VN800 Bobber project - Page 7

*likearock4x4* · 07-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamosity

freaking good looking thats all I can say.

+1

CustomVN · 07-24-2007

I might just be me imagining things, but I think there could actually be a weight saving with this new rear fender setup over the old one!

Thullan · 07-24-2007

The bike turns out really cool! Waiting to see it completed with the new paint job, finnished seat and the chromed fender supports! You could consider giving the seat pan a convex shape up front, to put less stress on the back of your thigh?

PS You wouldn't be interested in selling that stock rear fender, would you (just the fender)? The lady suddenly decided to buy herself a helmet, biker pants and a jacket this month. That put an end to my original plan of a ribbed 5 or 6' fender mounted to the swing, don't think it would hold a passenger safely. Was thinking of a 2-up Drifter seat instead for those occassions, or the Passenger Carrier sold by BoatRap. I decided to bob a 800 Classic fender instead, currently scanning eBay for one. I have also bought the adjustable lowering kits from Scootworks to get the wheel much closer to the fender. That should keep the girl happy.

I will start my own bobber thread later this fall, when I hopefully and finally will have the time to start assembling of all the parts I have collected over the last year. Don't want to interrupt your thread with this.

CustomVN · 07-24-2007

Sorry Thullan I'm going to hang onto all the stock parts. If I ever cop a defect notice from the cops for this bike, it would be easier just to bolt all the original stuff back on for an inspection than modify what I've made so far to become legal.

BTW, I think my rear fender and struts would easily support the weight of a passenger, but they'd have a rough ride sitting out on the 'rigid' part of the bike.

CustomVN · 07-24-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thullan

You could consider giving the seat pan a convex shape up front, to put less stress on the back of your thigh?

Yeah I thought about that, and benefit of hindsight probably should have done it. But I like the look of it this shape, and think once it has a little padding it should feel a little better.

If it becomes a pain, then I'll rework the shape of the spare seat pan and then send that off for trimming. Still, no pain no gain, and I'm chasing style not comfort!

Thullan · 07-25-2007

That's fine, I should have kept it for the same reason if were you.

Earl Junior · 07-25-2007

Looks awesome so far. That flat fender is just screaming for a pin-up girl.

CustomVN · 07-30-2007

Well the bike is stripped right down again now and pieces of it are in the hands of 4 different vendors right now. Custom Mods has the tank and rear fender and is starting on the Kandy over Metal Flake paint, Vinci Chrome has the struts and some other brackets, Sign-a-rama as the side covers lettering up the name of the bike, and of course the trimmer is working on the seat.

Here's some pictures the trimmer sent through to me.

The first shows the seat pan painted and prepped and the first template made, this one being to cover the underside of the pan in leather.

The second picture shows the sketch of the final design for the artwork which will be hand carved into the leather on top of the seat. The design will be blown up a little more in size to better fill in the space on the seat.

I think it should turn out pretty good...

*likearock4x4* · 07-30-2007

NICE!!! It looks like you're on the downward slope now. I can't wait to see it all put together.

Dudester · 07-30-2007

Man I just can't wait to see the finished product. The Indian Larry seat is an awesome tribute. I was just wondering if you were going to be selling all or some of the stock parts from this 800. I may be interested if you are. Again, great job and can't wait to see it all done.

CustomVN · 07-30-2007

Yeah I think the trimmer is right into this project and must be an Indian Larry fan too, as it was his idea to put the "Via Con Dios" at the bottom. It was tattooed on the back of Indian Larry's right hand in the exact same font, and means "Go with God". I'm actually an Athiest, but appreciate it there as a part of a fitting tribute to the man.

As I've mentioned to a few people previously, I'm keep all the stock parts off the bike incase I need them again in future.

BTW, here's a link to the Trimmers website:
Kansas Charley Custom Seats and Fabrication

CustomVN · 07-31-2007

And here's todays update from the trimmer.

First picture shows the leather done for the underside of the seat pan, although it is yet to receive the Antique style stained finish.

