Frame-Off Restoration — Pakenham, Victoria
Frame-Off Restoration
The full job. Every component off the frame, assessed, restored or replaced, then reassembled to factory specification or better. Engine, chassis, suspension, coatings and finishing — all in-house, photographed from teardown to handover.
★★★★★5.0 on Google15 reviewsFrom $8,0003–6 monthsAll work in-houseFinance available
From $8,000Quoted after inspection
3–6 MonthsTypical build time
5 StagesPriced and approved
GlobalVintage parts network
What It Actually Means
Frame-Off Means Nothing Stays Bolted Together
A lot of workshops call a tidy-up a restoration. New plastics, fresh graphics, a polish, and it photographs well. Frame-off is the other thing entirely: the bike comes back to a bare frame, every fastener out, every bearing pressed, every casting stripped and refinished.
It means the parts you can’t see get the same attention as the parts you can. Swingarm bearings, steering head races, wiring looms, hardware plating — the stuff that decides whether a bike is genuinely restored or just repainted.
It’s the most expensive way to do it and the only way to get a bike that’s right for the next thirty years. If that’s more than your project needs, an engine rebuild or a partial refresh might be the better call — and we’ll tell you so.
Not sure which you need? Send photos before you commit. We’ll tell you honestly whether a frame-off is worth it on your bike, or whether your money is better spent elsewhere.
The Build
Five Stages, Priced And Approved
You approve each stage before it starts, and you see photos as it happens. Nothing gets spent without your say-so.
01Week 1–2
Teardown & Assessment
The bike comes apart completely. Every component is bagged, tagged, photographed and assessed against what a finished bike needs.
- Full disassembly to bare frame
- Every part photographed and catalogued
- Written condition report on each assembly
- Parts list split into restore, replace and source
- Firm quote issued before any work begins
02Week 2–8
Engine Rebuild
The motor is rebuilt to specification — or past it, if that’s what you want. Measured, not guessed.
- Cases split, crank assessed and rebuilt or replaced
- Cylinder replating and honing to fresh bore
- New bearings, seals and gaskets throughout
- Port work and squish set if you want more than stock
- Ignition, carburettor and clutch rebuilt
03Week 4–10
Chassis & Finishing
The parts of a restoration most people notice, and the ones that separate a real job from a respray.
- Frame and swingarm stripped and refinished
- Vapour blasting on alloy and magnesium castings
- Cerakote or powder coat in factory-correct colours
- Dow coating on magnesium cases where original
- Hardware replated or replaced throughout
04Week 8–14
Suspension & Wheels
Rebuilt to work, not just to look right. Period-correct internals or modern valving — your call.
- Forks stripped, tubes assessed, seals and oil renewed
- Shock rebuilt, re-gassed and revalved
- Wheels rebuilt with new spokes and bearings
- Hubs and rims refinished or replaced
- Brakes overhauled and set up
05Final 2–3 weeks
Assembly, Run & Handover
Bolted together properly, run, tuned, and checked before it goes anywhere.
- Full assembly with new fasteners and cables
- Engine run in, jetting dialled, leak-checked
- Final detail and setup for your weight and use
- Complete photo record of the build handed over
- Walk-through of what was done and what to watch
Scope
What’s Included, And What Isn’t
Included In Every Frame-Off
- Complete teardown and written condition report
- Engine rebuild to specification
- Frame, swingarm and chassis refinishing
- Vapour blasting on all alloy castings
- Suspension rebuild front and rear
- Wheel rebuild with new spokes and bearings
- New bearings, seals, gaskets and fasteners
- Assembly, run-in, tuning and setup
- Full photographic record of the build
Quoted Separately
- Plastics, graphics and seat covers
- Rare or NOS parts sourcing
- Exhaust systems and expansion chambers
- Performance port work beyond stock spec
- Custom paint or non-original colours
- Registration, roadworthy and compliance work
- Freight to and from the workshop
Everything in the right-hand column gets its own line on the quote, so you can decide what’s worth it and what isn’t. Nothing appears on the invoice that you didn’t approve.
Investment
What A Frame-Off Costs
Starting prices, quoted properly after teardown and inspection. Condition, rarity and how far you want to take it all move the number.
