PROJECT THREAD Custom Ninja by new member : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

projo198 · 03-03-2008, 09:27 AM

New to the forum so heres my introduction. I totalled my R6 last summer and just bought this 01' ZX6r. Only paid 3000, bike has 5500 miles with clean and clear title. I already started this thread on my truck forum, but thought I would register and post here as well. Let me know what you think!

So I recently bought an 01' ZX6R and I can't stand the color. Heres what I got done last night. Once I get some time away from hell (work) this will all be going to paint. For color I am going dark cherry red with airbrush graphics on the side. It is going to be sick.

Lots of pics, I plan on taking one every time I do something and then running them as a fast slideshow. Should be cool. Thanks.

The teardown

projo198 · 03-03-2008, 09:28 AM

Okay, heres whare I am at..

My left side fairing had a big chunk taken ouf of the top. I wanted to buy a busted up fairing and cut the piece that I needed off, but the asshead at the salvage yard refused to sell me one an kept trying to talk me into bringing mine in for him to fix. After arguing awhile he said if he sold me one it would cost around 400. Uhhh... no. So I used a piece of similar plastic and went at it. Turned out pretty good.

I used some stuff called "plastic weld". I will try to find a link, obviously it isn't really plastic welding, but a two part epoxy. I was skeptical, but this stuff works awesome. I did the seam and behind, then flexed it pretty hard and no cracks. Just to be sure I went ahead and re-inforced the back with fiberglass.

After doing that and flexing the plastic I began to notice little cracks along the edges where some asshead had used bondo on the front and glass on the back. so I cut out along the cracks, filled it with the plastic weld and again perfect fix. this stuff is awesome, you can even build up with it and sand like bondo, but it stays flexible.

Tonight I hope to finish preping tonight and taking to paint tomorrow or Saturday.

I also got a quote for getting my wheels chromed, 400 bucks and local. Pretty cheap I think, still considering..

projo198 · 03-03-2008, 09:28 AM

Alright, heres what went down this weekend. I didn't have a lot of time to work on it with having my son, but I got the important stuff out.

All plastics went to paint. I went ahead and had it all done, anything that was plastic is going color. I dropped my stuff off at the paint shop but the place I go to pick and buy paint was closed Saturday. I think I might just call my guy, give him an idea of what I want and let him go at it. It is about a good hour from my work. He's been at it for 30 years, he also painted my truck and my last bike parts so I trust him.

As for powdercoat I had some second thought about color matching with the bike, so I went with a color called "smoked chrome". Really cool color and he clears over it for a high shine. I did the wheels, passenger handles, front cage, passenger and rider footpeg hangers.

BTW thanks to Cruznsten for the great bolt and nut idea, see picture below.

Heres where it sits now. Sorry I had to use my phone camera, my batteries were dead. All naked. The wife says she has no idea how I am going to get it all all back together. Oh so little faith...

Heres the wrench I made, I had to use three nuts. Just find a bolt with a head to match the huge allen bolt head of the axle, then add 2 0r 3 nuts and tighten them against eachother. You can then use a wrench on the nuts and use the head of the bolt as the "allen" head wrench you need. Worked great, I made one for both sides (difference sizes).

Thanks guys, not much to look at now but it is coming together pretty quickly. Let me know what you think.

edwardcarter · 03-03-2008, 09:55 AM

Awesome project bro ! looking forward to seein those plastics come back. Got my courious with this smoked chrome too...

projo198 · 03-03-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardcarter

Awesome project bro ! looking forward to seein those plastics come back. Got my courious with this smoked chrome too...

Thanks man. Yeah the powdercoating should be pretty sweet. I was thinking chrome, you can't beat 200 a wheel. But I wanted the wheels to match the other stuff on the bike so powder was the way to go...

raized1199 · 03-03-2008, 10:20 AM

Wow.
Looks like a great project.

I wish my frame was already black.

projo198 · 03-03-2008, 11:31 AM

HOLY SHIT!!!

I just got my paint quote, check this out.

prep and paint: $100

airbrushing: $100 - $150

paint and supplies: $60

So I'm looking at around $400 or so for a complete paint job with huge airbrushed graphics on each side. Ya can't beat that!

I know what your thinking, cheap paint job. Nope, this guy did an immaculate color change on my truck to Yamaha blue and lots of other work here and there.

