Honda Bobber Project

[Kona9]

It has been quite some time since I have modded anything at all. I have modded a mini truck with ten switch hydraulics back in the day, clean CRX, Accord Coupe, Lexus ES. Just random things I "cleaned up" No horrible body kits, just stock lowered, trim paint, wheels, suspension intake etc. Minor modding real, but done right.

So the bug has always been with me, but haven't really seen the practicality in modding my past few new Nissan trucks. Seemed a waste to me. Then I resorted back to my Indian Motorcycle days when I worked for them here in Calgary selling bikes etc. I have always enjoyed The Horse Backyard Chopper Magazine. (www.thehorsebc.com) and have seen some pretty sick backyard choppers and bobbers put totgether. Now I wanted to try it out. Same with the cars I have had in the past, I am doing basic modding to the bike to obtain the look of a bobber.

Here are some pics of what I have come together with so far.

The day I got the bike. Found it in Hanna AB for 3k. 18k km mostly all highway.(Jan 2011) She was dirrrrty.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3227.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3229.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3232.jpg

Windshield off.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3237.jpg

Initial Tear down

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3240.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3293.jpg

Seeing as I want to change the red to flat black, I will be wrapping the tank and fenders in Flat Black Di-Noc for now. Along with the flat black di-noc, I will be doing accent pieces in the new outdoor carbon fibre di-noc as well as keeping most of the chrome.

Here is my Radiator cover before:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3302.jpg

and after:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3306.jpg

Aftermarket Speedometer bezel previous owner put on before:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01599-20110328-1726.jpg

and after:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01601-20110328-1810.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01603-20110328-1811.jpg

Then the fun stuff. I ordered my solo seat with shocks, and some mirrors. As well the same day my whitewalls were mounted to my SUPER dirty wheels. I have never scrubbed so hard to bring chrome back in my life. The mirrors may not really run with the bobber style I am after, but seeing as we have to have them, I got the lowest profile ones I could find. They were 30 bucks!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3311.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3313.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3321.jpg

While picking up my tires from Precision Frameworx I decided to throw these on for valve stem covers.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG_3333.jpg

When the weather gave us a small tease the other week, I slipped the axles back on the bike and took it out of the shop and gave it the polishing of it's life!!! I also wanted to do a quick and minor mockup with all the new goodies I recieved. I wanted to see how the seat was going to sit and decide where to weld the brackets for the shocks, as well as how it worked with the fender and where I was going to cut it.

This should give a fair idea as to how I will be making it look.
(Pardon the wooden strut. It was a mockup for when I got my steel to make it a rigid frame and lower it.)

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01662-20110410-15081.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01664-20110410-19161.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01663-20110410-15141.jpg

Still on the list of things to do to it as it sits in the next pic:

1. Chop Rear Fender
2. Ditch those large pull back risers and replace them with straight short 2"risers to get the bars closer to the trees.
3. Tank & Fenders flat black
4. Wire in all LED's.(to be hidden)Signals, brake, running, etc.
5. Get upper fork covers for the inverted fork look.
6. Finish carbon wrapping lower fork legs.
7. Lower front 1.5"
8. Get gretz to CNC me some custom goodies for the bike. :D
9. Mechanical tune up
10. Wait for Calgary Weather to fuck off
11. Ride.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01649-20110409-1748.jpg

[s dime]

Wow! Big changes from stock. Not my cup of tea, but I must say it looks way better now! :thumbsup:

[MK1GTI]

Very cool project, I can't wait to see more :thumbsup:

[civic_rida]

wow thats sick man

[95teetee]

I'm not a bike fan.

But that looks sweet:thumbsup:

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Looking good!

[TKRIS]

Looking good.
Question: are you just going to weld/bolt in a piece of tubing in place of the shock? If so, why not just get shorter shocks and use some tubing to cover them to give a similar look.

Fwiw, if you're going to bolt your tubing to the original shock mounts, I would seriously consider beefing them up. I would imagine that there will be substantially more stress on the mounting brackets without the cushioning provided by the shock.

Nice work. Good to see someone else doing a metric bob.

[rizfarmer]

sick project, I wish I had the skillz to rig up a custom application like this

[Kona9]

Originally posted by TKRIS
Looking good.
Question: are you just going to weld/bolt in a piece of tubing in place of the shock? If so, why not just get shorter shocks and use some tubing to cover them to give a similar look.

