A Newbie's Mechanical Wanderings: Repairing a Kawasaki KE100

[FinchR88]

*Soon to be edited with pictures...I just have to find them* :lol:

Since I do not currently own a bike that is in ride-able condition, I figured I would do a documentation of this rather large (for a Newbie!) undertaking I have chosen in fixing up this little 2001 Kawasaki KE100.

My youngest brother bought this bike from a friend of his a few years ago for dirt cheap. At that time, the clutch cable was shot but I watched him run it around the yard a few times. I know he only ran it a handful of times since he wasn't actually living where the bike was (off at college)... Also, at the time, I didn't know anything about bikes (as opposed to my amazing wealth of knowledge I have now, :roflmao:), so all I knew was it was a rather obnoxious sounding bike that didn't shift properly, and was... very, very green.

It has had a rather rough life, from everything I know of it. I know the previous owners (before my youngest brother) crashed it a few times and welded certain pieces back on... including the kick starter, one of the foot pegs (or foot peg mounts?), and that funny tab on the front next to the VIN number. When I picked it up, it had not been actually run in at least a year, I think -- the kickstarter was finally stripped. There were no turn signals, as the entire rear fender (?) bodywork was ripped off. The front forks were missing their seals, one of the wheels is bent, and quite honestly ... who knows what else! But, hey, it was free... and I just couldn't resist the chance to learn about what makes this bike tick. At least the frame looks ok... I think!

Oh, and did I mention it doesn't have a title? The previous owners before my brother didn't have a title either, so here's hoping I can get the DMV to do that "abandoned vehicle" thing they do so I can ride it on the street eventually. Regardless of what happens with the paperwork, though, it will definitely be one fun adventure! There is something very calming and relaxing about a mechanical project to figure out that doesn't have a "oh no I have to go to work in this in 8 hours" deadline, and I know the skills I learn through this experience will be a great foundation for my future mechanical endeavors. Sure, I've worked on cars a bit -- changing shocks and springs, helping customize shifter linkages, sparkplugs, oil, wheels and tires, brakes (blahblahblah)... but I have never actually been responsible for every working part of a vehicle before. What better way to start than the KE100? It's simple enough I can actually *almost* figure it out just by LOOKING at it. :chin: :ecstasy:

So, the amusing part of the story...

The bike was at my parent's house, as my brother was in college while he owned it. The poor thing was just sitting under an awning, unloved and neglected at my parent's house, who were obviously tired of looking at it. Visiting my family one day, I saw the little abused bike through new eyes. When my brother offhandedly mentioned I could have it if I wanted, at first I said nah, I don't have the time or knowledge to undertake a project like this; besides, it would never, ever fit in my little two-door Honda civic.

After a bit of thinking and discussing the different possibilities, I said might as well try.

Two stipulations:

1) It has to fit, somehow, in my little coupe.
2) It must be in pieces I can move without assistance, since I would not have any help when I arrived here.

We spent a few hours taking the bike apart and packing it the best we could. Surprisingly, it all fit! (Thanks to the amazing fold down seats!) I imagine if we had tried this in a civic sedan it would not have worked out quite so well. We even had to remove the engine from the frame, not from stipulation the 1st, but from the 2nd.
:roflmao:

Somewhere around here I have pictures of the bike as it was packed in the car, I will try to dig them up soon and post a few.

In the following pages the plan is to photo-document all my mechanical wanderings as I try to put this poor machine back together and help it feel loved again. Obviously, depending on what happens with the title, I may not ever be able to ride it on the street, but at least it will be a great learning tool for future mechanical endeavors.


Feel free to offer critiques, suggestions, etc. as I go along! This includes writing style -- y'all have probably figured out I have a particular writing style by now but I can definitely tone it down or up or be super concise (well, perhaps try!) as you wish.

[Astir]

I would love to see those pictures of the bike disassembled in your car! :rofl:

Looking forward to following your trials and tribulations of getting this rescued KE100 running and on the street!

:popcorn1:

[FinchR88]

Okay, I found the pictures -- Have to sort through a few before I post more but will share a couple now. (sorry for the quality - they were spur of the moment cell phone pictures)

Isn't she cute? This is how she started out.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0722001701.jpg



View from the back -- not as interesting as I remembered. NOW I remember putting things in trash bags!

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0724001717.jpg



View from the back #2, looking into the trunk:


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0724001717b.jpg







Annnnnd.... From the inside of the car. It really doesn't look like it, but all the pieces are there!




http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0724001717a.jpg


More pictures of the disassembly process to come. :D:

[Luna Tique]

I am subscribed :thumbup:

That bike crammed into your car is one funny site to see :lol:

[FinchR88]

Thanks LunaTique and Astir! Even still, remembering that (and now seeing the pictures again) makes me giggle to myself. :lol:

Here's more disassembly story. These are all the photos I have currently, but I definitely need to take more. Enjoy!

