VN800 Bobber project

[CustomVN]

I unexpectedly also took care of my rear indicators on the weekend too. I knew I wanted to mount them through the holes left in the frame by the fender struts, but couldn't find anything to suit an M10 bolt hole, everything is to suit Harley or M8 when you look at adapters.

Then I found these units to suit sports bikes while I was at the bike tyre shop for only $29.95. The wires are internal and run through the hollowed out mounting stud which happen to be the correct M10 with 1.25 thread pitch I needed. So they are wired up and ready to go. Being black and so tiny you barely even see them, but the halogen globes ensure they cast almost as much light as the originals.

I also re-routed the main wiring loom under the main seat mounting support instead of around the outside of it, just to neaten things up (see last picture).

You'll also notice the indicators in the above picture with the white wall tyre but you really have to struggle to find them. Their shape and size also ensures I can get my side covers off without any interference.

[Thullan]

Nice

[CustomVN]

Well it looks like I just found my painter today after making some posts into some local Hot Rod forums.

I mentioned in an email to the guy what I was thinking about, and he came straight back with the correct suggestion of candy layers over silver metal flake base to achieve the desired colour and effect I'm looking for. I'll go and check him out in coming weeks to hopefully see some of his work, and better discuss my ideas, and find out a time frame and most importantly cost.

For some reason I'm starting to get real excited about this project

[Wharfy]

Anticipation is half the fun!

[likearock4x4]

Coming along nicely!! Thanks for the updates.

[CustomVN]

Ok for those wanting to know how I intend to mount the flat 6" rear fender once it arrives, here's a couple of pics.

First one shows the splash guard on the rear swing arm, of which I intend to mount the front of the fender using the top two bolts (as shown), although I'll probably swap these mild steel bolts for some high tensile ones.



To secure the rear of the fender I intend to make a couple of struts out of some flat bar that mount to the sides of the rear of the fender and then mount in these spare lugs that are used for the Drifter models but are unused on this bike. There is one on each side directly opposite each other, and the best part is they are already threaded!! (to take an M12 x 1.25 pitch bolt). I can't see the point in drilling new holes in the flat section of the swing arm just above the axle, when these ones are already there...

[CustomVN]

Oh and to follow up on last weeks' post about the fork gaiters, here's a picture of the bike back on the ground (at last) with both white walls now fitted. You can see with the weight of the bike now back on the front end the rubber fork gaiters don't look squashed and too compressed, so my decision to cut them down my a couple of inches before installing them probably turned out to be the right one.



I've sort of cheated a little with this picture. I have decided to leave the protective blue coating on the rear white wall as I still have to take the back wheel on and off a few more times and don't want to get it marked. So rather than showing one white tyre and one blue, I've photoshopped the picture to make the back one white, which is why there is a blue shading around the edges.

[mumbles]

Wow, been awhile since my last visit and you have come a long way. She is looking great. You can appriciate the details that make her stand out already.

Now I have to go back and read all the posts.
Keep up the good(hard) work. mumbles

[ImpactG]

I'm lovin' the look of this bike!

[Thullan]

Originally Posted by CustomVN

Ok for those wanting to know how I intend to mount the flat 6" rear fender once it arrives, here's a couple of pics.

That's pretty much how most people seem to have done, so it should be a well prowen method.

I am gonna use all four bolts in the front to mount two brackets, letting the fender continue all the way down. I have a few sketches for the tubular sissy which I will have made in stainless steel. Will use a round profile fender, ribbed if I can find one.

Keep us updated, Custom

[CustomVN]

Originally Posted by Thullan

Will use a round profile fender, ribbed if I can find one.

You can order ones just like that straight out of the Custom Chrome catalogue, I saw them when I was picking out my flat one.

[2WheelFun]

Nice project and good work being done. Very nice and thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[Spok]

Originally Posted by CustomVN

smokin hot!

[CustomVN]

Well I finally stopped procrastinating about starting on the seat and last night came up with the design on some cardboard, actually a manila folder pinched from the office.

Here you can see a few pictures of my final design. In it's flat form like this it's 14" long by 11" wide, and basically follows the shape of the inside of the frame at that point, and exposes the frame tubes all the way around. I kind of like that industrial look you get when you can see the frame.

I'll transfer this design to some 3mm thick steel plate I have for the job, and start cutting it out on the weekend. Then of course I'll have to roll a little kick up at the back of it and start mounting it, but I have a plan for that.

I might tweak the shape a little more first though as I think it could be a little better.

Hint: When drawing up something like this, your wife's crockery in the kitchen is a treasure trove of different radiused compound curves

[likearock4x4]

Cool, Custom. You're doing a great job!! It's looking better and better every day.

[CustomVN]

Thanks mate, I appreciate the vote of confidence, especially considering this is the first time I've ever tried to customise a bike!

[A2rider]

You are doing a great job. Can't wait to see the seat finished.

[CustomVN]

Well my clear indicator lense arrived in the mail last night so I added those to the front of the bike.

I was trying to find some neato little indicators but couldn't find anything I liked, and in the end decided it wasn't the size and shape of the front indicators that I didn't like, it was just seeing all that orange.

I went as far as ordering the chromed amber globes so you don't even see orange through the clear lenses, but these globes are only about half as bright as the amber ones. I'll stick with them for now though as I do think they look better, and in reality should be more than bright enough for the job they have to do.

First picture shows the the new lenses and globes compared with the originals.

Second picture shows the clear lenses in, with the chromed globe on the left and the amber globe on the right.

And finally showing what I think is an improvement, although if I do see some aftermarket indicators I like better than this I can always add them later...

[Dudester]

Can't wait to see it finished.........fantastic job Sir.

[GPBraaten]

I'm really enjoying your project. Thanks for sharing it. I can't wait to see your seat configuration when you're done!

THX -=GPBraaten=-

http://www.ixoye.net/DrifterStang.jpg