Topic: Mayble's Tale......time for some upgrades

[Desert-SOHC]

I just sold my 71 VW convertible so I have a little play money. So its time to start the next phase of Mayble's mods...now that we trust each other. 

So as we left her.



A return to driver status of a basically stock 78 K8 with 11.75" shocks and an early fender with a HUGE taillight. So the next step is to get some height on the bars, they are just to low for me. I'm 6'1" and was blessed with short legs and a long torso. So I'm going to try some ROX 2" risers and reroute the cables if I can or just get new ones and see how that sits for a bit, while I get some stock and start building my forward controls and sissy bar mounts. I'm going for a factory stretched roadster/brawler look. Dual disc front, maybe an early spoked F hub/disc with polished Aluminum rims and hubs, haven't decided on the spokes yet, will have to see what's available or I can get made.

Stay tuned

[Restoration Fan]

Interesting.  You mentioned the tail light.  Are you planning to replace that?  Maybe an LED taillight?

[Desert-SOHC]

Interesting.  You mentioned the tail light.  Are you planning to replace that?  Maybe an LED taillight?

I do want to go LED on everything, so I can add driving lights to it for night riding without taxing the already weak charging system.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm a fan of LED lighting on the CBs.  In many cases the lights are brighter and definitely less taxing.  You will need a new electronic flash relay (cheap) or your LED indicators will not flash properly.  For headlights, you can go on the cheaper side with an LED bulb (check out Cognitomoto's H4 bulb) or a new LED headlight assembly.  I have the Trucklite assembly on my 750; it is EXTREMELY heavy as the housing is diecast metal.  Another solution is an integrated headlight with signals:  http://www.lossaengineering.com/products/7-led-headlight

[Desert-SOHC]

Today I went for a buzz, she was a btch to start in the cold and she has been sitting for a few weeks. I really need to vacuum sync the carbs and fix my charging system. I ended up pushing her home due to a dead battery...good thing it was only about 3/4 mile and all flat. I know the alternator pigtail is questionable cause I already had to fix 1 of the wires in it, so I just ordered a new one and I thing I will build an ATO fuse box replacement too. Then, except for the handlebar switches all the wiring will be new.

I also found some cheap/cheesy handlebar risers today and installed them. Had to reroute the clutch cable for them and its only 1-5/16"  of rise, and I don't think it's enough, but I will reserve judgment till I put a couple 100 miles on them. They look like crap but I have 30-days to return them and these were 1/2 the price of the ROX risers and I didn't have to order them.

[Desert-SOHC]

I'm a fan of LED lighting on the CBs.  In many cases the lights are brighter and definitely less taxing.  You will need a new electronic flash relay (cheap) or your LED indicators will not flash properly.  For headlights, you can go on the cheaper side with an LED bulb (check out Cognitomoto's H4 bulb) or a new LED headlight assembly.  I have the Trucklite assembly on my 750; it is EXTREMELY heavy as the housing is diecast metal.  Another solution is an integrated headlight with signals:  http://www.lossaengineering.com/products/7-led-headlight

Yup I already have the flasher and am looking for different directional now, I like mine but that bulb isn't available in LED. That headlight is interesting, but I want to run driving or spots on the outside of the headlight along with the signals. Similar to the newer gen touring machines, but more roadster style. Its hard to explain it but its in my head and working its way out.

[Desert-SOHC]

Really haven't done much to her since the last post but ride her. Have had some other projects to get finished so the next mods have been pushed to the back burner till I have more time. Stuff has picked up at the shop and I'm there most of the time doing odds and ends on the builds. It's starting to look like I will have time in the heat of the summer when I ride her the least. Unless its raining......I ride her.

Since I ride year round I try to do a complete cleaning around this time of the year, so today I started it. Cleaned all the chain grease and road grime off the rear wheel and discovered that 2 nuts had vibrated loose on the right side mufflers. I really need to make a new front mounting tab for my chain guard...I bet the rim would stay cleaner.



