Author Topic: More of us out there than we think? (Read 5014 times)

mtbcrazy · « **on:** May 01, 2005, 10:01:57 AM »

Are there more of us (b4 riders) out there than we think? I went to the shop yesterday to pick up my bike. Before taking it in, I asked about when it would be done (just getting the valve cover gasket and headset replaced). He said he'd need a couple of days, told me to bring it in Tuesday and I'd have it back by Friday. That was supposed to be Friday TWO WEEKS AGO! I was dying to get it back. SO, I go in the shop and I'm looking into the work area and there is a 400 on the lift with a cafe fairing on it! I'm thinking to myself "that must be mine, were they so kind as to add a fairing to it for me??" Crazy thought, isn't it? But, I like those small cafe style fairings.

Anyway, MY bike was parked in the paddock and the bike on the lift was someone else's. Looked like it was in good condition, all stock but the fairing. I asked the mechanic about it and he says "Yeah! This is the 2nd one I've ever seen!!! (mine being the 1st!)

I've been wanting a fairing, but I want one like the stock fairing that came on the limited model (only sold in Japan and the Phillipines). I don't know Japanese and web sites in that language totally confuse me, I can't even find the "contact us" link!! So, I searched for a bike in the Phillipines, and ran into a guy that has "naked-ized" his! And, he's willing to sell the fairing! The screen is broken, but he says the fiberglass parts are OK.

It is going to look funny on my red bike (it is from a blue/silver model), but I'm planning a trip from NC to Kansas, and my brother will help me strip it to the frame and he'll put on some red flame job (http://www.FlamesByFred.com). I have to wait until July or August for that trip (19 hours!)

Man, a new headset changes everything! The bike doesn't care if it is going straight or not, used to be the bike REALLY WANTED to go straight, I could ride no-hands pretty easy. Now, I wouldn't take both hands off for a fraction of a second!

Sorry about the Sunday morning ramble! :blahblah:

magicGoose · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2005, 11:22:26 AM »

You scored yourself a limited fairing? You DOG you! You have to post some pics when you get it installed. You will have the envy of millions. ( well, of ME anyway

) I guarantee you will be the only kid on your block with one. Can't wait to see how it turns out. ( Although I will refrain from comment on the flame paint job on a bandit.

Regards,
Steve

PitterB4 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2005, 12:26:44 PM »

Dayum!!!!! How cool is that? I'd love a Limited fairing. Pics are a MUST when you get that all set up!

I've seen 2 B4s other than mine. One was in a parking lot near my office here in PA. It had tags from somewhere in New England. I couldn't find the owner. A couple months ago, a guy in my little hick town bought one. I forget if it is a 91 or 92 (has white wheels) with only 3600 miles

. I got to take it for a spin around the block. Nice! Hopefully I'll get to see one or two more next week at the rally!

jcmjrt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2005, 12:35:39 PM »

I just saw another one Saturday at the junior college where I'm taking a welding class. The guy hadn't ridden it in a while and apparently the carbs were all gummed up so it wasn't going anywhere right then. The bike looked pretty good....and like most bandits was all red. I've seen ads and talked to people in the area who had bandits but that's the first other one that I've seen in person.

mtbcrazy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2005, 01:22:55 PM »

Don't worry about pics!! If it comes out how I want it, I'll be hiring a professional photographer to do a shoot!

Also, don't worry about the flames, they won't be there ALL the time. I'm using temperature sensitive paint, the bike will be yellow with red flames when it is cool, and the hotter it gets the more red it becomes.

http://www.trippininc.com, I saw this stuff at Daytona last year, it is incredible! If you like yellow (and I do), and you like red (who doesn't?) it is the sh!t! It sure ain't cheap! I'll need the regular color, and small amount of a hotter color, $1,000 with all the other stuff they say you need (clear coat, some kind of mixing agent). There are other color changing paints out there, but they mostly are like mood rings, change across the spectrum. I just want 2 distinct colors.

mtbcrazy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2005, 01:24:21 PM »

I forgot to ask. I'm getting the fairing from the Phillipines, does anybody know how to do that with a little security? I'm worried I'll be sending a check over and getting nothing in return.

Also, are the wind shields still available?

magicGoose · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2005, 02:44:25 PM »

So when the bike is cold, it will be yellow with red flames, and when it gets hot it will be pure red, right?
This is interesting stuff. Now we will need pictures AND a movie when you get it done!
Regards,
Steve

Maniac · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2005, 03:28:58 PM »

Sounds hot!

Ok... yeah... bad pun.

I've never seen another GSF400 on the road, parked, or otherwise. I'm hoping to make next years Bandit Alley meet, though, and see some.

Red01 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2005, 04:19:34 PM »

Just a wild guess, but I imagine finding a Limited windscreen will be as difficult as finding the fairing. I wonder if the screen from a Ducati Imola (or replica) will fit, since it bears a strong resemblance to that fairing anyway...

If you can find a souce for the screen, you might have enough interest here to sell Limited fairings. If that's the case, and your fairing is in good shape, perhaps you could get a mold made from it and sell some to your Alley buddies?

mtbcrazy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2005, 08:05:46 PM »

If I ever get it, and I can find a screen, I'll see how much interest there is for making copies.

I'm still leary about how to pay for it. I asked for a picture and haven't heard anything in a week. I know there are some in the UK, I've found some pics of them, but how to find a fairing in decent shape that is on a broken bike? I think, if I knew Japanese, it would be easy to find them.

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2005, 08:48:17 PM »

Some Limiteds have also found their way to Australia and possibly to New Zealand as well as the UK. Seems these nations have liberal gray market laws and their tiered licensing makes for a more lucrative small bike market than what we have in the States.

A year or so ago, a B4 Limited fairing showed up on ebay-UK, so you may want to keep an eye peeled on ebay worldwide in case another Limited owner decides they want a naked bike...

Red01 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2005, 09:20:44 PM »

If you do end up with that Limited fairing, get whatever pieces to the windscreen he's got. This guy may be able to make you a new screen.

Fairing Screen Gustafsson

(Stumbled across the link on another site a few minutes ago and remembered this thread)

mtbcrazy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2005, 10:02:14 PM »

That link didn't work for me. Does he piece them back together???

Red01 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2005, 12:38:18 AM »

Try a search with the name... or try just typing the url into a browser window.

http://home.aol.com/LGusta2587/

No, they don't piece them together, they will make a new one, but they may need something to go by. The spot where I found the link the guy had a Honda VF1000R, which was only brought to the US for one year (at least in the style he had), and they hooked him up with a new screen - and even gave him a choice of heights and tints!

Red01 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2005, 12:44:53 AM »

Found another link that is for the same outfit that may work better for you:

http://www.bikescreen.com/