Paint or Patina - Breezer Lightning XTR

[Wezzo]

Ive just picked up this Breezer and although it looks a bit rough its all there. I've done a few motorcycle restorations in my time and come to the conclusion that there are too many being done to a standard that never existing ex-factory.

So the question is, do I get this one repainted and tarted up or just polish it best I can, perhaps add new decals and leave it as-is. I ask as I'm not sure what's right or wrong in this Retorbike world, which is new to me.

All opinions welcome

 

[eshew]

Re:

I would say if the bike is going to be kept as an art piece then paint.

If it will be ridden leave it as is. No sense letting fresh paint get in the way of a proper ride.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

As above really. If you plan to use it just a touch up, fork service and polish should do. Saying that, it's a hi-spec model so well worth the effort if you do repaint.

 

[LongboardSi]

I would keep as it is but sort out the forks (or replace with something appropriate to the bike) and probably switch out the bars (and probably saddle too) and any other modern/low end stuff. I’d much rather have battle-scarred but high quality parts, that suit the character of the bike than a full restoration that isn’t quite right. Even done to original catalogue spec can be a bit soulless (and very expensive). Really depends how much you want to spend and if you are going to ride it...

 

[Wezzo]

Re:

Your spot on. Those Manitou forks have to go but it seems difficult to find originals. Joe Breeze emailed me saying that Ritchie Logic Tange forks were used but I haven’t be able to find any. The wheels are wrong as well and need Ritchey Vantage Comp black rims. They need rebuilding anyhow. I’ve got some Ricthey Forcelite bars which are original spec, so in time it’ll be back to the way it should. I think for now I’ll get the T Cut out and give it a deep clean with new cables and suchlike and ride as it is. Thanks again for your views chaps

 

[mk one]

Nice bike

First and foremost its your bike, build it how you want, then you will enjoy it more

There is no right or wrong way to do it, wether you totally restore it to showroom condition and then take it out to ride like intended, or leave as is, fit some modern parts and ride it as intended. If its what you want and gets you out on it then its all good.

There is the route of trying to find original spec NOS parts and then just looking at it sat in your front room for months on end, too scared to take it out through fear of scratching it. Having said that, im sure there will always be someone on here who will then buy it off you

As for forks, maybe put an ad up in the wanted section, someone is bound to have a set lying around.

Whatever you decide, make sure you take loads of pics and post them up on here, cant have too many pics

mark

 

[ishaw]

Re:

Having gone down both routes in the past, I'd polish it and get it to a point you can ride it. Switch out parts when you get them rather than wait for the big day when you've collected everything and finally build it.

In the time you've been riding it, you'll have had fun and can always paint it later.

 

[LongboardSi]

I'm not too fussy myself on modern/period parts, but some kind of seem to suit more than others. Long travel forks kill the handling on old bikes intended for short/no travel, mainly because they raise the BB too high.

I always fit wider bars, (but too wide - like most modern ones - don't work on the geometry of older bikes, that rely on longer stems to get the reach). Titec Flat trackers are my favourite - got a couple of pairs that have been on various bikes...

Also tend to go with modern rubber, although I've got some older red-wall IRCs that again float between various bikes.

Quite like a modern 1x drivetrain on old bikes, especially if it means they get ridden more, and Sunrace do such a range of decent cassette options you can get wide range options to suit most setups.

Si F

And if you go single speed then most of the 'rules' go out the window with the gears

 

[integerspin]

Re: Re:

Having gone down both routes in the past, I'd polish it and get it to a point you can ride it. Switch out parts when you get them rather than wait for the big day when you've collected everything and finally build it.

In the time you've been riding it, you'll have had fun and can always paint it later.

I guess I have sort of done that.
I repainted a Lightning frame and four years on it's still hanging here looking lovely!
I got a Jet Stream, at the time I was painting the Lightning, the Jet Stream looked pretty bad.
I saw the bike in the marketplace section and comments were all along the lines of "nice bike
shame how shit it looks". I repainted the Jet Stream lettering on the top tube and touched up
the paint, I didn't fix it all but just tidied it up with whatever paint I already had at hand.
It looks quite good and there is no bare metal, most importantly I was out riding it
a few days after I bought it.

I would go with clean and a quick tidy up.

Marin forks look very similar to Breezer forks.

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

I love original paint, patina or no. With something like this I'm pretty sure I'd want to keep it original, although I can't really see how beaten up it is from that picture.

Personally, I don't really see the point in repainting something with an aim to getting it to look "like new". I'm not really a fan of restored classic cars or bikes either. For one thing, it will never be completely authentic, for another, you'll probably be too scared to ride it. And it will probably cost more than it adds to the value - money you'll never get back.

But then, I don't really like anything to look too new.

It IS quite fun to send a really rough looking frame off to the powdercoater and have it come back looking really fresh - but that's a cheap, tough solution for a rider, not a "restoration". This will be expensive to restore - and probably only worth it if you plan to hang it on a wall, which would be silly anyway. Or maybe not. But if you're going to hang it on the wall, then don't you want it to tell you its stories?

I don't know, it's not up to me! It's your bike dude!