Z800 Cafe Chopper Fighter thing...

[Flying Tiger]

Ratch, have you looked at Cerakote gloss black?

It is like a black anodised finish, and is very durable aswell as heat resistant.

Let me know if you are interested

[Flying Tiger]

This is a nice looking finish

[Royalratch]

I haven't but will get on it.

Those cranks look gloss powder coated but could be anodised - the chainring bolts certainly are.

I know exactly the finish I'm after but not bothered about the route to get there i.e. coated, anodised or plated etc. I just want it to look like black anodised alloy. Shiny and metallic in lustre but black - not grey or smoked.

Black chrome or semi-polished black anodising is the closest example I can reference.

My hack-about Z650 had this finish on it and apparently was achieved by a light coat of hi-temp black paint onto chrome exhaust. I don't know if the owner intended to achieve this or couldn't be bothered stripping the chrome off. But it gives the look I'm after - can't speak for durability though as the exhaust was kind of rotten.


[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/9150673938_3610102bbb_o.png
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[Flying Tiger]

That is cerakote ^^

[j.wilson]

hmm, what you are describing is almost like a candy paint- a shiny under layer with a translucent black cover over the top- but thin enough not to be high gloss.

It does remind me a little of my Z1100R black chrome exhausts- eventually they looked translucent.

Paint on chrome is always a difficult bond. Possibly the same for stainless steel- although I will say that the better the preparation the better the adhesion.

One last point- this look you want may be achievable with a chemi-black process for stainless. I've used it lots on fasteners.

http://www.seekpart.com/company/33643/p ... 29531.html
Black oxide coating?

[Royalratch]

If its a black version of Zinc Passivation then could be worth a look as that has that kind of finish.

[Royalratch]

So, bit of an update today. Pic heavy so hang in there!

Bike is pretty much done. Just need to order exhaust, fit carbs, plumb up the brakes get the loom made. In the interest of getting it on the road in the next few weeks I'm going to get the loom made elsewhere - but I have some little extras I need doing to it. Exhaust-wise I'm really into a Black chrome finish if its possible also and whether to go Titanium or not but I won't let it slow me down - stainless 4-into-1 in satin black will be the fallback.

I also found the V5 which was a touch - reg plate on the way!

Last bit I've been waiting on is a new rear brake hanger. A few pages back you can see the first effort when I asked the machine shop for their input but they 'over-engineered.' It was beautifully made but unacceptably ugly. So I knocked this up in 3D and they made it almost exactly as drawn - result. Still to be anodised black.









Also get to use a nicer caliper than the single piston claw style which is also less than pretty.






Various other bits and pieces back from powder coating and anodising.










Found this cool little rear LED light which mirrors the sharp angular look on some of the other machined parts.




Also got this direct mount reservoir to help tidy up the front end. Very nicely CNC'ed.




Really into an internally routed throttle cable which I've seen on some other bikes - not sure if its doable with clip-ons.




Only 2 switches up front - high beam and horn. Keyless ignition and starter button in secret location!





I was inspired by LondonZ1's awesome bike which I saw down at Debbens to do something with the engine sprocket cover. Currently its just gloss black but I may have something machined out of the casing to trick it out. Could be something as simple as some linear slats or something more graphic.





Very happy with the paint and colour. It changes dramatically with any fluctuation of light.






Bike as it stands now. Very happy with how everything has come together and close to my original drawings:












A few cosmetic tweaks, Titanium and Stainless fasteners here and there and a few last parts to anodise and paint - like the headlamp which actually makes it look 50% cooler on its own.

Thanks for all the help so far lads - looking into insurance quoted as we speak!

[big green bus]

looking good matey, keep the pic's coming

[Royalratch]

I'm now thinking it may be time for some carbon Yoshi goodness instead of the normal steel stubby muffler?

[j.wilson]

Great project- looking great. Lots of style- a credit to you.

How about one of these tail pipes?




You have also made me think and think about a new Lathe/milling machine, I just ordered one of these for my shed

[Royalratch]

That is cool as shit!

I just want a nice little desktop lathe to turn basic stuff at home rather than faff about with emails and PDFs for a tiny spacer or spindle or link etc.

That exhaust is nice but I want a short single stubby silencer - and carbon! Trying to order one now with a returns policy so I can try some position options against the bike.

[Royalratch]

Dug out the carbs for the first time in over a year! Nut and bolt refurbishment of a set of Mikuni BS34 CV carbs with uprated DynoJets set uo for an 810 motor. Plus some K&N pods.

I went for rideablilty over outright power - I have no experience of slide carbs but have heard more for than against. Time will tell I guess.









I'm a bit concerned how the silver bodies will look against the black motor as I was advised against painting carbs. Will mount them up and get cracking on the exhaust and loom. Pushing hard for a late July MOT.

Anyone know what the inlet rubber mount bolts spec is - I'd guess an M6 / 1.25 thread?

[Royalratch]

Test fitted carbs - not as bad looking as I'd thought.

[HowieD]

If its a black version of Zinc Passivation then could be worth a look as that has that kind of finish.

That finish looks like Suncorite that is used on hand guns.

It's a bit like Loctite with so many different types but I think 528 is the stuff you need:

http://www.stowlin.com/products/henkel- ... black-rfu/

hope that helps.

regards
Howie

[Royalratch]

Sounds interesting but a quick search reveals a smooth ceramic kind of finish. Not as metallic as I'd like.

These exotic paints and coatings - how do you get them applied to an exhaust as I'm sure most automotive trades people won;t have it or the equipment to apply it?