Another VN800 bobber project

[Thullan]

Ok so this is what it looks like with the lowered front (left). Quite a change if you ask me, compared to the picture from May (right). The stance can be considered as finished now, lowered all over and the wheel moved further out on the swingarm. Still have to solve that chain slack, and the rear shock should be set at a stiffer setting but that woun't affect the aesthetics. The seat is also left to fix, but after that it will be all about details.



I have also put a shorter kickstand on today.

[CowboyBob]

Its lookinreal good Thullan! I really like the lowered stance! The bike is looking sweet! Keep us posted!

[Jase]

Hi there, I have nearly finished my bobber now after 2 months of work.
Can anyone tell me how to upload photo's?
PS, Thullan, bike is looking sweet!

[El Skitzo]

Originally Posted by Thullan

Ok so this is what it looks like with the lowered front (left). Quite a change if you ask me, compared to the picture from May (right).

How on Earth did you go about doing that? Am I right in assuming you have to pull the lower fork legs off and replace the springs in there? Was it a big job?

Hey Jase, your signature says you're from Oz. Does that mean you're from Australia, or are you hanging out with Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the rest of the gang?

[Thullan]

Thanks for the compliment Jase! There is a special thread in the "Want to show off your ride?" section named "Show Off your Bobber". Read here about how to post pictures.

[Thullan]

Originally Posted by El Skitzo

How on Earth did you go about doing that? Am I right in assuming you have to pull the lower fork legs off and replace the springs in there? Was it a big job?

It was quite easy actually but I have read that the method won't work on the Classic and Drifter models. I think it would be quite easy to investigate it though, all you should have to do is to remove one of the round chromed plastic covers and see what's hidden underneath. If this is what you find, then go on and give it a try:


And this is what you will find inside the "A" fork tubes, and hopefully on the Classic to:


I wrote a short description on the procedure on Flickr (here) and there's also a link to a very detailed step-by-step instruction. Definitely worth a try.

[Jase]

Yes El Skitzo, I am currently living in northern NSW. You actually were the one who made me thought of building one, as I keenly watched you build yours on the net from France. I had already purchased the bike for $5000 before I had even got home.
Anyway all I have to do now is put on some 15 inch apehangers and I am happy with the bike, this is quite expensive though around $500 for all cables etc.
I am going to try post some pics for you guy's, this is my first attempt at customizing a bike, would like to hear what you guys think.

[El Skitzo]

Originally Posted by Jase

Yes El Skitzo, I am currently living in northern NSW. You actually were the one who made me thought of building one, as I keenly watched you build yours on the net from France.

LOL, glad I inspired someone to give it a go. I think it turn out great! I like those rear fender struts, and wanted to drill mine full of holes too, but my drill press was playing up at the time. Looks mean in all black!

Originally Posted by Jase

Anyway all I have to do now is put on some 15 inch apehangers and I am happy with the bike, this is quite expensive though around $500 for all cables etc.

Wow that is expensive! I'm about to swap mine for 10" mini apes so only need to change the clutch cable, which helps keep the costs down.

[Jase]

Try again, can't seem to get larger images up.

[Jase]

? Cant seem to get them bigger ???

[Jase]

Ahh you just click the thumb nails for enlargement, DOW!
Apehangers should look cool, have to save some money.

[CowboyBob]

Jase, thats a nice ride ya got there...looks real cool!

[Thullan]

I'm still around but things are going slow. Have spent 60 hours a week in the office lately and the chain is still slacking, making the bike unrideable. First I had to wait a couple of days for the bigger front sprocket to be delivered. It then took another week before I had the time to work on the bike. Turned out then that the nut that holds the front sprocket is impossible to loosen with the tools I got, it's really really stucked! I ordered a 40 teeth rear sprocket instead today to get the bike back on the road, as I don't want to put the old 45 teeth back on. Should arrive next week I was told. This is getting more expensive than I had hoped for and a whole month of our short riding season will soon be wasted. Why didn't I just ordered a 40 teeth sprocket from the start instead of the 38... And these kind of mechanical stuff ain't even fun.

And Jase, your bike is awesome!

[CowboyBob]

That sucks Thullan! Once its all done it will be worth it though! You'll look back and laugh at it and enjoy the miles you put on it!

[ROMAD]

Now THAT'S a modification!! Nice! Makes me wanna get out the tools!!

[Thullan]

The bike is up and running again and the wheelbase is as stretched as it can be, nice! All this boring mechanic stuff is driving me nuts so I felt like being a bit creative today. A message to all the meddlesome jerks out there:


Edit: I added darker shadows to the text and replaced the previous picture with a newer one.

[Bad Dad 1]

Originally Posted by Thullan

The bike is up and running again and the wheelbase is as stretched as it can be, nice! All this boring mechanic stuf is driving me nuts so I felt like being a bit creative today. A message to all the meddlesome jerks out there:

GREAT... take'er out for a ride!

Thanks for ALL the posts, info & pictures... your bike looks great!

Tony

[Thullan]

Thanks Tony, I appreciate it!

[El Skitzo]

LOL

That's the exact same spot the pinstriper "signed" my bike, for a minute I thought you'd done the same.

[Thullan]

Next thing will be new handlebars, again. My original plan was to get some swept knucklehead bars or something like that, to suit the 40's bobber style. I feel however that I am drifting more towards a 60's bobber/chopper hybrid, and a set of z-bars would better suit the 21" front wheel. I made bets for a set of black Biltwell Keystone bars on eBay but some lurker catched them in the last minute. I will try to get them from somewhere else now. I prefer the black ones but they are a little harder to find, so what do you think about chrome?


One of the drawbacks* with the VN800's from 1995 is that they came with a type of risers which requires the bars to be slipped through them, rather than just clamping them down from the top as on all later models. That means no sharp angles on the bars, as they wount slip through the risers. A set of Z-bars would obviously require new risers for me. Yesterday I won an ebay auction for a pair of VN1500 Classic risers, which I believe are exactly the same as the ones used on later VN800's. I could have got something more thrilling (read: expensive) but the newer stock risers looks ok to me and they will fit without troubles. These will remain on the wishlist though, jummy:


*Another drawback is that the orange release button for the indicators was missing untill the 1996 models made their appearance.