My new MKII... Just arrived

Well after a couple years of hunting I've finally found my 1979 A3 / MKII

A stock / un-restored "Survivor"

I think I paid too much but I really wanted it.

The bike came from Alberta and it's the 649th Japanese model made.

While I am happy with pretty much the whole bike I wish I had asked more questions and requested more photos.

The tank has a few scratches (a few more than I expected) but remarkably there is almost no fade to the stock paint.

The tail deck has a couple gouges from when a rack was mounted and it looks like a weak attempt at painting the marks was made.

The bike does not appear to have ever been down and even the engine guards are free of any scrapes.

My biggest disappointment was to find the mufflers are not original... close replacement but not original. They look like a Dunstall repro of some sort.

I plan on tracking down some clean OEM mufflers... Anyone know of some available?

Runs very strong and does not drip a drop or smoke at all.

No rust and the seat is pristine.

Expected gauge fade and other than grips off a BMW and he aforementioned mufflers it is a bone stock.

OPINION POLL:

I wanted a blue one but figured I should buy this one and I'd like your opinion of trying to pull off a re-paint.

Decals are available from reproductiondecals.com here in Canada. I also heard they offer a painting service

I had an excellent painter but he is retired (he aced the paint on my Z1R... which is in it's late stages of total resto)

If I had a NOS sidecover in blue I think I could find someone locally to match it.

Tim's CBX provides a painting service for all the CBX colors...

Is doing the repaint unwise? The parts are all pretty good except for the it fair share of scratches that simply came with time. One sidecover has some chipping of the pinstripe.

The bike was driven yearly but never abused. The original owner always kept the oil fresh, never exceed redline and claimed he very seldom exceed the speed limit with it. The sidecovers still have the stickers from the dealer that sold the bike originally. Tacky... I would have removed them.

My biggest issue is the pipes... If it had original mufflers I would rate it a 9 or at least a strong 8.5.


Wayne

Nice!!

Here's a little help with the pics



I wouldn't repaint if that was the original color. I like just about any color though, so that might just be me.

Also, I wouldn't sweat the original exhaust unless you can find one for a good price. Maybe just keep an eye out? They have to be hard to find in good shape...

How did you post the pics? I tried that old HTML trick... <IMG SRC=> to no avail.

W

I wouldn't repaint either. That bike looks really sharp as is. Regarding the exhaust (I think what you have looks good); if you can find a complete set that has no dings or rust you can have them rechromed, but be prepared to take out a home equity loan. Ed

sweet sweet find i Woulgn't touch a thing

300kph wrote: How did you post the pics? I tried that old HTML trick... <IMG SRC=> to no avail.

W

[.img]image here[./img] remove the "." There is also a button that looks like a picture with a chain link next to the world with the chain link (when you hit reply).

i like it clean
mufflers look good just hunt some down later
and i stole your pictures sorry

nice score....i WANT IT!!!!...wow...who cares if it is nicked...stickers gotta go...and yeah the pipes will bother you so the hunt begins.....if i had found one in like shape i would nail the pipes and bikes stuff and just elbow away....it wont go anywhere...pipes would be nice but if none surface soon...it sure would look nice with a shiny V&H while you hunt :evil: :evil: :evil: ....

keep that body set.....i have had luck buying two complete painter/rough but saveable nice too...on ebay one piece at a time over time..and will have Greg paint another set red and one black A4...just cause i have never been able to pick the best of the three...when money permits i will get a set done till i have the three in nice boxes.. :whistle:

buy a used set and go luminous blue and keep the orig forever....

the decal sets are very tricky.....painter should be exp with repro's type sets imo....float on wet... :blink: :blink: :blink:

they also are sooooo nice and the product is wow factor..cool shirts there too

but other than the pipes really...you know what you got...so will others..pipes or other model pipes you sure do got one...

little V&H to stop do gooders from talking about the model pipes first :evil:

nice bike
eee shoots eee scores!!!

Great score!! Definately leave the paint and get another set of tins. I sent my tins to Sabitini Autoworks in Texas. He recreated the luminous blue from the paint on my MKII and did a top notch job repainting and putting on decals from Reproduction decals.

I also found my MKII in Alberta.

Very nice find. I want one. like tri and tony say keep the skins and get another set too paint. Again great find!

+1000 on leaving the stock paint. You can only have original paint one time. I like tri's idea. Cobble together another set of body work and get that painted blue. A real good painter could touch up the scratches for you, but leave the red paint. It looks real good in the pictures.

Congratulations! I know that bike is on my want list.