Milled Air Cleaner courtesy of
Barons Custom.
(Click here to go there...)
Notice the ball milled cam cover. (Yamaha)
I usually ride with the passenger pillion removed.
I studded the stock seats.
The drag bars are a unique look for this size bike.
The rear wheel is an RC 'Smoothie'.
The wheel almost looks see-thru.
The rear tire is a 17 inch Dunlop Elite. At 180/55 17 it is the largest tire that will fit.
The fender skeleton and brake caliper bracket had to be modified to accommodate
the larger footprint. The other complication was to keep everything off the ground,
despite the fact that the bike is 2 1/2 inches lower.
I needed to move the lower pipe of the Sampson Big Gun's
inboard to keep it off the ground. Now, despite the ultra-low profile
and wider tire, the bike corners better than stock.
I lowered the rear of the bike using the relay arm turn around method.
Although some have voiced concerns over structural integrity, I cannot imagine a piece as thick as that giving way, despite the fact that it is about 1/8th inch thinner than stock.
Most of the modifications that I do to the bike are with 2 components in mind;
Quality appearance and material -and-
Lowest possible cost!
A tricky combination to be sure. I do all the work myself which saves me money, and I look high and low for the best deal that I can find and still deal with quality people. A-1 Motor Sports and Joe Longvall have been instrumental in providing me with parts and accessories at very reasonable prices.
Some of the things that I've done to give the bike a custom look;
Remove the front light bar in favor of the Kuryakyn Silver Bullet lamps under the mirrors.
Drag bars with Pro-One risers.
Custom cruiser pegs, just forward of the floorboards.
(Harley Parts
bin...)
Yamaha small engine guards. ($50.00 from Anthony N.)
Yamaha ball milled pulley, cam, timing, fork brace, caliper etc covers. 20% off.
The license plate bracket is a modified bracket from a junkyard!.
The directional's were removed
and the mounting
hardware was modified to follow the contour of the rear
fender.
The tail lamp has a strobe mounted in it that activates when
the brake is applied.
Studded the stock seat myself, using smaller studs to accent the seat without looking like a Silverado saddle.
Lowered it 3 inches.
Made a custom license plate bracket from a bracket found in a bone yard. Bought it for $5.00, took it home and cleaned, straitened and painted it. It is so small that it is invisible behind the plate and it follows the contour of the fender perfectly! (Not pictured...)
Installed Sampson Big Guns, Baron's Big Air Kit and Dyno Revmaster.
Relocated the fuel pump under the tank.
Installed a larger rear tire, both in height and width.
Installed a strobe in the tail lamp that flashes when the brake is
applied.
($24.00 at Radio Shack!)
As well as other little mod's along the way...
The front directional bar was removed in
favor of the Kuryakyn Bullet lamps.
Much more subtle than stock and at 20 watts each, they are plenty bright!
The directional lamps are mounted on custom made
brackets that use the mirror hardware.
They are stealth until you need 'em!
Note that the directionals are mounted under the mirrors.
The markers on the headlight bezel are runners.
HomeAnyone who knows me knows that I love this bike, despite its quirks, clangs and bangs, valvetrain noise and from time-to-time, the infamous knock!
I've said many times, I may own another bike, but I'll never get rid of this one!
When it comes to customizing, I insist on maximum bang for the buck. I cannot imagine a more appropriate canvas to start with. When it comes to Bang-For-The-Buck, the Roadstar wrote the book!