1980 KZ1000 A4 MKII Barn Find

Great find; it's really shaping up nicely!!! Ed

Looks super sharp all cleaned up!

That thing is just broken in! Have a blast on that bike as it will last forever! I'm envious!!!
David

The engine is missing a lot of paint...I'm going to have to touch that up one of these days.

Any ideas on a good and safe way to clean up the factory paint on the bodywork? I'm thinking some kind of cleaner to strip the oxidation and dirt and then lots of wax. I'm just scared to death to use rubbing compound. Any magic products out there?

try us standing over the tank crying...and buff it out

trianglelaguna wrote: try us standing over the tank crying...and buff it out

Too much salt..... :laugh:

I would not use rubbing compound. In trying to bring a finish back to life it is best to start with the gentlest approach. The first thing I would try would be Meguiars Swirl Remover. It is gentle but you may find it helps restore the finish. Ed

79MKII wrote: The engine is missing a lot of paint...I'm going to have to touch that up one of these days.

Any ideas on a good and safe way to clean up the factory paint on the bodywork? I'm thinking some kind of cleaner to strip the oxidation and dirt and then lots of wax. I'm just scared to death to use rubbing compound. Any magic products out there?

Actually I've been meaning to post about this for a while just lazy I guess. Back in December I bought some stuff made by Meguiars called the ultimate compound. It comes in a black squeeze bottle and costs around 10 bucks. I think I got it at Autozone but I've seen it at Wal-Mart too. This stuff is amazing for bringing back old, neglected, or oxidized paint. In short just what all of us old bike lovers need. You can get excellent results just rubbing by hand you won't need a buffer. I'm not easily impressed and I've tried lots of products that don't live up to the claims on the label. This stuff does what it says it will do and then some. I even tried it on an antique wood table top with the same good results I've had on painted bike parts. Try it, you'll like it and if you don't they'll refund your money.

Here's a link to the stuff I'm talking about. www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/...6-ultimate-compound/

Thanks for the tips...will give one or both a try.

When I get a bike I always remove the body work and spray it dripping with WD40. Then blow it off with a air hose and spray it down again. Then I use a rag and wipe the bike down.

I watched a friend spray his V65 down with WD one time and didn't know what he was doing and after 15 minutes he blew the bike off and it looked like it came out of a detail shop. Roy

I wonder what the air box and silencer is worth? Maybe the silencer will fit a A4.

roy-b-boy-b wrote: I wonder what the air box and silencer is worth? Maybe the silencer will fit a A4.

It will fit...it is an A4!

I actually used quite a bit of wd40 for the initial cleaning...really does work well. Might have to try the soak method. Thanks