Figured I'd go ahead and start a thread for the build. Seems to be the right of passage around here!
I picked the bike up for $250. It had been sitting for a while, apparently uncovered but the owner has recently tinkered and gotten it to crank. My brother and I swapped out riding the thing home from about 1.5 hr away! The battery was rigged on the back w/ house wiring and we had problems keeping a charge, stopping about 4 times to kill the car ignition and give the bike a little charge.
Here it is at home the first day. Note the rust to the rear sub-frame and swing arm, and exhaust... and the sweet battery connection.
As it was:
I decided to make a solo-seater and shed as much weight as possible. I didn't want to go with a cafe look since I have the bonnie with a modernized caf' feel. I cut off the rear frame rails, rear peg / exhaust mounts, and took the swing arm, triple clamps, tank, and other parts which were rusted to be bead blasted and powdercoated. They all received a coat in gloss black.. minus the tank, which was supposed to be a light blue (I let my girlfriend choose). Apparently the color chart had updated or something because when we picked it up the tank was seafoam green. I was not happy at first.. Although I will admit, it has grown on me a little.
Smaller battery, 5 3/4 in headlight w/ the shell powdercoated, mx bars, r6 master cylinder, temporary shrouded shocks I had in the shop, UNI pod filters, new yamaha badges, lucas tail light for shortened rear fender, new aluminum housing turn signals, and the exhaust cans on the way after that I'll put on the header wrap. Not all parts have been put on yet, and I've got to do something about headlight ears to lower the thing down. Seat pan in the works and rear loop going on soon. I'm sure there are some things I am skipping over.. but you get the gist.
As it sits:
Any suggestions on some good dual sport tires with our correct sizes?
I picked the bike up for $250. It had been sitting for a while, apparently uncovered but the owner has recently tinkered and gotten it to crank. My brother and I swapped out riding the thing home from about 1.5 hr away! The battery was rigged on the back w/ house wiring and we had problems keeping a charge, stopping about 4 times to kill the car ignition and give the bike a little charge.
Here it is at home the first day. Note the rust to the rear sub-frame and swing arm, and exhaust... and the sweet battery connection.
As it was:
I decided to make a solo-seater and shed as much weight as possible. I didn't want to go with a cafe look since I have the bonnie with a modernized caf' feel. I cut off the rear frame rails, rear peg / exhaust mounts, and took the swing arm, triple clamps, tank, and other parts which were rusted to be bead blasted and powdercoated. They all received a coat in gloss black.. minus the tank, which was supposed to be a light blue (I let my girlfriend choose). Apparently the color chart had updated or something because when we picked it up the tank was seafoam green. I was not happy at first.. Although I will admit, it has grown on me a little.
Smaller battery, 5 3/4 in headlight w/ the shell powdercoated, mx bars, r6 master cylinder, temporary shrouded shocks I had in the shop, UNI pod filters, new yamaha badges, lucas tail light for shortened rear fender, new aluminum housing turn signals, and the exhaust cans on the way after that I'll put on the header wrap. Not all parts have been put on yet, and I've got to do something about headlight ears to lower the thing down. Seat pan in the works and rear loop going on soon. I'm sure there are some things I am skipping over.. but you get the gist.
As it sits:
Any suggestions on some good dual sport tires with our correct sizes?
