Modifying bikes - do you do it?

[bogan]

You guys modify bikes and then sell them? Thats is just asking for regrets.

[willytheekid]

I cried a river when I saw a bike I had poured my heart into parked outside a pub with the flawless pearl paint scratched and dirty, the chrome covered in shit, bits missing and the polished alloy badly corroded. I just about stole it back.

Been there before!
Built a "hotrod" A2 GPZ900 (+130hp@rear!) 5k worth of engine mods alone went into that bike, new custom paint job etc etc. (she was the fastest tidiest A2 in NZ...handsdown!)
Sold it ...and the guy wrote it off a week later

[ducatilover]

You guys modify bikes and then sell them? Thats is just asking for regrets.

I don't think even I will be selling the ZZRR-SPR when it's done and I go through vehicles like old mate Sheen does coke.

[The Lone Rider]

There appears to be no options for those who modify by adding apes, cutting the frame, making new exhausts, new seats, different panel work, suspension changes. Not really modifications to go faster or handle better are they

[bogan]

There appears to be no options for those who modify by adding apes, cutting the frame, making new exhausts, new seats, different panel work, suspension changes. Not really modifications to go faster or handle better are they

Isn't that changing as much as you can get away with?

[Hamel]

What has previously been done
* Kawasaki ZXR front wheel and USD forks (Ohlins Valved)
* Full floating Disks
* Ducati 888 Front mudguard (Carbon)
* Braided brake lines
* GSXR750 Master Cylinder
* Projector beam headlight s(off-set Le Mans style) with carbon fibre internal mounts
* Custom front sub-frame
* Carbon Fibre Instrument Cover
* Kawasaki speedo
* Custom Ducati tacho face
* Custom wiring loom incl uprated alternator wiring
* Kawasaki Regulator/Rectifier
* Custom top triple clamp (Ignition barrel now sits between V)
* Custom CNC headstock nut made by Rob Selby (ex Britten)
* Later model Ducati switchblocks
* Frame braced and modified to fit later shock. All footpeg hangers removed from frame, new brackets added.
* Ohlins rear shock
* '95 900SS footpeg hangers
* Upside down gear linkage
* Billet alloy footpeg adjuster made by Rob Selby
* Gear lever & foot brake milled
* Ducati Supermono replica fairing (carbon fibre) Mould taken off a Supermono but changed & widened.
* Ducati 916 mirrors
* 95 Ducati 900SS tank
* Ducati Paso (aircraft style) tank filler
* Ducati 955 Corsa tail section - QB Carbon
* Custom Seat
* Vee Two Australia 944cc big-bore high compression pistons with Pankl rods
* Re assembly (new bearings, end floats checked) & tuning (valve setup, belt timing, etc) by Dave Cole
* 916 SPS aluminium clutch plates
* Carbon fibre belt covers
* Motor balanced by Dion Coleman at Whitemetal Bearings
* KTM Sprag Clutch
* Keihin 39mm FCR Flat-slide carbs (racked)
* Chris Beaumont (V8 Supercar) fabricated spaghetti exhaust pipes.
* Nuts for lambda sensor probes.
* Carbon mufflers
* Aftermarket indicators
* Custom Numberplate bracket (Carbon Fibre)
* Personalised number plate ‘DCATI’
* Custom paint job
* 1000DS Swingarm with underslung brake caliper and Marchesini rear wheel.

What I’m currently in the midst of doing:
Keihin 41mm FCR Flat-slide carbs (split)
Malossi short manifolds
K&N Filters
New crank cases with close ratio gearbox (change to master & slave cylinder set-up)
Radial master cylinder
Cut outs on clutch case
Barnett Alloy Clutch Basket
Rizoma Billet Clutch Cover
Mad Duc Clutch Cover
Heavily lightened flywheel
Igniteck adjustable ignition
Dual oil coolers with braided lines
Ported and polished heads
Ducati Performance cams with 900SSie adjustable pulleys (looking for 95Hp+)
MBP Valve Collets
45mm high rise spaghetti exhaust with carbon (Akrapovic I think) mufflers.
Walnut blast and repaint motor
Supersport front suspension with Race Tech valves
Brembo Goldline calipers
Ducati Speedo (modified speedo drive)
Cast Iron rotors
Ilmberger Carbon 1000DS Hugger
Ilmberger Carbon Front Mudguard
Marchesini 5 Spoke front wheel.
CNC milled rearsets
Shorai Lightweight Battery
LED Indicators
Re-covered (Alcantara) seat.

TO DO
Full Carbon 916 Mirrors
Ohlins Superbike forks with radial brakes
Brembo Narrowband R
916SPS Alloy rear subframe and with new mountings for electrics.

Then I’m finished, and building a 1000DS engined 999 with carbon tank and tail by Radical Ducati of Spain.

[Hamel]

You guys modify bikes and then sell them? Thats is just asking for regrets.

Like I keep saying to my girlfriend, "You can take the keys to my SS from my cold dead hand."

[Brian d marge]

Got to tell u an intersting story , I go to this little old man to get all the small stuff, I cant fabricate , made up .. He is about 80 if he is a day and proudly exclaims hes been doing this since the war ... his shop is one of those old fellas shop, where the machines are under piles of "stuff" but he does a good and reasonable job

Yesterday I went to pick some parts up , and sitting up against the bench was a mortar shell of an earlier vintage , I really hope these is nothing inside ,,,,,he also has a Ducati , 748 ish hanging on one of the walls , I thinks his son races it sometimes

I really wonder what else is in there......

Stephen

[caspernz]

Modifying varies from bike to bike for me. My current ride, 2008 GSX750F has had a few mods done to it. For me the focus isn't about more speed, more about practicalities that suit me.
Hot grips, Scott Oiler, K & N air filter, HID headlights, suspension upgrade front and rear courtesy of CKT, touring screen by Godiva, braided brake lines up front, sintered metal brake pads front and rear, tiny wide angle spotter mirrors.
Funny thing is, the biggest improvement on the bike itself was the suspension upgrade by CKT, while doing some rider training improved my riding....

[AllanB]

I've just finished making a custom front sprocket cover for my Hornet.

Why?


Because I could - it was a fun project, I learnt a bit about sand casting and it is unique.

[imdying]

Hell yeah, now that is what the fuck I am talking about!

That and our vac forming U87 builder

[Pseudonym]

I love doing little bits and pieces to my bike, or any bike come to think of it…
Better horns, a headlight that stays off until you flick the pass switch, heated grips, cat and exup valve sitting on a shelf out of harms way with the rest of the emissions rubbish, painted engine cases, anti surge baffles with extra oil capacity, tail tidy, GPS tracking unit, the list goes on.
I have two lists, one of things I’ve done and ones of things I want to do.
Odd how they both grow though…