Edit: so many of these came out blurry! Sorry about that, ughh blurry. Must do better!

Now for all the steps in between! This was my first experience taking a motorcycle apart, so thankfully I had the ever so helpful assistance of my brother, who has taken his FZR apart and rebuilt it at least a few times. If it wasn't for his help, I know that I would have never undertaken this project. Thanks, bro!


If I remember correctly, he showed me how you support the... frame (?) with the tie down straps and it helps keep the bike from tipping over as you take things like wheels and forks off. That was our first step. My bro had also built this really nifty engine support block out of 2x4s, I think. Neat, we are on our way to having it taken apart!


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002146-1.jpg

Of course, I made semi-organized "piles" of parts instead of actually labeling things. (Doh!)
The handlebars etc. are now off!
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002231a.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002231.jpg

And now the front wheel ... At this point I'm still too excited to wonder what in the world I'm getting myself into, but the pile of parts is getting a little bigger.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002236.jpg

At each stage of disassembly, I would do a lift test to see if I could even possibly lift each bit in and out of the car. Despite the sub-200 pound weight of this bike (I think that's correct), I definitely couldn't maneuver this around on my own.

Little bike just hanging out. Behind little bike is pile of parts so far and my brother's partially disassembled FZR, which I had to sit on, just to feel what it would be like on a "big" bike like that. :lol: I realize that perhaps the FZR 600 is not considered a "big" bike in the grand scheme of things, but it felt large to me and I know I wouldn't be comfortable trying to maneuver all that weight around at this stage in the game. :): Ok, back on track...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002237.jpg

A few more pieces are added. Aww, it's a cute little muffler and little shocks! After being used to the complexity and sheer size of car pieces, the simplicity of this little bike was really refreshing. In fact, I smile still, just thinking about it.


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002250.jpg

Warning: SUPER CLOSE UP ...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002254.jpg

Missing many important parts at this point. Now what? Hmm......

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002322.jpg

Since I still can't pick it up at different angles without a bit of difficulty, I guess the next step is to remove the engine from the frame...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0723002358.jpg

We have success! Lonely frame...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0724000019.jpg

Everything except the frame. I was surprised at how little room it took up on the floor.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0724000020a.jpg

The move went very smoothly, and the little bike is residing in my garage. Although it's still in pieces, I now have a service manual and have learned some neat things so far just by reading it. I am impressed with the way the manual is written -- I skipped ahead to spark plugs and it has this entire section on which plug to use with what kind of use -- and be sure you don't use the "low speed" plug when you are going racing ( :lol: ), cause then the engine will die... I think for more experienced people it would be a bit too much explanation of how it works the way it does, but for me, it's PERFECT!

Currently trying to decide what the plan of attack will be. Will keep y'all updated!

:cool:

[Astir]

:wootrock: I am subscribed too! Can't wait to hear more.
:popcorn1:

[ridingAK]

very cool!

[Sooki]

Awe this is great !! Keep it comming.:):

[coffee_brake]

I am interested. I know you took it apart to get it in the car. But will the engine turn over?

I know Kawboy is more involved mechanically than I am. But I worked for a couple years as a bike breaker (a person who tears apart wrecked/blown-engine motorcycles to sell the leftover good parts) and I've disassembled a LOT of bikes, large and small.

If you want to get it running, you need to know if the engine will turn over. This means you have to hold it still while you turn it by hand, and since the kicker is broken, you have to remove an engine cover and do it with a wrench. The manual will tell you how to turn it by hand. Put a teaspoonful of engine oil down the hole where the sparkplug goes first, the day before. It will minimize damage to the cylinder wall.

Is this a two-stroke or a four-stroke?

Such a cute little enduro, what a great place to start!

[Luna Tique]

Fingers are crossed that the engine is not ceased.
:popcorn1:

[FinchR88]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for the kind words :):.

It is a 2-stroke!

I am reporting with good news...

[FinchR88]

So... It's been a super-busy week, but I did have a bit of time to actually (finally!) DO something with the bike.

