Common mods, preferred vendors, gimme yer best

[Xtracho]

So while I sit here at anchor in Macae, Brazil my mind wanders 5,000 miles north. Waiting until mid-August to get off the boat and get home to pick up my newly purchased '98 is driving me crazy! To pass the time I've been doing a lot of online reading and educating myself. But I've learned the best teachers are those that have been there, done that.

I'm going to go darkside as soon as I can...that's a given. Did it with my '84 Aspy and never looked back. But I was wondering about some more of the common mods that you experienced owners have done. I'm looking for performance enhancers, visibility (to cagers) improvements, dressing her up, etc. Anything you all can offer up in that regard would be appreciated.

Also interested in preferred vendors of OEM and aftermarket parts, accessories, bling. That sort of thing.

Anything to read from you folks to help lessen the torture of the next five weeks! Thanks in advance!

[tank_post142]

you can kill a week reading shoptalk

[sandy]

More and brighter lighting never hurts. Add highway lights and electrical Connections turn signal kit. If you wear a helmet, get a white one for more visability at night (add reflective tape). Bright colored clothing on your upper body.
PS: What kind of boat are you riding on the hook?

[Xtracho]

More and brighter lighting never hurts. Add highway lights and electrical Connections turn signal kit. If you wear a helmet, get a white one for more visability at night (add reflective tape). Bright colored clothing on your upper body.
PS: What kind of boat are you riding on the hook?

Sandy, I'm Captain of a 165' Fast Supply Vessel working the oil patch for PetroBras, the Brazilian Nationalized Oil Company. Been here 5 weeks with 5 more to go.

[Bone]

My 98 Tourer with a GYTT.  Ignore the cold snow on the ground.

[gordonv]

2 things that are going on everyone of my bikes is:

Headlight modulator in the front, my choice, http://www.bikerbuddy.net/

and one for the back, http://hyperlites.com/stdsf.html

I've seem these coming and going, and I feel they should both be standard on motorcycles. Drivers in my area are now getting used to the headlight modulator, and not complaining any more about it. The few that do, I say it's a bicycle modulator, and they all go "Ohhh", rather than being pissed at me like before.

Another item of choice is a LOUD Air horn, don't buy the cheap one from HF (Princess Auto) as a year later mine got a little more quiter. I think the Styble should be a better one, unless it is the same one packaged differently and at twice the price.

I felt my accident happened for 2 reasons. The driver first didn't see me, and then didn't hear me, and things would have been different if I would have had these mounted as a priority.

As for Bling, well that is up to you, what ever it is that you like and want.

[Xtracho]

Thanks guys! Shop talk is very cool. Got some great advice and ideas from that page. And yes, plenty of reading to occupy the time.

Bone, sorry to sound stupid but what is GYTT? Nice ride BTW.

Gordon, really sorry to hear about the Valk. I already have a Bolo Bad Boy at the house. I'll put that one on the Valk. With regards to tail light modulators. Since my Aspy is an '84 with the stator I did the tail light conversion to LED's so I could lessen the electrical load. I found a company that makes LED lights that do the same as the modulator. They work just fine in my Goldwing.

http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm

Those bulbs are located about halfway down the page on that website.

I chose them over the tail light modulator for convenience. They are a bit pricey but they gave me in one bulb what I was looking for: flashing brake light and LED.

Again, thanks all and keep the suggestions coming!

[Bone]

Goodyear Triple Tread    205/60/16

[Big Tom 10628]

For loud horns you can't beat Big BF's Quad horns. I ride Funeral escort for the PGR in Phoenix and my horns work where Sirens don't.

www.bigbf.com

[BF]

The first thing I put on my Valk was a set of Baker Air Wings.  

http://www.bakerbuilt.com/bbairwings/h15awupa.html

Before you start to add any electricial accessories, you really ought to add an accessory fused terminal panel.  I very highly recommend the PC-8 (it's what I put on my Valk).  

http://www.easternbeaver.com/main/products/fuseboxes/pc-8/pc-8.html

If you want to get rid of that windshield and add a fairing, it don't get any better than a Woody's fairing (again, it's what's on my Valk).....

http://www.woodysfairings.com/

Plus.....Woody's is a site sponsor and helps to keep the lights on here.  Recommend any of the site sponsors.....they're all great people to deal with. 

[Farther]

I'm looking for performance enhancers.....

About the only real "performance enhancers" that I can think of are the Interstate carb springs and Interstate ICM and they don't really do much.  Also the R&M belly tank will increase your range significantly.

[WamegoRob]

Before you start to add any electricial accessories, you really ought to add an accessory fused terminal panel.  I very highly recommend the PC-8 (it's what I put on my Valk).  

http://www.easternbeaver.com/main/products/fuseboxes/pc-8/pc-8.html

BF, which length and placement do you use for the PC-8?
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/Fuseboxes/PC-8/Fitment/fitment.html

[BF]

WamegoRob....

I ordered the 50 amp relay wiring kit (30 amps switched....20 amps unswitched) with the 30" leads and added the option to have both battery leads the same length.

I put it behind the battery in the area where the manual and paperwork used to be (between the tool pouch area and the battery).  

Here's a thread right after I installed it and where we talked about it (with plenty of pics) and how I ran the wires and why I went with what I went with.....

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,39256.0.html

I've since cleaned up the wiring going into it some so it looks more purdy and tidy.