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Slowly progressing. made some headway

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  • #1

    Slowly progressing. made some headway

    Finally putting some color to metal. Gonna try to emulate a vintage Triumph
    2-tone tank with maroon over silver with a chrome separator. Laid the silver yesterday morning, realized I had a huge run near the bottom, fixed it by dinner. Sprayed silver again, finished just in time for a huge moth to bounce off my forehead and land in the fresh paint. (luckily, not where the silver will be visible, so I can still fix it yet again). Sorta liking the silver/aluminium by itself, but hoping the maroon over the top half will look even better.
    81 H "Traumaha"
    06 KLR 650
    06 Katana 600 (Sold)
    05 Star 1100 (Sold)
    78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
    79 RD400 (Stolen)
    78 KE175
    Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)
    Tags: None
  • #2
    That will look awesome with some black on the tank as well, but will look equally well with maroon or whatever you choose. Looks great!
    1979 XS1100F
    2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.

    Comment

    • #3
      Yes a little black would make it pop as well. Tried the maroon, laid som flat black under it to darken it. Think it looks decent, verdict is out until the chrome goes on. Looks really good in the sun, lots of flake.


      The bump seat isn't finished yet, it won't remain black. Bike is itchin' for some clubman bars and a round headlight.
      81 H "Traumaha"
      06 KLR 650
      06 Katana 600 (Sold)
      05 Star 1100 (Sold)
      78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
      79 RD400 (Stolen)
      78 KE175
      Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

      Comment

      • #4
        Verdict is in...the chrome ties it all together nicely.


        81 H "Traumaha"
        06 KLR 650
        06 Katana 600 (Sold)
        05 Star 1100 (Sold)
        78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
        79 RD400 (Stolen)
        78 KE175
        Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

        Comment

        • #5
          Nice work. I'm not a cafe' fan though. That seat would kill your a$$ after 30 miles.

          I put some flatter bars on one of my bikes and it caused a stabbing pain in between my shoulder blades after a few hundred miles on the highway. I'm one of those weirdos that thinks the special buckhorns are comfortable.

          I ride distance and like to carve twisties. Bar hopping isn't my thing.

          To each his own.
          Greg

          Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

          ― Albert Einstein

          80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

          The list changes.

          Comment

          • #6
            Since the seat as it sits is just some plywood mocked in the shape of the pan, I'm inclined to agree on the uncomfy part. It'll be a tad more bearable once the upholsterer works their gel pad magic. I'm more inclined to try the twisty roads on it with an aggressive posture than I would with high bars and 7" of foam making me think I was sitting on a warm bag of gummy bears. The cafe style seemed to work well for the Brits, (since they never raced 'em right?), I'm fine with that kind of bar-hopper...my '06 Katana keeps me in the curves when I need the rush or the distance.
            81 H "Traumaha"
            06 KLR 650
            06 Katana 600 (Sold)
            05 Star 1100 (Sold)
            78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
            79 RD400 (Stolen)
            78 KE175
            Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

            Comment

            • #7
              I like your current bars and headlight, but I think some triangular sheet metal side covers would be great! It looks nice so far!
              '81 XS11H Venturer - holed up in storage while life happened since 07/08/04
              '81 Kawasaki KE175 enduro - 63 mph of smokey fun, now with collector plates!

              Comment

              • #8
                actually, The bars are pretty comfortable and the light is growing on me. The side covers are sitting in a box, intact, just haven't figured what to do with them. Fab smaller custom covers, or move the battery and electronics to make the space more open. It's going to be an all round riding bike so the cafe theme is fast & loose regarding how much to strip out. My town is pretty small, most of the bikes are purely generic cookie cutters, you either buy a brand new sport bike or hang with the "sons of atrophy" crowd seeing how much "factory" merch you can wear at the same time. Anything here, remotely different from the established norm, usually grabs the attention of the builder/enthusiast riders hiding in the woodwork, and so far they've turned out to be the most interesting to ride or hang with.
                81 H "Traumaha"
                06 KLR 650
                06 Katana 600 (Sold)
                05 Star 1100 (Sold)
                78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
                79 RD400 (Stolen)
                78 KE175
                Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

