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big pete's mini build #2 - '88 Honda ZB50

big pete

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2003
Location
S.F.
Moto(s)
Honda Monkey
Name
Pete
So as most of you know, I picked up the ZB50 that was on Craigslist a week or two ago. Decided to part the Panda build and start the ZB since it's a bit more rare and holds it value a bit better if I do decide to sell it down the road (not that I'm planning to).

The bike looked good from afar but up close, you can tell it needed some tlc. There was surface rust on parts of the frame and inside the tank, the tank needs some body work, the seat needs to be recovered, motor could use a cleaning and maybe rebuild, and just about everything else needed to be cleaned up.

ZB002.jpg

ZB001.jpg

ZB005.jpg

ZB007.jpg


However, the bike did have some good parts: NSR forks/swingarm/wheels, shock relocating bracket, and the wiring harness is in pretty good condition from the subframe forward (I think it's missing some plugs for the rear signals).

ZB006.jpg





Picked the bike up in the middle of last week and started to tear it down this past weekend (finished tonight).

ZB008.jpg

* don't mind the front of the house. The beam, stucco, and doors will be replaced.
ZB011.jpg

ZB012.jpg

ZB013.jpg

ZB010.jpg



I wanted to paint the frame since I did it on my past YSR's and it held up pretty good (not to mention I'm trying to keep a budget lol). Figure I'd give it a try and if it doesn't come out good, I can take the bike apart again and powdercoat it. So on Saturday I took some time to sand and paint the swingarm to see how it would come out. The paint came out great (just like powdercoating) and I let it cure for 2 days.

Got home today and checked to see how hard the paint was. Pressed my nail into the paint and it sank in a little. I was able to scratch off some of the paint with my nail. Since it failed my nail test pretty easy, I decided it'd be best to do it right the first time. Called around and found a place by my work and they have pretty good prices. The owner also said it would be a 2-3 day turnaround . So the frame, swingarm, triple clamp, and clip-ons will be dropped off at the powdercoater's tomorrow. I plan to pick up the frame on Friday so I can start putting it back together :fingersx:
 
Looking like its off to a nice start. Good choice on going with the powdercoater. I painted my 900RR frame before and it came out good but it required a lot of prep work. For the cost of powdercoat, especially on minis, its almost a no brainer now.

One tip, look at all of the misc pieces like the rearsets, lower fork legs, headlight mount, engine case covers, etc that may need some TLC and have them throw it in with the frame job. At this point, the cost to throw them in to get them stripped and powedercoated would be very minimal as opposed to doing them again later.

Also tell them to be very careful with the VIN when they are stripping the frame. My powdercoater put a lighter coat of powder around the steering stem on mine just to be double sure. Last thing you want is to have them accidentally make your stamped VIN unreadable.

For the tank, I recommend electrolysis for 2-3 days quickly followed up with the POR15 tank sealer.
 
No on a tank seal IMHO... use bb's or something and all sorts of cleaners... Simple green etc etc whatever it will take some work for sure.... But anyway make it shine and then keep it full always of fuel... Honda does not offer that tank anymore but skyway makes a re-make I think..

Yeah I think tank sealers just suck and can clog jets later on...

I have even sand (bead) blasted insides of tanks and then cleaned them a bunch with decent luck... btw electrolysis is a good idea... and paint the triple clamp since that is a area that is it get's inside too much it will not clamp the forks right... Or have em mask off with that special tape so the power does not go inside...


Also I should tell you this thing is a piece of sh*t you should let me buy it cheap from you... :) JK

Good luck let me know if we can help you with anything on it like modifying the motor or anything... I have a totally stock one I use as a rr pit bike... Love it. I want one to mod sometime however!!

Craig from Fast50s!!
 
I'll trade you the Dax for it :teeth
 
FourDoor - Too late, already dropped off the parts :| I'm having the frame, swingarm, triple, clip-ons, and the triple bolts coated.


Seesm - I've already ordered the POR-15 kit and plan to do the electrolysis on it before using the coating. Thats what it seems like most mini guys are doing. I just don't want to deal with the flash rust. As for the triple and bolts, I have faith in the guy doing the work. He's an avid biker and there were a bunch of bikes in the shop. We were talking about riding and he said he goes riding with Bostrom Sr. quite often (Sr. lives close by) :wow


I'll trade you the Dax for it :teeth

Your Dax + $2000 :twofinger. Whats the deal with the ZB on PM?
 
The guy is kinda being a jagoff about it. I don't think he realizes that it's kind of a basketcase and basically told me "convince him not to part it out" so I think he's trying to just turn around and flip it for a tidy profit.

I potentially have another one lined up, though, but it's missing the tank so I'll have to scour around the intertoobs for a Skyteam tank.
 
Por15 is 10 times better then any of that old kream junk. The worst is having to remove a bad kream sealer job. my ZB tank was kreamed and it was coming apart when i got it. PITA.
 
Yup the POR15 stuff works wonders and is what I have in my NSR50 tank. Lightyears ahead of the Kream stuff. If I was to do it again, I would just get the prep and the sealer and none of the stripper stuff from POR15 to save a few $, as I would just use the electrolyis to get rid of the rust initially. I had to work quick with mine as my tank was so bad it would flash rust very quickly.

Also make sure when you're doing the electrolysis stuff that you keep an eye out on your coat hanger thats in there and that the corrosion doesn't eat all the way through it or you'll end up with little bits and pieces of metal in your tank that you'll need to get out before you put the POR15 which again can contribute to the flash rust.
 
on the subject of POR15, what about using it to recoat the inside of a clean tank for longevity?....in regards to tanks that use straight gas, not premix.
 
You can but I would just leave it as is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
 
So as most of you know, I picked up the ZB50 that was on Craigslist a week or two ago.
ZB010.jpg
what kind of rear sets are those? you planning on using the seat and side cover on the zb?

Good luck let me know if we can help you with anything on it like modifying the motor or anything... I have a totally stock one I use as a rr pit bike... Love it. I want one to mod sometime however!!

Craig from Fast50s!!
it would be cool to see a zb with american company aftermarket parts :thumbup too bad i sold the monkey bike as i would have loved to run speedforks on it.
 
what kind of rear sets are those? you planning on using the seat and side cover on the zb?

Mac Crane rearsets. The Kitaco seat and side cover from the Panda is just in the picture since I'm going put it back to stock. I'll be rewrapping the ZB seat in suede :teeth
 
When I find a cheap one I can tear apart... I wll make a super sweet one and it may even have speed forks... :)
 
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So got around to working on the cosmetically challenged fork legs. I spent about 3hrs on one leg :tired:. I'm pretty happy with how it came out (its more shiny in person). Now I just have to finish the other one :|

ZB017.jpg


I sold the 3-spoke NSR wheels since I picked these up from gstegman:

ZB015.jpg

They were brand new in the box :love
 
Looks good Pete! I may have a CDI for you. Next time we hook up, I'll bring my ZB parts to see if there is anything you can use. If you want to paint anything, you are welcome to use my stuff.
 
Greg, I have the CDI thing worked out, thanks. I'm just going to use the TB one off my Panda. As for paint, I might take you up on that offer.

I can't wait to get the frame back so I can start assembling the bike.
 
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