HI-Bird 250 " Let the mods begin "

Universal_Diver · 03-15-2008, 11:23 PM

Guess I will try to make this a running post of the stuff I do to my HI-BIRD
since there is not a lot of info out there yet....

Probably the one thing that really bothered me about this bike was the white plastics in the rear with the awful flames. They gotta go.
A quick bead blast with fine media and a scuff with 320 paper and the clearcoat/flames are gone. Next a quick base coat clear coat and looks much better now.... :wink:

rigidchop · 03-16-2008, 08:54 AM

looks good. are those bikes as tall as advertised? they dont look it in the pics.

Universal_Diver · 03-16-2008, 10:10 AM

Thats one of the reasons I got this bike is the height. I am 6 foot 1/2 inch and about 270. I cant sit flat footed on the bike...

kczukiman · 03-16-2008, 11:17 AM

looks good!I may have to copy .Did you use paint in a can or a sprayer?

Cal25 · 03-16-2008, 11:56 AM

Still taking my time putting my new bike together but already know the cheesy flames got to go. Not really looked too close yet but thought they were simply decals and would remove with a hair dryer. Are they clearcoated over which would prevent this method of removal? Also I would like to remove the decals from the tank. I think I would like the color better than the graphics.
Also noticed you dont have the HiBird on the seat. Did you remove it and if so, how did you do it?
I like the mods you have done so far. Keep 'em coming.

Universal_Diver · 03-16-2008, 01:09 PM

I was going to use the fusion paint as I have in the past on other stuff and it worked perfectly, but a coworker had some 2 part paint already mixed up so we added flex agent and he sprayed it with the stuff he was already painting.

The stickers are clear coated which sucked for removal. I scraped with my fingernail to lift an edge then peeled. The used a LIGHT beadblaster to scuff it and then 320 grit to get it all smooth.
Looks like factory. :wink:

I am going to do something with the tank as well, just not sure what.
Fot the seat a quick wipe with a rag soaked in Acetone followed with Meguires leather (I know its not leather) conditioner and it seems ok.

Here is a better pic of the painted sides...

03-15-2008, 11:23 PM	#1
Universal_Diver Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Florida the toilet of the south Posts: 171	HI-Bird 250 " Let the mods begin " Guess I will try to make this a running post of the stuff I do to my HI-BIRD since there is not a lot of info out there yet.... Probably the one thing that really bothered me about this bike was the white plastics in the rear with the awful flames. They gotta go. A quick bead blast with fine media and a scuff with 320 paper and the clearcoat/flames are gone. Next a quick base coat clear coat and looks much better now.... :wink:
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03-16-2008, 08:54 AM	#2
rigidchop Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: west virginia Posts: 53	looks good. are those bikes as tall as advertised? they dont look it in the pics.
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03-16-2008, 10:10 AM	#3
Universal_Diver Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Florida the toilet of the south Posts: 171	Thats one of the reasons I got this bike is the height. I am 6 foot 1/2 inch and about 270. I cant sit flat footed on the bike...
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03-16-2008, 11:17 AM	#4
kczukiman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Independence,Missouri Posts: 1,049	looks good!I may have to copy .Did you use paint in a can or a sprayer?
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03-16-2008, 11:56 AM	#5
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	Still taking my time putting my new bike together but already know the cheesy flames got to go. Not really looked too close yet but thought they were simply decals and would remove with a hair dryer. Are they clearcoated over which would prevent this method of removal? Also I would like to remove the decals from the tank. I think I would like the color better than the graphics. Also noticed you dont have the HiBird on the seat. Did you remove it and if so, how did you do it? I like the mods you have done so far. Keep 'em coming.
	0

03-16-2008, 01:09 PM	#6
Universal_Diver Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Florida the toilet of the south Posts: 171	I was going to use the fusion paint as I have in the past on other stuff and it worked perfectly, but a coworker had some 2 part paint already mixed up so we added flex agent and he sprayed it with the stuff he was already painting. The stickers are clear coated which sucked for removal. I scraped with my fingernail to lift an edge then peeled. The used a LIGHT beadblaster to scuff it and then 320 grit to get it all smooth. Looks like factory. :wink: I am going to do something with the tank as well, just not sure what. Fot the seat a quick wipe with a rag soaked in Acetone followed with Meguires leather (I know its not leather) conditioner and it seems ok. Here is a better pic of the painted sides...
	0