Topic: Cb400f "goldie", Handbuilt show, Bikeexif, and dyno run.

[rickmoore24]

See, I'd be into the black lowers BUT you do have the polished swing arm so there will be balance there for both ends of the bike in that respect.

[innovativems]

Loving the build. I vote for polished hubs, rims and lowers, unless you really like the Saints. That polished swing arm looks so good.

Well rim hoops and hub are already powder coated black and stainless spokes.  Thanks!


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[innovativems]

Does that blue CB175 belong to you also? very orig. looking.

Actually it's a customers bike.  Had it 20 years and wants to have some fun with it for his kids. Love these little twins


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[innovativems]

Vapor blast the lowers and the hub (Nils will get that PC off for you).

I did think about vapor blast the lowers vs polish.  I'll probabky leave the hub's black since the main color in the tank and seat is black.  I'll see what I'm thinking once I get the wheels on it this weekend.


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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

See, I'd be into the black lowers BUT you do have the polished swing arm so there will be balance there for both ends of the bike in that respect.

I agree.  I would get the lowers polished (maybe after vapor blasting) and then clear powder coated.  They will be subjected to a lot of road grime and some brake dust.

[Lostboy Steve]

on the frame color.


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[palepainter]

See, I'd be into the black lowers BUT you do have the polished swing arm so there will be balance there for both ends of the bike in that respect.

I agree.  I would get the lowers polished (maybe after vapor blasting) and then clear powder coated.  They will be subjected to a lot of road grime and some brake dust.

From my own experience, powdercoating a polished surface is not all that sustainable.  It chips and then the oxidation creeps beyond the initial impact and you can do nothing about it.  At least polish can be maintained with a little elbow grease.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

[palepainter]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

[innovativems]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

Cheap!? I've seen pics of your bike!!!


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[innovativems]

Alright front wheel is done except for waiting on my 20mm axle from ttr.  Rear wheel I'm gonna have to angle the spoke holes more.  When trueing them, out too much of a bow on the spokes. Bucannon said it was structurally good but I didn't like how it looked. 

Bottom end is going together tomorrow. 



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[GV1390]

Looks good! Keep up the good work. 

[Camrector]

What are your thoughts now? I still am voting for polished hubs and lowers. You did to good of a job on the swingarm!

[Camrector]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

[innovativems]

Well the shock bodies will be bare aluminum with black springs so I think polished fork legs will work.  I'm gonna to polish the drum cover too. 


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[innovativems]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

No!!! I can't paint the swingarm after polishing it!  My shoulders still hurt from all that time with the polishing wheel


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[Camrector]

Lol! I hear you brother!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

[palepainter]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

You left out shipping and vapor blasting.      I would pay 50 each here locally, unfortunately and easily 40 per lower leg to polish.  You see, it is all because pot is legal in CO...they are all high.    The bike is looking killer. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

You left out shipping and vapor blasting.      I would pay 50 each here locally, unfortunately and easily 40 per lower leg to polish.  You see, it is all because pot is legal in CO...they are all high.    The bike is looking killer.

Palepainter,

I am not saying you're wrong.   I didn't vapor blast or ship.  I just had my lowers polished and then clear powdercoated.  And they've been holding up great.



Prior brake set up

[palepainter]

That is a beauty!!  And if I had the dough...I would probably do exactly as you described.  Cheers!!!

[innovativems]

Looks great!  I like to make things as hard as possible on myself.  Polishing and replacing aluminum keeps me sane


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[bradbesoballa]

Been following for a while, you guys are making me miss my '78 550 😭

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[503400f]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

I second this comment.  Gold swing arm black lowers for the win!

[RAFster122s]

Vapor blasted surface is going to take a lot of work to clean up to polish as it leaves a fine texture. You are going to have a ton of time in sanding them smooth again.  If they are powder coated, will Aircraft Stripper do anything to the powder to remove it?  If it can, then I would attack it chemically to create less work to get it polished.
You could always Urethane Clear the forks after polishing. Would take mist coats to get a thin coating and then some wet coats for the gloss.
You might be able to do it yourself with the SprayMax 2K High Gloss at around 17-18 a can + shipping.  Repaintsupply.com has good prices on it. They can package any thing you need in the SprayMax cans, be it 1K or 2K formula.

The buffer isn't so bad on polishing...it is all the hand sanding to get it ready to polish where the work is at on polishing. Having a good slow 1500 rpm big polisher that has some grunt to it...that can help you get better results than the inexpensive Harbor Freight polisher that operates up to 3500 rpm.   Either one you use you have to generate the heat in the part to get it to cut and polish correctly.  I enjoy sanding, until my fingers get too sore, then I have to take a day or two break. Yeah, I'm weird.

David