Solid Base Bike
Standard
$8,000
From, inc GST
- Complete and largely original bike
- Engine rebuilt to stock spec
- Factory-correct finishes
- Rider-grade result
Most Common
Full Restoration
$12,000
From, inc GST
- Missing or seized components
- Parts sourcing and replacement
- Vapour blasting and Cerakote throughout
- Show-grade finish, built to ride
Rare & Concours
Concours
POA
Quoted individually
- Rare, factory or works bikes
- NOS and period-correct sourcing
- Fabrication where parts don’t exist
- Judged-show standard
Finance is available on restorations over a certain value — ask when you enquire, or see the restoration finance page.
Why Us
Why Frame-Off Work Belongs Here
Everything Under One Roof
Engine building, vapour blasting, Cerakote, Dow coating, suspension and assembly all happen here. Nothing waits in a queue at someone else’s shop.
You See Every Stage
Photographed and logged from teardown to handover. You get the full record at the end, which matters for resale as much as for peace of mind.
Global Parts Network
Years of contacts for vintage Japanese parts. We’ve found components for bikes most people had written off.
We Fabricate What’s Gone
When a part genuinely doesn’t exist anymore, we make it rather than compromise the build.
Finished Builds
Frame-Off Work From The Workshop
See the full set in the restoration portfolio, or browse the restoration services overview.
What Riders Say
5.0 On Google, 15 Reviews
★★★★★
“When you comes to restoring vintage motocross bikes, Kane, here at garage 11 is your guy!! No questions asked. He has always delivered the highest quality work and has never let me down!”
Ethan Maiwald — Google Review★★★★★
“I have a 1985 DR 250 which nobody wants to touch. Kane did not hesitate to help so I took it to his pristine workshop.”
Clinton Richards — Local Guide, Google ReviewGet Started
Start Your Frame-Off Build
Pick a day to bring it in or talk it through, tell us the year, make, model and condition, and what you’re aiming for — rider, show piece, or somewhere in between.
Frame-Off Restoration Enquiry
Choose “Other” or “Full Engine Rebuild” and describe the project. Interstate? Pick any date and note it in the message — a bike in pieces freights well and we’ll help you sort it.
Questions
Frame-Off Restoration Questions
What is a frame-off restoration?
The bike is completely disassembled down to a bare frame. Every component is removed, assessed, and either restored or replaced before the bike is reassembled to factory specification or better. It includes the parts you can’t see — bearings, races, wiring, hardware plating — not just the visible panels and paint.
How much does a frame-off restoration cost?
From $8,000 including GST on a solid, complete base bike. A full restoration with parts sourcing and premium finishes typically starts around $12,000. Rare, factory or concours bikes are quoted individually. We give you a firm quote after teardown and inspection.
How long does a frame-off restoration take?
Three to six months typically, depending on parts availability and the current queue. The engine stage runs four to eight weeks of that. We give you a realistic timeline at quote and update you as each stage completes.
What’s the difference between a frame-off and a refresh?
A refresh means new plastics, graphics and a tidy-up of what’s already there. A frame-off strips the bike to nothing and rebuilds every assembly. If your bike is mechanically sound and just looks tired, a refresh may be better value — we’ll tell you honestly which one your bike needs.
Do I pay for the whole restoration up front?
No. The build runs in five stages and each is quoted and approved before it starts, so the cost is spread across the build. Finance is also available on restorations over a certain value.
Can I supply my own parts?
Yes. If you’ve been collecting parts for years, bring them in. We’ll assess what’s usable and build it in. We can’t warranty parts we didn’t source, but it can save you real money.
Do you take frame-off projects from interstate?
Yes. A bike already in pieces freights well and we handle projects from across Australia. Get in touch before you book freight and we’ll help you work out the cheapest way to get it here.
Which bikes do you do frame-off restorations on?
Vintage and evolution Japanese two-strokes — Honda CR, Kawasaki KX, Suzuki RM and Yamaha YZ, including the big-bore 500s. We also do frame-up conversion builds such as the CR500AF, KX500AF, YZ500 and T500.
Let’s Talk About Your Build
Whether it’s a barn find, a shed full of boxes or a bike you’ve owned since new — tell us what you’ve got. 18 Rapid Way, Pakenham VIC 3810, Monday to Friday 9am–5pm.
0423 963 402