| Author | Message | ||
     Bigsherm9r |
Here's some updated pics... look for the hidden message in the last one!     | ||
| Roc |
The frame and swingarm look great! | ||
| Glitch |
GO SHERM!!! | ||
| Apex1 |
Sherm, done any fork tubes to match the frames yet? Nice work with the photos. I like the rolling smokey one! | ||
| Gonen60 |
Damn, how tall are You? The Bike Looks So tiny. Great photos. | ||
| Bigsherm9r |
Apex- never thought of doing the fork tubes, it's an idea. Gonen60- I'm 6'2&1/2", 210lbs. The pics were taken from eye level, if they were taken from closer to ground level, the bike would look (a little) less tiny. I like how little the bike is! | ||
| Steelshoe |
I hate to rain on your parade but I've heard you can weaken the aluminum from the heat generated by buffing, keep an eye on it. | ||
| Bigsherm9r |
Steelshoe- See this same thread in the XB Board archives for those concerns. It's been 10k hard & fun miles since the polishing. | ||
| Noface |
Ummm... Seems like all the comments about heat bothering the frame come from folks that don't have an XB. If they did, they would know how hot the frame gets from just riding the thing around town. If you polish the frame with such force to heat it up hotter than the engine does, leave the polishing to someone that know's what they're doing. Just my take... Jody S. BTW, I can't seem to find the "hidden msg" in the last pic. Maybe I need new glasses. | ||
| Bigsherm9r |
NoFace- In the pic I've got on the Icon gloves with the little titanium plates on each knuckle. Can you see the 2 knuckle plates from my left hand under my chin? | ||
| Stot |
and there was me thinking there was a native American standing on the next hill saying 'Big Chief Burning Rubber is coming this way'....  Stot | ||
| Spiderman |
>>>>Ummm... Seems like all the comments about heat bothering the frame come from folks that don't have an XB. If they did, they would know how hot the frame gets from just riding the thing around town. I don't know one and I know the reason  It is more of a concern with the side wall thickness of 4mm which isn't that thick to start with. You take of a mm or 2 in sanding an polishing. Bingo you loose everything that frame was designed for IE crumple zone so your butt doesn't become airborne from a stationary side impact. But that frame and swing arm duz look good  | ||
| Captainplanet |
You really don't have to take much metal off to polish the frame. It is really smooth under the paint. All it takes is more smoothing. I doubt I am removing anywhere close to 1mm of metal. I have about half of mine polished now. It is a pain doing it with the bike together though. But man, does it look good. | ||
| Noface |
I can see wall thickness being of concern, and grinding the welds smooth. But heat generated from sanding/buffing, no way. I've read there is a sealer on the inside of the frame to keep the aluminum sealed, and heresay says that if can peel off it subjected to high temps from buffing/polishing. That's hogwash, cause the frame on these bikes get pretty damn hot just from having an ENGINE between the spars. Wall thicknes and grinding off welds? Now that's a different issue, and I can agree with those. It indeed does look kewl! Jody S. | ||
| Captainplanet |
I was a bit concerned about grinding off the welds, so I just polished them. They look fine that way. | ||
| Court |
Heat nor thickness is not the issue. Ever wonder why frame polishing is not allowed in superbike racing. I would not polish my frame. I think it looks spectacular and, like when Bubba Boswell nickle plated his S-1 frame, aam thrilled that someone did it. Court | ||
| Apex1 |
What's the issue then, Court? Why is it not allowed in SB? | ||
| Rockbiter1 |
I'm guessing its due to the fact that a polished surface is highly reflective (duh). Ever sat behind a large pickup with one of those huge chrome bumpers with the sun behind you? Dazzleing, to say the least... I'm thinking in a race environment, the sun dazzle would be a major safety concern. Is that right Court? Heck, the crome ring around my speedo is enough to water my eyes on a clear day. edited by rockbiter1 on August 24, 2003 | ||
| Captainplanet |
Court, I took this directly from the 2003 superbike rules. Check out number 4. 5. The following items may not be altered from the originally approved model except as noted: (a) Stock main frame (1) Frame must display vehicle identification number. (2) Strengthening gussets and tubes may be added, but none may be removed. (3) Accessory brackets (radiator, shock reservoir, stands, etc.) may be changed, relocated, added or removed. Holes may be drilled only for the purpose of attaching brackets or other components. (4) Frames may be painted, powder coated, polished or surface treated. Looks like you can polish a frame in Superbike racing. Unless, I am reading it wrong, which is certainly possible. | ||
| Anonymous |
Just an FYI. The internal coating can withstand temperatures of up to 500° F. Welding could cause problems with the internal coating, but buffing etc. should't. | ||
| Darthane |
Grr...guess that means I can't powder-coat my frame then...IIRC, they bake it at higher temps than that. Is the interior of the swingarm coated as well? | ||
| José_quiñones |
Have the race bikes with the welded on frame slider mounts shown signs of the internal coating degrading to date? | ||
| Sarodude |
I've HEARD of the race bikes having fuel system problems which were a result of that coating flaking off and mucking stuff up. I'd also heard about some dude named Santa Claus. -Saro | ||
| Captainplanet |
My frame polishing technique is almost all by hand and thus not causing much heat at all. The vast majority of the work is using wet sandpaper by hand from rough grit 400 and working your way up to 2000 grit. After that some mothers metal polish gets it to almost chrome like. Then you can hit it with a buffer and it really shines. I just buff a little at a time and keep the temp cool enough so that it does not burn me when I touch the surface with my hand. The bike is coming along nicely. I'll post pics when I am done, which may be a while yet. | ||
| Blake |
They bake powder coat at higher than 500oF? That sounds awfully high. We build military airplanes from epoxy based composites that cure at 250oF. Can't imagine why a surface finish would need more than that; 500oF is HOT! I'd imagined it was more along the lines of 350oF, but I'm just thinking out loud. Is typical powder coat a thermo-set or a thermo-plastic? Probably a thermoplastic or it would set up at room temp and need to be stored in a freezer. Hmmm, thermo-plastic would lead to needing higher curing temperatures. Okay, maybe 500o is the deal. Anyone know for sure? | ||
| Bluzm2 |
If memory serves, powder coating bakes at about 425 or 450. A couple of powdercoating sites I just checked say 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Experts??? | ||
| Hootowl |
When I had my swingarm coated, the painter said the cure temp depended on the color. Yellow was 375. |
