[Kellisanth]

And here I am, rambling for no reason other than freezing up here en Chicago!

***

So, you’ve got your bike (or planning to). What do you plan to do with the bike, besides naming it?

Much like a computer where you can leave it as is, or modify it with the latest high performance graphics card, a wickedly fast and blistering CPU, motorcycles can be tricked out and modified to enhance its appearance or performance.

For me, one of my first projects will be to upgrade the tiny “meep-meep” horn. I’ve seen an incidence of where a car backed up (there’s a reason why you should STOP before the white lines at a three way stoplight intersection!) and the poor bike got crunched. The little horn didn’t do much, needless to say no matter how many times he bleeped it. But then again, could be the fault of the biker for not giving enough room too, eh?

Another possibility would be the windscreen. Although I would probably want more opinions on that before I undertake such a thing. ZG’s DoubleBubble?? I don’t want wind fatigue.

When I get more comfortable and brave enough, maybe do some stainless steel braiding brake lines.

Steering stabilizers (like Scotts) sounds nice, but that isn’t really worthwhile for a general riding sportsbike, correct? Either short-haul commuting or long distance touring?

One item, I would like to obtain later on, would be a GPS. In case I find myself map challenged and don’t wanna ask where to go. But those are pricy toys.

Along with the GPS, for when I decide to go on a tour of some sort, a vid-cam would be an interesting tool to take along as well.

What say you all, about your thoughts and plans of what you want to do with your bike, or have done already?

[briderdt]

I’ll start with what I’ve done.

When I bought my SV, the previous owner had put on a Hot Bodies undertail kit. Looks nice, but the turn signals are pretty much invisible during the day. So I added some 6″ LED strips on the outside of the rear fairing. The flush-mount front turn signals didn’t do much for straight-on viewing, so I added another set of 6″ LED strips on the front, in a wide V-shape, just below the wind screen. I’ve taken off the rear seat and grab rail and put on the rear set cowl, and I’ve take off the left passenger peg and bracket (soon to ditch the right as well). I did a TPS adjustment to smooth out the low-speed throttle response, and added a Cramp Buster. The latest addition was frame- and swing-arm sliders.

Whew…

Tomorrow I’m going to do a muffler chop, cutting about half the length of the huge cannon on the side of the bike. I’ll keep all the baffles on the inside to it doesn’t get too loud, but it’ll have more of a V-twim rumble instead of sounding like a sewing machine.

I’m going to replace the Puig double-bubble windscreen with a Zero Gravity Sport-Touring model to cut down on the head buffeting at higher speeds. I’ve got some Buell pegs coming that will lower my foot position about 1″. And I’ve got a front fender on the way from some one who wrecked theirs, and I’m going to make it into a color-matched fender extender (as a long time cyclist, I’m totally baffled at the configuration of sport bike front fenders). A rear hugger is a longer-term addition. And when I have to replace the chain (and gears), I’m going to go taller (+2 in front, -1 in back) to get lower RPMs at highway speeds.

And after all that, I’ll probably want another bike…

[megaspaz]

The next batch of “upgrades” for me:

SV: Yoyodine wet slipper clutch and that’s about it for this bike. It’s already been modded to what I want.
Mods I’ve already done: Pazzo adjustable shorty levers, side fairings, two bros. titanium exhaust, solo seat cowl, zero g smoke double bubble windscreen, vortex adjustable race rear sets, suzuki delrin universal swingarm sliders, and suzuki fairing sliders.

848: Yoyodine wet slipper clutch. I just got some sharkskinz 848 streetbody. The set is cheaper than replacing OEM plastics and since I’ll be taking the 848 to the track the second half of this year, that’ll be a godsend since they’re a lot more fixable as well. I’ll have those painted OEM pearl white and that’s about it for the 848.
Mods I’ve already done: CRG adjustable shorty levers, Sato adjustable race rearsets, solo seat cowl, Puig double bubble windscreen, and woodcraft through-body fairing sliders.

[Stumpyjay]

When I get my ninja 250 I want to put a slip on carbon yoshi pipe. Thats about it. I don’t know enough about the goodies I can get yet…ha theres always time for toys.

[briderdt]

oops…. Never mind. I just re-read your post and see that you haven’t done it yet.

[megaspaz]

nope not yet… those slipper clutches are expensive! both the sv and the 848 are going for 895.00 😮

[Sangria7]

I am glad no longer live up North. Upstate NY was crap, OH was cold, and even Kentucky got snow LOL.

Anyways current mods:

1. Engine Guards
2. Jafrum Saddle Bags
3. Boulevard windshield
4. Kuryakyn ISO Grips
5. Blue LED Light Kit
6. Punisher Etchings
7. 3-Hole Exhaust Mod

I would eventually want Vance & Hines Cruzer pipes with the Kuryakyn Hypercharger….but the $1000 investment into those things can easily go into a new bike as well…..

[BouncingRadical]

I just picked up a Protaper Contour handlebar and I have some moose hand guards in the mail. Next I was looking at a Nomad rack for long trails.

[briderdt]

Took me a lot longer than I thought it would, but it’s done. I cut over half the length off the muffler, and ended up losing one of the baffles. But it still isn’t much louder than the stock pipe. I didn’t fire it up when there was essentially a straight pipe on there, as there were a lot of people out and about in the neighborhood (don’t want to tick them off). But the note is a LOT lower, and the reaction (in the exhaust) is a lot more abrupt when revving. Not the prettiest, but it worked out okay.

[megaspaz]

Do you live in california by chance? California models tend to run leaner than the other 49 states due to its environmental regs. So if you’re cutting that much off the muffler, you might be running really lean and might need a remap.

[Munch]

Lets see…..none added yet…….looking to do:
Highway bars
Steal Sangria’s LED’s
ISO’s
thats about it… really she came with everything I wanted already.
Found a place to do a speedo face plate that looks good. Just gotta find a design!

[Sangria7]

The ISO’s are awesome….then attach a crampbuster (www.crampbuster.com)…man long trips are a breeze…

[briderdt]

Near Tacoma, actually. THough I’m not the original owner of the bike, and I have no idea where it was initially sold. I’m not worried though.

[Ben]

The only mods I’ve done so far is added a Givi mono rack system and luggage. Haha, although I do want to add a double bubble racing screen when I get the money, hopefully that will blcok some of the wind and rain in the winter.

Ben

[megaspaz]

Wind yes… rain no…

[Author]

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