SR'S TECH TIPS; HOW TO RESTORE MOTORCYCLE PLASTICS IN 8 EASY STEPS

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[@floobdrummer132]

The computer guy is still there working on a Suzuki restoration! What an awesome place you have and great on keeping your word with Johnny as I saw that in another video. Once upon a time I had a 1987 KDX-80. I would sometimes use a, I hate to admit, scour pad to "sand off" the white build up on the gas tank; I don't remember any other part of the bike or any other models for that matter having this issue maybe it was just the green colored plastic. Anyway, it did look good and didn't have scratches all over it or anything as it would clean up very nice. After washing my moto bikes I usually spray them from top to bottom with WD-40 and wipe them down and they sparkle for months; not recommended for dual-sports or road bikes and that includes don't use armor all on tires unless for moto. haha. I grew up racing with the "Mac" family also so it is cool to see a Ronnie video in your arsenal too! I raced his older brother double G. Lastly, I don't comment often; but the coffee is hitting hard and made strong today haha Happy New Year and good morning USA!

[@angrytater2456]

That KDX was a great bike.

[@GO-FAST_Racing]

Yeeehaw

[@KaplanCycles]

Awesome Happy New Year!

[@localenterprisebroadcastin5971]

I use mothers aluminum polish on plastics and it works fantastic …no need for multiple types of compounds

[@marksayers2740]

Great tips! I'm new to your channel, but I've been riding dirt bike since I was 15, so 35 years now. I remeber having a paper route to buy my first dirt bike and it was bad. I couldn't afford parts, I had friends that had brand new bikes and I was the guy with missing rear fender. haha... New channel I'm hooked on, thank you!

[@KaplanCycles]

Welcome aboard!

[@Getoutofthetimetrap]

Great tips Ken , thank you and a little sweat equity goes a long way …..but gotta have patience with these things. I’ve found also that using a cotton or wool buffing wheel after sanding instead of chemicals will get that plastic shiny as well but careful not to burn the plastic or gauge them by pushing down to hard or staying in one spot , it’s like you said gotta use the senses of your fingers and your eyes, take your time and you’ll have amazing results and that water for sanding needs a drop of mild dish soap to help in the sanding don’t forget !!! God Bless you and your family and crew and have a blessedly healthy and prosperous New Year Ken .

[@stonemason5116]

This just goes to show, sometimes the old school methods are still the best. I just picked up an 88 KLR 650, the palstics are pretty fresh luckily.

[@banditblogs4260]

Love the ‘how to videos!’ Keep them coming! Happy new year to all the team at Kaplan America 🇺🇸

[@moto3463]

Kaplan can listen to you forever. Your love for bikes shines through everything. I love to see it.

[@JR-ho5qm]

I’m a Autobody painter,I highly recommend you try a polish called Frecla G360. It will work great on your plastics. It’s a diminishing polish so 1 step is all you will need. It is much better than the 3m. 👍🏻

[@NorthCountry2226]

Awesome, thanks for the info. I have a 1979 Can Am 250 that has all the plastic in good shape except it’s very faded. Going to give her a try. Thanks from Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦.

[@justfedup]

@@NorthCountry2226hey, did you try this stuff on your plastics?

[@justfedup]

Hey, I looked at it and it said it’s for metal, are u sure it’s good for plastics?

[@JR-ho5qm]

@@justfedup polish is polish for the most part. But I don’t have a bunch of experience using it on plastics, however I think it performs better than the 3M. Every paint and every plastic acts differently. It’s hard to say what will work best until you try a test spot. Good luck!

[@NorthCountry2226]

@@justfedup Hi, no I didn’t try it. I’m going to try to find it locally and then give it a try. If you find something that works please let me know.

[@paulvandersluys7412]

My 1981 CR450 has all original plastics- BIG job getting like new again.did lots research on restoring and yes ,the wet&dry sand paper with drop of detergent,and then I used good old Vaseline petroleum jelly smothered thick on plastics for 48 hours.then paper towel the plastics dry, last step was lambs wool buffing pad on my battery drill.i was impressed at how good they come out. good stuff that petroleum jelly!

[@rebellucy6200]

Great topic to cover. Please show us how you polish old engines.

[@cyclerider5652]

Great advice and tips. One time a friend showed me a pic of his early 80's RM125 and I commented on how I liked the white fenders. He said they weren't white; it was from UV. Lol. It would be cool to see how you do your rotisserie steam cleaning. Always wanted to see that done.

