Last year was the year SWMBO decided to go from 125 to 'big bike' She took her test in August. Just prior to that I picked her up this immaculate 5400 mile Kawasaki ER-6F in the obligatory Kawasaki green.
IMG_5431 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5517 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5849 by tunneruk, on Flickr
As immaculate as it was I promised here that I'd give it a paint job over the winter. I won't lie, designing a scheme for a fully faired bike is a little out of my usuall remit so I sought I'd seek expert advice.
There is a thread on here somewhere (I can't bloody find it) by a fine chap called Eugene who does design work, I sent him a photo of the original bike and an idea of what I wanted (ZZR1400 inspired) and he came back to me with a few fantastic drafts. After what seemed like a 100 hour conversation with Karen we decided on the closest basis to what we wanted. I could develop it from there ....
Green wheels single by tunneruk, on Flickr
As a Valentines present to Karen I let her spend the day with me at my workshop so she could strip her bike down ..... I'm a true gent like that!
IMG_5477 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5478 by tunneruk, on Flickr
First job was the wheels. Pearl green rims faded to black spokes ....
<iframe width="1000" height="550" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdFp0Ig0iFc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
IMG_8012 by tunneruk, on Flickr
And back into the bike so it was mobile again ...
IMG_8046 by tunneruk, on Flickr
Then it was just a question of about a million paint processes to bring the design (or my version of it) to life ......
IMG_8080 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_8089 by tunneruk, on Flickr
<iframe width="1000" height="550" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9v68FF17x20" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I built it up yesterday and polished all the fingerprints off it. As it was sunny today I rode it up the lane for it's compulsory photo shoot.
Tomorrow Karen's riding to Brands for the BSB
_MG_0077 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0079 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0099 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0100 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0105 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0133 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0131 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0130 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0128 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5431 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5517 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5849 by tunneruk, on Flickr
As immaculate as it was I promised here that I'd give it a paint job over the winter. I won't lie, designing a scheme for a fully faired bike is a little out of my usuall remit so I sought I'd seek expert advice.
There is a thread on here somewhere (I can't bloody find it) by a fine chap called Eugene who does design work, I sent him a photo of the original bike and an idea of what I wanted (ZZR1400 inspired) and he came back to me with a few fantastic drafts. After what seemed like a 100 hour conversation with Karen we decided on the closest basis to what we wanted. I could develop it from there ....
Green wheels single by tunneruk, on Flickr
As a Valentines present to Karen I let her spend the day with me at my workshop so she could strip her bike down ..... I'm a true gent like that!
IMG_5477 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_5478 by tunneruk, on Flickr
First job was the wheels. Pearl green rims faded to black spokes ....
<iframe width="1000" height="550" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdFp0Ig0iFc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
IMG_8012 by tunneruk, on Flickr
And back into the bike so it was mobile again ...
IMG_8046 by tunneruk, on Flickr
Then it was just a question of about a million paint processes to bring the design (or my version of it) to life ......
IMG_8080 by tunneruk, on Flickr
IMG_8089 by tunneruk, on Flickr
<iframe width="1000" height="550" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9v68FF17x20" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I built it up yesterday and polished all the fingerprints off it. As it was sunny today I rode it up the lane for it's compulsory photo shoot.
Tomorrow Karen's riding to Brands for the BSB
_MG_0077 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0079 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0099 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0100 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0105 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0133 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0131 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0130 by tunneruk, on Flickr
_MG_0128 by tunneruk, on Flickr