And the second one obviously shows the finalised artwork traced onto the leather for the top of the seat. This is now ready for the carving to start...

sthrnrider · 07-31-2007

man im speechless its coming out to be awsome keep up the good work...imo i think when its finished you should send out pics to some mags and prolly get a feature if they dont they dont know good work...keep up the great work and keep the pics coming

CustomVN · 07-31-2007

Latest pic from the trimmer, showing here the entire design now knife edged, and you can see towards the bottom some of the carving has started giving it that real depth.

The trimmer was telling me that he and his wife a huge Indian Larry fans, and now that his wife has seen this work in progress she doesn't want him to send it back to me and wants to keep it!

CTGPZ · 07-31-2007

That is beautiful! Cant wait to see it stitched up!

Batman · 08-01-2007

i am very impressed!!! i can not wait to see it when its all done. you have done a very nice job! thanks for sharring the progress with all of us.

CustomVN · 08-02-2007

Latest update, and I'll offer a direct quote from the master trimmer himself: "four and a half million hammer strikes later and the tooling is finished".

Once the leather has dried out it will be stained and then the seat can be assembled.

A2rider · 08-02-2007

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...00-bobber.html

So what do you think of this companies work?

I think yours is much better!

Thullan · 08-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2rider

So what do you think of this companies work?

They did a really good job with the rear fender, but it is something about that 900 that just doesn't flow right. It need to be lowered in the rear, the front fender is too deep, the seat doesn't look right and it has too much stock chrome left (wich makes it look like a photoshopped picture from the kawasaki catalog). Did I mention that I really like that rear fender with the Sparto light?

Miralcos · 08-02-2007

You are doing one heckuva job on that 800...
Keep those pics acomin'

07-24-2007	#123 (permalink)
Thullan Yet another 800 Bobber... BTK Expert Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 392	The bike turns out really cool! Waiting to see it completed with the new paint job, finnished seat and the chromed fender supports! You could consider giving the seat pan a convex shape up front, to put less stress on the back of your thigh? PS You wouldn't be interested in selling that stock rear fender, would you (just the fender)? The lady suddenly decided to buy herself a helmet, biker pants and a jacket this month. That put an end to my original plan of a ribbed 5 or 6' fender mounted to the swing, don't think it would hold a passenger safely. Was thinking of a 2-up Drifter seat instead for those occassions, or the Passenger Carrier sold by BoatRap. I decided to bob a 800 Classic fender instead, currently scanning eBay for one. I have also bought the adjustable lowering kits from Scootworks to get the wheel much closer to the fender. That should keep the girl happy. I will start my own bobber thread later this fall, when I hopefully and finally will have the time to start assembling of all the parts I have collected over the last year. Don't want to interrupt your thread with this. __________________ VN800A -95 Bobber Project, work in progress

07-25-2007	#126 (permalink)
Thullan Yet another 800 Bobber... BTK Expert Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 392	That's fine, I should have kept it for the same reason if were you. __________________ VN800A -95 Bobber Project, work in progress

07-25-2007	#127 (permalink)
Earl Junior Finally Got Into First Gear BTK Beginner Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Idaho Posts: 62	Looks awesome so far. That flat fender is just screaming for a pin-up girl. Attached Thumbnails

07-30-2007	#129 (permalink)
likearock4x4 Thanks to all Veterans!!! Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: PGR Member #7955 O'Fallon, Illinois (Near St. Louis) Posts: 16,031	NICE!!! It looks like you're on the downward slope now. I can't wait to see it all put together. __________________ RIP Deron Harden. :-( You are truely missed.

07-30-2007	#130 (permalink)
Dudester Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ontario Canada (east of Ottawa) Posts: 1,227	Man I just can't wait to see the finished product. The Indian Larry seat is an awesome tribute. I was just wondering if you were going to be selling all or some of the stock parts from this 800. I may be interested if you are. Again, great job and can't wait to see it all done. __________________ 03-Vulcan Classic 1500 If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular ??

