Bubba Z’ lamentations on idiotic motorcycle mods

RE: Clear turn signal lenses...

I'm def. w/Bubba on this one. I can't see swapping out perfectly good amber lenses/clear bulbs for clear lenses/yellow bulbs. If a new bike comes stock with clear lenses/yellow bulbs, great. Otherwise I'd leave 'em alone.

 

Not to mention if clear turn signals don't do it then there is always smoked turn signals.

 

Mum always told me if it looks, sounds and walks like a duc it may be. I'll bite, What's the story on that specific bike, that is if we are still allowed to have thoughts of other than roadrace rigs in our little pea brains by those who would be in charge of all thoughts and deeds?

Here's a mystery that has been in need of solving bikewise for a few years.

So what's for lunch? Mock Duck made I have heard, from recycled tofu? Pressed Duck a French culinary canard? An autographed copy of the Groucho Marx duck sign? Can we invite Groucho for when John and Tom start arm wrestling to see who gets to be on Oprah next? So many questions and so little time but WTF, lets roll..

Wheels Through Time - 1917 Traub, vintage and antique motorcycle, unique, maggie valley, nc

 

Nice bike! Is that one of the one's built by Harley before they sold the oufit to those darned Italian dudes?

 

Screw pride, I just don't wanna have to get the tank (and likely the whole bike) repainted...

 

I wish I had this vast knowledge about all bikes and what folks do and don't do with decals. At the risk of sounding subjective and on my old 91, man of the decals came off real easy with some gentle heat and a little paint thinner. (Stoddard Solvent to be really techhie about it) The decals on the tank, and we include both sides of yon tank the Honda logo is under the clearcoat.

This is probably done because those guys who design these bikes like to mess with our heads and no other reason but that. I am about ready to start nuking them sumbitches it they think I am going to stand by and have anyone think my ________ is a Harley.

 

Damn...........

That bike look sweeeeeeeeeeeet:thumbsup::thumbsup:
I don't mind to have a real one to add in to my collection:wink:

 

My bike came with a chopped rear fender. I thought it was bone stock. Upon further investigation, I found it was cleanly chopped with a dremmal. I wouldnt want the stock one back. Whoever did it also kept the little reflector and relocated it under the liscence plate. I like it and will do the same to my wifes suzuki as soon as I get the chance. It really looks good, and I dont have to worry about cracking someones window by throwing a rock at em while on the freeway, because it is still covering up the bikes rear tire without hanging down as far. It is the size it should have been in the first place IMHO.

I had a toyota mini-truck that was pearl white with clear turn signals. It look sweet, and I would do the same to a white bike, if I thought it looked good. It wouldnt look good on my hellfire red and black machine, the closer to stock the better for my baby. Sans the seat - it was ugly and uncomfrtable. I am so glad that when the PO ( TOE CUTTER ) had the seat redone he added a little style. I also have a bra on my tank - It is just for looks. I know this thread is anti the "just for looks" thing, but I am guilty as charged on that part.

The worst thing about my bike is definatly the noobie riding it, and that was easy to figure out after riding with some experianced riders, and I have doubled my cornering thanks to some really simple advice from DREWL while in San Diego... Me thinks that the 29$ book could be the best performance mod for my bike that I could afford right now.
:mellisa:

 

the only things I've done is a K&N filter - so I don't have to go swapping it ouy, exhaust, and didn't put all the parts back on when the luggage went on. Makes it look close to an eliminator, butthat just IMO. Thinking smoke windscreen next.

I can see where the rear tire hugger would be a bonus because of the crap usually thrown into the shock.
Chrome? Isn't that for the HD people? That does make a bike go faster, ya know.

As far as performance mods, start with the brakes and suspension. Make it stop better before you make it go faster. Could make your life a little bit longer.

 

Yeah, that stuff's big out here in CA. Seen that a bunch. Saw a guy on a Busa watching video on the freeway as he was riding. I was doing 70 beside him when I noticed it, so he was at least doing that.

 

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Says Nothing about smoking the competition

so now we know all the bad mods... what are the good one??

 

The only mods I find ridiculous are the ones that LESSEN the usefulness of the bike. The whole "stretch" thing or filling every inch of plastic with speakers or monitors or chroming the WHOLE FREAKING BIKE or ultra wide tires...

Why take a perfectly good canyon carver and making it practically unrideable?

Any other aesthetic changes are personal and don't bother me that much.

 

I just have to comment on the mirror thing. On those that have the problem with them condoms, it's now an age issue, it is getting to em where they wont stay put. so it makes sense to want to fix it and yes it's a look thing as well, they weren't bad when new 2 years or younger but for some reason Honda felt it necessary to make em out of some kind of rubber plastic that's not UV safe, go figure, so away they go. also I'm taking the cleaner saying as in aerodynamic looking, you know clean as in it less parasite drag. one could just cut them off as they don't sty put any way but then you have these stock mounts that again don't look so good. so I don't see any problem in this up grade, trick here is getting the right set-up. as far as the rest go, I'm on board a 100% I was one that did a wee bit of trimming to the fender via saws all. :thumbsup:
But ya know what, after all that, it's your bike. do as you please LOL just be ready for the WTF comments and or the strange looks.

 

O2:

What are the good ones?

Well for me suspension upgrades and rider training and practice (and I still suck LOL!). Once the VFR felt ‘planted’ I wasn’t so hesitant to get it over and my confidence increased greatly. I possess only a rudimentary understanding of suspensions, but what I have learned is fascinating and has really helped me go faster. I’m still studying and plan on some adjustments in the spring since I made a small change recently. The fork oil is now 10wt.