It turned out to be a pretty nice day today so I also cleaned up and wire brushed the flaking paint on the engine and repainted it...looks a bit better.

[Desert-SOHC]

Got around to the chain guard today. Cleaned and repainted it and made a tab for the front mounting point. Had to do a little repair on the "slot" that the inside of the guard slips into...its getting there.

Now I have a nice shiny chain guard and the frame looks like crap now!

[Desert-SOHC]

Since I cant really ride right now I decided that White wont be Mable's final color.  I found a decent brilliant blue at my local hardware store and being partial to Blue decided to do a color change.  I will have it professionally painted as the final touch to her build.  So far I've done the side covers, headlight bucket, and the fuel door, I will need to fix the dent in the tank before I paint it.  Here's a pic of the first side cover I painted.     I know, I know, FUGLY seat...I'm going to put up with the FUGLY SEAT for a bit and see how it sits for as a long distance seat.  I sit down into it more than the stock seat and a titch farther back.  I have plans to build a solo seat from 1 of the seat pans I have, retaining the stock hinges and lock, and use the front bucket part of that seat and redo the cover thats on it.  That way I'll have 2 seats...1 up and 2 up.

[Desert-SOHC]

So the FUGLY seat didn't work out. While initially being more comfortable, after about 30 minutes or so the foam goes pretty much flat and you end up feeling like your sitting on just the steel pan. So the tootsie roll seat is back on.

I took the front end apart today to put the stock fork ears and badge on. I found a decent set of used donuts for cheap and I had a set of ears and badge. I need to find a better clutch side ear cause this one was bent and dented when I got it. I relocated my front blinkers to the stock location and they look like they belong there...so I'm happy with them. I need to come up with a better mounting system but it will work for everyday use while I design it. While I had the forks off I changed the fork oil to 10w Belray at 150cc's.

This is how it was...


This is today...

[Desert-SOHC]

Found a vintage Drag Specialties sissy bar mount still in the original packing.  It was for 69-76 so I just made extensions for the longer frame on my K8 and had to space it out another 1/2" cause of the bigger seat.

I kinda like it...now I will have to make a couple of different square stock trident bars. A short one for 1up and one with a padded backrest for 2up. I guess I'm just going to mod one of my seat pans and have a custom seat built the way I want it.

[Desert-SOHC]

This started yesterday when I came home to a box on the porch. I found some unique forward controls for a good price and started fitting them yesterday and had a few issues to work out. The brake side plate needed to be notched for an engine mounting bolt and it pushed on #4 pipe. While the shifter side plate needed to be spaced a bit since the peg shaft bolt was hitting the frame and not letting it sit flat on the frame, which I didn't notice that till I stood in front of her.





I got home a little early from Moms today so I jumped back on it. I notched the brake plate for the engine bolt and shaved the bottom where it was hitting the exhaust. On the shifter side I made some small spacers to make the plate sit flat as intended.




I will run them as highway pegs while I do the linkage mock-ups. There a pretty slick design...I can pull 1 bolt inside the footpegs and everything slides of the step cut center shaft. My mods to the mounting plates will still need to be "made pretty", but that will wait till after I'm finished with them and have some real ride time on them and am happy with there placement.

[Medyo Bastos]

did you get those from jimmy?  the original set was made to fit an aftermarket frame and exhaust. sorry to hear you had to make so many modifications.  they have worked great for me over and over again!

[Desert-SOHC]

did you get those from jimmy?  the original set was made to fit an aftermarket frame and exhaust. sorry to hear you had to make so many modifications.  they have worked great for me over and over again!

There Jimmy's controls that Chuck had and ended up not using and I bought them from him. It would have been nice if they were just bolt on, but they were easy to make fit. I've looked at EVERY forwards that were out there and I REALLY liked Jimmy's design and quality...so that's why I went with them. Making them fit my application is just part of the ride......lol 

[Desert-SOHC]

Back on the forwards today...I didn't like how far the brake side stuck out, it is the same as the shifter side but the points cover is so much smaller it looks longer. So I shortened the main shaft by .370 inches and used bevel head stainless screws countersunk into the lever arm, that gained me 1/2" less stick out.



