Chopper conversion

[The Lone Rider]

I've noticed this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...p-39606102.htm

and this

http://www.400ccm.ru/images/catalog/32-_c133_p1.jpg

as well as a few other Honda Steeds and the only real difference I notice is just longer forks.

Could I just stick on some longer forks on my Magna and it will run fine etc.. but be more chopper looking?

[Waylander]

Basically, although the angle of the neck would have to have been changed aswell otherwise the bike itself would be angled up twords the front.

Choppers are all about modifying your bike into what you think is cool. Be prepared for the handeling to go to shit with the longer forks though.

EDIT: actully on that one it looks like it's got new trees. The steering stem has a different angle to it instead of the frame neck.

[The Lone Rider]

Is there an easy way to adjust the angle? I suppose it depends on the bike.

I dont mind the bike being angled up a little bit I was thinking of just getting slight longer forks.

[Waylander]

Is there an easy way to adjust the angle? I suppose it depends on the bike.

I dont mind the bike being angled up a little bit I was thinking of just getting slight longer forks.

You could get new tripple trees that have the rake in them as I said in my edit. Not sure of who would have them down your way but there are a few places up here to get them.
Chopper shop here in the BOP, AMPS in Auckland, Wellington Motorcycles, Or tht place in Hamilton on Te Rapa I can't think of the name of at the moment(Not Road and sport though they might have them aswell)

I'm sure there's a chopper shop around somewhere down there.

Or if you don't mind spending a little bit more (or less depending on how good you are at shopping around) you could just order some from the states.

[The Lone Rider]

Ah, looks like it might be pricey. I just put an offer on a house today so maybe not a good idea just yet.

Damn, I really want to customize my bike beyond what was already done when I bought it (rear rack and sissy bar back rest).

[Waylander]

Severl mods you can do to it that arn't that expensive mate. Handlebars, grips, indicators, fenders and so on.

How long do you intend to stay on a 250 though?

Most people wait till they have a bigger bike before they start modding unless they are going for either higher resale or they are going to keep it for longer than just enough time to get a full liscence.

But like I said earlier, it' all about what you want with your ride so it's your choice.

[The Lone Rider]

Only thing I'd like more then a 250 magna is a 250 magna or other bike that looks exactly the same but not 250.

Something like a harley, I simply can't afford. But the magna I can keep all my life. I dunno why people reem 250.. I can burn the road hard and no problems even with a passenger. It's only a little slow going up a really really steep hill but I can still keep going 100k in a 100k zone going up a hill with more careful selection of gears while I'm going.

I've been looking and grips... but no idea what can go on and what can't. I'm a very try and see if it works person

I'd like some new flame grips, flame mirrors, and bars are fine as are (and frankly they look welding onto the forks or something.. not ones that run through bar grip riser things)

[Waylander]

Mate I'm not baggin 250s (Well only sportike 250s) Hell I've got a Honda Rebel I want to chop.
If you're happy with it then by all means go for it.

For grips, you just have to make sure it can fit a 7/8ths bar unless you're gonna upgrade to the harley standard 1inch bars. They also hve to be the right length for your throttle sleeve or come with one with the right size and shape cable attachment else the throttle will play up a little (either be loose or really tight)

Grips, mirrors, indicators and stuff like that you my even just look for minichoppper parts on trade me. Got some eagle grips from a guy in Auckland and they look sweet enough I'm even considering putting them on my VMax instead of the rebel. Look like these except for the end bit. Mine are just plain.

[The Lone Rider]

The dealer I got the bike from said they were 1" bars, and I used calibrated testing tools from work and it measured 1"... I'm pretty sure I didn't measure it wrong.

I have no idea about right lengths for throttle sleeves and such. That is why I said I am a try and see if it works person. Unfortunately not many people or shops let you take home parts and try to fit them (or at least I doubt it)

Ta for the help though. I'm bad ass on my bike either way :P (Just look in my profile biatch)

[Waylander]

Basically it just has to fit inside the grips and have the right number of places to hook a cable in. IE, if you hve two throttle cables it needs two spots nd the right distnnce appart. A good way to do that is just compare the ends of the sleeves. If they are the same then good as gold. For the length just measure the inside of your grips and get or cut the sleeve a little bit shorter than that.

I'm a try and see modder myself. I've swapped the bars out on my Vmax three times trying to find ones that are a little bit lower but still have clearance from the tank, unsuccefull so far.

[The Lone Rider]

Grips could be 7/8 as I've gotten out a ruler and looked and 7/8 and 1" is still pretty friken similar. Using the calibrated test gear isn't my role at work so I might not have measured them right.

[bmz2]

dude ,think about what you want out of a bike , to chop a small bike is not the best option , look around in a year you will find good factory custom bikes for a good price ,kaw vn900 custom great looking bike , you could be spending alot of money and no resale,trees could set you back $1000 min and racked trees are not the best way to go,neck of the bike should be angled, frame should be close to level as possible . wait and buy a custom

[The Lone Rider]

Nice try, Kawasaki VN900 looks like ass

I was asking about further changing the bike I have, as it's already custom.

[Macktheknife]

Actually you can just use extended forks to get the look but there will be an impact on handling and they are kinda pricey.
To modify the angle on the neck you will need to recertify the bike as this is a structural modification, low volume cert required. So if you want to do it, you have to be prepared to lash out some serious cash and make sure you do everthing you want to before certing it, this is why most people only do it on larger bikes that they intent to keep.
There are planty of other things that can be done that improve the look but are not so costly.
Where are the pics of yours?

[The Lone Rider]

Actually you can just use extended forks to get the look but there will be an impact on handling and they are kinda pricey.
To modify the angle on the neck you will need to recertify the bike as this is a structural modification, low volume cert required. So if you want to do it, you have to be prepared to lash out some serious cash and make sure you do everthing you want to before certing it, this is why most people only do it on larger bikes that they intent to keep.
There are planty of other things that can be done that improve the look but are not so costly.
Where are the pics of yours?

Yeah, I was thinking I'd just get slightly longer forks to give it a inbetween chopper/cruiser look. What do forks go for?

Didn't think of the re certifying the bikes... but duh!

What other ideas have you got?

I found these, in going with the "grips from a mini bike" idea

http://newmanz.co.nz/shop/product_in...roducts_id=505

I had some custom chrome flame decals made for the bike but I couldn't get the fuckers to stick smoothly and in the end I took them off. There was a lot of crying that night

I got pics of both my bikes I've owned in my photo gallery, as well as some in my attachments, and profile.