07-24-2007	#122 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	I might just be me imagining things, but I think there could actually be a weight saving with this new rear fender setup over the old one!

07-24-2007	#124 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	Sorry Thullan I'm going to hang onto all the stock parts. If I ever cop a defect notice from the cops for this bike, it would be easier just to bolt all the original stuff back on for an inspection than modify what I've made so far to become legal. BTW, I think my rear fender and struts would easily support the weight of a passenger, but they'd have a rough ride sitting out on the 'rigid' part of the bike.

07-30-2007	#128 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	Well the bike is stripped right down again now and pieces of it are in the hands of 4 different vendors right now. Custom Mods has the tank and rear fender and is starting on the Kandy over Metal Flake paint, Vinci Chrome has the struts and some other brackets, Sign-a-rama as the side covers lettering up the name of the bike, and of course the trimmer is working on the seat. Here's some pictures the trimmer sent through to me. The first shows the seat pan painted and prepped and the first template made, this one being to cover the underside of the pan in leather. The second picture shows the sketch of the final design for the artwork which will be hand carved into the leather on top of the seat. The design will be blown up a little more in size to better fill in the space on the seat. I think it should turn out pretty good...

07-30-2007	#131 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	Yeah I think the trimmer is right into this project and must be an Indian Larry fan too, as it was his idea to put the "Via Con Dios" at the bottom. It was tattooed on the back of Indian Larry's right hand in the exact same font, and means "Go with God". I'm actually an Athiest, but appreciate it there as a part of a fitting tribute to the man. As I've mentioned to a few people previously, I'm keep all the stock parts off the bike incase I need them again in future. BTW, here's a link to the Trimmers website: Kansas Charley Custom Seats and Fabrication

07-31-2007	#132 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	And here's todays update from the trimmer. First picture shows the leather done for the underside of the seat pan, although it is yet to receive the Antique style stained finish. And the second one obviously shows the finalised artwork traced onto the leather for the top of the seat. This is now ready for the carving to start...

07-31-2007	#133 (permalink)
sthrnrider Southern by Heart Forum Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: quitman, mississippi Posts: 517	man im speechless its coming out to be awsome keep up the good work...imo i think when its finished you should send out pics to some mags and prolly get a feature if they dont they dont know good work...keep up the great work and keep the pics coming __________________ *OILFIELD TRASH* *PGR # 89786* 900C Candy Red http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/sthrnrider/

07-31-2007	#134 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	Latest pic from the trimmer, showing here the entire design now knife edged, and you can see towards the bottom some of the carving has started giving it that real depth. The trimmer was telling me that he and his wife a huge Indian Larry fans, and now that his wife has seen this work in progress she doesn't want him to send it back to me and wants to keep it!

07-31-2007	#135 (permalink)
CTGPZ Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Central, Connecticut Posts: 79	That is beautiful! Cant wait to see it stitched up! __________________ 1986 NINJA GPZ1000R 1991 EX-500 (soon)

08-01-2007	#136 (permalink)
Batman cruisin for a bruisin BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Burlington, Wa Posts: 459	nice transformation i am very impressed!!! i can not wait to see it when its all done. you have done a very nice job! thanks for sharring the progress with all of us. __________________ 2003 suzuki vz 800 LETS GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

08-02-2007	#137 (permalink)
CustomVN Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 221	Latest update, and I'll offer a direct quote from the master trimmer himself: "four and a half million hammer strikes later and the tooling is finished". Once the leather has dried out it will be stained and then the seat can be assembled.

08-02-2007	#138 (permalink)
A2rider Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KCK Posts: 19,729	http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...00-bobber.html So what do you think of this companies work? I think yours is much better!

08-02-2007	#140 (permalink)
Miralcos Behind the 8ball BTK Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sheridan, Arkansas Posts: 1,821	You are doing one heckuva job on that 800... Keep those pics acomin' __________________ aka: Butch Heatware Live long and prosper..... '06 V2K Standard '07 1500 Classic (sold)

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