Fwiw, if you're going to bolt your tubing to the original shock mounts, I would seriously consider beefing them up. I would imagine that there will be substantially more stress on the mounting brackets without the cushioning provided by the shock.

Nice work. Good to see someone else doing a metric bob.

I was hoping you would stop in my thread. I need to catch up on your thread and build.

My buddy ended up ripping up some 3/4" thick steel for me. I went with 1 1/2" wide and will be drilling the mounting holes at 9.5" apart. There is a wealth of info I have reading up on shadowriders.net and some are using aluminum. I wouldn't even chance aluminum myself and feel the 3/4" steel will suffice as that is what most of the Shadow owners have used and have had no issues.



Originally posted by rizfarmer
sick project, I wish I had the skillz to rig up a custom application like this

:rofl: Man, If I can turn wrenches and make this happen, anyone can. It's truly not too difficult. Just the right manuals, time, and patience is all you need.

[A790]

Looks like a cool project man!

Out of curiosity, how come you picked that bike to work on?

[Kona9]

Originally posted by A790
Looks like a cool project man!

Out of curiosity, how come you picked that bike to work on?

Thanks man.

After selling Indian Motorcycles and learning a lot about Harley, I knew I didn't want to make a bobber out of a Harley. The cost of this project will run me 5k max including the cost of the bike. So I have a fun bike that will look cool for not a huge chunk of change. It is more fun than anything for me. Let's not forget the reliability aspect. This bike is fun easy and cheap to work on. Perhaps I will get into something different once this is done and ridden a bit.

I appreciate all the kind words from everyone. It has definitely been fun.

[A790]

Well keep us posted- looks like it'll be a cool bike once it's finished!

[Kona9]

Originally posted by A790
Well keep us posted- looks like it'll be a cool bike once it's finished!

Definitely. Updates as I do them. I would like to be riding this thing in a month. Weather permitting.

[asp integra]

its crazy ho much better the bike looks after the changes you made, looks so badass now! keep it up, i want one of those so bad!

[TKRIS]

Originally posted by Kona9


I was hoping you would stop in my thread. I need to catch up on your thread and build.

My buddy ended up ripping up some 3/4" thick steel for me. I went with 1 1/2" wide and will be drilling the mounting holes at 9.5" apart. There is a wealth of info I have reading up on shadowriders.net and some are using aluminum. I wouldn't even chance aluminum myself and feel the 3/4" steel will suffice as that is what most of the Shadow owners have used and have had no issues.

Cool. I couldn't see the mounting points, so I thought it was worth mentioning. I'm sure you won't have any issues bending 3/4" thick flat bar, I was just concerned with what you were going to bolt it into. I know the mounting brackets on the frame of my bike were just stamped 1/8" plate that I wouldn't trust with that type of impact loading.

My bike was cheap, so I wasn't too concerned with hacking mine to bits and gobbing it back together. I should have the welding and fabrication work done in the next week or so, then it's just mechanical and electrical.
If I get my shit together, maybe I'll see you on the road this summer.

[Kona9]

The bolts you see in the wood are the stock mounting points and bolts.

There are some great threads to be read on here (spirit 750 particularly) http://www.shadowriders.net/forums/index.php Don't get the wrong idea, they are hard on noobs, and anyones proper welcome is to be told to fuck off repeatedly by other members. It's all in good fun.

I imagine we will catch up once we are done. Go for a rip.

[JfuckinC]

Looks good hombre!!

[Kona9]

Thanks B.

I have been thinking about maybe keeping it red. Instead of paint, I am wrapping the tank and fenders. I have purchased my flat black and carbon already, and have the front fender done. I will do some photoshops and see what I can come up with, but for now it will be flat black, carbon, and chrome.

Here's the front fender

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01636-20110406-2054.jpg

Front fender and fork brace

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01639-20110406-2121.jpg

Fork with and without carbon

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01659-20110410-1428.jpg

[Cos]

so sick, in to follow

[Kona9]

Got off work a bit early and pulled out the bike after getting the back wheel on properly. After messing with the two seats, and humming and hawing over black or red, etc... I decided to cut the rear fender so I could wrap it and get the LED's mounted.

