Author Topic: Rising from the ashes... (Read 7621 times)

Cruisecontrol · « **on:** October 10, 2005, 01:01:32 AM »

I recently wrote off my '96 B12s and ended up purchasing an '03 B12s with the $$$ from the insurance pay out.
Unfortunately for the bike, she had seen better days and was herself written off in an accident. I had a few parts already that I had planned to put on my '96 but decided to upgrade and streetfighter up at the same time.

As I bought it:

The frame and front end are perfect, so it is just cosmetic problems that I have to deal with.

A work in progress:

My only real problem is a decent dent the tank received where the bar collected it, but since it is not crucial, it is on the list of items to do eventually.
The Yoshi can is on its way as well as a few minor things but all in all I am happy I managed to snag a bargain and bring a great ride back to the road.

Doch80 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2005, 02:03:58 AM »

Nice recovery on the bike, it looks good! I have a few questions for you if you don't mind. What size headlights do you have on there and how did you mount them? Also, how did you mount your guages? I want to get rid of my fairing and am trying to get all the info organized for the big leap. Any help would be great!

Chad

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2005, 02:40:14 AM »

The headlights are a four and a half inch set that I ordered from Banditmania in the UK. They came with the mounting brackets, indicators and the wiring loom.

Brackets:

Front on. I think they are the perfect size for the Bandit.

Regarding the guages I had to order the back cover off the N version because on the S it is only a half piece as it sits in the fairing. I also had to fabricate a bracket to mount them as the N bracket bolts on to the top triple clamp in a different place (they have different top clamp), so I had to use the mounting for the risers instead.
I am yet to put a longer brake line on there, because the stock one wont make it due to the headlight brackets and a slightly wider set of bars.

Doch80 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2005, 02:57:45 AM »

Awsome! Thanks for the info!

Was the wiring all that difficult?

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:06:06 AM »

Not at all. I am electrically illiterate and I had no problems at all. The biggest pain was rewiring the setup for the guages as, for easy removal, they had two connectors that took up far too much room. I just cut them out and hardwired them.
If you keep track of what goes where, it is very easy.

PeteSC · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:21:08 AM »

I'm confused by your front brake lever, otherwise...cool!

Oh, that's right....you need a longer line.

Thought for a minute there was a new 'style' in front brake levers in Aus!

Did you consider NRC or some other case cover?

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:22:43 AM »

The brake line is too short, so the lever/master cylinder are just "resting" on the throttle cables.

PeteSC · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:24:13 AM »

It finally registered why it wasn't on the bar...

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:31:50 AM »

Quote from: "PeteSC"

Did you consider NRC or some other case cover?

I thought about it initially but since I am an eternal optimist when it comes to riding, I am of the belief that I won't need them.

Doch80 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2005, 04:33:58 PM »

A few more questions for you if you don't mind. I was looking at the two websites that have the twin headlight kits and the price difference has got me a little confused. The Banditmania website as it at $148.94 and the street fight by design website has it at $395. Whether the 148 is in pounds or euro's, it's more then $100 difference. Surely it can't take $100 to ship it to the US. I was under the impression that they are both the same kit just sold by two different people. Any ideas as to the price difference?

Another favor to ask of you. Would it be possible to take a picture of the bracket that you had to fabricate inorder to mount your gauge cluster? I'm not worried about the fabrication, that's no big deal.... done it for several things on the bandit already, but I just can't picture how it would look. Nothing pretty anyways. Just a picture standing over the bike would be great so I can get a basic feel for it. I would appriciate it! If not, that's ok to. You've been more then helpful already.

I've been wanting to do this for several years now but I've either had a lack of funds or I've been shipped off to this place or that. I'm back home now so it's time to start hacking away! Luckily my dad has the same enthusiasm I do for "upgrades" so he doesn't give me a hard time about spending the cash... not the smartest thing for a college student to spend his money on but hey... I've always managed to pay my bills on time without asking for anything. Since I got the bike paid off while I was gone, where is all that extra money going to go? Best to find a place for it in my opinion.... right back into the bike seems a good place to start

Thanks,

Chad

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2005, 10:15:28 PM »

I am not sure about the other website you mentioned so I can't comment on any differences, but Banditmania deal in UK Pounds and all of their gear is subject to VAT (which I assume is tax) of 17.5%. That may account for what seems like expensive shipping.
I am in Australia so I just gave them a call to find out how much shipping is and used their currency converter on the site to get the total.

This is my bracket with just the back of the guages taken off. I made it out of 3mm plate aluminium:

Good luck with it all.

Red01 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2005, 10:19:44 PM »

IIRC, Banditmania's prices include the 17.5% VAT (most UK & EU sites do), which folks outside the UK & Europe don't pay. When I ordered my parts from the UK (I bought from NWS, not Banditmania), the VAT covered the shipping costs (with some leftover)... but if you just convert the UK currency to your own and leave the VAT in there, you'll be pretty close to your cost.

Doch80 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2005, 10:51:01 PM »

Thanks for the pictures. It makes sense now. I was thinking you bolted it up to the top of the triple clamp under the riser mounts. I think I can pull something like that off. I just need to find a sheet of aluminium. Bending it might be a neat trick but I can figure something out I'm sure.

Thanks for the input Paul. I've never bought anything from the UK but I'm not that worried about getting it over here.

I'm going to probably need my dads garage so this probably won't take place until next month or December but I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

Chad

PitterB4 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2005, 10:51:16 PM »

NICELY done! That bracket is trick.

billster · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2005, 05:21:31 AM »

DAMN...I'm startin' to like the look of those dual headlights more and more

!! Those light brackets are much nicer that the standard 'ears'. Is this the kit that's also ordered with the flyscreen?

Are the turn signal brackets included?

Just got my NRC covers...incredible pieces of work. Well worth the $$ methinks. They go on with the next oil change. (Boy I'm SURE SAVING $$ on gas with this bike!

)

Thanks and 'well done' on the job. Looking good.