Giving the bike a slimmer look
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- desert_indian
- Chrome Member
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- Joined: Mon Nov 25, 2013 3:27 am
- Location: St. Louis
Giving the bike a slimmer look
I was looking for ideas to let the bike have a slimmer look. I think these bikes have pretty good lines for a bike of their size, but to my eyes a little "chubby" (just my opinion!). Anyway, my own ideas are to lose the gauge cluster by getting an early shelter or fabbing a plate. Replace speedo/odo with much smaller gauges. Get a slimmer seat, different handlebars, & a cb900 front fender. Oh, and maybe a tombstone tail light.
I've even considered leaving the side covers off. I like the look of the right side with the gas tank exposed, but the battery side is without the cover is not a good look.
Anyways, I'd love to hear what you all think could be done to accomplish a slimmer looking bike. Ultimately I'd like it to have more of a scrambler look.
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Heres a pic so you can see what equipment I have.
I've even considered leaving the side covers off. I like the look of the right side with the gas tank exposed, but the battery side is without the cover is not a good look.
Anyways, I'd love to hear what you all think could be done to accomplish a slimmer looking bike. Ultimately I'd like it to have more of a scrambler look.
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Heres a pic so you can see what equipment I have.
'79 GL1000
- wingrider
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
One of the bikes in the running for bike of the year is very slimmed down...he made a new false tank for it. Took him a while to do it, but looks very nice. I believe it was the November bike of the month.
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
- rnelson
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- Location: Charlotte, NC
Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
This seem like it would be tough to pull off aesthetically. With the engine being so wide, slimming down the rest of the bike might just make the engine look even wider. But because I like to see new ideas, I say go for it. lol.
Rick Nelson
Charlotte, NC
Current Rides:
99 Vulcan Classic 1500
08 Concours 1400
79 Goldwing GL1000 (No longer a project. She's a runner!)
Charlotte, NC
Current Rides:
99 Vulcan Classic 1500
08 Concours 1400
79 Goldwing GL1000 (No longer a project. She's a runner!)
- desert_indian
- Chrome Member
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- Joined: Mon Nov 25, 2013 3:27 am
- Location: St. Louis
Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
Wing- I really like that bike. I am hoping to steer clear of all but the lightest fab work though. That is the what I'm after in theory, so I appreciate you speaking up.
rnelson- I appreciate your support! LOL. As far as the engine is concerned, I don't mind it. I think its an attractive powerplant. I see what you mean though. I could paint the valve covers black, that might give the illusion of a slimmer profile.
rnelson- I appreciate your support! LOL. As far as the engine is concerned, I don't mind it. I think its an attractive powerplant. I see what you mean though. I could paint the valve covers black, that might give the illusion of a slimmer profile.
'79 GL1000
- fish
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
if you do NOT want to do involved fabrication work there are still several things you can do
1) superbike bars
2) black mirrors
3) solo seat
4) flat black paint
5) bob the fenders
6)keep the stock ride height or even raise the bike.
7) get rid of all chrome and/or bright colors
1) superbike bars
2) black mirrors
3) solo seat
4) flat black paint
5) bob the fenders
6)keep the stock ride height or even raise the bike.
7) get rid of all chrome and/or bright colors
Timothy Mark Fisher
Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
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Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
"It is not logic or economics that drive a motorcyclist but passion!" (bugdaddy66)
"I fully agree with fish, well at least 27% of the time."(Casper)
"Why do you have to ruin a perfectly good thread with common sense"(Placerville)
"my best guess for an answer would be a stream of complex expletives" (Transitman)
"I like a cold beer with my beer" (OldeWing)
"Most of us like the sport of wrenching too." (fred camper)
"Now go ride the heck out of it, til mother says do your chores"(Gowing)
"I agree with Fish" (Salukispeed)
- hmratbam
- Honored Life Member
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- Location: Battle Mtn NV
Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
I made flat side covers for the Bopper,welded little tabs with threaded holes to the frame and held the side covers on with 1/4 socket head screws. Slimmed her down some.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel
My Album
Jesus is Lord ! Hope is not a plan
83 Ascempade has become a trike with 1200 fork tubes and Maxda Miata rear suspension.
84 Standard ongoing project
82 Interstate 35k reincarnated as a "Street Tracker"
My Album
Jesus is Lord ! Hope is not a plan
83 Ascempade has become a trike with 1200 fork tubes and Maxda Miata rear suspension.
84 Standard ongoing project
82 Interstate 35k reincarnated as a "Street Tracker"
- desert_indian
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- NCScooter
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
No matter how slim you get it, put the front brake caliper back over the disc. They work better that way.
I need to remember to keep my expectations tiny so I don't end up so whiny.
1976 CB400f
1977 GL1000-The Breeze
I'm so special, my short bus only has two wheels!
1976 CB400f
1977 GL1000-The Breeze
I'm so special, my short bus only has two wheels!
- desert_indian
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- theburgundian
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
Wrenhmonkeys have done a great work on a GL 1000, the monkey n° 58
http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/motorcycle ... -1000.html
and another work I like from east europe, but I don't have any time before work this morning to search the link...
http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/motorcycle ... -1000.html
and another work I like from east europe, but I don't have any time before work this morning to search the link...
Always look on the bright side of life buddy
- desert_indian
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
I like that bike. I actually like the lines of the gl framework, I like that it's shown off.
'79 GL1000
- theburgundian
- Billet Alum. Member
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
I thought about this one this morning
http://chopfeed.com/honda-gl1000-by-er-motorcycles/
sorry for the delay
http://chopfeed.com/honda-gl1000-by-er-motorcycles/
sorry for the delay
Always look on the bright side of life buddy
- desert_indian
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- hmratbam
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
Check my album,it's the Gold Bike.desert_indian wrote:^^^^^ Any pics of that hmratbam?
Proud member of the NGW Cartel
My Album
Jesus is Lord ! Hope is not a plan
83 Ascempade has become a trike with 1200 fork tubes and Maxda Miata rear suspension.
84 Standard ongoing project
82 Interstate 35k reincarnated as a "Street Tracker"
My Album
Jesus is Lord ! Hope is not a plan
83 Ascempade has become a trike with 1200 fork tubes and Maxda Miata rear suspension.
84 Standard ongoing project
82 Interstate 35k reincarnated as a "Street Tracker"
- Norbert R
- Gold Member
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Re: Giving the bike a slimmer look
IMO the 75-77 shelter has much sleeker lines, so a swap would be good.desert_indian wrote:I was looking for ideas to let the bike have a slimmer look. I think these bikes have pretty good lines for a bike of their size, but to my eyes a little "chubby" (just my opinion!). Anyway, my own ideas are to lose the gauge cluster by getting an early shelter or fabbing a plate. Replace speedo/odo with much smaller gauges. Get a slimmer seat, different handlebars, & a cb900 front fender. Oh, and maybe a tombstone tail light.
I've even considered leaving the side covers off. I like the look of the right side with the gas tank exposed, but the battery side is without the cover is not a good look.
Anyways, I'd love to hear what you all think could be done to accomplish a slimmer looking bike. Ultimately I'd like it to have more of a scrambler look.
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Heres a pic so you can see what equipment I have.
Fit a narrower seat, if it fits between the rear frame rails it really slims the bike down.
Bob the rear fender, and fit a smaller tail light
I love the look of the exposed fuel tank, so I de-tabbed my frame and left the side covers off (which I feel are too large as well)
I moved the electrics from the side of the battery to inside the shelter (solenoid, reg, main fuse) and fabbed a snug battery box to tidy up the right hand side of the bike.
The big, wide motor is the nicest part of these bikes in my opinion - being a boxer their visual centre of gravity is very low, so the wide low motor looks good in a slim bike as a result.
Euro style bars lower and narrow the front nicely, but are still comfy and let you keep your stock cables with a little experimenting with the routing.
Here's what mine looks like with the above mods:
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