First order of business, get the parts off the garage floor, so they don't make me feel like I'm working amongst clutter. This is almost everything... Oh how I have grown to love this pegboard! :D:


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0404112143b.jpg

Ok, so I don't have pictures of the entire cover off, but the good news is, the engine DOES turn! Although, I must admit, this dirty looking stuff doesn't look like it ...belongs in here. I don't know enough yet to know what could have caused this watery, dirty looking mess, because I *know* that the engine ran before I got it, and I am 97 percent certain the previous owners did not take this engine cover off. All the little rubber bits are super hard and not flexible at all, so I think I'm gonna replace them while the case is open. There's a fuel line and a few oil lines I think that fall under this category.

first half off: (goodness sorry this is blurry. I will try to get some better ones soon.)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0404112143.jpg

what's this? This will be my next engine project, figure out what this is. It looks like dirty (kinda oily) water to me. But it's only on the covers, doesn't seem to be on the inside of the engine, so it's a bit baffling. (shrugs) Of course, that's probably the newbie in me talking :lol: .

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0404112143a.jpg

Here's my work area for the engine. It's an old discarded table top, placed on top of (half of) a dismantled futon frame. It sits at an angle from the floor, and at its highest point is about 1.5 feet off the ground, I think. Seems to be the perfect height for now!

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0404112144.jpg



I think I will be have a bit more time this weekend to see what to do next. I'm just excited that the engine actually turns!

[Dualsport Chic]

Most fun to watch your progress F88 - it's like mechanical exploratory surgery!

:popcorn1:

Best,

DC

[theWolfTamer]

I'm inspired and subscribed! I've always wanted to do something like this. Off to craigslist now.

[Luna Tique]

I am glad to hear the engine is not ceased :thumbsup:
:chin:Dirty oily brown stuff on the inside of the enginecovers ???? ..........Sound like condensation to me but I am not very knowledgeable on these things.

I have never rebuilt a bike but I do find that taking tons of pictures helps me remember what things looked like before and as I move along on projects.:thumbup:

:popcorn1:

[KansasKawboy]

:chin:Dirty oily brown stuff on the inside of the enginecovers ???? ..........Sound like condensation to me
Thats what I was thinking.

[coffee_brake]

Almost certainly just condensation. It would eventually ruin everything but you've opened it all up now to deal with that.

I don't know anything about 2-strokes, but I know if it's 4-stroke, you will likely need a set of piston rings, and an entire gasket set. Are these parts available?

I am entirely out of my league on a two-stroke...I wish you luck with it...

[FinchR88]

I am glad to hear the engine is not ceased :thumbsup:
:chin:Dirty oily brown stuff on the inside of the enginecovers ???? ..........Sound like condensation to me but I am not very knowledgeable on these things.

Thats what I was thinking.

Almost certainly just condensation. It would eventually ruin everything but you've opened it all up now to deal with that.

I don't know anything about 2-strokes, but I know if it's 4-stroke, you will likely need a set of piston rings, and an entire gasket set. Are these parts available?

I am entirely out of my league on a two-stroke...I wish you luck with it...

Okay, it's really good to know that the biggest possibility is condensation... I was thinking of possibilities like "maybe it was ridden through a really big puddle and got dirt in it...?"

Sure, you may be out of your league with 2-strokes, but your 4-stroke knowledge is much more than any of mine so it's still helpful! :): I will have to look at piston ring possibilities - I don't know enough to know yet if that is needed. So far, I have only removed two of three covers: one that uncovers the gas/oil mixer (don't have the manual so don't remember what it's called off the top of my head - oil pump maybe?) and one other small part. I know for certain there will be a new gasket needed, but other than that, I'll be learning as I go!

:thankyou: so much for all the helpful input so far - I will hopefully have more news soon!

[coffee_brake]

Look what I found:

http://www.mototips.com/how-articles/15345-how-rebuild-2-stroke-engine.html

[Astir]

Great find coffee_brake! :thumbsup:

[rustysprocket]

Have you cleaned the carburetor yet? I'm working on a 1987 KE100 and I can't figure out how to remove that tiny little internal carb. Any tips?

[FinchR88]

Coffebrake, way cool link, thanks! :thumbsup:

Rustysprocket, not yet but I might try today! Will let you know what I find!
Oh, do you have the service manual?

[rustysprocket]

I have the clymer service manual not the actual Kawasaki manual =( Do you have the Kawasaki manual? The Clymer manual basically say "remove the carburetor" which doesn't really help much. lol

[FinchR88]

I have the clymer service manual not the actual Kawasaki manual =( Do you have the Kawasaki manual? The Clymer manual basically say "remove the carburetor" which doesn't really help much. lol

Oh wow, that's true, not so helpful! It might be later in the weekend when I can work with that stuff, so I can't offer you any "I've done this" experience, but I can at least tell you what the Kawasaki manual says, then supplement with my own experience as I get to it. Info arriving via PM :):.

[rustysprocket]

Thanks for the help! Where are you on your KE project? Had any time to work on it?