Pre Dremel rape

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01681-20110420-1814.jpg

Eye ballin'

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01682-20110420-1827.jpg

Zip

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01684-20110420-1838.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01685-20110420-1856.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01687-20110420-1858.jpg

[TKRIS]

Looks good.
Looks SO MUCH better without the front fender as shown in the 3rd picture.



Fenders are for the weak. ;)

[rizfarmer]

Originally posted by Kona9
... time, and patience is all you need.

this is what I'm missing. I can't believe what you're turning this bike into! I'm going to start looking for mid size japanese cruiser for myself:rofl:

[Kona9]

Easter weekend Bump

Thanks for the ups gentlemen. Much appreciated.

PICS...

A Garageless Canadian's Beer Fridge.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01705-20110422-1500.jpg

I am starting to like the look of No front fender (if I can get away with it), Flat black rear shorty fender and keep the tank red with the flames. Here are a few pics of withs and withouts and the seat at various positions. I am thinking I may just get some bungs and scissor springs and try and get it as low as I can that way. These shocks are cool and look awesome from the back, but I think I want the scissor spring route. CAN NOT WAIT FOR MY STRUTS TO BE DRILLED OUT!! FACK!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01701-20110422-1320.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01694-20110422-1311.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01692-20110422-1307.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01690-20110422-1227.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01704-20110422-1329.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01702-20110422-1321.jpg

Happy Chocolate Day.

[pf0sh0]

that's awesome man, such a transformation. :bigpimp:

[ekguy]

Very impressive. Really like the look your going for.

:)

[Kona9]

Originally posted by pf0sh0
that's awesome man, such a transformation. :bigpimp:



Originally posted by ekguy
Very impressive. Really like the look your going for.

:)




:thumbsup: Thanks guys!

[rizfarmer]

so where do you plan to put brake lights, signals etc

[TKRIS]

Looking good without fenders!

I'm not sure how you're going to shoehorn hairpin springs in there. Remember that the angle of your spring is going to be critical to proper kidney function. From where I'm sitting, it looks like running hairpins off the back of the seat at the correct angle is going to run them right into your tire unless you run them way on the outsides, which might look weird.

I like the look of them too, but I'd much rather have barrels at the correct angle than scissors that are going to ensure you spend your summer pissing blood.

Also, if you do buy hairpin springs, make sure you get some that are have corrected (angled) mounting eyelets that will allow them to compress in a natural arc. Some (like the ones I've seen from La Rosa) are just a straight arm with a loop at the end, and as you compress them between two fixed points they will bind up instead of moving freely through their range of motion as they should.

[AndyL]

Love the look... But get rid of the red... Wrap that tank... Might also want to consider the triple trees in CF to match/balance the bottom...

You've got lots of chrome/polish - black the rest out...

My .02

[Kona9]

Originally posted by rizfarmer
so where do you plan to put brake lights, signals etc

LED trips (orange) for the front. Mounted on the fork covers. Rear strip of clear LED's that light up red under chopped rear fender. Half are signals all are run and brake. Pics coming.



Originally posted by TKRIS
Looking good without fenders!

I'm not sure how you're going to shoehorn hairpin springs in there. Remember that the angle of your spring is going to be critical to proper kidney function. From where I'm sitting, it looks like running hairpins off the back of the seat at the correct angle is going to run them right into your tire unless you run them way on the outsides, which might look weird.

I like the look of them too, but I'd much rather have barrels at the correct angle than scissors that are going to ensure you spend your summer pissing blood.

Also, if you do buy hairpin springs, make sure you get some that are have corrected (angled) mounting eyelets that will allow them to compress in a natural arc. Some (like the ones I've seen from La Rosa) are just a straight arm with a loop at the end, and as you compress them between two fixed points they will bind up instead of moving freely through their range of motion as they should.

Thanks for the heads up on all of that. The more research I do, the more I am understanding of the importance of seat position and spring. I have decided to leave that up to Mad Jap Customs. I had a decent conversation with him and he explained it rather well.



Originally posted by AndyL
Love the look... But get rid of the red... Wrap that tank... Might also want to consider the triple trees in CF to match/balance the bottom...

You've got lots of chrome/polish - black the rest out...

