need help please buying a 20year old bike

Hi im bought a 20 year old bike the paint on body work is great, although on the engine bay its starting to peel and you can see specs of the metal behind the paint, there is some rust on some of the bolts, and metal parts here and there.

I was wondering if anyone knows places in the UK that can repaint your bike and put in new bolts clean some rust off etc etc?

Cheers

Bodyshops will do paint, mechanics will fix other stuff. I would advocate trying to do a few bits yourself however. You'll learn alot about the bike and how to look after it, resolve future issues etc.

Strip it down and get cracking with the Angle Grinder ( Or drill ) That's what I'm doing all weekend but I haven't told the neighbors yet . I'll let them lie in until ten .

Bodyshops will do paint, mechanics will fix other stuff. I would advocate trying to do a few bits yourself however. You'll learn alot about the bike and how to look after it, resolve future issues etc.

I'm like jeremy clarkson but worse when it comes to diy im scared ill destroy the bike

Strip it down and get cracking with the Angle Grinder ( Or drill ) That's what I'm doing all weekend but I haven't told the neighbors yet . I'll let them lie in until ten .

I'm like jeremy clarkson but worse when it comes to diy im scared ill destroy the bike

Strip it down and get cracking with the Angle Grinder ( Or drill ) That's what I'm doing all weekend but I haven't told the neighbors yet . I'll let them lie in until ten .

 

I'm like jeremy clarkson but worse when it comes to diy im scared ill destroy the bike

Well that's a good starting point , Jezza wouldn't be scared of destroying anything .

Bodyshops will do paint, mechanics will fix other stuff. I would advocate trying to do a few bits yourself however. You'll learn alot about the bike and how to look after it, resolve future issues etc.

 

I'm like jeremy clarkson but worse when it comes to diy im scared ill destroy the bike

It's still worth giving some bits a go. Start with oil change and work up from that. I'm doing a 20 year old sv650 at the moment. Just trying to be vaguely methodical, organised, asking people on here and using YouTube, Haynes manual etc. You don't have to do it all at once.

There are companies that specialise in restoration works but it may well end up costing more than buying a newer cleaner bike so not economically worth it.

What's the bike by the way, any pics?

I would echo what [mention]goat[/mention] is saying and look at the economics of it before paying anyone to spruce up a 20 year old bike unless its something special. You could easily end up spending a lot of money and get no added value to an old bike.

Take some pics of the offending parts and we can walk you through how easy or difficult it is to sort it and where to find the parts.

if your going to pay someone to do all the work....

Buying an old bike and taking it to bits is a good way to learn how they work. You need to be methodical, bag and label everything no matter how obvious it seems where it goes and which way round. Take plenty of photos before dismantling which will help when it comes to reassembly.

When you get stuck don't go at it hammer and tongs - walk away, leave it for a day or two - your mind will mull it over in the background and usually you figure it out. Ask questions on here as well.

A key thing is to use something like PlusGas on all nuts and bolts. WD-40 is not a substitute. But if PlusGas doesn't work first time then apply again and immediately spray with WD-40. It is a dispersant so drive the PlusGas into corroded fixings. Don't go applying huge forces to corroded fixings, they will snap and then the job is much harder.

I've just bought this 21 year old bike mainly to learn more about bike mechanics.

I'm not the world best mechanic but my thoughts are if you can read and follow instructions then you should get by. If you hit a problem there's plenty of help and guidance on forums.

Get yourself a manual for your bike and take plenty of photo's when you remove something so you know where it goes/comes from and you should be OK.

What bike is it and have you got any pics?

Strip it down and get cracking with the Angle Grinder ( Or drill ) That's what I'm doing all weekend but I haven't told the neighbors yet . I'll let them lie in until ten .

Well at least you are considerate, the as*hole next to me starts his day at anywhere from 07.30 diggingg, jet washing, drilling, sawing, and hoovering his fecking guttering out, he only has all day every day to do it b—tard.

What's the bike by the way, any pics?

Yamaha vmax gen1 full power

What bike is it and have you got any pics?

Yamaha vmax gen1 full power, not delivered yet but all black

What bike is it and have you got any pics?

Yamaha vmax gen1 full power, not delivered yet but all black

What's the bike by the way, any pics?

 

Yamaha vmax gen1 full power

When I was about 14 I went pillion on one, same as yours full power. It was my favourite bike. Loved it. I'm biased but I think that's worth restoring nicely.

its like this but matt black same rim colour scheme