Project thread

[f6john]

Let's see them. Johns 1200 bobber really peaked my interest. As a matter of fact, if you are inclined John, I'd like to see as many pics of your resto mod process as you would care to share even if they have been posted before. I know several others have customized their bikes beyond just adding chrome and I would welcome all to share as much of your bikes transformation as possible.

Some video would be nice too!

[RDKLL]

I have a sort of project, if I can not ride it long enough to do somethng. Might just have to commit to riding the KTM for a while. I have the valve cover, intake tubes, carb tops, choke linkage and cam covers at the powder coater getting black chromed. I will be getting the wheels done in some contrasting yet bright color that has not been determined. May look at fenders eventually. Might eventuall do something with the fork tubes and final drive. I will probably leave the tank the way it is with the original paint colors...

[f6john]

Did your exhaust produce any tuning issues?

[Roidfingers]

Same tire as RDKILL. Bought a used front half of rear fender and trimmed it. Brake light fit perfect. Then a few small brackets and some torpedo turns. ( LED's ) . Drag bars I bought used from a member here I think. Cobra's, no baffles. Mustang seat with Seat rail. After market mirrors. After market front turns. Tool Bag. Also have a used front fender and plan to cut it down.






NOTE : All mods done are reversible. I can put everything back to when I bought her.

[RDKLL]

Did your exhaust produce any tuning issues?

Not that I know of. I have never check fuel economy. A lot of popping on decel that would be addressed with the desmog...as a side note, this bike has never needed the choke...regardless of the temp, if you can keep it running when it lights off...

[Farside]

  I like what i see. Nice job to you both. 

[f6john]

I'm liking the dragbars   Don't be shy keep the pics coming, they don't have to be bobbers either, really kool mods are welcome too. How many turbo and supercharged bikes do we have on here? Back in the early days this was the place to see and learn about the latest ideas. With Valkyries being fairly cheap these days, I expect we might see a lot of new owners with ideas inspired from bikes they have previously.

[Roidfingers]

RDKIL can probably attest to this, but those drag bars feel so good. I feel like I'm in more contact with the road, especially when corning. The feel when you push on them, so much better feedback then stock. I hadn't noticed but looks like we have same ones.

[Valkrider74]

Can you tell me which bars those are? I’m on my second set trying to find a good fit. I’m no good at reading bar dimensions online and getting exactly what I want.

[RDKLL]

I think they are chubby bars...had some stuff powder coated a while back and finally got around to putting them on...

[Cyclejohn]

Let's see them.

Here's my project:

It was born a 2002 Honda VTX1800S model. The shop fire in April of '15 required that it turn into something else. I was in-between Valkyrie ownership at the time so that was a good thing. After 12 years of polishing chrome on the VTX and keeping it pristine looking it was time to move away from that. I built version 1 after replacing all of the bearings on the bike (steering, wheels, swingarm), They didn't do well after being heated to 2000° (I made that # up) and then cooled quickly with a fireman's hose. Had to replace fork seals. Controls, hoses and wiring harness burned up and Ebay used parts became my friend for awhile (or at least to the tune of about $650). Rode the bike for about 1 1/2 yrs. in version 1 with no fenders but after too many rides in the rain without them  it was time for something different.

Last spring dis-assembled the bike again and used a Harbor Freight $30 sandblasting kit to completely strip the bike down to bare metal. Chopped up the fenders to my liking, installed a set of C model 2 into 1 header pipes with a Walker glasspack muffler (wrapped the header pipes with exhaust wrap), and then rattle-canned primer and paint until I was happy enough with it.

The spoked wheels that it was born with are chrome on steel on the outer section and didn't fair well at all from the temp extremes during the fire and water quenching, so I picked up a set of C model wheels for not a lot of outlay for the version 2.

Original:


Burned up:


Version 1:










Version 2:

[Hook#3287]

Cyclejohn, great story and the final project looks awesome.

My only suggestion is to replace the OEM signals with some small cheap chinese made one's.

I found some light weight mirrors the have signal lights in them for my bobber.  Not legal, I'm sure, but work good.

[f6john]

I like the final version way better than the original!

[John Schmidt]

F6John, you mentioned the 1200, here's some shots from my recent Craigslist ad. I'm working on a different seat based on a cut down OEM.





I put together a small luggage rack in case one of the local university students wants to carry stuff somewhere beside in their backpack. Loosen a couple nuts, slide it in place and slip in a couple bolts. Tighten it all down and you're good to go.

[f6john]

Still loving your bobber John, I’m particularly partial to the color.

[John Schmidt]

Still loving your bobber John, I’m particularly partial to the color.

So am I....some dark with lots of gray. 

[f6john]

I found this on Facebook, pretty impressive.
https://scontent.flex1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/27336950_1995984623774899_3927516571078671427_n.jpg?oh=968598862f7ba1a4bc0b15f4988b152c&oe=5ADAE234&dl=1

[John Schmidt]

I found this on Facebook, pretty impressive.
https://scontent.flex1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/27336950_1995984623774899_3927516571078671427_n.jpg?oh=968598862f7ba1a4bc0b15f4988b152c&oe=5ADAE234&dl=1

I wanted to do that carb mod on my 1200 but the kit was only for the 1000 /1100 heads. Those heads will fit the 1200 but I didn't want to spend the extra $$ for them plus the kit. Really looks neat with a single carb sticking out on each side.

[f6john]

All I could tell about it was that it was a wing engine in a really slick frame. I imagine budget wasn’t much of a consideration on that particular bike.

[f6john]

A couple of bobbers that I thought were neat.

https://westky.craigslist.org/mcy/d/several-motorcyles-for-sale/6489128734.html