Front fork paint lifting

Has anyone heard of this happening? My 2002 has the silver paint on the front forks lifting after slightly bubbling...I'm assuming is age and weather....Can I get paint to cover it up with after some sanding or is it just better to take it all back and start again?

Bluesman79 wrote:Has anyone heard of this happening? My 2002 has the silver paint on the front forks lifting after slightly bubbling...I'm assuming is age and weather....Can I get paint to cover it up with after some sanding or is it just better to take it all back and start again?

I'd get out the paint stripper and then polish the forks, I did and it's much better.

Have they been touched up because of stone chips etc ?

Yeh possibly been repainted, not sure. looks like scuffing but its just lifting off...I do like the the idea of polishing.

Yep sounds like a plan & would look great

Yeh true not sure how exactly to do that but I'm game haha

Age and weather and dead bugs and stones. My 02 is the same. Sounds like yours is totally fucked though so give it to me for spares and buy a new bike! I am contemplating sourcing some ugly mich or dunlop decals to cover the pox being far to lazy to paint or polish.

I've got a similar issue, though not that bad yet on my 2004. Previous owner put 3M clear over the forks to try to protect them, but there is still some visible damage. I ordered some of this stuff:

http://www.thirdgear.com.au/products/3D-Carbon-Fibre-Bubble-Vinyl-Wrap-%252d-Black.html

That I am going to try and apply after cleaning the forks thoroughly as protection and hopefully make it look a bit different and unique. Also plan to apply it to the peg areas where the finish is a bit shabby and worn.

ThatOtherGuy wrote:I've got a similar issue, though not that bad yet on my 2004. Previous owner put 3M clear over the forks to try to protect them, but there is still some visible damage. I ordered some of this stuff:

http://www.thirdgear.com.au/products/3D-Carbon-Fibre-Bubble-Vinyl-Wrap-%252d-Black.html

That I am going to try and apply after cleaning the forks thoroughly as protection and hopefully make it look a bit different and unique. Also plan to apply it to the peg areas where the finish is a bit shabby and worn.

Don,t know if you've fitted that type of stuff before , but if you squirt the area you are covering with soapy water first
( something like windex ) it will allow you time to work the material & get it all smooth & no bubbles then the soapy water squigies out / dries out & Bobs your aunty , all done & no swearing . ( similar to when they fit window tinting )

my 03 did the same about 3yr ago. I stipped it and polished it,looks heaps better

Yeah have the same problem on my 08, was also thinking of painting but I do like the look of that carbon fibre wrap.

I guess you can always paint the forks after trying something like the wraps if you didn't like the finish of them.

paul wrote:

ThatOtherGuy wrote:I've got a similar issue, though not that bad yet on my 2004. Previous owner put 3M clear over the forks to try to protect them, but there is still some visible damage. I ordered some of this stuff:

http://www.thirdgear.com.au/products/3D-Carbon-Fibre-Bubble-Vinyl-Wrap-%252d-Black.html

That I am going to try and apply after cleaning the forks thoroughly as protection and hopefully make it look a bit different and unique. Also plan to apply it to the peg areas where the finish is a bit shabby and worn.

Don,t know if you've fitted that type of stuff before , but if you squirt the area you are covering with soapy water first
( something like windex ) it will allow you time to work the material & get it all smooth & no bubbles then the soapy water squigies out / dries out & Bobs your aunty , all done & no swearing . ( similar to when they fit window tinting )

Yep, done all the window frosting at home, so got all the gear for the install. Though I have decided to keep it simple and not try to do any curves so that only the flat surfaces are wrapped and the metal parts then look like inserts.

Coastin wrote:Yeah have the same problem on my 08, was also thinking of painting but I do like the look of that carbon fibre wrap.

I guess you can always paint the forks after trying something like the wraps if you didn't like the finish of them.

That's what I figured, try this out as it should be a little simpler than a repaint and no more expensive. If it doesn't work though, I reckon a strip and polish will be my choice. Only problem though is you still have to seal the polished finish against oxidisation.

And in doing that you loose the shine because the clear paint goes milky after a short time .If the forks have lugs and groves (1250 ) forget
polishing and repaint IMHO .

If I could get my hands on another set of fork lowers (cheap or free), polish and then powder coat in black would be the preferred option personally or maybe even anodised.

Strip and repaint in a harder automotive 2 Pack.

Suzuki really scrimped on the paint for the EFI bandits. Not sure about the 1200's.

ThatOtherGuy wrote:If I could get my hands on another set of fork lowers (cheap or free), polish and then powder coat in black would be the preferred option personally or maybe even anodised.

joanne2167 had some front forks for sale, not sure if she still has them.

Sean Kelly (SRK Engineering) in Bathurst (02 63322814) does sidecars and leading link front suspensions where he replaces everything from the handle bars down. He has done at least x3 1250 Bandits that I know off, so he could have some spare original front forks that he has taken off these bikes (Joanne kept her's, I wasn't that quick off the mark).

if i was getting new forks,i`d be USD forks,and changing the whole front end,so you have absolute adjustability.

I`ve got a set of 08 gix 1000 forks i will eventually be fitting. All in good time.

Apart from that,i wouldn`t make to much fuss on the standard,apart from a: quick polish,paint,wrap.

After all,the standard forks are just a low budget part