I'm pretty stoked, I was looking to pay AT LEAST $1500!

cyberninja311 · 03-03-2008, 06:29 PM

Hey man looks like one hell of a project... you definetly have my interest... can't wait to see the updates!!!

fastswimmerguy · 03-03-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projo198

HOLY SHIT!!!

I just got my paint quote, check this out.

prep and paint: $100

airbrushing: $100 - $150

paint and supplies: $60

So I'm looking at around $400 or so for a complete paint job with huge airbrushed graphics on each side. Ya can't beat that!

I know what your thinking, cheap paint job. Nope, this guy did an immaculate color change on my truck to Yamaha blue and lots of other work here and there.

I'm pretty stoked, I was looking to pay AT LEAST $1500!

dude wheres ur paint guy at? i wanna get some graphics and new paint job.

projo198 · 03-04-2008, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastswimmerguy

dude wheres ur paint guy at? i wanna get some graphics and new paint job.

Meriden, KS. He's been doing it for so long I don't think he really worries about how much he charges anymore. He did a complete color change on my truck to Yamaha blue while shaving the door handles, tailgate handle and hood squirters for well under 2G.

He is having another guy come in to do the airbrushing, but I have seen his work also and it is good.

All in all this bike should be pretty tight. Now I just need to start shopping for the odds and ends..(pipe, new flush front turns, lowering kit)....

projo198 · 03-04-2008, 01:40 PM

Just ordered a set of these for the front.

http://www.motosport.com/street/prod...01&cat0=METRIC

If your too lazy to click they are the triangular LED turns you find on a lot of the newer bikes. I always liked the look so I wen't with them. I might hit them with a little black overspray to "smoke" them. The pne place I found that sold them smoked was out of stock so I had to order clears.

Now shopping for stickers, suggestions? All I want is the "Ninja" for each side under the passenger seat, the smaller "Kawasaki"s on the tank and a "ZX6R" just above the front turns. Anything else will interfere with my airbrushing.

projo198 · 03-06-2008, 07:22 AM

So I went to the paint shop and picked my color, heres what I went with, apparantly it is for a 2006 Chevy SSR. I didn't know that until I looked it up this morning.

Red Jewel Tricoat 80/WA301N http://www.cardata.com/spoilers/Car_...aint_codes.htm

It doesn't look so great on a cumputer screen, but in real life it is a dark dark red (almost like blood) with a ton of pearl in it. I think it is going to be great.

Also ordered my flush front turns earlier this week, they should be here soon.

Also repainting the frame, but thats about it..

madmax2295 · 03-06-2008, 09:29 AM

very nice man.
Sweet project

madmax2295 · 03-06-2008, 09:30 AM

and welcome

projo198 · 03-07-2008, 08:29 PM

Okay, no pics but heres what I got.

Found out the frame wasn't black from the factory when the gas I spilledwhile removing the tank stained. I played around ith the idea of going back to aluminum and maybe even polishing,but the paint scheme I am going with works better with a black frame. So I sanded it down, primered, blacked and clear coated the hell out of it. Looks about the same but a much better coat.

I also did this with the gas fill assembly as it was HORRIBLY scratched. First I filed the bad parts down and then sanded it all uniform. I really wish I had taken before pics, damn thing was rought as hell but looks brand new now. I will take pics when I get back home, outta town for work right now.

projo198 · 03-11-2008, 11:51 AM

Not much of an update, things are slow whilst waiting for paint. I sanded, primed, blacked and cleared the frame and swingarm again since the last owner did such a shitty job.

I also got some cleaners out and did up the normal stuff; brake calipers, engine covers, brake rotars.. It all looks new now. Definetely a low mileage bike.

Heres the gas lid I re-surfaced, again I wish I had some before pics it was BAD...

Sorry so slow, but again I'm at a standstill until I get my powdercoating back or the bike is painted. I did recieve my flush front turns today, I am going to hook one up and see how it looks tonight..

NINJARDR91750 · 03-11-2008, 02:22 PM

Welcome Out And Good Luck On Your Build. Btw Your Trucks Sounds Pretty Sweet Too.

projo198 · 03-12-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NINJARDR91750

Welcome Out And Good Luck On Your Build. Btw Your Trucks Sounds Pretty Sweet Too.

Thanks man, yeah I had to spend a year in bright sunny Iraq to pay for that thing!

Definetely learned a lot from it though, (welding, frame cutting, body work, air suspension).

It was my first time bagging a truck and I did all the work myself.