Finally some real progress on the '83

I finally got some stuff put together on the '83 over the weekend, including:

Black chrome headlight, ears, bolts and bars.

Candlepower "superbright" H4 conversion with blue reflector.

Headlight retaining ring is Duplicolor "anodizer" spray Smoke over the original "sort of" chrome.

 

Nice work, Fitz, I like the finish on the rim, almost like gunmetal.

 

Looking good!

 

info on the headlight conversion?

 

That does look really nice fitz! hmmmm nah i don't wanna steal you're style heheh

 

Nice work Fitz, Is that your new set of gauges I see on there?

 

Wiz, thank you. I had originally done the ring in black as you can see below, but it was TOO black compared to the black chrome and the subtle blue tint of the reflector. I think the smoke provides a better "transition" and looks more like it belongs.

Info on the headlight conversion:

Its a Candlepower "Superblue" here's the datasheet: http://candlepowerinc.com/pdfs/newblueleft.pdf PN is 702212SBL

Here's the website; it's BURIED, easiest way is to find it by searching the part number from the datasheet. http://store.candlepower.com/index.html

It's a straight plug-in conversion. Because of the black chrome I didn't want all the shiny bits inside the shell showing, so I sprayed the inside of the shell and the ring the headlight fits into flat black. The spray can in the pic is NOT the flat black, it was the original gloss black for the retainer ring, until I changed my mind.



It's a bit more expensive than the Hella that chacal carries (I got one of those for the '81, more stock appearing) but I liked the blue reflector.

I can tell you it's bright as hell in the garage, but I haven't pulled the bike out, there's these two feet of snow...

MN- yep, it sure is, but they're coming back off I got SPEEDO NEEDLE PAINT! I'm gonna make 'em all match closer.

 

This looks really sweet! Can you let us know if you think the additional light coverage is worth the $71 price tag? $71 is quite a lot for a light bulb(even if it does have a cool looking blue tinge to it) but if it makes a significant lighting difference it is probably worth the price of admission.

My favorite "clear the cobwebs" ride is along the Columbia river for about 40 miles, have a soda and a smoke and then ride home. This often happens around dusk after I have awakened from sleeping all day after working the night shift at the hospital. The problem is this is also when the deer head for the water for a cool drink and maybe a short swim. It scares the Hades out of me thinking about one of those critters jumping down off the bank on the high side of the road and upsetting my apple cart. Any help I could get from additional lighting would be much appreciated.

WAMAXIM

 

Wamaxim.....find a guy on a harley to ride point for you?

 

Like I said, chacal carries a Hella unit that has a clear reflector and is every bit as bright and efficient, for quite a bit less. It's more stock appearing, I'm installing one in my '81.

I'm building this bike to be my daily rider until I wear it out, so I've splurged in a few areas. I look at it as a one-time investment.

I haven't figured out where to hide the deer whistles yet but it's getting a set.

 

Check out this link...

http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/v/vspf ... cycles.htm

Seems pretty inconspicuous, and they have a thwack of motorcycle mounting kits/wiring harnesses...$70, free ground shipping (I just googled "deer whistle motorcycles" and this is what came up)

They have some pics of it mounted on a BMW and a Harley. The Harley must have been the test model, as one would not want to have it fail on a Yamaha.

 

Interesting - I have only seen the ones you have to moving to use. I was worried about that since I most often see them where I am going 40 mph or less. Had 2 deer in the middle of my road 2 doors up from my house a few months ago while riding home. See them all over through here.

 

I am fairly close to a municipal golfcourse, so they are in our area - but in particular, there is one ride I love along the ocean through a forested park, and they run willy-nilly through there, even during the day. I had not thought of putting on a deer whistle...with free shipping, I might check out one of those whistles! Unless I can find a similar product locally...

 

Whoa! I had only ever seen the ones that require you to be moving, and that was in fact what I planned to use. However, "The Hornet" is available in black, there is only one, and its mounting constraints (between 3 inches and 6 feet away from and at a 45 degree to the pavement) will make it even easier to hide than a pair of the conventional whistles I do believe.
I think you can even mount it from the rear license plate bracket.

I'm gonna build a mockup of one out of a small cardboard box and a hunk of pants hangar cardboard rod and figure out where to put it. If successful, I'm ordering one. Thank you sir!

 

Fitz, I need to be reassured that this is not corrosion, (shown arrowed) Wiz.

 

HA!

 

Not sure how saturated your deer population is, but mine is many. A mile drive @ 9pm will equal about 20-30 white-tail deer. They hang out near the roads and I have learned a thing or two.
1st- I dont think the "whistles" work.
2nd- I have seen quite a few beat-up front bumpers WITH the whistles.
3rd- Slow the heck down, its a tried and true method.

Dont get me wrong, seeing 30-40 per day 8O is bad for autos. But sure is perdy(pronounced pretty for my northern brethren)

 

Man, I don't see many deer around my parts. I'm dreading coming around a curve one day and seeing an alligator stretched out sunning across the road. Do they make alligator whistles for motorcycles?

 

??? Are you talking about the bit right behind the cluster retaining nut? I just noticed that, it's from having the ears rechromed, the plating apparently didn't get everywhere they dipped. I'll be touching that up the next time the cluster's off, rest assured.