT is not the perfect solution, but it will hold up better than most spray can options. I also attached a quick PS of your bike sans-mickey mouse (for your viewing pleasure).

Cheers! I like the mickey-mouselessness! I was thinking of something like these to replace the stock mirrors:



And perhaps a belly pan and seat cowl down the road...

[bigjer61]

I agree, those Rizoma Classic Retro mirrors look great.

[Jcup505]

I agree with Bigjer that the covers look better black as well as the suspension hoop. As for the exhaust here are several ideas, paint them like I've seen many Monster onwers do or you can use the exhaust wrap. I'm actually getting ready to wrap my exhaust this weekend if weather permits as well as attempt to touch up the battery acid blemishes on the frame and engine cover.

Also, you mentioned that you're getting ready to do a tail chop. I was wondering what are you going to do with the excess parts? If you're going to get rid of them I'll take them off your hands. I'm in the process of trying to rig up a tail bag mouting rack and I'm in desperate need of the tail chop parts I've got rid of. Thanks.

[danjwsu]

[QUOTE=Jcup505;2296856]I agree with Bigjer that the covers look better black as well as the suspension hoop. As for the exhaust here are several ideas, paint them like I've seen many Monster onwers do or you can use the exhaust wrap. I'm actually getting ready to wrap my exhaust this weekend if weather permits as well as attempt to touch up the battery acid blemishes on the frame and engine cover. [QUOTE]

+1 on the exhaust wrap. I put this on my cb550 cafe racer and it looks great. I can't seem to find a picture of it though. I am thinking about doing it to my monster too. And if you don't like it, you can just take it off, which is harder to do than with paint!

[Bob256]

Dude, before you go painting your exhaust, spend a couple of hours polishing them and see if you like the effect. Your exhausts are stainless steel, so the brown colour is just where they've gotten nice and hot, then been sprayed with dirt and road grime.

The do polish up as shiny as chrome. Then they slowly tarnish back to a dull golden colour between services. So I usually just pull my pipes off and give them a quick wet and dry (with lots of water) then polish with "Purple" polish and a pad on a drill. After 70,000km they still come up as good as chrome every service.

At least if you give the polish a go, even on a small bit, then decided if you like it or not it's easy to clean off and paint. If you paint first and decide you'd rather polished it's a whole lot more work.

[Grug]

Originally Posted by Bob256

Dude, before you go painting your exhaust, spend a couple of hours polishing them and see if you like the effect. Your exhausts are stainless steel, so the brown colour is just where they've gotten nice and hot, then been sprayed with dirt and road grime.

The do polish up as shiny as chrome. Then they slowly tarnish back to a dull golden colour between services. So I usually just pull my pipes off and give them a quick wet and dry (with lots of water) then polish with "Purple" polish and a pad on a drill. After 70,000km they still come up as good as chrome every service.

At least if you give the polish a go, even on a small bit, then decided if you like it or not it's easy to clean off and paint. If you paint first and decide you'd rather polished it's a whole lot more work.

Thanks Bob, I've been recommended to try Oven Cleaner and Scotch-Brite pads, so I'm going to give them a go and see how she looks.

[Bob256]

Sure, the overcleaner is always sodium hydroxide (often also sold in granule form as a drain cleaner.) Just be careful of your skin, nasty stuff.

If the pipes still have the tooling marks from drawing the pipes, going through the grades of wet and dry will be a lot quicker. Scotch bright will make them clean, but you wont get a perfect clean surface you can polish. Again, maybe you'll like the dull clean stainless look, but you can get them like mirrors if you want

[dylan]

BBQ paint works well for the belt covers as well as the cans because it can withstand high heat. I used it on my monster and it looks great. I will post pics when she comes back from paint.