My .02

Your .02 are appreciated. I think this first season, I am going to leave the tank red and roll with the chopped flat black rear fender. The tank (bike) came with some decent scratches in it and it needs to be painted. I was actually thinking of a color change all together. I have to remember that this is a cheap backyard build while doing all the things I want to do.

Here are some more recent pics. The fork covers came from a different bike, so I had to cut them up a little bit to make them fit. They are in decent shape, but saved 300 bucks by buying them used on ebay. While installing them, I pushed all the wiring behind the forks and installed the front LED signals. I like the beefier/clean look.

Before Fork covers/wire hide/signal install.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01817-20110521-1534.jpg

After
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01818-20110521-1703.jpg

Once I had the rear lights mounted, I didn't feel comfortable how close to the tire the lights were. I have since modded the rear fender to create a bigger gap.

Before Pic only
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01765-20110511-1800.jpg

Still with the wooden strut, here is a basic idea of the stance I would like with seat and fender.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01713-20110425-1756.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01712-20110425-1728.jpg

Here is the headlight with flat black added.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01768-20110511-1830.jpg

Rad Cover and Front forks before fork covers.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01769-20110511-1831.jpg

I have the struts back and will use them, but would like to make another set. (Gretz? :D)

I just have to make a side mount license plate bracket, get the seat mounted up properly, remount the rear fender and wire up the LED's. Make a pan to cover the battery box and wires under the solo seat, and it's ride time. Ready for June.

[TKRIS]

That's looking great.
Good idea hiding the signals in the fork covers. If I get sick of using my arm, I might look into something like that.
Did you find a cheap LED flasher to run your signals?

I thought about using string LEDs for my taillight/stoplight like you did. I think it's an awesome idea, but I decided against it because it doesn't match the look of my bike at all. Yours has a much more modern style, and I think they look wicked on that.

By the look of it, you're definitely going to beat me to the road. Haha.

[Kona9]

Thanks man! I can get you in touch with the guy that made my LED's. It came with the flasher in the package. Not a bad price either. Let me know if you want his contact.

Soon enough I will rippin up the streets on my Jap whip! Hopefully you are done soon enough.

[gretz]

lol... We have the same beer fridge

bike looks awesome > what are these struts you speak of?

[JRSC00LUDE]

Originally posted by Kona9
Thanks man! I can get you in touch with the guy that made my LED's. It came with the flasher in the package. Not a bad price either. Let me know if you want his contact.

Soon enough I will rippin up the streets on my Jap whip! Hopefully you are done soon enough.

I'm curious about those for the back of my bike. Do they pass as being street legal or is it grey area?

[Jlude]

Awesome work, Ken. :thumbsup:

[Kona9]

Originally posted by JRSC00LUDE


I'm curious about those for the back of my bike. Do they pass as being street legal or is it grey area?

To be honest I barely checked into it. I called the traffic section and the Constable was pretty decent about it.

I don't know if the photos in this thread will show, but this is the guy that made them and how they are on his bike.

http://www.shadowriders.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21392&highlight=Rider



Originally posted by Jlude
Awesome work, Ken. :thumbsup:

Thanks man! :D

[Kona9]

Update: pics from today May 29

I put together a quick CAD drawing of the struts I had Gretz CNC for me. ( Awesome guy, great work!) Then did a quick 3D render. The white is supposed to be brushed steel, although due to not applying bump maps and rendering at a higher res, it looks white. You get the idea.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/STRUTS.jpg

I also put together another CAD drawing of some Brass Knuckles that I am using in place of the ugly side pegs. Still some welding until they are done. Here are my CAD drawings in raw reality machined by Gretz.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01842-20110527-1851.jpg

A few coats of some flat black.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01851-20110528-1208.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01854-20110528-1209.jpg

Then a carbon accent with a shot of one of the pegs.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01861-20110528-1349.jpg

Strut on the bike.
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01872-20110529-1752.jpg


How she sat prior to me taking it for a rip around the block. OK a few rips around the block. It needs a good tune! Fun as fvck though!!
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01869-20110529-1742.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s135/kona9/IMG01870-20110529-1743.jpg

License Plate bracket. Final seat mount. Tune up, and go time!

[HNF88]

Ivantyourbike! sick work man!