ZXR400L1 mini Refurb (see what winter does to your bike!!)

[arkell]

Recently got back home from Uni, where I've had my bike since September. Has it been cleaned in that time...? NO! (Apart from wiping over the panels every once in a while!)

So the winters riding has taken its toll. I began stripping it to give it a super-dooper good clean, but the rust and excessive grime has caused me to take action!!

So took all fairings off, and loads of various brackets, parts, clocks, etc etc and began to see what was what underneath the relatively clean panels!!

Half way through strip down.


The number plate light. LOL!


Grubby Chain etc


Sludge! So much black Sludge!



More Rusted Parts



Then began the clean. Soaking parts in WD40 and then scrubbing, cleaning, and repeating. Finishing with Mr Muscle All purpose cleaner/degreaser which worked a treat! Took me a few hours to get what seemed like bugger all done. So much rust! Subframe has come completely off to be repainted. Loads of brackets and bolts etc need repainting/refurbishing. Luckily frame and swingarm are fine (small chips on swingarm) so dont need to do any major work!

Some pics here from halfway through the clean. Noticable improvement already I guess, but still a long long long long way to go!





Spent some time cleaning up the brakes whilst they were off the bike and they look great. Didnt take any pics though so will put some up tomorrow.

Also the downpipes are rotted to toad! So will prob need some stainless steel jobbies, not sure just painting over them will sort it!

So a little clean has turned into a mini project Plans are stainless downpipes, all brackets etc repainted, and possibly white wheels, and a damn good clean!

Hopefully should only take me a week or so, so I can be back riding her, I just couldnt have it being so dirty!

Fun and games awaits!

[liam7200]

looks alot cleaner mate

[arkell]

Cheers mate!

Just ed up 40 sheets for cleaning products and a metal polishing drill kit so watch this space

[liam7200]

bo way im looking for a gud zxr 400 at the mo, hopefully when i get one i wont have to clean it for a while

[arkell]

Been getting busy today. Started by cleaning/degreasing and derusting various parts/brackets

Before:



After: Really nice finish imo. Still loads of bits to do though!




Was cleaning up various black plastic parts using some 'black n shine' stuff. Gives a new lease of life to old plastic bits, not perfect but much better! Also use it to make hoses/pipes etc on the bike look shiny and new again



Next the subframe, used a whole stack of nitromoors on it, some of the paint is really stubborn! Dont have an 'after shot' but you get the idea! Just needs to be primed and painted now.

NItromoors in action!!


Next gonna whip the rad off and have it painted, along with the rest of the brackets etc. Got a few goodies in the post too

[RedexRobB]

Now this is what you call cleaning your bike!!!

Not done a clean like that to one of my bikes for years! But then they have been kept fairly good anyway. Keep the pics coming, always good to see progress in action

[Tom1528]

is that rear shock standard or upgrade? and the blue bolts around the engine casing.. are they from pro bolt?.. (and the oil cap)?..

[arkell]

is that rear shock standard or upgrade? and the blue bolts around the engine casing.. are they from pro bolt?.. (and the oil cap)?..

No idea bout the shock, here's a pic, anyone know if this is standard or not?



Blue Bolts in my opinion look a bit shite, but cant really be arsed to remove them, but yeah oyu can get em from pro bolt (they were on the bike when I got it)

Oil cap slightly less tacky, but not my favourite, they come up on ebay from time to time, was on the bike when I bought it

[Tom1528]

yeh pretty sure that aint stock. you wanna sell your bolts an cap if u dnt liek em?

[arkell]

you wanna sell your bolts an cap if u dnt liek em?

cant really be arsed with removing them to be honest

you can buy the bits cheap enough off net somewhere

[Tom1528]

loll arite

[arkell]

Got my polishing kit today so been putting it to use Also got some derusting compound which works a treat, been derusting and polishing old bolts (yes im sad) but here's a photo of my practise polish on the seat catch after derusting it

Looks quite good, still room for improvement, gonna do the foot rest bits and some other parts soon



and the bolts!! yes im sad but its a real improvement on the rusty pieces of toad they used to be!!! Have done loads more but never took any pics. Oh does anyone know what the number mean on the bolts?



Gonna be priming the subframe tomorrow and hopefully do some engine cleaning if my sooper-dooper engine cleaner ever f*cking arrives :smt013 !!

[RedexRobB]

ive wondered myself what the number means, imy guess is its a refernece number for the bolt they are supposed to use when the bike is assembled at the factory. Rather than measuring the size and pitch they just pick up (in your case) a number 7. Bit like when you goto a chinese take away, 'ill have a number 11', 'oh dat wiw be noooooodles an wice'.

[masterofinsanity]

why polish the seat catch no-one will see it lol, i would imagine you are polishing any protective coating off them bolts so they will rust in no time. looking good tho mate, keep up the good work.

[arkell]

why polish the seat catch no-one will see it lol,

I was just practising using it to see how effective it is, as for the bolts protective coating, I didnt really think of that tbh, might have to use an antirust coating or something. Im not gonna be using this bike over winter anymore so will only be used in the dry and always kept in a nice warm garage so hopefully wont rust!