Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A Stupid Question

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    A Stupid Question

    It looks like it's sunset for ol' Twilite Special. I found evidence of a bent frame the other day. 1400 miles short of hitting 100k miles. Bummer... Here's my question...What constitutes the 'heart' of a bike ? The frame or engine? I don't have a problem with replacing the frame. I have the Foster Child...that I can put my engine in if I want. If I replace the frame, should I change the name of the bike, because the 'heart ' of the bike has been changed? I know it's unlucky to change the name of a boat.
    Wadda ya think?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    I think the "heart" of any bike is the powerplant, but for naming purposes, since the Registration number is tied to the frame No on the log book, perhaps it could confuse the folk who know the bike if you give the name to a bike with a different plate.

    Perhaps you ought to consider having your frame straightened, or using the new frame with the current engine and re-naming the hybrid bike?

    Comment

    • #3
      Heart of a Bike?

      John,

      The heart of a bike is all that goes together to make it what it is. It IS the powerplant, but it is so much more. For instance, if you need a heart transplant, do you take the name of the donor? Do you come up with a new name? I think you keep your name, because the essence of who you are is in more than just the pump. Who your bike is is more than the motor, or the TCI, or the paint job - it is all the above, and more yet! Who or what your bike is isn't just physical or mechanical, it's . . . . . . .
      Pastor Sam - Son Light Rider CMA
      Former GL1200 rider
      Owned by '80 XS11 G-Guardian Angel
      Yep, I got a @#$%^&
      xj 1100 Maxim

      Comment

      • #4
        The "heart" of the bike is the owners pride.
        Pat Kelly
        <p-lkelly@sbcglobal.net>

        1978 XS1100E (The Force)
        1980 XS1100LG (The Dark Side)
        2007 Dodge Ram 2500 quad-cab long-bed (Wifes ride)
        1999 Suburban (The Ship)
        1994 Dodge Spirit (Son #1)
        1968 F100 (Valentine)

        "No one is totally useless. They can always be used as a bad example"

        Comment

        • #5
          The heart of the bike is the whole bike, not just the major components. One names the bike/ the concept, not the parts.
          "Hey guys... what do you think of my bike, "Queen of the Night, and her engine, Edna?"
          Just doesn't cut it.
          Suppose Twilight Special wasn't wrecked, and that you just blew the engine. When you replaced the engine, would you rename the bike? No.
          When I rebuilt the engine in my truck, it was still "Otis", just had a new plant.
          Now... to take the engine from Twilight, and put it in another body... she would still be Foster Child.
          Now then..... to just replace the frame.... the name would stay the same. (Concept).. still has the Twilight tank and side covers, tire, brakes, wiring... (affection is for the bike, not the engine.)
          If I would replace the frame under my truck, name would still be Otis, yes?
          If I took Otis' engine and put it in a truck called Susie, it would still be Susie.
          New frame, same name.
          Put engine in a different bike, bike retains name.
          "Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor, not a mechanic!' ('Bones' McCoy)

          Comment

          • #6
            JOHN

            Hey John

            It,s not what you got It,s what you do with it.
            You have a classic you are a greate bike bilder with a lot of time a lot of frends know were to get parts and some midnight oil

            Just go for it

            XSivly

            Bruce
            Bruce Gerken
            '79 XS1100SF
            "The Black"
            '2009 BMW k1300GT'
            The Red Sled.
            St.Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote,"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page . Well motorcycles turn the book of the world into a page turner. That is often impossible to put down.

            Comment

            • #7
              I agree with what has been said. It is the sum of all of the parts put together in a way to make a bike yours. The motor and frame are the 2 biggest pieces, but without everything else they are just metal.

              I think that I have read somewhere that there is a ceremony to be preformed to change the name of a boat without causing bad luck. I will reasearch it and get back to you.
              Travis Miller
              1978 E

              Comment

              • #8
                here it is. might be a little different for a bike. Just have to customize it for your needs.

                http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

                let me know what you think.
                Travis Miller
                1978 E

                Comment

                • #9
                  Aftr reading the directions on how to re-name a boat, I think I'll just keep Twilite Special as it's name. Although the name is not written on the bike anywhere, I don't want to piss off any cycle gods by not doing it properly. I will be tearing deeper into the bike in the next few days to determine my course of action.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Whatever you do don't call it Frankenstein or the Monster or such like!
                    Shiny side up,
                    650 Mike

                    XS1100SF "Rusty", runs great, 96k miles
                    XS650SJ "The Black Bike", engine from XS650H with 750cc big bore kit, 30k miles

                    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting, "WOW, what a ride !" - [URL="http://www.flyingsnail.com/Sprung/index.html"]Sprung[/URL]

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Hell, I used to call it Frankencycle years ago, because of the source of a lot of the parts was other Yamaha models. That's when I discovered that a lot of the parts came off the same shelf as some of the other models.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        .. or you can put the motor in the differant frame give it a new paint job and and call it a new name and let the "twilite" go down in history as legandary
                        .. a new bike, a new adventure, a future legand

                        [some day i will have to learn to spell]

                        Comment

                        Previous template Next
                        Working...
                        X