[Luna Tique]

Great find coffee_brake! :thumbsup:

I agree

[FinchR88]

Wow, ok so it's been awhile! Not having a computer + end of spring term (work is busiest during that time!) meant I sorta disappeared for awhile...

But the project has been going.... ever so slowly. Finally realized the benefits of having friends with parts washers... We cleaned EVERYTHING, it was awesome! Threw all the engine parts in a cardboard box and hauled it to Geoff's aka. Autocross car owner and mechanical/metal guru. He can make anything out of metal, aluminum or otherwise, and he has so much experience working with different engines, I finally broke down and called him. He was more than happy to take a look, so we spent an afternoon of cleaning, painting (it's pretty now!), and inspecting things.

It was actually quite amusing. His most said question was, "How did mud get HERE?!?!" Or, "There's really, really not supposed to be mud there!" Then, "Wow, that bolt is just sheared off and that one is bent. Seems like this bike had lots of crashing, with a little riding thrown in." The carburetor apparently looks like an SU carburetor, from English cars. I was concerned, at first, but he assured me it wasn't like the electrical systems. (whew!)
Cleaned up everything we could, then randomly decided to re-paint the whole engine/engine covers. Wow, it looks good as new now! I made an executive decision and figured, obviously the spark plug will need replacing but I am going to pretend that the engine will actually run with no major internal work. It wasn't too hard to take apart the pieces, so if it needs major work, I'll worry about it when that time comes.

Okay, pictures! Before...

Transport -- yeah and hard to see anything through this but it's all I have. Pile of Stuff :lol:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111455a.jpg

Cleaning:

haha covers! (not so interesting, I know, but just wait til they're PAINTED...)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111610a.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111611.jpg

battery holder
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111612.jpg

Drying it: Compressed air For the Win!
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111618.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111626.jpg

After - pretty, huh?
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111643.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111643a.jpg

and finally, the engine itself:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111655.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111655a.jpg

Cameo by race cars:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111655b.jpg
cameo by Geoff :-)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111720a.jpg

all put together:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111722.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111722a.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0602111745.jpg

Next order of business (before engine can be installed): Order new gaskets and new rubber hoses, then it'll be all ready (I think) ...
Hopefully more updates sooner rather than later!

[ImaSoftT]

Wow, it does look like new. You two did a great job. And a big :clapping: to Geoff helping you. Can't wait to see the finished product, with you buzzing down the street on it.

[sweptwingnut]

:popcorn1:

[Luna Tique]

WOW certainly a big difference from the first look at the pile of parts in your car.:wootrock:




PS: A special thanks goes out to your good friend Geoff for helping you with your project. :cheers:

:popcorn1:

[msyzf2u]

WOW is Right! I am so impressed :wootrock::worthy::popcorn1:

[Dualsport Chic]

I am Impressed - great job!

[FinchR88]

:ecstasy:

Thanks, everyone ! It's true, I'm really fortunate to have a friend like Geoff (and his family) -- he is a GREAT teacher -- in between helping me clean the engine, he actually went through and explained exactly how a bunch of the pieces worked, and how they are different from a 4-stroke engine. Soooo neat! Go fearless team leader Geoff Go! :pompom:


Glad this is being a somewhat enjoyable mechanical wandering, now time to go faster and put this little guy back together!

[Luna Tique]

Don't go so fast you forget a step or two :chin:like taking lots of pictures for us.:D:

[zee]

:popcorn1:

[FinchR88]

:thankyou: -- glad you're enjoying it! Yesterday's adventure was no exception to the randomness...



Alrighty, since I was on a "painting" roll...

I decided to clean up the muffler and re-paint it. The only problem? I am not sure I like the color combination I chose! I was going back and forth between the pipe black and the shield silver, or the pipe silver and the shield black.... Re-painting may have to be done at a later date! It's not bad for now, though I did accidentally bang it up while I was trying to get the shield back on, but I'm not super picky right now, so it stays. If it looks totally dumb when I put it all together (the engine is black), then it will change. In the meantime, feel free to offer "That's ugly!!" or "Umm why didn't you do it the other way?" or "Ok that kinda works" Opinions, I assure you, it will in NO way hurt my feelings :).



I used a steel wire brush to help get the dirt off. Tried to clean the inside a little too - there seemed to be some buildup and the manual was saying If there's buildup it will interfere with the performance of the engine, but I figure, I'll deal with that if it seems there is too much buildup. Ha, I guess I really am kinda going on a lot of assumptions (the engine running, for instance), but I am also trying to do this project in such a way that I will not be overwhelmed. This means (at this point) putting it back together and THEN figure out if there are running issues or other problems. Obvious things like re...doing (?) the front forks (I think the insides are ok but dirt got in so need new seals and oil), cleaning the air filter, replacing the gaskets, etc.