I was going to do the same thing to the shifter side but the alternator cover stick out so far that it's not feasible. All hardware is slowly being replaced with Stainless fasteners for a less cleaning maintenance and it shouldn't rust. I still have to play with spacing on the shifter side, but it's getting closer. I have to order Heim joints, and find a junk rear brake pedal and shift lever to mod to be able to make the control rods and keep her a rider during mock-up. When she is done I will sell off my parts overstock.

[Desert-SOHC]

I change the design a little and countersunk the mounting holes on the plates to streamline the look.  Also my heims came in so I mocked up the shifter linkage for now, I will run it for a week or so to make sure that I don't have to change shifter peg placement.

[BPellerine]

very comfy with stock seat and bars?bill

[Retro Rocket]

I have no trouble with "cruising pegs" at the front, but putting the controls there is not very good in my opinion, try controlling a slide or banging down gears trying to avoid some idiot in a car with your body in that position, you will NEVER have the control you would have with your feet further back and still be able to use the gears and brakes.......

[Desert-SOHC]

very comfy with stock seat and bars?bill

much more comfy for me, and the bars are a bit low for that riding position, the seat is fine though.

[Desert-SOHC]

I have no trouble with "cruising pegs" at the front, but putting the controls there is not very good in my opinion, try controlling a slide or banging down gears trying to avoid some idiot in a car with your body in that position, you will NEVER have the control you would have with your feet further back and still be able to use the gears and brakes.......

Having HD's all my life along with SOHC's, the cruiser position is much more comfortable to me and that is what my SOHC will reflect when I'm done. I've ridden with forward controls all my riding life and am VERY used to it and the idiot cage drivers here in socal, but thanks for your concern. Guess its good that it's mine and not yours.

[BPellerine]

have highway pegs on my hd but just cant get used to not having my feet at the controls although it is kinda cramped being over six feet tall.bill

[Lostboy Steve]

I feel like I need to put forward controls on my 550. I'd like to make a set of mini floorboards.


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[Retro Rocket]

I have no trouble with "cruising pegs" at the front, but putting the controls there is not very good in my opinion, try controlling a slide or banging down gears trying to avoid some idiot in a car with your body in that position, you will NEVER have the control you would have with your feet further back and still be able to use the gears and brakes.......

Having HD's all my life along with SOHC's, the cruiser position is much more comfortable to me and that is what my SOHC will reflect when I'm done. I've ridden with forward controls all my riding life and am VERY used to it and the idiot cage drivers here in socal, but thanks for your concern. Guess its good that it's mine and not yours.

I wasn't commenting on having your feet up front, thats fine, I get that its comfortable while cruising,  Why not just put highway pegs up front and leave the controls in the stock position,  the fact that you don't have any controls in the stock position thats the worry for me, and thats what I was alluding to.. I don't care what you do with your bike, I'm just curious how you'd go controlling that bike in a panic situation with your feet way up front..?

[Desert-SOHC]

I wasn't commenting on having your feet up front, thats fine, I get that its comfortable while cruising,  Why not just put highway pegs up front and leave the controls in the stock position,  the fact that you don't have any controls in the stock position thats the worry for me, and thats what I was alluding to.. I don't care what you do with your bike, I'm just curious how you'd go controlling that bike in a panic situation with your feet way up front..?

I guess I'm just used to it, I've been riding that way for decades. It's the standard "chopper" riding position and since thats what I rode when I was young it stuck.  I guess it comes down to what you're used to, I have no control issues riding that way although some may.  If the bike is setup correctly that way it's a very natural riding position, alot of the newer cruiser style bikes run that position.

[Desert-SOHC]

Got another brake pedal and started fabbing some 3/16" plate into a tab to be welded on to it to connect to the linkage. Have to play with it this weekend, I'm having a charge/no charge issue that keeps popping up. Think its time to get a gasket for the shifter shaft cover and replace the pigtail from the alt.