Cafe 125

5091 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by isaiah27, Apr 21, 2020

villain

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2013

Guys,

I have a little Suzuki gp125 cafe racer I got off my dad. It was in better nick when I first got it but been busy with work and didn't have it in a garage (bike cover only) now some of the bits are rusty etc. I want to a fairly basic neaten up of it and tidy chrome up and paint the frame.
Was thinking if doing frame black and the tank and cowl silver instead of current black.
I have decent tool collection of spanners, sockets, screwdrivers hammers etc but what other tools do you generally need for a resto?
Any recommendations? Was considering getting Dremel but a bench grinder is similar money. What do you guys do with rusted chrome?
Any recommendations welcomed

Have spent another few hours pulling it apart and keen on some input (about the bike, not the dog lol).
thinking paint frame black, new tires, brown grips, not sure what to do with the pitted/rusty chrome I don't want to spend a bomb on this?

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1 - 12 of 12 Posts

Hessian

· #2 · Apr 19, 2013

I am current doing up a GN250 to make it actually look good for a change.
http://cbr250.com/forum/thread-5166.html

The tank I just hit with paint stripper and a wire brush attachment on a drill. Same with any other rusty bits.
Chrome I used steel wool and metho

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K916

· #3 · Apr 19, 2013

Any pics of the bike?

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Cbr250import

· #4 · Apr 20, 2013

hey all

with the rusted chrome are you going to get it rechrome or just going to tidy it up

love to see some pics :hail:

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Humbug

· #5 · Apr 21, 2013

if you only clean the rust off, it will just rust again. you need to re-chrome it or at least plate or paint with something.

And pics plz

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villain

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 27, 2013

Thanks replies guys, I've got a few pics but I'm on my phone and they're too large apparently to upload. I try get some up next week at work.

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villain

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 28, 2013

Pics.
I am not aiming for a radical extensive rebuild, just want to tidy it up a bit on the weekends when I can manage to spare a few hours here and there so I can get it registered again and take it for the occasional ride. Its really fun to ride but I have to push off a little on take off to get moving lol so not all that practical. feels like your doing a 110 when your doing about 45ks an hour. riding over sydney harbour bridge was funny

Main priorities are: paint frame either black or silver (possibly change tank and seat cowl colour if I go black frame ie black frame silver tank and cowl or vice versa)
front brake line scares me and I think its partially the cause of a spongy brake lever
chrome bits tidy up
replace broken indicator and probbaly change tyres as they look terrible and if i manage to get over 45kph are a likely cause of my demise.