Resin parts such as cowls and step boards are used in many modern motorcycles. This is because they are lightweight and easy to make complex shapes. It can be said that the variety of bike designs is due to the use of resin parts.
However, the resin also has a major weakness. As the years go by, they gradually deteriorate, becoming brittle and turning white. In particular, parts that have not been painted will become very shabby. There must be many owners who want to do something about their bikes that are gradually fading to white.
The whitening is especially noticeable on black plastic parts such as the unpainted footboard.
It is very unfortunate that it makes the bike look completely old.
This is due to the effects of UV rays from sunlight on the surface of the parts and heat from the engine.
If the motorcycle is ridden to work every day or parked outdoors without a cover, the speed of whitening will increase.
In this issue of MOTO HACK, we introduce the maintenance work of Mr. neo, who is currently repairing his Yamaha BWS100 (Bewith), which has also become extremely bleached. The title of the diary is a rather gruesome title, but in a nutshell, this is a method of reviving resin parts by quickly burning the surface of the resin parts with a burner.
If the heat is just right and the timing is just right, the resin on the surface of the parts will melt and regain its original smoothness. So, neo-san burned the cowl, step board, fan cover, and other parts that he was interested in.
As a result, the BWS100 was restored with very vivid color. The burning-at-the-stake method is quite effective!
The important point, however, is to never "overdo it. If the burner is applied for a long time, the parts will deform and melt in no time, and in the worst case, catch fire. If this happens, it is no longer worth repairing! Since the motorcycle is loaded with flammable liquids such as gasoline and oil, please use the utmost caution when working with fire.
If you are not confident about this, or if you cannot use fire in your apartment, there is a special chemical called "Resin Gloss Restoration Chemical". There is no risk of fire here, so if you are concerned about it, you can start with the chemical first.
Burned at the stake.
From neo's maintenance diary, August 27, 2022.
Work Process 1
The carburetor was damaged in a hectic situation, but we were able to get it fired up.
However, it looks so pitiful, and the bare polypropylene parts are bleached and look like they are on the verge of being scrapped.
I also saw a picture of the car when I just got it, and it looks bad.
It would be nice if only the engine was clean, but it would be better if the exterior was also clean to some extent.
Work Process 2
So, the black is restored by torch roasting.
It becomes much more visible.
The front blue part of the unpainted part is also revived.
However, if you burn it too much for fun, it may deform or catch fire, so use moderation... ( = =) Toomey
Thank you for your valuable ideas, "Mr. Neo" who introduced the "Burned at the Stake (P.S.)".
*The articles on MOTO HACK are composed and reprinted from user contributions. The effects and methods described are at the discretion of the user, and Webike is not responsible for any problems that may occur.