[@hawkeye681]

Ken, your passion for these machines is something to see. I too have but a portion of what you have. I'm in a quandary though with my babies, being torn between taking them out and ripping around the track, but with the scarcity of parts, I'm only taking them out for a trip around the field. My bikes will be 45 years old tomorrow. The parts I can find like you said are astronomical in price and I can't justify spending that much anymore. I spent $1,100 on just a NOS CDI, Stator and used rotor for my 79' KX250. Parts came from all over the world which was kinda fun, and having NOS in my bike is super important for me and worth it.. Best part for me is going into the garage and seeing them there in all their colorful glory mostly stock glory. Offering up one of my tips for restoring my 79'RM 250 tank was using steel wool as the final polishing medium after wet sanding with progressively finer sand paper.

[@vsavage_old_rockerz]

i keep the hand levers just tight enough that they stay in place, but will still rotate on impact. saves levers and a long ride back. keep rocking!!! peace

[@mikef3300]

I had a 1993 KDX250. It was amazing. I was having carb problems so I replaced it with a carb from a KX500 and it was a a monster afterwards. In my mid fifties now I ride a Ktm 690 enduro r but I still remember that KDX

[@dieselmech7227]

Im looking for a carb for my KDX250.. it seems longer than a few other 250 carbs i tried to match up

[@aussiehardwood6196]

One of the last year's of the air cooled KDX200 before they became more complex water-cooled machines. I think they changed in 89.

[@JollUsARoint]

My mom come home one time I was about 16 and we had a Suzuki RS 175 torn down in the dining room dead of winter she about shit a brick🤣😂🤣😂 you talking about if you're doing this in your living room brought back that memory these are all great tips Ken I can remember the blowtorch method one of the best ever but these are all great tips hope you guys are doing great brother let's get this 2024 #1 Gas ☆Gas All Categories 4"U & Jr, Yall Deserve It U & Jr Work Very Hard 2"B The Best,,,& Your Team Is Top Shelf ML&R As Alway's 💪🏻💪🏻❤️👍🏼👍🏼🤍🙏🙏💙🤟🏻🤟🏻💚🇺🇲✌🏼

[@markgenest6206]

Thanks Ken for great tips. For me coming at a good time as I recommission my ‘71 Hodaka B+ I bought new leftover in ‘73. Preston Petty fenders will benefit from ur tips.

[@sissygoog9456]

Can you never damn do surprise me? I love that kdx200. I had one. I miss it pe175 is a rare bird. My buddy has one. It's an 81 PE 175. She loves to rip wheelies I love how you got it all original the kdx200 it's absolutely amazing. The info you give especially telling me that you steam clean them. Now I know how you do it, especially when you picked up all the old bikes that you get in the trailers. It's amazing how you make them all look brand new. Thank you so much on the info Ken! It's amazing!❤ What you guys are doing right there with all the drills and detailing my most favorite thing in the world. It's awesome that you taught me step by step the time I'm done watching these videos. I'm going to be like the most insane person

[@barrycuda3769]

As a car painter, Iv'e been using that 3M "Perfect it" for years ,mainly the number 1 , and it is a fantastic product, it gets a shine on things really quickly ,Iv'e used it on plexiglass etc . I used to own a PE 175 like that one,I wish I'd known about the heat method back then, I painted all the PE,s plastics, which worked out well on everything, except the fuel tank , the paint got bubbles in it ,just like all the tank stickers suffered from in those days.

[@JR-ho5qm]

Haha! I’m also a Autobody painter, and I commented. I started using Frecla G360 polish and it is game changer. It’s a diminishing polish so one step is all you need for most colours. Check it out it has truly made my polishing much easier. And I agree he probably should have started with number 1 not 2. And I don’t think number 3 would have many benefits on that plastic 👍🏻

[@danjohnson4819]

Pledge works great on motorcycles and chrome especially and it's 🍋 fresh

[@sonnyseabury4051]

This video is truly awesome. Everything you taught I knew nothing about. Crazy how much some of those plastics cost. I'm very happy that John Lee still works for you, and I know how grateful his family is, that you hired him, on from your computer repair shop. Happy New Years to The Kaplan Family. Hope y'all have a great and safe New Years Eve and Day. ML&R from New Orleans.

[@shawnslaunwhite2085]

I like how the plastic shines when done. Been doing much the same for years. Thanks for sharing. I had a 1986 kdx that looked just like that one.

[@themikew7]

Thanks Ken for sharing some of the little "trade secrets" with us. Very cool video shows what a little TLC and a good process can do to make an old dog shine like a new penny!

