Recommend me...

[Madmountainman]

...a specialist to revamp my bike please?

Following loads of deliberation, and not really finding a bike i love as much as my 1150 Adv, i'm looking into how much it will cost to spruce my bike up. If it looks cost effective then i shall go ahead with the plan. Overall, my bike is in sound mechanical condition due to lots of warranty/goodwill from MBW, but sadly has suffered at the hands of winter riding, so cosmetically we're looking a tad shabby.

I need someone to strip my bike down to the frame and strip and repaint the original painted parts of the bike. It will then need to be rebuilt, replacing any necessary worn bushings/bearings in the wheels/steering/suspension and a new loom added.

If the costing of that little lot isn't too horrific, then i'll be looking at one of those huge Touratech tanks and a Desierto fairing to complement the bike and finish the job off nicely.

So folks, are you able to recommend anyone?

 

[Humbug]

Hi Madmountainman,

Didn't you used to be in the Dordogne?

Whereabouts in Somerset are you? I might be able to recommend someone in the Yeovil/Taunton area.

Andy

 

[Madmountainman]

Distance isn't really an issue, someone that's going to do the job i need to a high standard is more important. I'm based in W-s-M, so Taunton or Yeovil are good. Who have you got in mind and what're their contact details please.

 

[alimey4u2]

What you're considering doing will not be cheap. Unless you have some romantic affinity with same bike it "may" be more cost effective to flog it & buy one in a better state of repair. If you do decide that a full renovation is in the cards, you will never get your money back unless the bike achieves "classic" status in the long term....
If you do it yourself you will save the cost of labor which will be the major expense & is frankly more satisfying....

 

[Steptoe]

...and a new loom added.

?

That's £500 for just the loom as start.

 

[Big Lee]

What you're considering doing will not be cheap. Unless you have some romantic affinity with same bike it "may" be more cost effective to flog it & buy one in a better state of repair.
If you do it yourself you will save the cost of labor which will be the major expense & is frankly more satisfying....

I agree with that, ask the labour rate at your chosen place first
Part ex it for a newer less miles one and save heaps


Post up some pics so the armchair experts can assess the work needed

 

[Madmountainman]

That's £500 for just the loom as start.

Cheers Neil, i was already aware of the shocking price of a new loom!
Maybe i'm getting all misty eyed as this is the only bike i've had from new and it would be nice to keep it that way.

 

[Fanum]

I'll be watching this with interest.....I've been thinking the same thing.

Speak to Mike P...he's revamped his bike himself over the last few years and it does look very nice...I don't know if he'd be willing to take one on as a short term project but I'm sure he'll pass on some tips on the ease of doing it

 

[Big Lee]

There has been some guys over on adv rider who`ve revamped their 1150`s so it might be useful asking there too

 

[The White Rabbit]

A long shot but Black Cat Engineering at Weston may be worth a ring as they seem to 'fix' things and have a go. Dont know if they spray but may have a contact who does. Just for the spraying you could try Cousins on Hampton Rd in Bristol.

 

[philthy]

Good quality second hand parts from ebay to replace damaged stuff may work out cheaper

 

[DrAlf]

Post some pictures MMM, let’s see how bad this thing really is.

First question is why do you need a new loom? What’s wrong with the old one that some electrical tape won’t cure?

In all honesty, you probably only need a new set of shocks and maybe a little powder coating. If you can strip the bike yourself, you’re probably not looking at more than 1K. If you’ve been riding standard shocks for the past 20,000+ miles, the shocks will really transform the bike. Ohlins or Wilbers should do the job nicely. Maybe some 17” SM wheels too if you don’t ride offroad.

Should be interesting……………

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Do it yourself - its a piece of piss.

you'll strip it down to component parts in a day easily.

All the painted parts will be prepared by the painters.

buy another loom and swap it over


wheel bearings, head bearings ? all simple stuff

 

[Trippy]

Do it yourself - its a piece of piss.

you'll strip it down to component parts in a day easily.

All the painted parts will be prepared by the painters.

buy another loom and swap it over


wheel bearings, head bearings ? all simple stuff

If you have a garage I'd think about doing this Rich, I'm no mechanical wiz but I reckon it can't be that hard and imagine how much better you'll know the bike after you have rebuilt it yourself.

 

[MikeP]

Richard, How're you doing? Not seen you since I came and picked-up some TKC's after one of Vern's 3 for 2 offers.

Bill is partly right; I have done a nut & bolt job on a mates R80/7 and stripped down and tidied-up the same mates R1100GS. My bike on the other-hand is original. All I've done from new is cleaned it after use and fixed/replaced anything that needs it, when it needs it.

Phil is right, if you send out the painted parts for re-spraying, there's not much left to do.

I've changed a loom inside a day and that allowed for removal/replacing the rear sub-frame.

If you are changing the loom, that's a good opportunity to have the rear sub-frame re-coated/painted. Obviously the rear carrier can be done at the same time.

If the engine, gear-box and shaft housing/FD need a cosmetic tidy, that's where it gets fiddly and time consuming. It is possible to do this without a major strip down but lots of masking would be involved.

Wheels are a problem. It's probably cheaper (and easier) to get a decent pair of second-hand ones rather than have the original ones re-furbished.

Of course, all this is dependent upon you having the place to do this before you consider time and money. None of it really needs much skill beyond the ability to look at how it's all put together, reason the way it comes apart and basic dexterity with some simple tools.

As Jim says, there's a great deal of satisfaction to be had from just knowing your bike better after ripping it apart.

 

[Humbug]

Distance isn't really an issue, someone that's going to do the job i need to a high standard is more important. I'm based in W-s-M, so Taunton or Yeovil are good. Who have you got in mind and what're their contact details please.

I would recommend you have a chat with Black Dragon Motorcycles who have access to powder coating, spraying facilities and vapour blasting all within a small industrial estate on the outskirts of Yeovil. The owner is an ex-Ferrari mechanic and superb engine builder. It's worth a trip there just to see some of his work. If you have a long term project over the winter he will consider lowering his labour rates and do your work during his quiet periods when he would normally have little or no work to do.

Andy

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

If you have a garage I'd think about doing this Rich, I'm no mechanical wiz but I reckon it can't be that hard and imagine how much better you'll know the bike after you have rebuilt it yourself.

Love your Avatar!!

 

[King Rat]

Black Dragon are superb. Pete Ford is the man. You should see his super charged bandit 600......and his guzzi that he supercharged 8 or 9 years ago and rides to work virtually every day.

He is a mechanical genious and rides hill climbs. 01935 864167

Another chap you could try is Jam in Minehead, or just outside in a village on the main road. He builds Streetfighters and makes a lovely job of them too. Has a mobile dyno, th epolice use him for dyno work and you will have seen him at shows/events - Exeter Bike Show the other weekend. He used to lecture mechanical engineering at Taunton College and Bristol College. 07500949382