$12 Sand Job

RoboStraub 919 · 07-03-2009, 06:58 PM

Taking the advice of Mr. Mike and his helpful 'how-to's' I finally set aside an afternoon to get to work on my headers. Long story short; after about 4 1/2 hours, a lot of sanding, half a pack of cigarettes (yeah I know), and a little bit of Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish, they look brand spankin awesome!!

Since I don't have a garage at the apartment to do my maintenance and bike stuff in, I was spending the wonderful afternoon outside in the parking lot sanding away to remove what seemed like inches of tarnish. Being out in the lot, I had quite a few ''neighbors'' pass by and comment on my work and it was kind of interesting to hear what they each had to say.

After smiling and saying hello to an older woman passing by, I heard her remark to her husband "That's the only thing bad about motorcycles. After you ride them, you have to clean them." I thought to myself after overhearing, and softly said; "Not if you love making your baby shine!" I dunno, if it's just me, but the cleaning/maintenance/beautification of my motorcycle is almost as enjoyable as the riding. (Almost)

One other noteworthy passer by asked me, after I told him I was making my headers shine, "If you wanted a shiny bike, why didn't you just buy a Harley?" Well, usually I would have made a snippy comment about Jokely's but I refrained and just simply smiled to myself, knowing that I have the perfect bike for me, and that's all I need.

Anyway, thanks Mr. Mike for the suggestion of Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish, it made them shine like no other. If anyone's headers are as tarnished as mine were, I suggest you get yourself to the nearest Auto place, spend $12 dollars and give your bike a nice sand job!

Enjoy the before/after pics!

marylandmike · 07-03-2009, 07:32 PM

Very nice shine! Will be interesting to see how long it lasts.
Somehow on a bike its seems worth it.

Shaughnessy · 07-03-2009, 07:46 PM

I would have gone with a ceramic coat of black. Seems to last longer and doesn't show the dirt as well.

BigMike919 · 07-03-2009, 07:47 PM

Wow, those turned out mint! And i have to agree, wrenchin your own bike is one of the best feeling's in the world, aside from ridin!

BigMike919 · 07-03-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaughnessy

I would have gone with a ceramic coat of black. Seems to last longer and doesn't show the dirt as well.

By ceramic, do you mean powder coated?

BMiller · 07-03-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMike919

By ceramic, do you mean powder coated?

Ceramic coating is basically a powder coat that will withstand high temps and keep the pipes cooler.........and therefore it actually helps in the power dept. (very minor, but any gain is good)

Shaughnessy · 07-03-2009, 08:06 PM

So, yes, I really meant ceramic coat.

BMiller · 07-03-2009, 09:22 PM

Oh, and by the way to the OP, looks really good bro! I've had Mother's Polish suggested to my by one of my buddies that used it on his MV and it turned out awesome! I'm going the same route soon on the 919 as well. Thanks for the inspiration.

RoboStraub 919 · 07-03-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaughnessy

I would have gone with a ceramic coat of black. Seems to last longer and doesn't show the dirt as well.

Well, I really didn't want to have to lose riding time to take them off, pay a bunch more to be coated, and be put them on. Seeing as I've still got things I bought to put on the bike a month ago still sitting in my room. Who knows how long that would have been.

**MisterMike** · 07-03-2009, 10:23 PM

Nice looking headers - excellent job...

FWIW: It does not take a lot of effort to keep them looking good.

The Shadow · 07-03-2009, 11:38 PM

OOH, SHINY!

zookmor · 07-04-2009, 12:22 AM

congrats. they look like new

The Shadow · 07-04-2009, 12:55 AM

.

DR. J · 07-04-2009, 03:47 AM

Nice job. The poor person suggesting you buy the Harley has no clue what care that chrome requires. Enjoy your ride today!

3dcycle · 07-04-2009, 05:01 AM

looks good i did that twice last summer, this winter i did the 900rr conversion looks good, i feel they dont get as nasty as the 919s do, but now that i know i like the new header system it will be removed again for coating this winter. maybe harly it and do clean free chrome

sbeau1960 · 07-04-2009, 08:46 AM

Nice job man! We were just talking about your headers in my driveway the other night, glad to see you dove in and got them all shined up!

I did mine about a year ago and they're still looking good.

tvetree · 07-04-2009, 01:15 PM

I guess I'd better not be posting any pics of my bike.Your before picts look new compared to my pipes.

RoboStraub 919 · 07-04-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbeau1960

Nice job man! We were just talking about your headers in my driveway the other night, glad to see you dove in and got them all shined up!

I did mine about a year ago and they're still looking good.

Yeah, I had been wanting to do them for a while, and finally did them. I am more than happy!

Basspiece919 · 07-07-2009, 10:02 AM

Hey what will happen if I hit my heat shields the same way will they get a polished look?

hasbeenracer · 07-07-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basspiece919

Hey what will happen if I hit my heat shields the same way will they get a polished look?

Phobman posted some pics of his polished-out heat shields a while back...they looked pretty good! You can do a search and check out how he did it.

ratdog · 07-07-2009, 03:10 PM

Man, this thread better not inspire me to do something stupid, like attend to 7 years of neglect.

It would be some serious "me" time though, almost like meditation.
Maybe if I need my Zen moment in the not too distant future, we'll see.

Nice job robo, they look good....ya bashterd!

Basspiece919 · 07-07-2009, 03:54 PM

I will be in the driveway for the next 5 hours cleaning mine! This will be fun!

RoboStraub 919 · 07-07-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basspiece919

I will be in the driveway for the next 5 hours cleaning mine! This will be fun!

Post some before/after pics. This could be the making of a 'who has the most tarnished pipes' thread.

Basspiece919 · 07-07-2009, 08:12 PM

I already did most of it. Mine were MUCH more tarnished than yours... I only have one of them completely polished. The rest are about 75% done but the mosquitos got to bad and the light got to thin to finish. I also hit my heat shields with the mothers and a rag and it made a difference.

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07-03-2009, 07:32 PM	#2
marylandmike Tirone Choolaces Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Maryland, USA Posts: 3,478 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	Very nice shine! Will be interesting to see how long it lasts. Somehow on a bike its seems worth it.

07-03-2009, 07:46 PM	#3
Shaughnessy Immune Join Date: May 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 332 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	I would have gone with a ceramic coat of black. Seems to last longer and doesn't show the dirt as well.

07-03-2009, 07:47 PM	#4
BigMike919 Legalize it please? Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: shoreham, new york Posts: 1,150	Wow, those turned out mint! And i have to agree, wrenchin your own bike is one of the best feeling's in the world, aside from ridin!

07-03-2009, 08:06 PM	#7
Shaughnessy Immune Join Date: May 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 332 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	So, yes, I really meant ceramic coat.

07-03-2009, 09:22 PM	#8
BMiller Rattle Rattle Rattle Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN Posts: 860 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Oh, and by the way to the OP, looks really good bro! I've had Mother's Polish suggested to my by one of my buddies that used it on his MV and it turned out awesome! I'm going the same route soon on the 919 as well. Thanks for the inspiration.

07-03-2009, 10:23 PM	#10
MisterMike I hate winter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The woods of CT Posts: 9,520 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 6	Nice looking headers - excellent job... FWIW: It does not take a lot of effort to keep them looking good.

07-04-2009, 12:22 AM	#12
zookmor (Quintus) Pilus Prior Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Columbus, Ga. Posts: 2,727	congrats. they look like new

07-04-2009, 03:47 AM	#14
DR. J Vintage Honda Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 250 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Nice job. The poor person suggesting you buy the Harley has no clue what care that chrome requires. Enjoy your ride today!

07-04-2009, 05:01 AM	#15
3dcycle Hastatus Prior Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 1,556 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 5	looks good i did that twice last summer, this winter i did the 900rr conversion looks good, i feel they dont get as nasty as the 919s do, but now that i know i like the new header system it will be removed again for coating this winter. maybe harly it and do clean free chrome

07-04-2009, 08:46 AM	#16
sbeau1960 Easily Bored Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 8,052 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 6	Nice job man! We were just talking about your headers in my driveway the other night, glad to see you dove in and got them all shined up! I did mine about a year ago and they're still looking good.

07-04-2009, 01:15 PM	#17
tvetree Tesserarius Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ky Posts: 787 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	I guess I'd better not be posting any pics of my bike.Your before picts look new compared to my pipes.

07-07-2009, 10:02 AM	#19
Basspiece919 I killed Barton664 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Home is Warrenton VA, School is JMU. Posts: 1,638 Blog Entries: 1 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Hey what will happen if I hit my heat shields the same way will they get a polished look?

07-07-2009, 03:10 PM	#21
ratdog Heavy Metal Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: swamp in the wood Posts: 4,238 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 5	Man, this thread better not inspire me to do something stupid, like attend to 7 years of neglect. It would be some serious "me" time though, almost like meditation. Maybe if I need my Zen moment in the not too distant future, we'll see. Nice job robo, they look good....ya bashterd!

07-07-2009, 03:54 PM	#22
Basspiece919 I killed Barton664 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Home is Warrenton VA, School is JMU. Posts: 1,638 Blog Entries: 1 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	I will be in the driveway for the next 5 hours cleaning mine! This will be fun!

07-07-2009, 08:12 PM	#24
Basspiece919 I killed Barton664 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Home is Warrenton VA, School is JMU. Posts: 1,638 Blog Entries: 1 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	I already did most of it. Mine were MUCH more tarnished than yours... I only have one of them completely polished. The rest are about 75% done but the mosquitos got to bad and the light got to thin to finish. I also hit my heat shields with the mothers and a rag and it made a difference.