Mild Restoration - M900sie

[deanyoungblood]

Hi All,

I’ve been a Monster owner since May 2022 and have had some good advice and help from members here already.

The bike is in pretty good condition, however there are a few areas I’d like to restore as I like my bikes in good condition.

The frame has some rust spots and the engine casings are tired and need reconditioning.

This brings me to my point; my garage has no electricity and no lighting as it is part of a collection of garages at the end of my street.

I’d like to undertake this work myself by stripping the engine out and getting the frame powdercoated, however with my current situation this isn’t possible.

Are there any companies that would undertake such mild restoration for a reasonable cost?

I’m mindful that I won’t get this money back in bike value, at least not for the next 5-10 years.

This is the only option or I’d have to sell as I don’t want the condition worsening due to sitting in a damp garage over future winters.

The bike is in generally really good condition, it’s just the frame and engine that bothers me.

Any help welcome!

[deanyoungblood]

https://ibb.co/m6MB6Zz

[walkingpictures]

A bit of a way from you but might be worth a try:

http://www.carlharrisonmotorcycles.co.uk/index.html

They're in Norfolk and I took my 900 Dark there several years ago and Carl did a fine job

Kimbo

[Grumpy]

A bit of a way from you but might be worth a try:

http://www.carlharrisonmotorcycles.co.uk/index.html

They're in Norfolk and I took my 900 Dark there several years ago and Carl did a fine job

Kimbo

I second Carl, as suggested by Kimbo.
He's the go to independent Ducati workshop in East Anglia.

Not sure if Neil at Cornerspeed is any closer. Never used their services, but always hear positive report's about his work.

[Mr Gazza]

My experience of rebuilds is that as soon as you farm something out, you lose control and sometimes lose some bits and always lose a fair bit of money.
It's a big thing to entrust an entire bike to someone else and it's going to be a big bill at the end for sure.

I like to do as much as possible myself and only farm out stuff like blasting and powder coating to people I trust and know well. I guess I'm fortunate in having mates in some handy trades.

If I were in your shoes I think I would be thinking in terms of powering up the garage and turning it into a workshop.
First thing would be a portable generator which you could drop outside the door and start up when you want to work in there. they run so quietly these days that I don't think anyone would know you had it?
It would be a fair investment for sure but you'd probably sell it for what you bought it for when you're done with it.
Come to that if it's just light you need, there are loads of brilliant rechargeable lights that would last at least an evening at a time.

What you're planning doesn't need a huge amount of tools and those mostly last a lifetime, so no ill store.

I built my first bike up when I was 16-17 on the 4' x 6' "veranda" of a garden shed, with some black polythene draped over the roof and weighed down round the edges. A lead-lamp gave me light and I could feel the snow and hail on by back through the polythene at times as there wasn't really enough room for me and the bike. I had to work on one side at a time with the bike pushed to one side or other.
I got a proper shed eventually and built the bike all over again the next winter under proper lights and with a bench.. Luxury..:D

[900Rebuilder]

Personally I would rather do the work myself than have some one else do it but I understand your predicament. As suggested above you can kit out your existing garage reasonably easily and for not too much money but another idea maybe to look around for someone in your local area who would allow you to work on your bike in there garage for a few months.

[Bitza]

Well deanyoungblood, you have my sympathy not having access to something like a reasonable workspace, for me would be spirit breaking. I hear MrG's helpful suggestions, and many of us have done our first rebuilds in "basic!?" conditions when we were young, but I'm not so sure how keen they would be later in life. I guess that it is going to cost you one way or another, just hope you've got some funds to spare, all the best with the project and remember to post some pics when it's done.

[deanyoungblood]

Thanks for all of your replies.

I have plenty of tools and enjoy getting my hands dirty, I just lack workbenches etc and there’s not a lot of space in these small grouped garages.

I already have three bikes in there which makes juggling them about to use and strip a challenge.

I think the idea of using someone else’s garage is a good one, something I’ll ask and see what is about. It’s literally just the ability to strip it and put it back together again

[mickj]

Can you do it in the house? I've done that a couple of times when I didn't have a garage with power. The dining room has heating, power and coffee on hand.

[Bitza]

MJGT suggestion sounds like a plan, with 1 obvious proviso.
I was threatened with eviction from halls of residence when the cleaner found a disassembled triumph in my wardrobe. Some people can be so proper.

