Here is the area where it fits around the rear tank mount, so the seat won't need to be removed to take the tank off.
5/30/12
SR500 tracker seat
I picked the seat up from Wright's Auto Upholstery in Frankfort, Indiana. I think it looks great. I'll go ahead and put the bike together and ride it for awhile before deciding on paint. I know I want to repaint the tank, but I'm tempted to leave the Knight seat base as it is.
Here is the area where it fits around the rear tank mount, so the seat won't need to be removed to take the tank off.
Here is the area where it fits around the rear tank mount, so the seat won't need to be removed to take the tank off.
5/27/12
5/26/12
fork mounting turn signals
With the new headlight on the SR500, I needed a different way to mount the front turn signals. I made some brackets from 1/8" x 1" aluminum flat stock to bolt them to the lower fork clamp. First cut the aluminum to the rough length and drill the holes. I taped the two pieces together and drilled at the same time since the brackets are the same for each side.
Then round them off and give them some shape using a grinder.
Deburr and then wet sand with soapy water to clean them up, and done.
Then round them off and give them some shape using a grinder.
Deburr and then wet sand with soapy water to clean them up, and done.
Sportster headlight on an SR500
I got the seat pad shaped and dropped off at the upholstery shop, so doing a few other small things while I wait. With the new slimmed down look of the bike, the stock headlight was looking too bulky, so decided to change it.
Two possibilities from the parts stash, an XJ750 auxiliary light, and a Sportster headlight. The XJ750 auxiliary light would look neat with a hole cut in a number plate, but the Sportster light gives a neat 70's enduro look. The XJ750 light is only 35 watts, but takes a standard H3 bulb, so would probably give decent, but not great, lighting, but no room to hide the electrical connections. The Sportster light takes an H4 bulb, and has enough room for the connections. It really came down to me preferring the enduro look over a number plate.
The stock headlight and electrical connections. It will be tight, be should be doable.
The stock headlight mount, which will be replaced with a simple bracket.
Starting with a piece of 3/16" x 2" steel.
The first bend...
...and bent roughly to the final angle. Then 3 holes and some trimming.
It will bolt to the stock bottom headlight mount holes. I cut the heads off of a couple grade 8 bolts to make studs. It makes it stronger, and a bit easier.
Test fitting the new bracket...
...and the headlight.
Yes, the stock gauges are big and goofy looking, but I like them.
I'll test ride it before painting the bracket, to make sure the angle is good, and in case it needs gusseted to prevent any headlight bouncing, but it should be fine.
Since the headlight is mounted upside down from the top mount on a Sporster, I needed to flip the lens.
Just a new notch cut in the mount rubber for the lens tab, and it's flipped. I'll also seal up the original drain hole in the shell, since it is on top now, and drill a new one on the bottom.
Two possibilities from the parts stash, an XJ750 auxiliary light, and a Sportster headlight. The XJ750 auxiliary light would look neat with a hole cut in a number plate, but the Sportster light gives a neat 70's enduro look. The XJ750 light is only 35 watts, but takes a standard H3 bulb, so would probably give decent, but not great, lighting, but no room to hide the electrical connections. The Sportster light takes an H4 bulb, and has enough room for the connections. It really came down to me preferring the enduro look over a number plate.
The stock headlight and electrical connections. It will be tight, be should be doable.
The stock headlight mount, which will be replaced with a simple bracket.
Starting with a piece of 3/16" x 2" steel.
The first bend...
...and bent roughly to the final angle. Then 3 holes and some trimming.
It will bolt to the stock bottom headlight mount holes. I cut the heads off of a couple grade 8 bolts to make studs. It makes it stronger, and a bit easier.
Test fitting the new bracket...
...and the headlight.
Yes, the stock gauges are big and goofy looking, but I like them.
I'll test ride it before painting the bracket, to make sure the angle is good, and in case it needs gusseted to prevent any headlight bouncing, but it should be fine.
Since the headlight is mounted upside down from the top mount on a Sporster, I needed to flip the lens.
Just a new notch cut in the mount rubber for the lens tab, and it's flipped. I'll also seal up the original drain hole in the shell, since it is on top now, and drill a new one on the bottom.
5/20/12
2012 Indy Rockers Reunion part 5
This was a very nicely done CB750 as a tribute to the '70 and '71 Indy 500 winning Johnny Lightning Special driven by Al Unser. Click here for more info and build pictures.
