Morning I'm building/ restoring a 916, most of which is 94 strata but it must have had a front end hit in the past as it has a different frame and the front end is mostly 96. The engine is in bits for cerakoting, and a few other bits are ready too - the main colour choice items such as fork bottoms and tops (being anodised) and swingarm are up for negotiation. One school of thought is its not an original bike and never will be but it will be in good fettle. Should one stick to factory colourways which could be improved upon I or is a little bit of imitation allowed. The most controversial being having the swingarm and top yoke (and bottom?) cerakoted in a magnesium like colour as per some of the limited models and also tamburinis bike? If you're aping something, does it make it ok? I'm not normally a fan of fakery in any form but I think I need to throw this one out there considering the bike itself. If it was 100% strada it wouldn't even be a consideration. Also to decide are final choices for engine outer cases and fork bottoms. Main cases will be silver. Interested in thoughts from the well informed on here. Cheers Matt
id make it as close to original as i could get but up grade certain things, as its not a purist bike you can make it your own
Personally I would not try to make the yoke and swing arm appear to be magnesium alloy if they are not. In my opinion, this would merely make them stand out too much and highlight them to those in the know as items that were fake.
....and we can't have that can we with women walking planet earth with fake boobs, hair colour, nails, skin tone...just so out of keeping don't you think.
Anyway back on thread Let your imagination. do the work and do what ever pleases pyou Keep us up to date
If I saw someone with an apparent mag triple and swingarm, yes I'd know it was fake (because obviously) but I'd also appreciate the nod to the racing heritage. I have a cheap chinese SP tailpiece with the white number boards. It looks great, but I hope people don't think I have an actual SP. It's like if I saw a Supermono riding around... I'd know it was a replica, but also respect the fact someone had fun building it.
I would say - - go with your gut - if a bit of “race look” makes you happy, then why not. - don’t expect others to always agree, including potential buyers if you are selling in future, and it is possible you could reduce, not increase, the value of the bike with your work.
Thanks for all the replies - I think everyone is right to be honest. It will be having white number boards, again incorrect but an easier one to get by the taste police - the bottom line is I think it suite the bike well. The mag painted swingarm and yokes is much more of a push as I see it at the moment. I have a spare swingarm though so will maybe try it one day....
I think "fakery" is a condemnable offence when someone is putting decals that say SPS, for instance, on the tail, when it isn't, or putting a plaque on the yolk when it isn't a bike that came with one. Other than that, it's your bike and project, do as you please. Personally, I wouldn't go for fake magnesium cuz one day I'd like to have the real components on my bike, but that's just me I've done lots of subtle bits of fakery on my bike, painting the Brembo red on my callipers, for instance, to mimic the higher grade of calliper that I don't yet have
Imho the only type of fakery, which means faker needs to be boiled in piss, is either change of model, pretend it’s an R or 911 GT3 for example by badging, or where they throw the whole ducabike catalogue at it
From your description, the bike is already a long way from how it came off the production line. I'd do whatever you like, as it probably won't lower its value but it will make you happy. Post up some pics when you get chance so we can all see this beautiful machine!
Fakery for the purpose of fooling someone for your gain is bad. If you are representing it honestly do whatever you like.
Do whatever you want. It’s your bike and it can always be reversed at a later date if it’s that important
