Strippin down the bagger

Hi, I havent been here for about eight years. My bikes been parked and waiting for me to have more time and money to sink into her. The time has come, Im turning my bagger into a cafe racer. My goal is to keep it looking as if it could have been offered from the factory. I hope some of the people I used to chat with are still here, give me a shout.

That's a lot of weight you took off. The 650 will really feel like it gained some horsepower with the diet.
Are those rear hard bags Shoei? There has been some members looking for Sissy bars and rear racks over the summer. Maybe if your going to sell them, list them in the forsale section.
Keep the pictures coming.

Yeah, I cant wait to ride her for the first time sans bags. I do think the bags are shoei, Id go look but its all at my mechanics shop. The fairing is vetter and all of it came on the bike new from the dealer.

Great Looking bike! Would you please confirm your aftermarket exhaust? Vance & Hines?

Thanks, its a Vance and Hines 4-1. I really like it. Its allot throatier and racier than stock but still nothing that will piss off the neighbors.

I made a decision today. Im gonna give my bike the cosmetic look I want...gunfighter saddle, clip on bars, cafe fairing and belly pan (color matched to the bike), smaller front fender (black) and remove rear fender and relocate tail light under duck tail and blacken wheels (not sure how yet). I will need to do some seal replacement as it weeps oil from the head (dry rot from sitting) but other than that Im not going to touch the engine. Instead I will pick up a kz1000 when this project is done to build a bit and ride two up with the wife.

That should make for a great looking bike!

millijava wrote: Thanks, its a Vance and Hines 4-1. I really like it. Its allot throatier and racier than stock but still nothing that will piss off the neighbors.

I have a Targa chin spoiler that came off my GPz for sale if you are interested.

Welcome back.

I'm not as active as I used to be, but I do remember your user name. I wonder, just how much all of that stuff weighed.

Thanks forest I think it should be pretty sharp when its done too. Like I told boatdrinks in a PM I am going for a "could have been stock" look. Yeah it WAS a surprising amount of weight. The mounting bracket for the fairing alone has to be 7 lbs let alone the fairing which is a freakin boat anchor.Besides the perceived HP gain I cant wait to feel the handling difference without all the top heavy weight. The bags arent as bad but it all adds up to a small passenger. Hey boatdrinks I would be VERY interested in the chin, what do you want for it!?

Put a battery and fuel in her and she fired right up! She has some gasket and seal related leaks but my mechanic buddy says as soon as the gasket set and cam seals I ordered arrive we get that fixed in short order.

make sure to post some pics up here. i love to see progress.