What did you do to your bike today?

[Colonel_Klinck]

Decided to change the look of my 2018 1290 Super Adventure R. Vinyls are from Moto Pro Works and are fantastic quality. Though they don't give the best instructions on where they all go, there was a bit of head scratching with some. Well chuffed with how it turned out though, feels like a new (to me) bike. Gave it all a ceramic coat after so should remain looking great for a while.

 

[Griffo]

Do you have a before shot please, @Colonel_Klinck? I keep looking at these kits for the GT, but still have nightmares about just getting a flipping transparent 3M tank protector piece to sit straight on a bike several years ago!

Did you rake the panels off? And how many times did you cry/shout/swear/sell the bike, leave your family and start a new life in New Zealand?

 

[leigh_boy]

picked up 2 bikes.
1. RGV 250 N - box of bits will be a track bike and might do a youtube build on it once i have collected all the missing bits ( engine bolts was the first think i noticed missing) oh and had the frame welded as has 2 cracks
2. RG F 125 - low compression and some one stripped it in 2013 also in a box of bits, i was originally going to track this but then the rgv came up not sure what to do with this as it is mostly complete but is an import.

 

[mingeroonie]

picked up 2 bikes.
1. RGV 250 N - box of bits will be a track bike and might do a youtube build on it once i have collected all the missing bits ( engine bolts was the first think i noticed missing) oh and had the frame welded as has 2 cracks
2. RG F 125 - low compression and some one stripped it in 2013 also in a box of bits, i was originally going to track this but then the rgv came up not sure what to do with this as it is mostly complete but is an import.

I so wanted an Rgv250 back in the day.
Still do if Im honest

 

[leigh_boy]

I so wanted an Rgv250 back in the day.
Still do if Im honest

they are great bikes! i have more fun on the smaller bikes then the big bikes and even more so if they are 2 stroke

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Do you have a before shot please, @Colonel_Klinck? I keep looking at these kits for the GT, but still have nightmares about just getting a flipping transparent 3M tank protector piece to sit straight on a bike several years ago!

Did you rake the panels off? And how many times did you cry/shout/swear/sell the bike, leave your family and start a new life in New Zealand?

This is from July in the Alps.

If you tackle it watch lots of YT on applying vinyl. I use 2 spray bottles, 1 with weak soapy water, the other plain water, a hairdryer and a good squeegee with one end felt covered so it doesn't mark the vinyl. Use the soapy water to get the vinyl lined up and then use plain water under the edges to wash out the soapy water so they stick well. Squeegee out all the water and use the hairdryer to help manipulate the vinyl where you need to and make the edges stick properly. Don't be afraid to remove it if you mess up, just be careful not to stretch it as you remove it.

I've applied vinyls to bikes before so I did most of my screaming and shouting years ago. Watch YT on how to do it, they'll make it look easy but with patience and time you'll crack it.

Oh and makes sure the panels are clean clean clean. Use glue/gum remover to remove any residue of old vinyl. Use either a cleaning spay you can find on car detailing sites that you use before ceramic coating or isopropanol alcohol as a final wipe down before you apply them.

I did all the panels in place, its far easier and you can line them up with other panels/vinyl.

 

[Griffo]

Thanks! I think we stopped pretty much in that sport last summer!

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Thanks! I think we stopped pretty much in that sport last summer!

I've done the Alps many times skiing over the years but never in summer until this trip. It was incredible, we all wondered why the hell we had done it before. 10 days of twisty heaven. Started off at the Black Forest and the B500, into Switzerland and then jumping between Switzerland, Italy and France for a 7 days ending in Grenoble and then the slog north for the tunnel. I know we did many of the best roads but we didn't even scratch the surface of what the Alps offer. It was damned hot though, many days 35c even in the mountains.

A few pics

 

[Griffo]

If you want something for next year, may I suggest the Pyrenees! We went this year and I/we generally found the roads preferable to the alps and dolomites the year previous. Although we did do way too many hairpins last year. Pyrenees were more flowing. Subjective of course!