From this to this....

[bonester]

Yep I did. Biggest tip is painting is a pain in the bum. Need hot weather (above 20 degrees) to paint with acrylic. My paint is OK but being a perfectionist I'm not happy with it. May redo it but I guess if it was too good I wouldn't ride it so much.

[bonester]

Photos are of engine removed to fix frame. Can see stupid extended rear shock in bike- wondered why centrestand wouldn't work. Can also see frame in background that donated sidestand mount- pictured below and rear shock modified. Standard shock fitted and centrestand worked miraculously.... No one in their right mind would repair this bike ordinarily....

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[javaman]

I had been watching videos in Youtube and now I understood why factory paint are just so nice (2-pack). You can't actually do it in the backyard as it is poisonous and could incur $20k fine

I need to paint my swing arms and left fork. So this is a good tip. Would you not use Enamel instead of Acrylic?

[bonester]

I thought my swingarm was painted but it was brushed alloy under all that dirt. Scotchbrited it. All good. My understanding is that enamel is shiny off the gun but can't be buffed so too bad if you get a run. Acrylic is very forgiving. Mate who sells me paint is always pushing me to use 2 pac. He reckons toluene in acrylic thinners is just as bad as cyanide in 2 pac.

[bonester]

Might be tempted to use enamel for fork leg.

[javaman]

In this video Acrylic could look great. The guy compared 2 pack and acrylic on the same body panel.

The acrylic needs more work though, which I don't mind as I just need to paint fork & swing arm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvLcZo23An4

[Mister_T]

He reckons toluene in acrylic thinners is just as bad as cyanide in 2 pac.

Toluene aka methyl benzene. Most chemicals based on the benzene ring are a bit nasty.

Decades ago you could buy (at a select few petrol stations) methyl benzene neat or blended with ordinary petrol.
These days some people buy toluene to blend their own "jungle juice" before cranking up the boost for that all-important dyno day. I've seen it done.

[bonester]

Interesting Mister T!

[bonester]

Bike work tonight. Removed full exhaust, radiator/ front lower subframe in anticipation of 4 into 1 that should arrive tomorrow. Had a lot of issues with the manufacturer. I hope he is better at making exhausts than he is at communicating and keeping to timeframes, and especially how he talks to customers. He was the cheapest option for what I wanted. Otherwise he could have worn the exhaust in a suitable orifice.

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[javaman]

Well... tell us about the exhaust ? ...

[bonester]

Got a Tranzac exhaust. Full stainless with aluminium can. Looks very nice but way too loud and doesn't fit very well. Leaks too at head despite my very careful fitting. Was made too long at back- have cut 10mm from the rear so the can could go on. Angle at muffler is wrong - had to lift muffler up considerably to attach rear bolt. Touches on oil pressure switch- I removed rubber boot so it doesn't catch on fire. When you take the bike off centrestand the oil light flashes on as the exhaust touches the switch end. It also hits on the centrestand and the spring. Manufacturer says I need to put a little dent in the pipe at these points. Either need another muffler or get this one quieter. Quieter than my old Megacycle from memory and doesn't sound as nice. Rode it to Brisbane and back and initially it gave me the shits with the noise. Got used to it eventually. Probably illegally loud. Will put my DB meter on it sooner or later. Will have another crack at fitting to see if I can fix the issues. Manufacturer said I shouldn't need a rejet- my mate following today says he couldn't ride behind me for the rich smell. If I get the poos bad enough the standard system may go back on.

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I also changed the starter chain. $72 for a genuine chain. Cheap investment coz when they let go they can cause havoc or even complete engine failure. Mine was banging like a bastard when I bought the bike- tensioner and chain were shagged. Put a slightly worn ZRX tensioner in when I first got the bike back.(chain is different) Manual says that you have to undo the bolt on the shaft with the cush drive- you don't. Pretty easy operation. Just make sure you drain oil first. On ZRX you can pull off sidecover on sidestand and not lose any oil. On GPZ it goes bloody everywhere.

[javaman]

The pipe looks nice indeed. But seems like a lot of work/pain?

I suppose it didn't come with noise restriction baffle? I bought a very annoyingly loud muffler for my R6 but it comes with a noise surpressor which makes it sound just right. Unheard when cruising in the highways, but barks when the throttle is twisted!

I feel that my standard A7 muffler is too quiet, although throaty. I wonder if I can get a used standard muffler, open it up, and put a straight perforated pipes + fibreglass to make a loud pipe with standard black chrome looks!

What kind of sound does a worn chain make? Harsh or intermittent?

[Felix]

Nice job bonester!