So, about this purple ninja bike. It wasn’t some grand plan from the get-go, you know? It just kinda happened. I’d been wanting a project, something to tinker with in the garage. My old ride was getting, well, really old and boring. And I kept seeing these awesome custom bikes online, thought I’d give it a shot.
Getting Started – The Donor Bike
First things first, I needed a bike. Didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I started looking around for something used, maybe a bit beaten up. Found this older sports bike, a Kawasaki, pretty cheap. The seller said it “ran when parked,” which, you know, usually means it doesn’t run. But the frame was solid, and that’s what I cared about most. It was a sad black color, all scratched up. Perfect canvas, I thought.
The “Purple Ninja” Idea Takes Shape
Why purple? Good question. I was scrolling through paint colors, and this deep, almost electric purple just jumped out at me. And “ninja”? Well, it’s a sporty Kawasaki, kinda has that vibe already. So, purple ninja it was. Sounded cool in my head, anyway. My neighbor, Dave, he laughed. Said it’d look ridiculous. Challenge accepted, Dave.
Stripping It Down
Man, taking that thing apart was a mission. Bolts were rusted, wires were a mess. I labeled everything with masking tape and took a million photos on my phone. My garage looked like a bike exploded. Fairings off, tank off, seat off, wheels off. Down to the bare frame. Took a whole weekend, easy.
Cleaning and Prepping
Then came the cleaning. So much grease. So much grime. I think I used a whole can of degreaser just on the engine block. Scrubbed every single part. My hands were raw. Sanding the frame and the tank was next. Tedious work, but you gotta do it right if you want the paint to stick. Dust everywhere. Wore a mask, looked like I was about to rob a bank.
The Painting Process – Going Purple!
This was the bit I was most excited and nervous about. I set up a makeshift spray booth in the garage with plastic sheets. Primed everything first. Then, the purple. Sprayed a few coats. It actually looked pretty good! Had a few runs on the tank, so I had to sand that bit down and do it again. Annoying, but worth it. Let it all cure for a good few days. Patience is key, I kept telling myself.
Putting It All Back Together
Reassembly. This is where those photos and labels really paid off. Slowly, piece by piece, it started looking like a bike again. Polished up some of the chrome bits, but kept some parts black to go with the “ninja” theme. New chain, new sprockets, fresh oil. Cleaned the carbs out, which was fiddly as heck. Had to order a few new gaskets and bolts online because some of the old ones were shot.
- Fitted the newly painted tank and fairings.
- Re-wired the lights – that was a bit of a headache.
- Got some new, sleeker mirrors.
- Even found some subtle purple rim tape for the wheels.
The Final Result – My Purple Ninja!
Finally, it was done. Stood back and looked at it. Yeah, pretty proud of that. The purple looked amazing in the sun. Even Dave, my neighbor, had to admit it looked “alright,” which is high praise from him. Started it up, and after a bit of coaxing, it roared to life. Took it for a spin around the block. Felt great. Not just riding it, but knowing I’d brought it back from a sad state, made it my own. That purple ninja bike? It’s a blast. Every time I ride it, I remember all the hours I poured into it. Totally worth it.