[@danlloyd5315]

You guys know your stuff. Great tips on keeping a classic looking fresh. Happy New year to everyone at Kaplan America.

[@mad-pit3832]

Word is these boys are going 100% 4 stroke for 2024, thanks for these tips ken.

[@hagenschwark8908]

Better not be

[@justinritter7925]

Who?

[@mellows1970]

Great to John still with you.

[@daveanddanniejacobs9432]

Hey man awesome video. I got my note book out n wrote down everything u said n I'll have it to look back on. Thank u so sosooooo much for sharing that bit of info. The knowledge you just shared is priceless n most people will not give that away free trust me I'm a brick Mason n I know how hard it is to get that knowledge. It seldom ever comes for free so again thank you Cap.

[@yo_marc]

Great stuff! It’s very interesting how non-standard liquids/polishes end up working the best. Way back when I did a lot of woods riding my favorite post-ride cleaner was Wesley’s Bleach White. The stuff for whitewall tires… It was better than any other cleaner/degreaser out there. It cut through spooge, mud stains, etc., and left aluminum bright and shiny. After hosing everything off I’d spray down the motor, pipe, carb, etc in WD-40.

[@dwdrumshdmotorcyclesvirgom7379]

Youguys are the best! Love your channel. Can't wait to see what bikes your gonna have for sale in 2024! Happy New Year's guys!!

[@jamesgeorge4874]

Bought an '88 KDX for $400, original owner crashed it on the first ride, and broke his collarbone. Bike was mint, other than the bars being slightly bent. Sold it after being in a car accident that compression fractured my spine, wish I never did, it was the most fun woods bike. Happy New Year, Ken !

[@mr.m325]

did this exact method with my 77 XT500 Yamaha....Ginger...a few years ago..took hours...looks great!

[@JollUsARoint]

The Kawasaki KDX is one of the coolest looking bikes ever that back fender just gives the bike that extra step of a great look and there ain't nobody that has sold more than the museum and there are still a bunch of these running wild👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💚😎👌🏻🗯🗯💥🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@hondaredracer]

Thanks Ken for a great video and Happy New Year 🎉 Curious, what do you guys do with say white tanks (plastic) that have been stained from fuel mix, and or UV? Seems like it’s all the way through the layer. Great job on the resto’s, never tried the ‘spoon’ trick. I spent 23 hrs+ on my front fenders on a trx 250r and it’s 99% mint OEM now👍 2smokers4life😎

[@paulgrogan8032]

Nice job John, great to see you again. What a tutorial Ken.

[@ACmotorcycleguy]

The plastics are very important if you want a nice bike, when you buy your bike right off the showroom floor, that is most likely the cleanest it will ever be from the factory, but you guys make em look better than factory, this is a very good video, because old plastics look like crap after years and they get brittle and crack, so this video could save people money if they want to use your tips 👍

[@greasytriple2497]

Personally I'd leave the KDX tank decals alone. But include a new set for buyer if they desire to change em.

[@more.power.]

Excellent Ken I am part way through restoring my motorcycle and this will help me enormously to complete the work.

[@KaplanCycles]

Glad to help

[@lukecharest676]

Ive done the razor.. like the spoon idiea.. ive often used a soapy S.O.S.. pad.. works well.. and hit it with pledge.. but ill havta try the mop and glo

[@mikemet1744]

I still use Soft Soap on my KX plastics. Cheap and works great. Have fun.

[@vinnyvinson]

Thanks man. I needed this tutorial

[@davidmaynard1422]

Excellent video! You provided some really helpful tips that I needed. Glad I found this video, thank you!

[@johncunningham4820]

Excellent Tips Ken . Thanks . AND , A Happy New Year to you and yours too .

[@starswoodmetalcreations6539]

I clear coated my tell you what Ken beyond new and awesome looking

[@lawrence471]

That's hilarious I just happen to be looking at a 1995 kdx 250 in Denver today January 2nd and your video popped up on my phone at the same time I'm talking to the guy on Facebook. 😂

[@Wooley689]

I used the razor blade method ten years ago when I was reworking these old bikes. I began with simple green to clean, then the razor blade then 600 WD up to final 2000WD paper. Buffed with carnauba wax.