                Comment

                • #9
                  Whoa, CRX, just noticed your signature and having a KE175. I had a '78 as my first bike, rode the crap out of it and wish I could go back and find it. Good times....horrible to climb sand dunes with, (my first girlfriend probably still wears a burn scar on her leg from bogging it out on a steep incline, and thats easily 25 years ago).
                  81 H "Traumaha"
                  06 KLR 650
                  06 Katana 600 (Sold)
                  05 Star 1100 (Sold)
                  78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
                  79 RD400 (Stolen)
                  78 KE175
                  Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I have those bars (superbike) and they took some getting used to in the corners over the euro bars I had on prior to them. I look forward to seeing the cowl painted to match the tank. Surprised u did not go clubmans or clip-ons. Looking good so far. The paint lines confused me a little, but it grew on me. Looks good.
                    1979 XS1100F
                    2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Clubmans are waiting for me to click "ship it"...The bars on it are what came with it and I haven't ridden it enough to decide. If you do a google search on the older Truimph tanks, the lines are pretty bang on, (except for the big "Triumph" chrome logo separating the colors). I'll match it to the bump seat and ponder. I can always get a pair of rubber knee grips to fill the tank indents. Makes it hard without the upholstery on the seat to set the lines. In homage to Triumph, maybe I'll get a chrome badge made for the tank and call it "Traumaha"
                      81 H "Traumaha"
                      06 KLR 650
                      06 Katana 600 (Sold)
                      05 Star 1100 (Sold)
                      78 GS1000 Cafe (Traded for a Chrysler 68 Newport)
                      79 RD400 (Stolen)
                      78 KE175
                      Schwinn Tricycle red (with a loud bell)

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        I would pass on the Clubmans if I were you. I tried them out for a week, and my back and arms were so tired. I put my feet on the rear footpegs a lot to mimic rear-sets, and there is no way the bike was ever designed for a sport-riding ergonomics. If you plan on doing any amount of riding on your bike, stay with those bars. In-fact, you lose a lot of control with the bike using those clubmans. Turns in corners feel very unsafe and nerve wrecking. Too much lean is required for what the handlebars should be doing instead.
                        1979 XS1100F
                        2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Garagamus View Post
                          Whoa, CRX, just noticed your signature and having a KE175. I had a '78 as my first bike, rode the crap out of it and wish I could go back and find it. Good times....horrible to climb sand dunes with, (my first girlfriend probably still wears a burn scar on her leg from bogging it out on a steep incline, and thats easily 25 years ago).
                          Yep, the KE175 is fun, in a minimalistic kind of way. I've actually never seen another one around, so I think they're pretty few and far between at this point. I've had this one for 10+ years, and just got it back in operating condition last year. I haven't found many/any off-road rides where I'm living now, but it's still a fun bike to take out into the countryside and go between small towns.

                          Here's when I first started getting it road-worthy a couple years ago:


                          From a ride this spring:


                          A couple weekends ago:


                          And look what I ran across... a Ford GT:


                          80 mile ride from this past weekend. 80 miles is a lot for a bike like this.


                          So yes, it's a fun bike and I enjoy it. Fun to hear your stories too. Can't say I've found any chicks that dig it, and in general, I seemed to do a pretty good job of scaring them off anyway...
                          '81 XS11H Venturer - holed up in storage while life happened since 07/08/04
                          '81 Kawasaki KE175 enduro - 63 mph of smokey fun, now with collector plates!

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            With the clubmans, that thing will be begging for rearsets.

                            I believe these are Torozzi.

                            I concur, it needs a round headlight. Also, an Acewell clock or similar.


                            Don't forget the bar end mirrors!

                            I vote for using the stock side covers. I think you're doing a fine job on that thing.
                            Marty (in Mississippi)
                            XS1100SG
                            XS650SK
                            XS650SH
                            XS650G
                            XS6502F
                            XS650E

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Garagamus View Post
                              Verdict is in...the chrome ties it all together nicely.
                              Hey Garagamus,

                              I concur, could you tell us HOW and WHAT you used to add the chrome separation strip? Also, you probably know, but you can get door trim in pseudochrome that will fit onto the seam of the tank around the front to provide some additional Chrome trim/accent! Just an FYI!

                              With that custom look, I agree with custom smaller side covers vs. the OEMs.

                              Here are a couple of views of a fellow in Richmond that made some for his "Chopper" mod he did.





                              T.C.
                              T. C. Gresham
                              81SH "Godzilla" . . .1179cc super-rat.
                              79SF "The Teacher" . . .basket case!
                              History shows again and again,
                              How nature points out the folly of men!

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