How to Restore Vintage Motorcycle
Restoring a vintage motorbike to its original shape is any motorcycle enthusiast’s prime activity. It combines their love for vintage bikes with the desire for creativity, mechanical work and craftsmanship. The end result is an ultimate beauty with a very high price tag, but the bike enthusiasts are rarely concerned with making money out of restored bikes.
For the restoration of a classical bike you should have the know-how of basic motor bike mechanics, the equipment and tools required for the job.
Instructions
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1
First of all you will have to lock on the choice of the appropriate motorcycle. Spend about a week or so researching on vintage motorbikes, with special emphasis on those which are readily available in your area. A true motor cycle enthusiast spends a lot of time in the research phase, and once he/she locks onto the make and model of motor cycle, he/she tries his utmost to purchase it.
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2
Popular choices for restoration these days are the 1950’s and 1960’s classical English Bikes, however, they come with a very high price tag and are difficult to find. One reasonable alternate is the twin cam English bikes from the 60’s or 70’s era. They are one of the most sought after motor bikes these days.
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3
Buy your vintage motorbike, and make sure it is equipped with the original engine and comes with the user manual or guide which has detailed information about the bike’s working and its spare parts. You may download the instructions manual online, but depending on the make and model you may have to do a lot of effort to trace it.
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4
Using the required tools, do a complete tear down of the bike. Note down the configuration of various parts on a notebook and take photos along the process.
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5
Identify the engine of the bike and take it to the nearby engine shop that specializes in the motor bike engines. The shop should be equipped to disassemble the engine smoothly, clean out all the required chambers, and also polish the engine from the outside.
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6
Use sandblasting cannon to clean the frame and swing arm of the bike. Check them for any damage due to rust, or battery leaks, or any cracks. Use a welding torch to fix the cracked parts after cleaning them with sandpaper.
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7
Replace all the redundantly used parts such as brakes, tires, and shocks. Fix the engine back in its place; purchase a dandy seat cover to give a sleek look to your bike. Use dry paint and a spray nozzle to powder coat the bike if required.