[@rezkidgamingyt4725]

To bring the colour back on plastic sun faded plastic. I use a blow torch, propane, blow torch. You gotta be pretty fast with it. You can’t keep it in one spot very long though but it works a lot faster than the heat gun. I did it on a TTR 230.2000

[@oliverlewis4433]

Great video as always, happy new year Ken

[@imschlodes]

had an 82 KDX 175 that was in nice shape years ago. It was a bit of a tank, but it was also good, because it was a bit of a tank if that makes sense. it was very tq'y too and decent top end pull. It was always a few bikes ahead of my 80 rm 125 I had at the time, and wuold pull even with my friends 84 cr 125. Love to find another. KDX 200 are great bikes.

[@derekoetting4245]

Once ive got it done with the 1500 grit i go over it with a heat gun and it brings to oil back out in the plastic and puts a shine back on it.

[@toddmills2407]

Thank you for your tips . It will be useful for some of my projects .

[@L2fish]

CLR mold and mildew remover works great for tarnished aluminum too

[@tessbushell5489]

Good to see some tricks and tips from the masters and Happy new year from 🇬🇧 👍🏻

[@MOEMUGGY]

I'd be curios to see what a vapor-hone would do to some place not as critical like the underside.

[@derekoetting4245]

Perfect vid. I am doing the plastics on my 79 rm 125 that are sun faded.

[@matthewpiper1421]

Awesome training ken, i am an advid fan of sc-1 always done a good job for me. Happy new years ken and thank you.

[@KaplanCycles]

Happy new year!

[@jimmycapps7263]

80's were the best dacade for dirt bikes. you didn't have same reproduction bikes. It was the decade of finally getting thing right and much more!

[@uploader235]

Working on a 86 Suzuki SP200 (remember those?) thanks for the tips!

[@hecwashere610]

What's up kap happy new year to you and your family God bless America 🇺🇸

[@baca6445]

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[@bobg1219]

Add a little dawn dish soap to your water when wet sanding will help the sand paper from clogging and paper will last longer!

[@LIPPBOYZ15]

MAGIC ERASER ARE DEFINITELY MAGIC........WE USE THEM ON BOATS ALL SUMMER ...

[@gregkeller80]

Ahhhh, should work on my John Deere plastics as well! Thanks!

[@paulawestcott7228]

HAPPY NEW YEAR KAPLAN AND ALL THE STAFF. GREAT NEW EDITON TO YOUR YOU TUBE CHANNEL..."HOW TO RESTORE" SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[@isaidthat4505]

Alloy polish works as well to polish plastic and rubber

[@charlesshort4287]

SOS pads for the first stage of the white oxidation, fine, fine steel wool, then 1000 grit, then a heat gun if needed, then a good liquid Polish, Senior's way is great too,!

[@steveziegler7014]

Love the old bikes. I was wondering if it's possible to put a light clearcoat on the fender rather than the polish? I just painted a old Camaro and the clear coat tech sheet has an optional adder for painting plastic???

[@danielyarros479]

What about a 2000's rm 250 gas tank. They would change color years down the road from the fuel sitting in the tank. Compared to the shroud the tank looked looked like a lite tint of brown on the outside. How can a restore that to the original yellow color if possible. What would you recommend. Thanks for the help.

[@blizzard71]

Happy New Year to you Ken and Family !! its videos like these that make your channel the best of its kind~! All the best in 2024 !

[@tcrwild8422]

On my quads i use 3m plastic Polish works decent. I have also found that sone hand or body lotions can work real good cleans an shines. Aveeno stress relief purple top cleans an shines nice has cannabis oil in it works for cleaning stains

[@donaldcoalson4347]

K-n air filter cleaner does a good job of cleaning grease and grime also!

[@kentabeyta3018]

Happy New Year Ken 🎉and Thanks for all that good info !! And know how

[@jorgefonseca9225]

Hi mate 👋 the original parts restore are a really fucking hard take a lot time 🤪 but after restoration looks like a brand new 👌👍👍😊😊 anyway the plastic it's not like a metal 😅😅 they made a wonderful job mate 👍 cheers from Norway 😊

[@scott729]

Great info, thanks Kap

[@unclemike1206]

You got it made!

[@kirkbuilds6732]

Can you do a video like this for restoring painted gas tanks and fairings ?

[@kirkbuilds6732]

thanks for each video Ken, as a 21 year old learning to be a man on my own these videos and the real talk videos help me keep going on the right track. Thanks for everything

[@KaplanCycles]

Yes we will! Stay tuned Son! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@kirkbuilds6732]

@@KaplanCycles Happy new year ! Looking forward to your next upload! Wish you all health and happiness god bless

[@remotecontrol9874]

Are Preston Petty Fenders still manufactured? Back in the day the pros and most everyone put those on their bikes even if they didn't need to.

