Tanks for the memories

More painting work as the hard parts make their way to me.  The fuel tank was once a nice metallic black, now in "team colors"...

Again, not bad for a backyard paint job.  Next is to let it fully cure, lightly go over it with a scuff pad, and then hit it with the clearcoat.

Fender will be done at the same time...

Dad wearing it as a hat... apparently this is how he smuggled it over the border... (don't tell the queen!)...

And how it looks now, with a light coat of primer on it.  Note that when you are crammed for space, anything and everything can become a table to have painted parts dry.  A number of smaller ones hang from the rafters on coathangers, making the garage look like some sort of psychedelic abbatoir...

Crash bungs came in -- proper stuff, the "official" Kawasaki parts.  Normally costing $180, I got them for $50, still in the original package.  They were originally intended to work with stock, fully faired bodywork -- as such, they had nice aluminum spacers that set the pucks 5-6" out from where there are here -- looked silly.  So I removed the spacers and bolted the pucks directly to the mounts -- main role is to protect the radiators, which these will.  However, as you can see, the side skirts no longer fit... damn, damn, dammit!  Will have to think on this for awhile -- perhaps I can move the pucks lower on the mounts?

It took a second trip, but the wheel has been machined to suit the larger 600 bearnings for the 25mm axle.  The new bearings, seals, and spacers are already installed, and the original bearing is sitting on top of the spacer -- you can see the amount of material that needed to be removed.

Perhaps this pic is clearer -- maybe, a bit of aluminum anyway.  That being said, if this works (and it should), I prefer this route to buying a new 600 wheel.  The bearings, spacer, seals, and maching did set me back $150 -- but it's hard to find a straight front 600 wheel for that price, and plus I'd need to get it shipped to me as well.  Futher, this wheel matches the rear, and it is surprisingly light for the price of the bike.  Soon as I get the forks back together, I'll fit everything up.  Cross your fingers!