i wouldnt spend anything on it that isnt essential

just keep it as a mad max style useable tool... sinking moeny in it to get it upto show standard will cost as much as buying a decent stock bike

Yup exactly, hence the Chinese fairings :-). We very rarely if ever get decent stock bikes this way...all have some bits missing or some blemishes...when it costs well over half the price of a decent example to get a bike painted, people just don't (unless it's an insurance job). I figure I'll get it going, take some of the bits for my other bike and sell it :-) be an excellent track day toy.

So turns out 'non running was due to 1) old fuel and 2) one of the cdi unit plugs not pushed in fully. Though the thousand dead spiders probably didn't help. Tank and carbs off, carbs were pretty clean inside already, cables lubed and lots of rocks and crap cleaned out of the gap. All stock airbox, flaps etc in place which is great. Checked charging system - sitting on 14.8v at idle and at 5k rpm - should I be concerned at all? As is upper limit of what I would expect. Prev owner did report he had replaced battery and Rr, and looks like the 3 yellow wires from the ?alternator or generator as well as the rhs connector have been replaced at some point.

Only other thing is has old nc30 carb rubbers...an order to Rick Oliver is obviously needed for some
Nc35 ones as I think there's a small leak on the front right one.

Carb rubbers replaced, starts up and idles perfectly...so much so it's making me want to fettle with my current nc30 to get it more spot on (that one has bigger jets, I richened the idle to compensate for the hrc exhaust, but maybe too much?)

Anyway... Also the bolts/hangers on left and rhs that the radiator sits on had sheared off - aryldite and its hammer strong, cable tied on the other until I can drill out the snapped bolt.

Tidied up the wiring for the ref rec - replaced connectors and soldered in.

Anyone have suggestions re the wheels? Prev owner spilt brake fluid on them, paint peeling. Started having a go with sandpaper but thinking sandblast and then either polish (had a go and comes up quite nice) or paint - thoughts?

Also, some small spots of rust in the paint on the tank - sandpaper and touch up with nail polish or similar? Or leave?

Fairings are ex China..landed for 300usd, and fitting well so far! Paint on them not quite as good as previous. I haven't tried the tail section as I have an original one, but will try and post the results in the Chinese fairing section. Much better than my last experience 7 years ago.

Oh and removed the heat shield, polished rear headers (see the shiny!) as the shield was very rusted and wire brushing took it down to the ?nickel? Plating and looked bad.

Plan this weekend - fit fairings, re upholster seat, fettle with carbs and possibly swap them onto my running bike, then remove wheels for stripping/painting as per your suggestions!

Wheels = Powdercoat.

Cheap, hard wearing and looks great.

Cheers, I'm sure there is a powder coated down the road somewhere, just the awkwardness of removing both wheels at once!

My other thought was plasti dip?