| Author | Message | ||
     Mikef5000 |
Spent half of today out in the (freezing cold) garage, once I got started working I couldn't stop! We'll start with the 2 small projects: (This one I did last week, but I'll throw it in here for kicks) I picked up a cheap old thumb operated Cruise Control from the Pony, and installed that. I ended up dremelling off the tabs that were supposed to wrap around the throttle lines, and I took a tiny 3/8" long stainless steel machine screw, cut it in half (good old dremmel again) and bolted the cruise control into the housing. Works GREAT!  Next up... Uly/City Wind Guards! Don't have them on perminantly yet, I just have the thrown on there. There will be more adjusting later.   AND NOW THE FUN STUFF!!! I was not happy with the factory tail light output... So I took it all apart! Dremmeled out the plastic here:  ( I'm not worried how it looks, since it'll be covered up by the lens) Went to my local hardware store, where they gave me a hunk of 1/4" thick plexiglass for free! Used the good old dremmel again (see a trend here?) to cut the plexiglass into the approximate shape I needed. Again, perfection was not a priority. I'll all be hidden.  Here's how it'll eventually fit:  I went to Napa and picked up a couple universal tail/brake light sockets, and a couple long lasting bulbs. Now the fun part! Drilling 2 huge holes in this plexiglass for the bulb sockets to fit in was not easy! I didn't have a drill bit NEARLY large enough, So I ended up using the.... YOU GUESSED IT... the Dremmel!!! I tried the largest drill bit I had first, which was 3/4", and I ended up shattering the piece of plexiglass. So I quickly cut out another, and went at it with the dremmel. I ended up making octagons instead of circles... but remember, it's all hidden, so as long as it worked right, I was happy. I then cut out aluminum (reflective) Ducting tape, and covered the plexiglass in it, since it needed to be reflective to optimize light output. Here it is with both light sockets, and taped up, next to the original housing:  (The bulbs don't look even in that picture, not sure why, they might not have been pushed all the way in yet) And with some self tapping screws (Although I predrilled through the plexiglass) mounted to the bike:  I Soldered the (3 from each socket) wires together in male spade connectors, and they plug right into the factory wiring. With as small of bulbs as these are, I did not feel it was necessary to run bigger wiring or a relay. I tossed the lens back on over the new housing with some 3" long 6x32 stainless steel machine screws. Lights Off:  Tail Light (low beams you could say)   Brake light (High)  (Also, notice the new turn signals! That was another one of last weeks projects) I'm very happy with how it turned out! And everything is 100% reversable if I for some reason want to put the factory 1 bulb housing back in! The only downside is it is now a pain in the neck to pull the tail light lens off. But, it's worth it. My lens is cracked at the bottom (somehow?!), so I plan on replacing it before March Badness, maybe I can find a better way to mount it before then. I have a few Ideas. Next up will be getting rid of that giant ugly fender! That project will wait tho... Most likely the first half of March. That's all for now! Hope you enjoy. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
it seems like your having a bit to much fun here with that bike. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Considering it's the middle of winter... I guess I'd have to agree with you. | ||
| Oldog |
looks like a wisely considered series of modifications to improve visibility and and being able to see, nicely done there mike. | ||
| Road_thing |
Great idea, and very nicely done! rt | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
Now you have to show us how to mod the rear fender  | ||
| Mikef5000 |
That one will be easy! DREMMEL DREMMEL DREMMEL! I've looked at it a bit, I want to move the turn signals so I can cut out more of the fender, But there doesn't appear to be another flat place for them. Mounting those will be the hard part. I'll have to see what the local hardware store has for L shaped metal brackets, and maybe mount the signals to the underside of the fender, or behind the license plate. We will see. There will deffinately be a write-up when I do that. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I wish the sides of the fender were flat, then I'd just attach the signals here:  Green arrows point to where signals attach... Blue dots are where the plate would bolt to. Then the rest of the black plastic would disappear. That's the plan. We'll see what happens when it gets a but warmer. | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
As soon as I get my bike mine is coming off. I am having it delivered Feb 3rd. Then first mod. is dual headlights (Message edited by cbrxxblackbird on January 23, 2007) | ||
| Bomber |
Mike -- get a stout-ish plate frame -- hanging unsupported will have the palte in peices in no time at all(you don't have to ask how I know) | ||
| Bomber |
Mike -- get a stout-ish plate frame -- hanging unsupported will have the plate in peices in no time at all(you don't have to ask how I know) | ||
| Road_thing |
Yeah, Bomber, I've broken two of 'em like that myself! rt | ||
| Rocketman |
 Rocket | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Very Cool! I'll think about that frame or brace. What is the metal (tank like) part under the tail? It looks like it could be an Aux fuel tank or something like that! (Message edited by Mikef5000 on January 24, 2007) | ||
| Bluzm2 |
