U Boat

[whale]

The U Boat has now been returned from the auto electrician and the Veypor dash is now working well. I made a bracket to house it behind the small screen and did a 600km cicuit to Brisbane and back in the pissing rain to test run it all.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245717036.jpg


I added a small expanded mesh screen to the area below the headlights to shroud the wiring and clean the front up a bit

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245680418.jpg


I am starting to think that I have the front all wrong and that the lights are too small and out of proportion with the retro look of the bike. I am now thinking that a big round single headlight might look better. I do a lot of country miles so the screen is a big plus for me. Maybe a headlight set up like this would be better.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245694839.jpg



Would a unit like this hook straight into the fork brackets that are holding the twin light set up?

Or maybe a setup like this ?

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245639278.jpg


Any tips or hints on which way to go and where are the best places to source these bits much appreciated

[whale]

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245639278.jpg

Any opinions and advice on where to source bits appreciated

[latheboy]

They might fit straight up or be very close, but if you can make a speedo bracket like that whats stopping you from using the clamp you already have(the bit around the fork) and make a new plate to go to the light set-up?

Get that horn behind the flyscreen

[fimpBIKES]

quote:Originally posted by whale

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245639278.jpg

Any opinions and advice on where to source bits appreciated


this would look tops!

your twin lights are WAYYY too high IMO
but then you would need a bigger screen to cover it all up and im not a fan of those either so....

[whale]

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245639278.jpg

Any idea where I would get one of these?

I agree about the lights being too high but I need them that high for the screen to be effective

[CBRRRT]

Side shots please.

[whale]

These were taken before the new dash and rear shocks. The lights have come up about 20mm since then.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245668334.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245713308.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245711884.jpg

[whale]

Shit, looking at those pics I now realise that the lights were about 40mm lower prior to the new dash. I think it looked a lot better before.

I might have a fiddle with it over the next few days and see how much I can lower them without totally losing the effect of the screen.

[whale]

Head on shot prior to raising lights

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245718032.jpg

[Surt]

been surprised at the name 'u-boat', sounded like a submarine :) but it looks like u r using it for deep water raids! :D:D:D

[Surt]

id put 'em lower and a tad wider... and wood place the horn somewhere behind the forks, above the rad... :)

[CBRRRT]

Stick the horn just behind the rad on the frame bolts behind the hose. Dont be frightend to cut the wires and extend them if they are not long enough. Just slide a bit of shrink tube over the soldered sections.

If you're binning the twin lights mate, check out some of the aftermarket light units that are around at a fair price, I think going with a dinner plate on the front is going a bit retro, but thats just me mate.

[CBRRRT]

Oh and please please please stick on some flat drag bars or a nice set of Renthals, please!

[whale]

I've been peering at the bike over a few beers and have decided that I will definitely lower the lights. Will lose trhe benefit of the screen but I may be able to fab up some sort of lip later.

Flat drag bars are definitely on the shopping list. Where is the best place to source these?

[Harry]

quote:Originally posted by whale

I've been peering at the bike over a few beers and have decided that I will definitely lower the lights. Will lose trhe benefit of the screen but I may be able to fab up some sort of lip later.

Flat drag bars are definitely on the shopping list. Where is the best place to source these?
mate you should be able to order bars and riser's in from any shop thats worth it's weight,if not the motorcycle accessory shop on the gold coast could get them in for you,PH:(0755961222) remember you will need tall riser's,I HAVE A cb1300S i use for my weeky grind of 500+k's.when i bought the bike it was fitted with carmicheal protaper flat bars and there great,i'll through in a couple of pic's so ya know wat they look like fitted..:)

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245786258.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245793786.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1245771083.jpg

[Harry]

just while im on ya case dude id keep those head lights,i have them on another bike in the shed and they though a good beam although i have change the bulb's to the maga bright job's that you can get for super cheap auto for around $35 bills,the accessory shop on the coast also has a mega catalog of after market indercators just in case you want to get rid of those horrible baby arms with lights on the end of em :D:D........nice system you have,wat is it and how many $$ ? :)

[whale]

Thanks Harry. I've all ready ditched the indicators.

Pipes are just the standard headers with some attention given to smoothing the welds and then painted black with a good quality high temp paint. Carbon growler came from UK Ebay for just over 100 quid (the postage was punishing though)

[whale]

I,m now considering going the full retro look and replacing the twin light set up with a colour matched "stone" type bikini fairing.

Has any one had any experience with these?
Can you get them with some sort of mounting kit?
Is there a complete set up that includes single round headlight?
Where from?

Any suggestions welcome

[thommo]

c'mon whale, keep the twin headlight setup... cept do what i'm doing, 2 4" fuego HID's stacked vertically... you knowyou want to..

[whale]

I fitted Ikon shocks to the bike about 4000km ago. 2000km on the original springs and 2000km on some heavier springs and with a spacer added.

Today I was riding the back road between Grafton and Coffs Harbour. It has become a bit of a goat track due to recent flooding. The handling suddenly went off so I pulled over to find this.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1246765790.jpg


This is what it should look like.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1246723327.jpg


I wired it up with a piece of wire liberated from a nearby fence and very cautiously cruised the 70km home.

I pulled the shock out when i got home and it looked like this.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1246757430.jpg

All the bushes etc. are fine and not showing any signs of being flogged out.

So why did it shit itself? and what would you say is Ikons responsibility in this seeing as the shocks are virtually new and the breakage has flogged my new paint work

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1246791995.jpg

[El_Hefty]

thats a scary sight

[Harry]

faaaaaark [:0] lucky it did'nt put ya on ya ass mate[xx(], new shocks and fix my bloody paint job would be my demand :(

[Gix11]

Did you do the heavier spring and spacer conversion? If you did that will be their cop out mate. They'll claim it wasn't fited by an IKON specialist or some shit and claim that any warranty is void. Can you replace the original spring and then ask them, after all, it is the actual housing that's shit itself.

[thommo]

send that plastic bit back up to me mate, and i'll respray it, i still have colour left over

[whale]

Gix, the spring and spacer came from them after a discussion with their tech guy. I sent both shocks back today and after talking to them on the phone I don't think there will be any drama.

Thanks Thommo, you are a legend. I'll probably put a bit of tape over it untill we're ready to make a weekend out of it!

( Mate, hang on to that extra colour. I'm still thinking about going all retro and changing the front to a "stone" bikini fairing and keeping all the twin headlight bling for the upcoming sidecar project)

[whale]

Here's a pic of the Honda with the broken bits removed.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1246904904.jpg



I havn't taken any decent pics but this shot gives an idea....... I have dropped the headlights which gives a better line with the top of the tank but does not lose the benefit of the screen.
I fabbed a new and much less in ya face set of brackets for the dash which also cleans up the look.
I replaced the poxy gold mesh I had on the front with a new, much tidier black mesh shroud made from Crimsafe mesh. ( I have the chrome CBR 3D sticker from the fairing panel of the new blade on order to bling up this shroud)
I have made a little cover for the lower fork brace with some ali strip and the chrome Honda badge off an old Accord.

I'm much happier with the front now. I'll grab some pics of it soon.

[thommo]

quote:[i]Originally posted by whale


Thanks Thommo, you are a legend. I'll probably put a bit of tape over it untill we're ready to make a weekend out of it!

( Mate, hang on to that extra colour. I'm still thinking about going all retro and changing the front to a "stone" bikini fairing and keeping all the twin headlight bling for the upcoming sidecar project)


no worries mate, giz a yell when your ready. i just scored myself the job of painting a Mustang fastback, 68 model. Might havea 27 to do also yet... hope so, the dollars would be good to have!