Well I have spent the last couple nights rubbing, rubbing, and rubbing some more trying to get all the flat black off of the chrome. Isn't it funny that when you are trying to get paint to stick it won't, but when your trying to remove it it fights you all the way. I also...

Polished up the switch housings - found out that with some fine sandpaper and a little Mothers Polish they almost look chrome. The sandpaper really does a number on the little blemishes, but it takes ALOT of elbow grease!

Spent about 2 hours polishing the Sissy bar that JReed gave me with the bike - I was surprised how well it came back to life!

Removed the ugly discolored gray factory wire wrap and picked up some stainless wrap from Lowes (Ice maker water line with the plastic tube removed)

Removed all the AIS parts and have the aluminum plugs coming

Got the Apes mounted and the stock bars back on the other bike

Ordered the Suzuki Needle and Seat - Definitely going pumpless on this one

Got a great deal on a Saddleman seat off of eBay (hasn't got here yet)

Got a great deal right here on the Clinic on a headlight (even though I was able to get all the flat black paint off of the one that was on the bike oh well I guess I will have an extra), front master cylinder (the old one needed to be rebuilt) and clutch perch/lever - Thanks WarStar!

Removed the rear turn signal assembly and spent a couple hours getting all the flat black off of it (not sure if I am going to use it, but it may be something to put on eBay for sale)

Sorry I have been slacking with the camera, but I will get some pics soon.

Also what do you guys think about a flat black paint job. The bike is already flat black, but it's a horrible job. I can get an idea of what it would look like though and it's kind of cool. Kind of Mad Maxx and the Thunderdome looking. I'm not sure if I should go flat black, gloss black, or possibly dark gray. I'm thinking of doing a skull theme and those colors would go with what I have pictured in my mind.

Lots of black out there, Dark grey sounds very cool with your skull theme.

I am actually tempted to scuff everything down and shoot it with Duplicolor bedliner spray. That would definitely be the most bang for the buck! I am just nervous that if it doesn't come out right it will be a BEAR to get it all off. Has anyone ever seen one done that way?

Not a Raodstar, but heres one in bedliner. Also seen one done in a blue bedliner that actually looked good.

Just an update on the bike...today was a very good day. I got home from work and had 3 boxes on the front step. I got the new stainless clutch cable, the intake gaskets, and the exhaust gaskets. I was very surprised at how fast they got here and wasn't expecting them for a week or so. Anyway, I was able to get the clutch cable installed, the intake and carb back on, and will be trying to get the exhaust back on tomorrow. With that done I need to make a choke bracket and get it installed and it should be able to fire up and test ride. If everything checks out I am immediately tearing it back down for paint. I haven't decided on a color yet, but have decided to try my hand at painting it myself. So it will be a winter of learning how to lay some paint down.

I decided long ago that if I ever buy a project bike that needs paint then it's going to be bedliner paint. No muss, no fuss. I think it would look pretty cool.

I found this page that has various things with a bedliner finish. The helmet looks pretty cool.

BigBoyinMS wrote:
I decided long ago that if I ever buy a project bike that needs paint then it's going to be bedliner paint. No muss, no fuss. I think it would look pretty cool.

I have actually been looking at tanks and fenders on eBay and if I could find a set cheap enough would do the bedliner thing on this set and practice my painting skills on a seperate set. Still a possibility. I agree it would definitely look cool and with the way I am going with this bike (with the skulls and homemade diamond plate accents) it would kind of fit the whole back yard built grunge look. We shall see.

BigBoyinMS wrote:
I found this page that has various things with a bedliner finish. The helmet looks pretty cool.

OK that may have been the deciding factor. That Yamaha Rhino looks incredible!

I know that you can have a smooth finish with this material also. I think they let it dry and shot it up while shaking the gun to get the texture. Or use a texture roller just another thought or option.