Anyway, here's some pictures! You will see that a little creativity was needed to hang the main part of the muffler as I couldn't find string, but it worked better than string would have, I think -- down to the color of the paint!


before shots


http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111742b.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111742a.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111742.jpg


when you don't have string to hang up the muffler, improvisation is allowed:
(ok I don't know why the correctly rotated version is not showing up here. *shrug*)
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111859.jpg






fence, before:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111853.jpg
and after:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111859.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111858b.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111858a.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111858.jpg



heat shield, after:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111836a.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111836.jpg


all put together:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111939.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i304/TrickBrick/0616111939a.jpg




So.... You can see that there's a relatively big difference between the first exhaust and the finished one. Well, all that...um... black greasy stuff (Not sure what it is other than .... burned oil or something? Anyone know?) ... all the black greasy stuff somehow ended up on my arms and legs. You see, I'm still learning the finer points of working on cars/motorcycles AND STAYING CLEAN WHILE DOING SO..... or at least only getting my hands dirty. Sometimes I forget simple things, like physics; sometimes, it's other simple things like "where is this greasy dirt going while I am brushing away at it with this wire brush?"...

Simple physics: When you are seated, trying to clean out your exhaust with a wire brush (aside from the question of: is this is an effective tool), it is a very good idea to be sure you do Not then decide to work on the bottom part of the exhaust, because what will happen is a neat dumping of the now-loosened dirt into your lap! I guess I should just be glad it wasn't burning, or toxic, or ... we will pretend it was harmless ;-).
:D:

Simple other things: Somehow, in addition to the dirt/sludge/whatever it is... the stuff on the OUTSIDE of the exhaust is more insidious, because you don't notice that as you use the handy dandy wire brush, you are also slinging tiny dots of Whatever It Is ... everywhere. This includes: arms, legs, and upper chest! (No more tanktops, from now on, only Tshirts!) I had approximately 5 times as many freckles as normal, all a very unusual shade for my extremely pale self.

Found a good smiley for what I shoulda been doing! :dodge: :lol:

The (giggling) benefit from all this? I don't think my arms and legs have ever been Quite So Exfoliated. I have decided to call it the Kawasaki Spa experience! Perhaps none of you will experience this rather funny occurrence, but I'm just glad my face didn't QUITE look like this, or I might never have been able to get clean!

:cool:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v19/227/32/27410368/n27410368_31536047_6126.jpg?dl=1
A number of years ago, after a day of working on the old VW beetle. I thought it would be funny to have an unamused face. Now, I wish I'd smiled! Hey, at least I was wearing safety equipment, right? :roflmao:

[ImaSoftT]

:clapping::clapping::clapping: I like it. The black on the silver/grey is IMHO perfect.

[FinchR88]

Of course I forget things that I meant to ask:

The manual says use a "high flash point solvent" to clean the air filter. I didn't know what a HFPS was, so looked it up. Doesn't it basically mean, something that doesn't ... burn too easily?

So, okay.... would, say, something like WD-40 count? I know the spray cans can ignite, but I think that's the propellent not the WD40 itself cause Geoff and I tried to ignite WD40 (scientific test, of course ;):), and it did not catch on fire.

Basically, I'm trying to say, I don't know what in the world to clean the air filters with! I woulda thought water, honestly, but ... I have heard some people use oily substances?

:thankyou: in advance for your expertise! Lol, I still have MUCH to learn.

[FinchR88]

:clapping::clapping::clapping: I like it. The black on the silver/grey is IMHO perfect.
Yay, glad you like it! I was actually kinda proud of myself for picking paint that said "exhaust" and not something else :lol: ... (I'm not curing it til I get it back together cause I don't have an oven that big!) :chin:

[Cyclone67]

I love the paint job too -- looks awesome!

[theWolfTamer]

:thumbsup:

:clapping::clapping::clapping: I like it. The black on the silver/grey is IMHO perfect.

:iagree:


As far as the hfps, try something like kerosene or brake cleaner in the spray can. That stuff will clean anything.

[coffee_brake]

You can use WD40 to clean the air filter, but kerosene or diesel fuel might be even better, as you can more affordably buy enough to dunk it.

Don't stress the muffler paint; it will likely flake off in a few months once the bike starts running.
Don't you love the sound of that--"when the bike starts running" ???

[msyzf2u]

Don't go so fast you forget a step or two :chin:like taking lots of pictures for us.:D:


:wootrock: