Bandit Alley
MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: IcyChaos on April 28, 2006, 04:47:00 PM
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All 4 pipes running off my headers are Gold all the way down to my full yoshi system. I'm wondering if there's any miracle cleaner that could restore these pipes to silver?? I bought the bandit this way, and there so gold I thought for the longest that it came this way. Or do they come gold and Im second doubting myself after seeing a few shiny silver pipes on other bandits?
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Since they are stainless steel, they turn gold after about 1000~1500 miles or so.
You can get them back to 90% original shine with Mothers polish or Flitz polish, but eventually the gold will return again after a year or two.
I'm told that with Flitz the discoloration will stay away longer, but Flitz is more expensive. I've used it on sterling silver and was pretty impressed with the results.
(Header polishing is on my summer project list as well.)
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+1 on Mothers Polish. Be prepared to use lots of clean rags and elbow grease. About halfway through you'll be cussing up a storm but when you finally finish the bike will look fantastic.
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You guys don't like the gold color? Matches the brake rotor. I like it much better than the chrome pipes that turned blue at both ends in the old days.
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I actually like the gold color. I just wish it was gold all around, Maybe I'll just clean em good.
ok, how about how can I get the gold pipes cleaned nicely?? without removing the gold?
It actually looks very nice with the color of my bike, wine red, so its kinda like florida state colors.
Im just undecided on how to make my bike look supersweet. its easy to deal with 2 color bike, even three, but mines 4. gold, chrome, black and red.
I might try getting all the chrome black instead and go with gold red black scheme.
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This is a bit off topic but do you guys use anthing special to get the flicks of tar off the pipes? Trying to keep her clean but I don't want to be hard on the chrome...
Jim
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This is a bit off topic but do you guys use anthing special to get the flicks of tar off the pipes? Trying to keep her clean but I don't want to be hard on the chrome...
Jim
Yeah, don't drive on tar.
...ok, how about how can I get the gold pipes cleaned nicely?? without removing the gold?
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Someone on the board has told us several times that Armor All cut 50/50 with water really shines them up nice. Haven't tried it, yet, myself. Just repeating what I've heard.
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Kero does wonders, just don't use anything abrasive.....you'll end up with fine scratches on the pipes. Yes, that is the voice of experience speaking.... :duh: :duh:
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Geeeez, just ridem. If you want sometin to look at, buy a chrome plated lawn tractor.
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Good point.
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I haven't waxed a vehicle in 25 years but find myself waxing the damn bandit! Kinda fun when not riding it to clean it.
Jim
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I haven't waxed a vehicle in 25 years but find myself waxing the damn bandit! Kinda fun when not riding it to clean it.
Jim
I had to quit waxing my cars after my heart attack; just wears me out too much. But I DO wax the Bandit. Jimbo, when you wax, do also try to do the frame? That gives me trouble, so I just wipe it down with WD-40 to make it glisten (engine, too) and wax only the plastics and tank. 'Course, I Armor All the instrument cluster and black inner fairing and rear fender.
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I never do the fram but the wd40 is a good idea...i'll try it. What do you use to do in amongst the fins on the engine? toothbrush? My wife hates it when I use her toothbrush for that stuff!
Jim
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I never do the fram but the wd40 is a good idea...i'll try it. What do you use to do in amongst the fins on the engine? toothbrush? My wife hates it when I use her toothbrush for that stuff!
Jim
Well, since my engine actually is never dirty, I don't have to scrub, so I've used Q-tips to get in the funny places and, yes, an old SOFT toothbrush. Just don't really scrub with it. Just touch it enough to spread the WD-40. I also rub WD-40 on all the black cables and wiring that I can reach to keep the rubber pliable forever (I hope) and just as a moisture repellent. The WD-40 thing is an old trick I learned on the IBMWRiders site. On the really old dull bikes, it returns the sheen to dried out old engine paint AND any of the black plastics that have turned grey or whitish with sun damage and age you can get them black again by using this stuff. Couple of treatments a year was all my K75 needed to look new "down under".
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The quickest and easiest way to get the pipes silver again is by using a polishing compound called white rouge. It is a chalky substance and you put it on a cotton buffing wheel. White rouge is amazing stuff. It is definitely alot easier to polish with it. I like to go over it afterwards with Mothers polish to get it perfect. Here's what mine looked like afterwards.
(http://myspace-806.vo.llnwd.net/00656/60/86/656276806_l.jpg)
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Geeeez, just ridem. If you want sometin to look at, buy a chrome plated lawn tractor.
All I do is ride the dang thing. Thats why my bike is so filthy and the pipes are nasty looking. Haven't bothered cleaning it good since I bought it in september. Thats why I need some pointers to get the grunge off...
I like the gold, so I'll try the Armorall 50/50, the WD40 and the mothers polish.
