wow!

[COxs11newbie]

So after alot of help from everybody here I finally got my 80 midnight special running!! Took it out for a ride (illegally!) and all i can say is wow, much more power than I was expecting and it handled much better that I would've thought! Just took it around the block a few times, but it was running great and really got moving when I wanted it to!

I also found out the octopus is leaking gas, so I think I'm just gonna scrap it and hook up the gas directly.

Next up is registering the bike, insurance, and getting my license. I still haven't decided whether or not to take the MSF course, I know everyone says to take it, but $160 is a huge chunk of change for a poor college boy like me.

I also need to either recover the seat or get a new one, I've searched all around here about them and I think I'm gonna go with the JCwhittney cover, any reasons not to?

Thanks for everyones help, especially geezer, that new switch is still working awsome!

[skids]

The 80SG seat is a much better style than the double-bucket IMHO. Consider getting a "seat skin." The SG seat lets you sit a bit farther back in the seat, I believe.

[buffalo]

I have a '80 SG seat that I did a restuff and recover for about 6 bucks on I am not using, it is not real pretty, but not too bad. If you are interested in how I did it or perhaps purchasing it email me or PM.

[Shuriken]

I bought and installed a king/queen seat from Dennis Kirk. Great quality but the butt rest is further back than the original king/queen seat I had. Now my reach to the handlebars is a little too long.

The king/queen seat makes your bike look like a tank but it sure is comfortable.

Ben

[COxs11newbie]

Yeah I kinda want to go the least expensive route but still make it look some what decent. So I think just recovering is the way to go, I can park it in a garage so it won't get beat on too bad.

Buffalo-
Would that seat fit my bike? If so I'd definatly be interested, long as it looks ok I might be willing to take if off your hands. Any pics?

[Ken Talbot]

Ben - a cheap set of dogbone risers might solve your reach problem. I got some from Tkat a while back for Tsunami and they sure helped me.
[IMG]/forum/images/tips/20040330-dsc00571.jpg[/IMG]

[ratbyk]

Dog Bones

Ken, did you have to lengthen cables or brake hoses to install those extensions on your bike?
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"

[Ken Talbot]

I got way with just rerouting the throttle and clutch cables, but I did have to put on a longer brake line. At the time I had some spares in the shed, but I have since moved on to braided stainless lines so I just went with what I needed.

[nashville_bill]

If you recover, put a piece of plastic sheet, like a garbage bag, over your foam before you put the new cover on. Your foam will never get wet from rain.

[COxs11newbie]

Great idea, thanks!

[Shuriken]

Tkat sure does do some sweet work....