Bags of Trouble.

Badly broken Plastic

A distressed looking man is walking towards the doors of the workshop, in his hands are two plastic shopping bags. We unpacked the bags and laid out the contents piece by piece on to the work bench. I started placing the jigsaw of a faring together, the shape it  formed was that of a Honda CBR 600F side panel. On closer inspection it became more complicated, there were a number of pieces missing, some of these major.

I looked at him, he said “I was told it could not be done” I replied ” The only limiting factor is price”  A smile crossed his face the first bit of good news in his quest to put his pride and joy back on the road. ” This is why we say bring it in let us see it in the flesh.” It was not a lost cause. After fixing the price, he left with a happier look, to return in a couple of weeks.

We had our work cut out, first thing to do was to fix all the bits together so the main part of the faring was in one piece, then we could start fabricating the missing parts, these would be cut from sheet plastic of the same material, if it is not the same type it will not weld together.

We are not like other repairers in that, we do not use two pack  fillers to replace parts that are missing in thermoplastic products which a lot of faring’s are made from. Other repairers will do this were they can get away with it or say it cannot be done. If you have a vintage farings on your bike would you not want the best repair possible for this rare item? I know I would!

When you use the same material to repair a breakage it should act in the same way that it did before it was broken. If you introduce another part whether it’s filler or fiberglass it will change the way the panel acts and can cause the repair to fail in the future.

When the man returned he did not believe that it was the same panel until I showed him the back with it’s fine lines of weld. He was very pleased with the result.

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Seat surgery?

Mister street fighter Alan (good friend) decides to put a Ducati 916 seat unit on his GSXR. I said “what’s that got to do with me?” “Well, I want you to turn the square back lights into round inset lights!  Can you do it?” he said. “Of course, but you find the lights you want to fit!” “Deal.”

A few days later he turns up with the  light housings. Now the work begins.

Turning the square holes into round ones was straight forward. Making the housing to mount the new lights on was not. It means welding plastic mounts into the seat unit that would take a plate with the lights on and  come out with ease once on the bike, not fouling on the frame.

It all went surprisingly well; Alan was over the moon when it was finished. The only reservations I had  was the  red paint work  on a blue and white paint scheme. Turns out Alan had a problem too with the paint work because the next time I saw the bike it was black with polished metal work. Now it looked really sexy!

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Foxy GSXR

It is not that well-known among the wider biker community that we were the first to put a set of foxeyes ( head lights from a Honda fireblade) into a Suzuki GSXR 11oo nose cone. We were also the first to do it using sheet  thermo plastic, molding  it to fit an existing faring and welding these parts into place giving it durability and strength and above all that distinctive sexy look.

GSXR nose cone custom

Nose cone custom to except Honda fireblad headlights

 

I only discovered recently that the nose cone was still about, in good condition and in one piece. But sadly not on the bike it was made for. It turns out that it is sitting on a shelf in someones garage looking for a new GSXR home.

I am pleased to say it has stood the test of time. Just go’s to show plastic welding is number one for repairs and custom work.

 

Paid market research for the right bikers

Get paid for giving your views and opinions on new motorbikes and accessories! £100 – £125 VisionBee, a dynamic research company are conducting some research and development for a famous motorbike manufacturer. We are currently looking for riders of adventure touring bikes which were bought from new since 2013, to give their views and opinions on future generation bikes and accessories. The bikes we are looking for are: Yamaha MV KTM BMW Honda This will be held in London for around 2.5 hours on Friday 17th or Saturday 18th June. Those who qualify and take part will be paid £100 to £125 for their time, which includes travel expenses. If your motorcycle fits the criteria and you fancy being part of this, contact Simon on info@visionbee.co.uk letting him know which model you own, the year you bought your bike, your name, your age along with your telephone contact details. If you cannot make this date or you do not have an adventure bike, do not worry as there are another few projects coming up over the year. Send me your details and I’ll contact you when other projects come along. Thanks Simon For information about Ace Cafe London or what’s on, check out: www.ace-cafe-london.com

Sister site update.

The site has gone off line now. Like all good plans there was an unforeseen floor. Life!  stepped in throwing a spanner in the works. That could have changed the future forever. Luckily we are still here, resulting in a delay and not an epitaph.

The big clear out.

Check out the web sites items for sale page. We are having a big clear out of old farings. It it a mix of manufactures, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki. We need he space so they are priced to sell.

It is no good leaving them on the shelf gathering dust. It is time to put them back on there respective bikes and back on the road.

Some have been posted already with some more to come, when we have the time. They are not all completely repaired but in good condition. There is a description on what is left to finish the panel off, so there are no surprises.

Ace Cafe London Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show, Wembley Park 2015. Update

 

UPDATE! Ace Cafe London Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show, Wembley Park 2015 Enter your Streetfighter in the Streetfighter Magazine Show Up n’ Shine competition (see details below) Ace Cafe London returns to the world famous and iconic Wembley Park Complex for the 6th annual Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show, featuring the world renowned Stunt Bike Open Freestyle Championship Finals, to be held throughout the day from 10am Sunday 26th July. In addition to trade and industry stands and displays, the Carole Nash Grandstand, this increasingly popular annual event combines the cafe’s legendary Streetfighter Sunday, as well as showcasing the dramatic live action finals of the stunt competition, with stunt riders from across Europe and beyond taking part and competing in the “Metzeler Arena” for the coveted awards, Metzeler tyres and cash prize fund totalling £5K. Individual Free Style – £3750 Prize Fund + Jack Lilley ‘Goodie Pack’ 1st – £2K 2nd – 1K 3rd – £750 Longest Stoppie – £750 The ‘ICON’ Sickest Trick – £500 Special guest judges include, from USA, DJ Schaeffer (Team Streetfighterz, St. Louis Missouri), Wade Landry (Section 518, New York) and Mark Nichols (15 year veteran from UK) – more TBC. Highlights of this prestigious event this year also includes with an all new feature, a “head to head” drift racing “Driftkhana” with winners receiving Jack Lilley ‘Goodie Pack’, as well as the “Best Streetfighter” static display and competition, with awards, trophies and prizes! Best Streetfighters competition, organised, run and hosted by the newly re-launched Streetfighters Magazine, is on a “Show Up n’ Shine” basis supported by Vulcanet. Bikes entered are to be on site at Wembley by 9am. Best in Show in Show Plus the following 7 categories Best Engineering Best Brightwork Best Paint Best Blown Best Creative Best Retro Best Ratfighter All 8 winners to receive ‘Vulcanet’ prize pack Another new feature for this year is MotoBall, football played on motorbikes! The Forces motorsport charity http://www.missionmotorsport.org run by veterans, serving officers and motorsport professionals, providing respite, rehabilitation, recreational activities and training to those affected by military operations within the framework of motorsport, will be present, (planned to include with a motorcycle display by Ash Hall, a double above the knee amputee who has also lost most of his left hand!)  A selection of specially adapted bikes will also be on show at the Mission Motorsport gazebo – please give generously. Along with the MC & DJ on the Ace stage, live entertainment includes with The Michelle Bourne Dance Academy. Mixed with the music, the roar of engines and tyre-shredding drifters, along with the spectacular motorcycling acrobatics and hot tricks of the stunt riders, adrenaline is sure to be pumping – let the action begin! The London Rockin Rollers, having been rolling with the punches since 2007 with their eight wheeled thrills and spills, will be assisting in raising funds for “Mission Motorsport”, the events chosen charity. Motogroom will be operating a helmet park on the day, to include with the option to have your helmet valeted! TICKETS are available now from the cafe with a free tea/coffee or on-line atwww.acecafeshop.com/catalog/52 Tickets (Gate) £10 per person £20 Family Ticket (available on the day only. 1/2 adults and up to 3 children under 12 years of age) Club & Group pre-booking concessions available – please contact Lora David at the cafe on Lora@ace-cafe-london.com TIMETABLE of EVENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED www.carolenash.com www.metzeler.co.uk www.wembley.co.uk www.londonrockinrollers.co.uk www.rideicon.com www.jacklilley.com www.vulcanet.pro www.missionmotorsport.org www.motogroom.com NB: 7pm – 11pm Saturday 25th July is pre-Stunt Fest & Streetfighter Show Party Night at the Ace! Meet the judges and the competitors. For more information about what’s on, check out: www.ace-cafe-london.com

A slippery road back to work

Coming back to work after a long break is no fun.. A light heated  picture to lighten the mood.

Closing season for biking.

The season for biking is  closing.  Bikers are disappearing from the roads as they put their bikes to bed until next year. It is now the time  to put right all the bits of damage you picked up on your plastic through the summer.  If you leave it, you will forget untill it is time to  take the bike out for the new season. loosing days that could be better spent riding your favorite roads.

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