As for Road Tar and rail dust, I've used a Clay bar before on my car, and it works well, I would hop it'd work for that as well.
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I like the gold look , too.
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The quickest and easiest way to get the pipes silver again is by using a polishing compound called white rouge. It is a chalky substance and you put it on a cotton buffing wheel. White rouge is amazing stuff. It is definitely alot easier to polish with it. I like to go over it afterwards with Mothers polish to get it perfect. Here's what mine looked like afterwards.
(http://myspace-806.vo.llnwd.net/00656/60/86/656276806_l.jpg)
Very nice. How long before they start to turn back to gold?
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Nice looking bike! Hey! What's with the gates up on the path across the road?
Jim
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It lasted about two weeks before they began to turn back. Probably due to the excessive heat from running lean. Once I get it rejetted I will polish them again to see how long they last.
Nice looking bike! Hey! What's with the gates up on the path across the road?
Thanks. The gate goes into the patio where the pool is. No roads in this pic, just the driveway. That big gravel sucks to ride on. :banana:
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I know - I got the big stuff on my drive and it sucks - then there are big rocks here and there so my poor bandit moans and groans.
Jim
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hrmph, Well I gave it a shot, but no real luck...
My pipes are NASTY, I bought it this way I think... I always ride instead of clean.
Anyhow it has tar or rail dust or something that has quite a few black spots all over the pipes. I tried the polish without avail, and I tried some eagle one metal polish(steel wool). This works somewhat, but takes about 20 minutes per little spot to get it out. I don't mind turning all the pipes silver/yellow if I can get them shiny.
Any suggestions?? I'm about to try EZ off oven cleaner.
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Gasoline or kerosene works well to disolve tar spots. A plastic scraper can be helpful. Then polish the pipes after you're got the nasty stuff off with the solvent.
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Just a little update with pics. I finally got it out, but not easily. Here's some before photo's. sorry there aren't many.
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image001.jpg)
Ugly pipes
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image002.jpg)
Here's 6 hours later. I tried everything, but I finally took some brillo pad to it with ZEP Oven Brite. I don't want them silver, but to get those tarnished spots off I had no choice.
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image003.jpg)
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image006.jpg)
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image005.jpg)
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image004.jpg)
(http://webpages.charter.net/pandemonium/TempPictures/image007.jpg)
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I don't want them silver, but to get those tarnished spots off I had no choice.
Don't worry, they'll stat turning gold again in no time.
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woaw!
that looks nice.
but i dont have the patience to polish my bike like that and then go back to gold after a couple weeks. i mean i rode 1000 miles in less than 2 weeks, :beers:
if im really not happy with my goldish pipes id rather powder coat em black.
hehehe
i salute you. hahaha
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I used a Maguires (spelling) Power Ball on my cordless drill, and some of this from the Motorcycle show. (www.master-formula.com) It worked pretty good. I took 2 sessions to make them look real good. I don't have any good before and after pics, but the dirt and grime were so thick the pipes did not shine at all.. very dull. ( Previous owner used it as a commuter only and did not wash/shine much) I put a sealer on it and the color is slowly turning gold again. I pretty much ride more and polish less. It was alot of work to clean it up and now I have a greater appreciaton for the full faired bikes. My engine is pretty dull as well, I still have not tried the WD-40 trick.
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I use some stuff you just apply with a brush, then drink a beer (approx 5-10 minutes) and then rinse it off with water.
Result: (left before, right=after)
(http://www.suzukibanditclub.nl/website/images_techniek/rvs_etsen.jpg)
And then another beer to celebrate I've cleaned the downpipes. :beers:
I don't know the brand of the stuff I use, but it is a stainless steel cleaner for kitchens etc. (Not the beer, the cleaner.The beer is Heineken.)
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Yo, Ice! I just realized you said six hours later!
:shock: :shock: :shock:
Holy Moly!
:shock: :shock: :shock:
I think I'll just stick with wiping my pipes off with soap and water when the bike gets washed.
:beers:
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yea I know. The problem was when I bought the bike the headers were pretty nasty. a Year later I decide to clean them.
I guess if you don't let them get terrible, then it won't take this long.
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Since the pipes are stainless, what about this advice? http://www.ssina.com/view_a_file/cleaning.pdf
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I use this on my stainless pots and sinks, I'll try it on my b12 this weekend. Available everywhere, works great on the bottoms, lots of heat there.
http://www.amazon.com/Cameo-Aluminum-&/dp/B0006M64ZM
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0006M64ZM.01-A3CDPEGSIQM61V._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
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If anyone's interested in getting their header polished like mine, send me a pm.
(http://myspace-759.vo.llnwd.net/01145/95/70/1145260759_l.jpg)
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I'd love to get my header polished, I figure that's my wife's job!! :beers:
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:lol: