Tinted tails, calipers, and new custom plate

[Merzbow]

I crashed my bike and I probably wont be able to afford to get it looked at or fixed for a while (no visible damage, but the transmission is messed up...any Michigan peeps know of a good quality bike shop?). SO, I decided to start finishing some things on the Vibe I've been wanting to do for a while.I finished the sides of my system as some saw at the Tenn. meet. I did that a while ago but I lost my camera so I couldn't take pics. I did get a new phone (BlackJack II) which takes great pictures IMO so I got some finally. I made the sides out of wood and I wrapped them with cotton padding and then gray vinyl. I still have to paint the box black and get a new set of subs, as the ones in there are stained with pop and are kind of old and not as crisp.The piston on my right front caliper froze on the way to work a couple months ago and the brakes were actually steaming on an 80 degree day so I had to get a new one (JUST the middle part of caliper cost me $160!!!). The new one was like bronze-ish for some reason? It looked stupid so today I painted my drums and calipers black Next thing, yesterday I FINALLY was able to find a can of Night Shade VHT spray taillight tint. It cost me $15 but it was worth it. I did the reverse lights too but I was too lazy to take off the rear bumper and the paint dripped so I'll have to redo them later.I redid the LEDs under my radio (looks the same as before). When I installed my new stock head unit, which will be my fourth one that hskater sold me the wires broke from the LEDs....hmm what else...I got my "Tail of the Dragon" sticker from Tenn. when we took our Vibes on the Dragon's tail at the meet. New tires too for my b-day.I ordered a new custom license plate and frame "CRCTBRK". It has a double meaning, let's see if anyone can get what it means this time.I think that's it. Next BIG thing I want to do is get a Wabasto sunroof, the ones that are made of the Jeep Wrangler canvas material and stretch almost the entire length of the roof. I am also throwing around the ideas of painting the bottom of the rear bumper, and the "Pontiac" piece above the license plate matte black to match the tail lights, and I might tint JUST the little quarter windows in the back to make it look like they are body colored.Let me know what you think:

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »I ordered a new custom license plate and frame "CRCTBRK". It has a double meaning, let's see if anyone can get what it means this time.Crotch Rocket Credit Broke Crotch Rocket Clinton Township Broke

[Merzbow]

(removed)...yeah I'm broke and in debt but that's not what it means

[hskater26]

my buddy with a matrix told me to use that stuff on my tails cause itd look sick haha i like it now that i see it

[Toasted7]

I like the tails, those look sick! The calipers look nice too.Crotch Rocket Broke... that's my guess (for now).

[Kamikaze]

I'm guessing that the last thing means something like Brake...the first part not sure... but I'm positive it has nothing to do with "crotch Rocket" he doesn't even have a "crotch rocket"if anything it's a Pasta Rocket... but even then... I'd still classify your Duk more of a modern day Cafe Racer. which I'm sure the new plate's CR doesn't stand for that.Oh, BTW Merz, sorry to hear of the crash on the bike... Like I always say, you've either been down, will go down, or have been down, and will be down again... I haven't been down, but I'm sure it will happen some day... Glad you're ok, that's the important thing. I've been looking at the Night Shades by VHT too. did you have to sand the tails, then apply the Tint?

[bull77]

loving the tail lights get some caliper stickers from grafxwerks to make them pop!

[breezd]

I your Vibe...

[Merzbow]

Ha, I crashed because of the horrible pot holes in Michigan on an exit ramp. My rear tire kept popping off the ground and didn't make enough contact to slow down in time...the kicker is that the cops gave ma reckless driving ticket because someone called and tol them I was speeding in a construction zone and weaving through traffic at high speeds....that is b/s. There wasn't even enough traffic to even weave through!!!!Thanks everyone

[Toasted7]

I like the Tail of the Dragon sticker too (just noticed that)!

[joatmon]

See our contagious tuberculosis rockcircuit breakConsumer Reports Connecticut brakeSee Rommel capture Tobrukcan our company tickle blind raging koalas?crack to breakClinton's really crappy, Tampa Bay rocks!

[bull77]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »See our contagious tuberculosis rockcircuit breakConsumer Reports Connecticut brakeSee Rommel capture Tobrukcan our company tickle blind raging koalas?crack to breakClinton's really crappy, Tampa Bay rocks!um -- i don't get it

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by bull77 »um -- i don't get itQuote, originally posted by Merzbow »I ordered a new custom license plate and frame "CRCTBRK". It has a double meaning, let's see if anyone can get what it means this time.Conservative Republicans can take back our kountrysee our clinton township boys rockcyclic redundancy check to broadcast reliable knowledge

[bull77]

ahh --- get those off the top of your head or is there a website that tries to translate plates?

[engineertwin2]

I think that CP might disagree but CRCTBRK = Car Can't Break? Double meaning would be Car Can't Brake. Unfortunately, I can't see the pics at my work, but will get a good look tonight.

[Merzbow]

(removed) Joatmon...You did get it though: Circuit Break/Circuit Brake is what it represents. Circuit as in circuit racing and also as in electrical circuit(car audio etc.)

[VforVIBE]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »Clinton's really crappy, Tampa Bay rocks!I like that one.

[Merzbow]

I would agree with that too but the Dream Cruise pre-cruise started already and right now that stretch of road is the best in the world (removed)...so take that.

[Blanco_Diablo]

Don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but have been looking to paint my drums and calipers as well, any idea where I can find a good step by step walk-thru? Never done anything like this and don't want to mess it up. I am a total novice when it comes to dealing with brakes, so and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[bull77]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »I am also throwing around the ideas of painting the bottom of the rear bumper, and the "Pontiac" piece above the license plate matte black to match the tail lightsI was thinking of doing the same -- how hard was it painting the tail lights?Quote, originally posted by Blanco_Diablo »but have been looking to paint my drums and calipers as well, any idea where I can find a good step by step walk-thru? the paint kit has a simple walkthrough -- it's not that difficult --- good luck!http://matrixowners.com/?showtopic=24211

[Sublimewind]

Just a FYI, you DON'T need caliper paint to paint them, they market the stuff like it's the only thing that works... Well, if you are racing the car, you might need hi-temp paint, but for a DD Vibe ANYTHING will do... Just FYI.. /hijack

[Merzbow]

Painting the tail lights was easy, just three bolts per light and paint in 2 it 3 coats depending on how dark you want it.

[kevera]

Luvin the tails but.............you need to throw a coat of clear on them.Just my 2 cents.

[keithvibe]

yea i would say just buff out the tails so they are shinny again.. unless you were going for the dull paint look

[ColonelPanic]

Circuit Breaker?

[Merzbow]

Yes sir Joat, you win the guesses I like the dull look, I didn't want them to look like those plastic covers you can buy. I did paint the little triangular extrusions on each tail light metallic black so i looks pretty cool in the sun, and it changed the shape of the blinker into a more arrow-like shape

[Toasted7]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Yes sir Joat, you win the guesses I like the dull look, I didn't want them to look like those plastic covers you can buy. I did paint the little triangular extrusions on each tail light metallic black so i looks pretty cool in the sun, and it changed the shape of the blinker into a more arrow-like shape He said "blinker"...

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »(removed) Joatmon...You did get it though: Circuit Break/Circuit Brake is what it represents. Circuit as in circuit racing and also as in electrical circuit(car audio etc.)So, you are saying, it's one of those inside jokes, you know, the ones that only you know of...lol

[Merzbow]

haha I think it's pretty obvious, maybe not though lol.

[sk8r78]

Before you take the plunge and paint over the rear 1/4's, paint doesn't like to stick to glass. Get ahold of ycart or any place that sell vinyl and cover them that way you have an easily reversable option if you don't like it. I think painting the hatch trim piece above the plate would be a good deal. I would also suggest painting the area at the lower rear bumper where the exhaust exits. What ever you decide to do the car looks great. Sorry to hear about the bike, fight the ticket! The state or city/county will have to produce the witness and evidence of the phone call, I'd say you have a good case of dismisal. If you are on a DUC or Monster forum, you should be able to get some help about the bike. Get a decent shop manual and DIY two wheel season is nearing its end and you'll have all winter for repairs. Good luck

[Merzbow]

Thanks man. I want to remove the rear quarter window entire and weld a piece of steal of the opening and blend it in real nice so it looks like it was never there. That's if I win the lotto (removed)...or learn how to weld soon.I bought paint for the lower rear bumper but I didn't like how the finish looked when I tested it on a rubbermaid container so I'm gonna get different paint.I just got hte bike back frmo the shop too so she's almost as good as new