Apart from a couple of very small items that need tidying up and a lick of paint the bike is now basically ready to go apart from 3 things. Tyres – easy to sort A left side front wing Mirror/indicator assembly. At a push I could use one I have after painting, but the main body is badly broken with bits missing. If anyone has one they’d like to sell please get in touch. The colour doesn’t matter. Main body panels, and here lies the main issue. Driven by my indecision, plus unwillingness and inability to throw money at the bodywork, I’ve come to a full stop and need to make some decisions and/or commitments. I have several options and am hoping that the thought process behind typing this out will help me achieve some clarity over a way forward. So apologies for boring you all with some rambling. Firstly I must acknowledge the offer of a set of Fila Branded Bodywork by Sev, which I’m possibly still going to take, but they will need painting or wrapping, as my self-respect wouldn’t stand finishing the bike that way. No disrespect to anyone who runs theirs like that of course. I’m only really bothered about the nose cone, upper and lower panels plus ‘blades’ on both sides. The seat panels are sorted. The bike is Red and I’d like to keep it that way. I would have loved to go Yellow with the bodywork, but I don’t like the thought of a Red frame with yellow panels and don’t want to strip the bike to a bare frame at this stage to change it. If a full set of Black bodywork came up at the right price I would consider that with the Red frame. I wouldn’t mind using a full set of MkI panels on it but I’ve proved recently that MkI and MkII sides and nose cones can’t be mixed and matched. All the original MkII panels I have are damaged, especially the Right side upper panel and Blade which are scrap really. The rest is repairable to a point where it could be painted or wrapped. Despite my willingness to have a go, I know I can’t achieve a painted finish on a DIY basis that I’d be happy with on this bike. EBAY isn’t awash with 999 Panels in good enough condition to use. You may have gathered cost is a significant factor. I’ve been quoted @£400 for painting a set of panels in plain Red that I present pre-prepped to the best of my ability. I’ve been quoted around the same for a plain single colour wrap.
My options: Take up Sev’s offer and get the panel set painted or wrapped having prepped them. Source used MKII RHS upper panel and blade from Ebay, put a lot of time and energy into prepping the complete set, and pay somebody to Paint them. Total cost without my time @£550-600. Finding a MKII RHS upper panel in repairable condition isn’t easy. It could be months before one comes up. As above, but Wrapping instead of paint. Same total cost in terms of time and money. Continue to search Ebay etc for good condition panels to make up a full set of either MKI or MKII panels. Total cost again @£550-600. Purchase a full set of Chinese EBAY panels pre-painted and ready to go. Total cost @£350. Won’t match the tank colour and could be dubious quality. Plus with Chinese New Year looming it may be March before I get them now. At the moment the Chinese set looks good, but I’d probably want to keep looking for used genuine panels to build up a set over a period of time. Typing this out hasn’t really helped. Does anyone have any usable panels to sell that would work out cost effective compared to an Ebay set?
Thanks BB, appreciate you looking, but that one doesn't have any headlight holes or side 'blades' and would still cost me £400 to get painted on top of the purchase price.
@Nasher what time frame are you looking at to get them painted and on the bike? Once I get my money from the accident I had and get a new commuter, you can have the tail unit and my dark fairings for a nominal fee. Missing one side wing thingy.
OK so to ensure I understand you correctly Option A: Buy used fairings from ebay (or wherever) cost £550 Repair them yourself to fair standard Pay for respray £400 Pay for decals £30 Cons Total cost £980 Fair amount of your time May take months to achieve due to availability Pros Will be everything you want once completed (remember to refinish the insides too). Option B Buy Chinese fairings for £350 (or less from Sev) Pros Ready to go ASAP (provided you can find some in stock) Saving £630 Cons You will always want originals.
Thanks Nostromo. That could really work. I have a sort of target to get the bike MOT'd by the end of March. Thanks Sev, I know we've discussed this at length and I'm a frustrating bugger, but no disrespect, I really don't want the bike in FILA colours and need to factor in a £400 paint job or wrap for that option.
OK so can you get Chinese knock offs in plain red? Have you spoken to someone who has Chinese knock off re fitment?
Apparently the fit is good, but the colour is variable: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184893874186?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152995368116?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Or even https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154220329584?hash=item23e83f7a70:g:oNsAAOSw6yJa3sTz But not plain Black it appears.
Obviously we are all different... In your shoes I would press on and get a set red Chinese knock off. I would want to ride the bike as soon as some better weather arrives Collecting up the original parts can then be done at leisure, when the right ones come along -its a project afterall. Have some time to think whether you will actually have a yellow paint job (next winter).... Afterwards the Chinese ones can be switched out and resold for some return. TBH if it were my bike I'd have probably put Sevs fairings on as they would be cheaper and probably easier to sell on ebay later! PS Nostromos black ones look like they might fit the bill for the final set though.
Thanks Jez. that's good insight, and sort of what I'm coming round to. I suppose I could always never take my helmet off whilst near the bike if it had the Fila panels on. And I'm not actually that bothered that Nostromos' Black ones have 749 on them. It's a shame however they'll be under the lacquer and impossible to remove.
Wing Mirrors. The bike came to me with two sets of Wing Mirror/Front Indicator assemblies. One red pair and one Black pair, all 4 of which are damaged in some way. Both the Red outer covers are badly cracked, Broken, and scratched, but both the Black ones are easily recoverable, so will get a rub down and some paint. By mixing and matching parts I've built up a really good Right Hand side assembly with the Black cover. But on the left, despite having an almost perfect outer Black cover both the main bodies I have to choose from are badly broken and missing the threaded part for the mounting bolt. It should be a mirror image of this Right hand side one: But the better of the two broken bodies after removing a load of old epoxy and bathroom sealant looks like this: The main issue is the missing threaded part for the mounting bolt. I've figured out how I could rebuild the area, reinstate a thread, and even make both ends look OK as they are underneath when fitted. But before I start, could I ask again if anyone has any wing mirrors for sale? Even a Left hand one with a ruined outer cover and/or broken body with the mounting thread would be easier to repair than what I have at the moment. Thanks
Well the other end is at least intact, so would be a better start. Can you have a think about how much you'd want for them and send me a message. Thanks.