That's a very expensive aluminum S1 Lightning oil tank. I want one.... | ||
| Rocketman |
It's a Metmachex oil tank, and they are a slightly better (modified for clearance at the bottom) shape - and less expensive than when I bought mine. I believe Al sells 'em. Rocket | ||
| Nevrenuf |
can we have a better pic of that. that's a very clean looking arse end on the bike too rocket. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Is it an upgrade over stock somehow? Or just cool and different? It is cool tho! | ||
| Bomber |
greater capacity, if memory serves -- also will likely shed heat more easily than the stocker | ||
| Road_thing |
Sean, I can't recall whether your bike has a rear fender or not. If it doesn't, do you have any issues with road debris denting that oil tank? rt | ||
| Cbrxxblackbird |
Rocketman that is awesome I can't wait to mod. the appearance of mine. I plan on dual headlights and rear fender removal then go from there. | ||
| Rocketman |
Well let me tell you about the increased capacity. Yes it is possible to squeeze in about 3.5 litres. Buell recommend a tad over 2 litres. I've run the S1W at several different levels, starting from 'full' to less and less, until I've got back down to about 2 litres. Anymore than that capacity and I get puke problems out of the breather. That is the engine breather in the pic by the way. Here's what I think, and yes I studied this for months before making an assumption. Buell designed this engine to run with the chosen capacity, and it's enough. Increasing the oil capacity adds very little if any benefit to the engine. The oil pump can only ever handle the oil it needs when it needs it. Connecting the pump to an 18 wheel road tanker full of oil is never going to bring anything else to the party. The pump will take the correct amount from gravity feed and it will circulate the correct amount back to the oil tank. All I got by adding more oil to the oil tank was the same as doing likewise with the stock oil bag. With the oil bag, over filling increases the pressure in the bag and the cap blows off. The Metmachex has a work of art screw down billet cap. It can't blow off, but it wants to if you fill the tank and take up the void space. Consequently the oil comes out of the breather at sustained RPM. About 4000 on a motorway run, or anything higher in short but high speed quick blasts into the countryside. As for the rear hugger. I went with the carbon fibre one from the X1 as it fits the X1 arm. The first generation Metmachex oil tanks were designed for use with the original S1 swing arm, which had a different hugger and mounting. With the X1 hugger and arm, full suspension saw contact with the oil tank. I cut out a window in the hugger about the size of a matchbox, which quickly became a cig packet and even larger. Eventually the hugger broke around the mounting holes. Despite reinforcing the mount holes with alloy brackets (hidden behind) it kept breaking. I gave up in the end and left it off. That's when I too wondered about gravel rash on the oil tank. I needn't have bothered. It's so nominal it isn't worth the fuss. All that happens is it stays a little dull on that underside and looking up close there are lots of tiny little pits, but nothing to concern yourself with. The later Metmachex oil tanks were modified slightly so they gave hugger clearance.  Thanks for the compliments. I do really appreciate them. There are times I've disliked this bike for the hardship I've suffered with it. Now I'm stuck with it. If it were not representative of my own add on theme and a testament to my taste and craftsmanship, I doubt I'd own it now. Basically an S1W is not the reliable hot rod it should be. Great looking bike, but the down time has soured our relationship probably forever. The upside of course, is what you see, and that downtime through anyone else's fault but my own has helped to create what you see today. Thanks again. I think it's one of the best S1W's in the world. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
 Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
 Rocket | ||
| Road_thing |
Thanks, Sean, it's a beauty! I've said it before and I'll say it again--that's what a motorbike is supposed to look like! You know, I've had several "hot rod" vehicles in my life. "Reliable" has seldom been one of the attributes they possessed after I got done hot-rodding them! Nowadays, when I want "reliable" I buy a brand new vehicle that's as close to what I actually want as I can find, and I leave it exactly as it was built. It's come as a sad revelation to me that I'm really not smarter than the factory engineers! rt | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I don't leave any of my vehicles showroom stock. I'm not smarter than the engineers by any means. But the engineers have to make a vehicle that works for everyone, in all climates and all parts of the country(s). I just adjust it to work better for my driving styles and my location. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
yea mike, your bike is getting there. i'll never get to the point of what most of you do to your bikes. give me a piece of wood and that's a different story. | ||
| Ragnagwar |
Mike, What brand are the extra driving lights you have mounted on the forks? Very neat looking installation. | ||
| Rocketman |
Thanks Tom. I promise this year I'll have some good pic's done with a real camera, but let me get the wavy discs and the ISR levers on first. Rocket | ||
| Mikef5000 |
My Fog Light write-up is here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/249708.html?1169181229 I love them! They work great! | ||
| Ragnagwar |
Thank's Mike! |