As far as training, man that really makes the difference in riding. I’d been riding for 10 years and been a MSF Coach for a couple and thought I was a ‘good’ rider. But I was bored with riding and wanted to learn more. I would watch racing and think “Were did these racers learn those techniques like sliding the rear wheel, but somehow keep the bike up”? I am not interested in racing, I just knew these riders had mad skills. As I started to read motorcycle “how to” books I realized all the experts learned techniques and practiced those techniques and worked with professional trainers. One day I looked at my buddy Jeff (fellow track rider/ MSF Coach/ and good friend) and asked him “Do you want to learn more”? He asked what I had in mind and I said “Track Days”. He got the biggest smile. Well I thought some training should be done so I went to a Lee Park’s Total Control class. It was worth the 300 bucks. Something to note, everyone learns differently and I do not learn new skills well when I have to go fast. The Lee Parks class is in a parking lot and for learning the basics of how to set a suspension and properly ‘hang-off’ a motorcycle in a low stress environment it can’t be beat. I know people have busted on it, but my remark to them is “you obviously don’t understand how people learn new skills”. Take four people and teach them a new skill my screaming it at them and see how many are successful…one may make it. Same for the Basic MSF class. We coach that stuff at lower speeds for a reason, it’s all new to the person. Another way to put it, you don’t introduce target shooting to someone with a 30-06, you start with a .22. Anyway, I wasn’t ready for a professional track school like what Keith Code offers.

I came back from the Lee Parks class and taught Jeff what I learned (he was already hanging off, he just needed a few pointers) and we practiced those exercises in our MSF parking lot then went and did our first track day. That was in October 2007. I can say it really helped. Nothing like your first time. It was more nerve racking than the first time you have sex, but possibly more fun. And since I had some training before hand it wasn’t so bad. At the end of that day I realized one very important thing…I actually knew very little on how to ride a motorcycle. It was eye opening. And some of the things I had read in Keith Codes books started to make sense.

The best part about training and practice is it is a mod that never ends. You can read, practice, take classes diet and exercise and it changes so many factors. It’s like it makes riding a ‘new’ experience again. Remember that feeling? First, bike, First ride? When you practice and push yourself in healthy ways you find new things to explore. Why did the bike slide? Why did I run wide? Then there are the people you get to ask those Q’s to who WANT to help you. You start to learn about tires, their pressures, how your suspension is set up, if your body position contributed to the issue or is it an issue at all? You find yourself blessed and surrounded by people with a ‘like mind’ who help each other all for the fun of it. Betarace has helped me at the track, our whole little group knows something the other may not and we work with one another on top of what the experts tell us.

I didn’t want to capstone this thread, but I’ll say this. I am biased against many mods because I will be talking to a rider, on the street, and they want to learn more but I see and get confirmation during our conversation that they have modded their bike with clear signals, fender eliminators and other appearance items which come to a toll of 200-400 bucks (or more) but can’t afford training. When I suggest they should have skipped that other crap it’s almost as if I attacked something sacred. But this I know, once you start leaning on whole new level, those appearance mods lose their luster. You start to only care about your fluids being fresh, tires, better brake pads and ‘how to I turn this thing effectively’.

In the end I can be, and already have been, rebutted with the statement “It’s their bike, they can do what they want”. Well thanks for the obvious folks LOL! And I am fully aware some riders only want to putt around with friends on some back roads and ride to work. So the appearance mods have some value to them.

But I know there are many riders who want to break free of that and want the next level and possibly the levels after that!

To you my dear rider…the door is in front of you, reach out and turn the handle and step through…we will be waiting.

BZ

 

ok Bubba I fully understand this thread now and thanks for the above post.

I agree 100% and as most know my bike is stock and LOL I did a mix on my fork oil comes out to 9 weight now and seems better then the 8 honda put in.

I, as you have already seen from most of my posts tell folks if they want to go fast they need to go slow. I also tell them not to hang off on the street and if anyone ever tries it they will see it will improve thier riding skills. dont hang off on the street stay in your lane and work on your lines and if your head ( or bike ) crosses the yellow line you blew it.
stay in same gear and don't use the brakes.
too bad no one listens

 

Not hanging off on the street will improve one's riding skills?
Even on the tight mountain twisty roads?

 

Someone once told me the best mod you can make is educating the coconut between your ears.

Bubba you mentioned that you only have a rudimentary understanding of your bike's suspension,and that you'd like to learn more and feel more confident with your machine.
I would humbly suggest that you pick yourself up a copy of "Sportbike Suspension Tuning" by Andrew Trevitt.
Read it,and when you're done,read it again. This time get a notebook and pencil and take notes. It's THAT good.
You'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about your bike's suspension and more.
The book is absolutely chock full of pics,tricks,tips and insider info. It's 128 pages of "pure gold".
The suspension troubleshooting guide and glossary at the back of the book are priceless. Trust me on this one.

 

Thanks!

I've been told more than once to get the book! It may be under the Christmas Tree

BZ

 

In a word, yes
but don't take my word for it.
take the Kevin Schwantz street riding school and he will be more then glad to explain how it works to help you go faster.

 

Sort of logical that if hanging off didn't work, then none of the really fast guys would be doing or teaching it. Hanging off at corners in a School Zone is a little weird but probably impresses the hell out of the first grade mini-dudes.