I just bought a 15 gsxs750z with only 1500 miles. It was in very good shape - worst looking thing we’re the slightly dingy pipes. I’m trying this! I may try using some 3m heavy cut car compound. After the sanding. - Anthony
Hey Mike, good vid and good idea its time for me to do the same as i missed my winter prep too. The pipes look good. Bikers in the UK are using ACF50 (other brand available 😂) which is for anti-corrosion and applied either by aerosol or spray gun from a compressor. Our roads are salted by the government and it helps protect you metal for a period of time. Not sure if thats the same for you as your climate is a bit different. It would be interesting to see how it works in Vermont though....
Baz M oh yes I can relate! We use a lot of salt melting corrosive salt based chemicals in Vermont. Cars usually last 10 years then time for a new one! I don’t ride in the winter and in the spring we get a lot of rain which helps wash the roads and cleans the salt away. I have never heard of acf50! I just watched a video about it (a guy from the Uk). My first thought was to use it on my cars! Thanks for the heads up on this! Amazon sells it. I’m going to give it a try 👍
I used to use super fine steel wool with tons of cleaner wax to restore aluminum rims on bicycles 👌👍 Great material for gentle cleanup especially when mixed with the right lubricant/cleaner.
Uhhhg yes that can be an issue! Once it's clean and dry (soap and water with a gentle brush, air compressor to blow all of the water off) you can spray paint it with specific paint they make for radiators. It'll look like new again.
why not just use a SOS pad? Seems like it would be easier. it's already got the soap built into the pad. Just wet it and clean and polish your pipes. I think it would be faster and easier than wet sand paper?
SOS pads are great for cleaning off dirt on very hard metal surfaces (pots and pans). But not as effective in creating a smooth mirror like surface on stainless steel pipes. Plus they are messy beyond belief! Wet sand paper requires no spray off afterward and leaves a smoooth repaired surface ready for polish. I have used very fine steel wool filled with cleaner wax to clean corroded aluminum wheels on bicycles, but again, the wrong kind of material for this type of work. The pipes need to be treated like paint. The metal is actually quite soft.
Øystein Dyrli Depends on how bad the pipes are but in this case, take out messing with cameras, about 1 hour 💪 my arms never got sore. I did not have to press very hard on the pipes to get them to clean up and shine.
I get a little blue-black at the very top, against the head, the highest heat. That's normal. But if the blue starts traveling down the pipe, turning almost black, you're running too lean. My pipes turn a shiny goldish color after I clean them. But if I ignore them for a season, they get that ugly neglected weathered brown color.
Solvo autosol and elbow grease. Works great
Since the UK has been on lockdown, I have been doing everything I can to my bike haha!
It’ll be glorious when you finally ride 😁😎
Glad to have found you and the GSXS forums. Bringing the check for my 2015 to the dealer tomorrow and they'll be delivering it next week. I'm stoked!
I just bought a 15 gsxs750z with only 1500 miles. It was in very good shape - worst looking thing we’re the slightly dingy pipes. I’m trying this! I may try using some 3m heavy cut car compound. After the sanding. - Anthony
The metal polish might be all you need since it has so few miles on it! Enjoy your new bike :)
Cool man. I'm going to do the same. King Regards from Brazil 🇧🇷
My best to you my friend!
Looks great. Definitely on my list of things to do!
Hi i have the same bike since a couple of weeks, thanks for the vids.
Funny, I was saying earlier that my pipes look like they're brown.
May have to do this soon...
Hey Mike, good vid and good idea its time for me to do the same as i missed my winter prep too. The pipes look good. Bikers in the UK are using ACF50 (other brand available 😂) which is for anti-corrosion and applied either by aerosol or spray gun from a compressor. Our roads are salted by the government and it helps protect you metal for a period of time. Not sure if thats the same for you as your climate is a bit different. It would be interesting to see how it works in Vermont though....
Baz M oh yes I can relate! We use a lot of salt melting corrosive salt based chemicals in Vermont. Cars usually last 10 years then time for a new one! I don’t ride in the winter and in the spring we get a lot of rain which helps wash the roads and cleans the salt away. I have never heard of acf50! I just watched a video about it (a guy from the Uk). My first thought was to use it on my cars! Thanks for the heads up on this! Amazon sells it. I’m going to give it a try 👍
AutoSol and .000 Steel Wool works great also..
I used to use super fine steel wool with tons of cleaner wax to restore aluminum rims on bicycles 👌👍 Great material for gentle cleanup especially when mixed with the right lubricant/cleaner.
Do you have a recommendation for making the radiator look new? I have a few discolored areas that are also a big eye sore.
Uhhhg yes that can be an issue! Once it's clean and dry (soap and water with a gentle brush, air compressor to blow all of the water off) you can spray paint it with specific paint they make for radiators. It'll look like new again.
why not just use a SOS pad? Seems like it would be easier. it's already got the soap built into the pad. Just wet it and clean and polish your pipes. I think it would be faster and easier than wet sand paper?
SOS pads are great for cleaning off dirt on very hard metal surfaces (pots and pans). But not as effective in creating a smooth mirror like surface on stainless steel pipes. Plus they are messy beyond belief! Wet sand paper requires no spray off afterward and leaves a smoooth repaired surface ready for polish. I have used very fine steel wool filled with cleaner wax to clean corroded aluminum wheels on bicycles, but again, the wrong kind of material for this type of work. The pipes need to be treated like paint. The metal is actually quite soft.
How long did this project take to complete?
Øystein Dyrli Depends on how bad the pipes are but in this case, take out messing with cameras, about 1 hour 💪 my arms never got sore. I did not have to press very hard on the pipes to get them to clean up and shine.
hey, I have a question... do your pipes re 'blue' after you polish them?
I get a little blue-black at the very top, against the head, the highest heat. That's normal. But if the blue starts traveling down the pipe, turning almost black, you're running too lean. My pipes turn a shiny goldish color after I clean them. But if I ignore them for a season, they get that ugly neglected weathered brown color.
@@sstressfl Thank you for the fast reply.