Upcoming mods
I hope everyone's taking advantage of Labor Day by getting out and riding. For those of us who can't, we'll get it where we can!
Alright, this winter's project is pretty ambitious, maybe a little too ambitious, but time will tell.
Fade to Black (de-chroming), etc:
- Polishing the engine fins
- Relocating the horn to between left-side cylinder heads
- Add Honda Countershaft Cover Trim (Fluted) to left-side rear engine cover
Paint the following chrome pieces John Deere Blitz Black:
- OEM spark plug covers
- OEM clutch and timing covers
- OEM crankshaft cover and countershaft engine cover (this is the part just forward of the Kury frame trim cover). I'm not sure yet if I want to paint this entire piece black, or just a portion of it, leaving the outward oval portion in chrome for continuity with the chrome Kury frame trim piece. But I'm also toying with the idea of having BD's paint that Kury piece green.
- Repaint the forks
This wouldn't make the engine totally blacked out however, as the cylinder heads will still be chrome, as well as the pipes, airbox, and Honda fluted billet chrome covers on over the spark plugs, clutch cover, timing & crankshaft covers, stator cover, and countershaft cover. This combo should create a nice contrast against the black.
More Green:
- I have a set of Switchblade side covers that should be on their way to me in the next week or so. As you all know about these covers, there's more area to them that encloses the engine compartment up toward where the seat and tank meet.
- To complete the look of an enclosed engine compartment, I've been looking into getting the Corbin chin fairing
http://www.corbin.com/honda/vtx1800chin.shtml. I've been thinking about how much I'd love a little more green on the bike and this seems like a great answer.
New Tins, Swing Arm, & Seat:
- If I can find a buyer for my Sumo-X rear fender, I'd really like to switch to the Neo fender
http://www.sumo-xstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SUM2060. I think this would work very well into the lines of the bike, from the long front fender, to the curved enclosure of the engine compartment.
- With the Neo fender, I would replace my Sumo-X Solo seat with the 1.5 seat from Sumo, and only use the Solo seat with the Booty Pad when I'm riding 2-up.
- If I can find a buyer for my Sumo-X swing arm, I'd also like to switch to the tubular swing arm by Sumo. That's a major move for a minor cosmetic change, so I'm not going to pursue that one as eagerly.
New Tank?:
I've also been going back and forth about saying goodbye to the digital gauge and pop-up gas cap for an F model tank with the pointed bezel and digital dash. I'm really attracted to the shape of the bezel, and of course, the digital dash component. I found a guy on the 'OA who has a tank with all the dash components, but it would cost a pretty penny. I could only do this if I can find a buyer for both the tank and Dakota gauge. A side perk to this would be that I would have a little more fuel capacity by having to install an external fuel pump. And I have to look more into this, but I believe that the 2005+ F model tank and dash actually has a fuel level sensor, rather than just an empty light. I'm still really on the fence about this change though, as I really do love the Dakota dash and smooth tank.
If I do end up putting a Neo fender and F tank on this 1800 C, I think I may get custom plates to the order of, "
F'N C".
Well, that's it! If you can imagine the changes, they are significant, but wouldn't make Frank a different bike. I think these changes would only enhance the style it is today, especially with more green and black.
Let me know what you think :1: