STOCK FENDER MODIFICATION

[2006 gz]

Here is a simple step by step, I wish I had pictures as I went along but it was one of those situations of enjoying a couple of beers and then, modified fenders! I repaint / custom paint bicycle frames for people on the side and when I lay out graphics I use 3M plastic tape. Its 1/8" thick and very bendable for curves. So basically layed out the profile desired, cut out with a recipricating saw (fine tooth metal blade) at a slow speed so the melting plastic won't build up. Then used the cut off side as a template for the other side. Figured out the length on the front and rear with a straight cut and sanded the corners and all edges for a factory look. The rear was challenging because of the tailight. It's stock but the mud guard was trimmed away. The metal bracket I chopped then fabricated(from the letover pieces) and MIG welded the old mounts after determing how far I wanted the light to stick out. As for the tag I simply mouted it chopper style onto the chainguard with stainless bolts. The clear portion of the tailight for the tag was painted so it would not light up the tire at nite. Pretty simple with no cost and drastically changed look of the bike! NATE
http://upload4.postimage.org/1786434/IMG_0020_20_1.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1786434/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload4.postimage.org/1786439/IMG_0009_10_1.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1786439/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload4.postimage.org/1786448/IMG_0018_18_1.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1786448/photo_hosting.html)
http://upload4.postimage.org/1786457/IMG_0001_2_1.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1786457/photo_hosting.html)

[Dupo]

VERY nice work there. Front fender looks sharp!

So you use the 3M as a guide (lay it out where you want to protect/save) then cut against it?

I want to reshape my fenders on my Spirit then drop it to within a quarter inch of the tire. Hard to find info how to do it yourself.

[Badbob]

Looking good. :tup:

Why only one mirror?

[2006 gz]

I like the minimalistic look!!!!! NATE

[Badbob]

This might be a good way to get rid of that nasty scratch I have on my front fender.

[BadMojo]

Hey that's a good idea, the scratch, yea, I like that...

[Jordan310]

Hey, thanks for the help, and Ill send you the fender next week.
I think you did a fantastic job, and I look forward to seeing your work.

It will make a great add to my bike, and I only wish you could help me with the rear end, becuase you did a FANTASTIC job.

Really good. :tup:

DELETED

[Jordan310]

haha. I just noticed, I said .. "I wish you could help me with the rear end". Lol. :oops:
Nah .. not that rear, ...

By the way, can you PM or email me your address so I can ship you the fender gz?

[Jordan310]

Cant wait to see the pics of mine =)

By the way: Check this link out:

http://www.motoleather.com/mohoslexsuma.html

[abadflea]

I want to know about the handle bars you have on the fender moded bike also!? Thats the drag bar style i would like to put on mine. How much? They are 7/8 bars right? Is this something i can do in my drive way, or should i get the bars and have my shop do it?

[Dupo]

7/8" drag bars are pretty cheap actually. I remember looking for them when i had my gz and the prices were about 50 bucks. I think drag specialties carries them. I've replaced 2 bars so far (one on the gz and one on the spirit). Its not a hard job at all. Biggest pain is getting the grips off unless you are going to swap them out for something better, then just cut and yank them off. Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to change the bar out.

His isn't actually a 'drag' bar but more of a very subtle beach bar. Again, pretty sure drag specialties carries these. Biggest concern with lower bars is clearance when you turn. Some riser extensions can always clear that up though.

[Jordan310]

Dupo,

Didnt you say you were going to get Z bars?
Im shopping for handlebars too. Can I get some oppinions, links, etc ...

Id like some help on which risers, where to get them, and to get a z bar or something that does not take away too much from the feel of the stock bars, but looks better.

Im going for a sportier look.

GREAT job on the front fender nate. Thanks! I got it, and will be send ing you a PayPal payment on Tuesday. Looks bad ass. Not quite like yours, not like a full cafe Racer, but almost looks like its from a stock naked bike. Again, .. great job.

Id love to get the rear fender modified as well.
Damn it. Cant you come to Miami?? Crap.

[Dupo]

I was thinking about z bars, but my brake line is as far as its going to go with the fork extensions. So no bar swap for me until i get an extended brake line.

Any handle bars i find, i find on ebay. Google does bring up some good results too. Just never bookmarked anything.

[2006 gz]

Jordan, glad the fender made it there safely and that you like it. Thats yours sitting on my bike!

If you want to save your grips, use compressed air with a blowgun attachment. Stick it under the grip and blast it of. been using this trick on bicycles for a loooooong time. The bars are what they call "superbike", like the lawson replica and similiar to the bandit. The pics are the harley 13.5" shocks and the 1/2" lowered front shock. This DRASTICALLY improved handling and got rid of the lowered look. Just a few changes to come for the little cruiser. The wheels in the background are going on my cb750 caferacer. once thats done I will have some time to make the radical changes. Mini cafe with rearsets, modded tank for knees and clubman bars, 18"wheels, etc............

http://upload8.postimage.org/661017/IMG_0011_3_1.jpg (http://upload8.postimage.org/661017/photo_hosting.html)

http://upload8.postimage.org/661021/IMG_0013_2_5_1.jpg (http://upload8.postimage.org/661021/photo_hosting.html)

[Jordan310]

Great great work.
I wish you lived closer so I could get some help modding my bike as well.

I like she shocks a lot. Look good.
Not sure about the handlebar mirrors, and I think I might go for a more dramatic change with the handlebars, but overall pretty nice. =)

:tup:

Hey, but wait a min. What exhuast is that??

[2006 gz]

its a shorty dunstall style with a removable baffle. jc whitney has them for around $50.00. sounds really good!
NATE

[Jordan310]

Nate,

I looked at it, and without the baffle, it looks really good.
Re-wrapable, and looks clean.

I took a look, and its 27" long however!

What modifications did you make if any to the muffler to get it on, and did you go by the how to on this site of welding a reducer pipe on first?

How are you keeping your back pressure? looks like you have a big outlet without the baffle.

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2709/bafflegs4.jpg

EDIT: Nevamind, its the shorty. =)

[2006 gz]

i took the suggestions in the how to section about the muffler swap. welded on a spacer that i made from some plumbing pipe frome lowes. as for backpressure there is a little with the muffler packing and the restrictiveness of the stock header pipe. the performance is a whole lot better!! nice sound. you get noticed but thats alright. especially it lets other drivers know that you are there! NATE

[Jordan310]

As well, can you send me the type of hd shocks you used and describe any adjustments made to mount them?
I see them on ebay a lot but of different types.

Thanks bro.

[2006 gz]

sportster shocks. thy are showa (japan) made for harley(usa)! the only thing i had to do was reuse the stock rubber bushings and installed them on tha hd shock eyes. oh yeah, also widened the shock mount on the swingarm a bit. the bottom is a little wider. NATE
http://upload8.postimage.org/697566/IMG_0012_4_1.jpg (http://upload8.postimage.org/697566/photo_hosting.html)

[Jordan310]

Got a model/part number, make, and model of that exhaust?

[Jordan310]

After installing a pair of chrome Showa PR Shocks (only about 1/2" larger than stock), and no front lowering yet, I was amazed at the differenced in handling.
I was a little skeptical about any differences except for the looks (being all chrome), and really wanted to see what might change, and if the stock shocks were of less quality than aftermarket performance shocks for this bike. Wow. I was amazed.

Here's how it feels:

I sit up a little higher, they have a bit more of a sporty feel to them, being a little stiffer but smoother over the bumps by 100%, the entire ride feels smoother overall.
From initial test in a parking lot, to freeway, the suspension has greatly improved. These shocks are available from RUPP Parts and Performance and cost a total of $77.45 with tax and shipping.

All worth it.

Nate, I didn't really have to bend the lower mount to install them, as this can chip the paint. What I did was to replace the bushings, then shave them down to where the shocks just dropped into place. The filing of the rubber bushing was needed though.

NATE: can you tell me how you lowered the front end? What did you use, and how tough was it to get the spacers in there? What was the material that you used?