[Mr Gazza]

It's certainly comfy and easy to do it in the house.
I've had bikes in all the rooms of my home except for two, one being the bathroom, although we did get a Tiger 90 stuck down the loo in someone else's house.
The trick is to build big lumps if you're doing it upstairs and then assemble downstairs.
Not like the folks who built a combo upstairs!!

It works up to the point where you want to paint or do any grp work, then the stink is unbearable!

[Bitza]

Well building a combo indoors might sound extreme but my dad and his bachelor chums tried to build a glider in a flat?! I'm pretty sure it wasn't a success. While on the subject of odd glider builds, I also met Bill Goldfinch as a child who had been held in Colditz Castle where inmates built an escape glider. All a bit off the thread messages so appoligies for that.

[900Rebuilder]

Well building a combo indoors might sound extreme but my dad and his bachelor chums tried to build a glider in a flat?! I'm pretty sure it wasn't a success. While on the subject of odd glider builds, I also met Bill Goldfinch as a child who had been held in Colditz Castle where inmates built an escape glider. All a bit off the thread messages so appoligies for that.

Was going to mention Colditz when I read your opening statement!

Built many a bike indoors - the joy of cheap rented houses! ;)

Over the past few years I've had a concrete garage installed and have slowly been kitting it out with sterling board lining for internal walls, power, led lights and wifi. Next plan to divide in two add more insulation in the workshop section and a diesel heater :thumbsup:

[walkingpictures]

I remember many years ago moving my Moto Guzzi Le Mans into my front room for the winter,got some strange looks from the neighbours when I was trying to push it through the front door!! I was changing a lot of fasteners to stainless and it was ideal to have the bike behind the sofa!

Kimbo

[Jez900ie]

Lean to sheds that bolt onto the house are not too expensive to buy or build and then you get all your problems resolved...

Personally I wouldn't powder coat the frame, it often ends up in threads, and is too thick so that when the bike is reassembled it breaks off under pressure of bolted on components. A few coats of smooth finish Black Hammerite brushed on to gain thickness of cover -with sanding between coats-, then rattle can the final finish. Will cost half, its not difficult, and the result will be better.

[utopia]

I'm loathe to jump in and further encourage you to do it yourself if your facilities aren't really up to it, but ...
If lack of bench space should become a deciding factor then its worth considering a black and decker workmate.
I was given an old one a few years back and I've been surprised at how useful it is.
Packs down for easy storage and makes a useful outdoor workstation for messy jobs.

[350TSS]

^^^ I agree with Jez, powder coating is over rated. The finish is not that resilient to knocks which are easily suffered during installation of major components and has the added disadvantage that it cannot be easily touched up afterwards. His point about the finish being too thick causing it to crack or flake off when a bolt is tightened against it is also valid.

[adie851]

What you could do to stop the bike deteriorating further in your garage is buy a little portable generator..Honda are probably the best.....then get yourself a dehumidifier ....and when you are working in( or near )the garage....run it for as long as you are able to .Obviously make sure the fumes can exit the garage. It isn't an ideal situation what you've got. But I'd do that first ,then get a heater ..you'll need to check the ratings of these devices so that they're compatible with the generator output..make the garage a decent working environment.... then start your restoration...
Hope this helps.

[deanyoungblood]

I appreciate all the comments and feedback.

I’m going to mull over it, trying to persuade my brother to let me store it in his double garage, full of junk, for a few months.

I’d love to keep it original and I love the bike, so much soul and feeling, so it’ll pain me to change anything away from factory. It is totally standard so anything I do would have to be sympathetic

[jamminbmx]

I maintain my monster in a wooden shed and have just got lighting installed by running an extension cord across the garden! Before that i used rechargeable lights and a head torch!

Workmate is a brilliant tip! Just rebuilt the engine of my DR800 on one. Excellent stability and fold out of the way!

https://i.imgur.com/1vIGIKV.jpg

[jerry]

I used to poo poo Work Mates but when my mate Pete got one into my garage I was converted really useful item , \i have one in Thailand now as well, Last 4 rebuilds I done all powder coated frames and wheels etc , but this time I have gone with 2 pack on 750ss rebuild , cant tell the difference and its cheaper ...I no longer sure where to move to in UK but I want to get far away from Brighton but not North maybe go west will have a smaller garage I think as Im only going for a 2 bedroom place .