I want to chop my ride!! **New Pics**

I'm basically looking for a bit of feedback here.

Yesterday while removing luggage brackets from my 750RK with the seat, rear cowl, both side covers, and both acorns from the rear shocks off I decided to pop the shocks off all together and see how the bike looked lowered down a few inches. WELL I was so exited by the look that I took it a step further and tried to imagine the bike with the rear frame rails cut back to the welds just after the shock mount. AGAIN very exited!
So heres my thoughts, (feel free to tell me I'm crazy or applaud me) fabricate some links to do away with the shocks and make it a quazi hard tail and chop the rear end to make it look like a bobber. Now mind you I've still got a fairing on the front see picture.
All thoughts appreciated

Progress pics

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I personally think the bike looks great as is in the picture but if you want to mod it then I say go for it, the only thing is that you may not get as much money for it when it comes time to sell.
Either way, have fun with it and take your time.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

don't ruin such a beautiful bike. Damn...

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Do you think I'd be better off leaving this one and finding something else to chop?

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Find one that needs body work.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

yeah, one that needs body work, or get a maxim...they look better chopped.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I have to concurr with the previous posters. It looks great as is. Buy a project bike and create your masterpiece.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

+1

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Hey go for it! Can I have the faring?

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

This was a nice bike at one time, now it's a bad a** bike

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

ROCK ON SPYDERBUGGY!!!!!!

VERY nice

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I dunno, the way the tank and side covers blend together, it would be hard to chop that bike and make it look right. I agree, a Maxim would be a better chop project.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

That was the same color mine was when I got it and I hated grey/silver. Then I painted it black and pinstriped it and it still looked ugly....
...so I CHOPPED it!
I absolutley hate the looks of a stock Seca (personal preference) I got mine for a project bike (cheap) and got it running. I just about sold it before I decided to chop it into a bobber. Now I abolutely love to ride it and it doesn't look too bad. It was a fun project and I can't wait to start on another one.



That used to be a silver Seca!!!

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Hey Painter D I have a 750 Maxim and thinking of chopping, any chance in takin a look at your once?

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Blondeman,
I'll PM you and send you some photos of mine.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

That looks awesome!!! Did you install that seat reversed??
The only thing I'd do different is lower the a$$ end. What did you cut the rear fender with?
Very nice, I'll print this out as one of my reference/inspiration photos,

Brian

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I did lower the ass end after those photos were taken, by taking the shocks apart and cutting 1" off the springs.
I cut the fender with a dremel tool with the metal cutting blade (took a couple to get'r done) The I used a the grinding wheel to ge the final shape perfect. I used chrome edging to inhance the shape a bit, but it was a bitch to form and cut to fit. It was fabricated from a boat trailer fender ($21 at Northern Tool) They fit perfect between the frame rails and are good quality steel.
My seat is one I made out of an aluminum seat pan (old STOP sign) and I formed the foam from an old seat I had from another bike. Then I covered it with seat material I bought at a local fabric store. I had to use pop-rivets to hold the fabric on the pan. Pretty simple to do with some patience.
There will be some changes made this winter like:
*re-male the seat a little different shape.
*re-paint some other colors I want to try out.
*make another rear fender, maybe a bobbed fender?
*Finish cleaning/polishing the engine and add some paint on it.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Ape hangers, solo springer seat, bobbed rear fender, lowered in the rear, good quality ratttle can paint job (matte black). That is my winter project. What size ape hangers will work without replacing cables?

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

You won't be able to put any ape hangers of any size without changing the cables. I just took my front brake cable and clutch cables to the Dennis Kirk store (about 60 miles from me) and got cables that were 6" longer then the stock ones. I didn't want the handlebars any higher than my shoulders (state law) so I looked for a pair with a 10" rise or less. I ended up with a pair off a Goldwing, which worked perfect (8" rise) then I cut the top of my risers off and added a 4" extention (1" tubing) and I now have the height I wanted. My arms are straight out in front of me and very comfortable on an all day ride. >PD<

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I have a Dennis Kirk catalog and was looking at 12.5" ape hangers. I have a few things I want from them so I'll just make the trip and take the cables with me. Thanks for savin me an extra trip.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Well..........The process has begun!!!!!
Replaced the stock shocks w/some virago's, scalloped the seat, and added some H.D. foot pegs.
The criusing position is completely changed(for the better).

-Can't wait to do the solo seat cut the springs and wrap the pipes, For once I wish risding season was over so I can start ripping her down!

XJ750

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

I have 14" apes on my bike. I was able to find a local shop that could remake my cables to the length I needed. I really didn't add much length. If I was a more patient man, I would have just ordered custom cables from Motionpro.com. They make any length with any fittings you might need. I think it was approx. $40 for black cable and somewhere in the $65 range for braided lines. That is price per cable. I have no electrical on my bars so that was a none issue. I may hook up the front brake sensor but time will tell. I might have a pic in my gallery if a seat I made but it sucks for long trips. I just got a springer seat and I will post pics as soon as I am finished with it.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Stinky,
I like what you did with your bike! Looks pretty much the same as mine. I even did what you first did for high handlebars (ie: used long risers with short bars) It felt good with that setup, but I needed something that looked better, so I got some mini-apes and it looks alot better. I was so happy to get rid of all that extra plastic and make the bike "my own". >PD<

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Well thank ya sir. I don't have that dogbone setup any longer. I passed em along to my brother and went with traditional apes like I wanted all along.

 

Re: I want to chop my ride!!

Again personal preference, but I would leave the SECA as is. Looks sweet already...

 

O.K. so I've cut, welded, wired, painted, re-cut, re-welded, re-painted and I'm not totaly finished yet, but I'm very impatient and can't wait to blast around on it. Here are a few pics, sorry they are not great but they will do for now.

 

Good for you !!! Looking sweet !!! Not to crazy on the tailpipes, but I'm lov'in the suicide shifter !!!! Maybe post up a few more detailed pics. as to how you went about it. Don't see to many guy's doing this mod any more.

Good Work !

Cheesy!

 

Yes! I love the pipes. Wide open or did you put a baffle in? I can't wait fr the snw to melt s I can dig my bike out and do something similar.

 

Pretty sweet! I'm all about personalization.

 

The collector box is still intact, which I've heard is where the majority of your backpressure comes from. The remainder of the pipe is welded, and wrapped Electrical conduit. I actually put rain caps on the end of the pipes this past weekend.
Thanks for the input!
Brian

 

Here are some much better pics with a bit more detail

Better Pics

 

Looks good so far! Now get rid of that fairing and do something with the front (unless you like that look?)
I'm thinking about making myself a short sissy bar like that. Something simple like yours, but maybe not as tall. What is that made of? I was thinking about using 1/2" round stock and just mount it to my frame rails with the same bolts that hold the bobtail fender on.
...the posibilities are endless!!!

 

It is no more than a couple of pieces of 5/16" steel welded and ground down. The hard part was coming up with a tail light/lic.light assy & bracket

 

Another option I have considered is to use hollow stock and run wires up inside it to light single red LED lights on the back of the sissy bar. I figure about 4 little red LEDs on each side would look nasty. And maybe run a wire from the bottom one to each signal light (ground side) to flash with the blinkers? Hey, I might be onto something here!!!!

 

I thought of something similar and bought all the led's, resistors and what not, but I ran out of patients, swallowed my pride and bought one!

You have an awesome idea intergrating those in to the bar, I'd love to see that come to life!!

 

After finding a place that sells all kinds of them(LEDS) near me, my mind is going wild with ideas to use LEDs. And being they don't take much juice to run them, I find all kinds of places to hide them!