[@markusuebel2624]

more shop and tech vids please

[@larrydavis5246]

Awesome info thanks

[@danielarney9729]

I want to see John ripping the compound up.mothers and or baking soda toothpaste works with buffing wheel at the finish, like 3m headlight kit, but better. don't forget the pledge, what my mom always used on her Harley paint, and mothers on her primary cover, but works on plastic also.Does John still do your IT stuff, bet he's a book of knowledge probably could really apply that to dynamometer rig, or future CNC machines for custom parts and sales.

[@KaplanCycles]

Yes john does still

[@julianmorris9951]

I put 20 hours at least into my rm 465 tank scraping with blade and then wet and dry from 320 to 1500 then finally buffing on a bench machine with a soft buffing wheel, gotta move it fast on that wheel though back and fourth because it heats the plastic right up, I used an 8” wheel, no polish was needed.

[@albundy6804]

Hey kap wanted to ask you how u suggest to keep the bike if i wernt going to ride the bike,should i keep the radiator full,oil,ive drained the feul so far?

[@cajuncyclerestorations145]

Any prefered motul wax / protectant you like ? ( or does gas gas offer anything?)

[@kk2into194]

Great tips.

[@benjaminemerald8027]

I wish my 98 Kawasaki Kx-80 came w it's original plastics! Instead it came w a 09 Kx 85 gas tank and black front fender,front number plate,side plates, needless to say I replaced everything w Acerbis fenders front and rear, Polisport white side and front number plate bc they were on sale and replaced the 09 tank w Clark unit and must say they look amazing! And I replaced everything w better quality aftermarket parts bc it is a resto modded bike far from a original one but still a bad ass bike I had it bored to 100cc and ported and polished powervalve by Eric Gorr racing I'm still waiting for him to finish it and might actually be the last cylinders he does before his retirement tomorrow I'm hoping he will still do the bottom end rebuild and micro polish the gears etc and I just bought new black Excel Takasago Rim set and can't believe that the Excel spoke kits cost half of what the rims cost but worth every penny imo especially w the condition of the originals warped to shit and corrosion around the spoke , valve stem,and rim lock holes not safe at all the bike was a deathtrap when I purchased it for way too much money 🤑, lesson learned never go to buy a used 26yr old Dirtbike in 100° plus day w 100% humidity, between sun stroke and wanting to get back in the AC car I made numerous mistakes and didn't inspect closely, I must say that the seller did a great job disguising it bc it looked really good until I took it apart, front brake lever was jimmy rigged w a cotter pin instead of the bushing that the pushrod goes through and the side frame support that u remove to get the airbox out was hand tight and guy said it was perfect condition to rip

[@pawlettsmith]

Love the PE

[@thefuelfactory307]

Where do you see KDX values in say 5 years time fellas?? Got a chance to buy a timewarp '90 water-cooled for 3k. Worth buying to park up?

[@LIPPBOYZ15]

SENIOR GOT THAT MEAN BIKER chops going ......HAPPY NEW YEARS.....TO EVERYONE

[@jameshope524]

Happy New year Ken 🎉

[@ShawnaWilliams-z6r]

Happy new year mr k. And family and staff.

[@buddywilson104]

Great tips

[@Dimencionable-f1i]

Feliz año señor kaplan y family

[@theflyingboxman6782]

What about the yellowing white plastic on my 1985 YZ250 tank?

[@derekoetting4245]

I have a 78 pe front fender the duck bill type but it has one small crack in it.

[@Funco1979]

Some of the aftermarket dirt bike plastics are vacuum formed, not injection moulded like the originals and don't fit quite as good I've heard.

[@cliffbernsen438]

Polishing is the way. The heat gun is bringing out the oils from the plastic and is worse for the plastic in the long run.

[@scottwhite2757]

Excellent .. you don’t need a lot it shoots shit everywhere,, Lol it does for sure .. Happy New Year Ken !!

[@ninerempire5413]

Happy new year Kap!!!🎉

[@andresinnett4319]

If anyone knows all the tricks , Ken knows the truth , just saying , Ken is a business man , old school , he loves to pass.on his dance ,.people have to understand the price , try doing a world class job , I'm in australia , it is hard for me to watch how much of a bargain u bike guys in the usa , to say these machines are a giveaway would be an understatement ¡!!!!!!

[@1sir-onworld]

👌👌👍💯 Happy new year 🎉

[@TaylorHomeCare]

I love how he's like you see this, it looks like shit. Cause it looks like shit lol. A real American man I love it.