SuzukiSavage.com - POOR MAN'S MOD

savagethumper

Ex Member

POOR MAN'S MOD
03/10/05 at 17:38:14

Seeing as to how I have no job, and very limited funds, I can't dump hardly any money into any bike project lately. I've really been wanting to remove the sissy bar, and saddle bag brackets, but I darn sure don't have the money to repaint the fender, and fill in the holes. Just for the hell of it, I removed the bar assembly, and realized that with a little touchup paint, and some new Drag Specialties turn signals, I could make this look fairly decent for under $25 bucks. Seeing as to how ya'll are experts in this field, please give me constructive criticism. And before anything is said, all wires and bolts clear the tire completely. I used some small bumper bolts to fill the back holes, and used the original caps for the front holes.

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rkutzner Ex Member	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #1 - 03/10/05 at 17:47:01 Just make sure any wires underneath are covered with plastic wire looms or something to protect from the steady barrage of road dirt and debris.
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sluggo

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #2 - 03/10/05 at 18:05:29

sweeeeeeet. Roll Eyes

i love poor man mods.

on my bobber everything was second hand. fenders, seat, seat springs, dragbar.

that's what i love about the savage and the people who ride them. we don't need to spend a boatload of cash to get the machine the way we want.

only problem is..... once you start the mods you just find more and more to change. Shocked

again great job

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DangMan Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Thump thump thump Posts: 327 Denmark Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #3 - 03/10/05 at 21:49:54 Looks verry cool Nothing to put a finger on there 8)
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Kropatchek Serious Thumper Offline Why more than 1 cylinder? Posts: 1457 Alphen a/d Rijn Netherlands Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #4 - 03/11/05 at 04:31:34 What else can I say. Nice job. Greetz Kropatchek
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thehoghunter

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #5 - 03/11/05 at 05:09:53

Since you removed the outside fender struts, did you add some type of inside 'fender struts'? The reason I ask is that I've heard that the fender struts help support the fender from shaking from vibrations and if riding two up. You can get some thin metal strips from your favorite local hardware store that will not interfere with the tire and mount inside the tire well to help support the fender. Not having the 'struts' may cause your paint to crack on the fender.

Besides that, GREAT job. Cheesy

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sluggo

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #6 - 03/11/05 at 06:38:55

thehoghunter wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

Since you removed the outside fender struts, did you add some type of inside 'fender struts'? The reason I ask is that I've heard that the fender struts help support the fender from shaking from vibrations and if riding two up. You can get some thin metal strips from your favorite local hardware store that will not interfere with the tire and mount inside the tire well to help support the fender. Not having the 'struts' may cause your paint to crack on the fender.

Besides that, GREAT job. Cheesy

i wouldn't be that worried about it. the side rails and sissy bar were the first thing i removed. if you look at how they were attached you will see they were not "load bearing". the four bolts attaching the fender to the frame is what carries the load, if anything you lesson the load after you remove them. thats what i saw after i removed original fender. it is reinforced from the inside. just my 2 cents.

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slavy Serious Thumper Offline smart cars for stupid people Posts: 710 Phoenix, Arizona Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #7 - 03/11/05 at 06:45:13 I had one like this and never had any excessive vibration. The turn signals are very nice. Now You can sell on Ebay all the parts that You removed and even make couple of $$$.
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Gitarzan Serious Thumper 2004 No Login Offline ! Posts: 827 Columbus, Oh, Earth, Solar Sys Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #8 - 03/11/05 at 08:36:25 Does having the Turnsignals that far up on the fender cause an issue? Would a cage driver be able to see a right turn signal? I thought about doing that, but also decided, that since I often ride with my feet folded back on the passenger pegs, I'd kick them death.
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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #9 - 03/11/05 at 09:43:15 Gitarzan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03: Would a cage driver be able to see a right turn signal? . the cage driver doesn't see you, let alone the signal.
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savagethumper

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #10 - 03/11/05 at 09:48:45

You all brought up some good points. I'm gonna go out there in a little bit and wrap the wires better to protect them from the elements. As for the load bearing/ vibration issues, the chrome brackets didn't support the weight, they added to it. That setup weighed almost 10 lbs. But, I did notice a little more vibration in the turnsignals than before, that's why I mounted them a little more forward than original. Less vibration towards the mounting point. As for the question about not seeing the turnsignals, I can't answer that yet. I stood way off from the bike and was able to clearly see them, but of course they are not as visible as the "airplane wing" originals. Oh, and I never ride 2 up. My wife don't like to ride along; she wants her own bike. I figure on giving her mine (she loves the color), and getting another Savage or S40. The only thing I regret right now is not being able to put my bags on. I could move the lights even more forward, but that would be too far, and the bags would block them anyway. I'll guess I'll just get a cheap backpack from WalMart, when I head out on longer rides. Roll Eyes

Anyone interested in buying the parts?

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: POOR MAN'S MOD Reply #11 - 03/11/05 at 10:05:34 Gitarzan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03: Does having the Turnsignals that far up on the fender cause an issue? ...I often ride with my feet folded back on the passenger pegs, I'd kick them death. Kinda crotch rocket style on a cruiser, eh?
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Savage_Greg

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #12 - 03/11/05 at 10:09:16

savagethumper wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

Seeing as to how I have no job, and very limited funds, I can't dump hardly any money into any bike project lately. I've really been wanting to remove the sissy bar, and saddle bag brackets, but I darn sure don't have the money to repaint the fender, and fill in the holes. Just for the hell of it, I removed the bar assembly, and realized that with a little touchup paint, and some new Drag Specialties turn signals, I could make this look fairly decent for under $25 bucks. Seeing as to how ya'll are experts in this field, please give me constructive criticism. And before anything is said, all wires and bolts clear the tire completely. I used some small bumper bolts to fill the back holes, and used the original caps for the front holes.

The only thing I see is Gitarzan's question about the visibility of the turn signals. Aside from that, it looks pretty good and clean. And since the fender is double steel it should still be supported well enough.

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woodworker

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #13 - 03/11/05 at 10:34:03

[quote author=thehoghunter link=board=RubberSideDown;num=1110505094;start=0#5 date=03/11/05 at 05:09:53]Since you removed the outside fender struts, did you add some type of inside 'fender struts'? The reason I ask is that I've heard that the fender struts help support the fender from shaking from vibrations and if riding two up. You can get some thin metal strips from your favorite local hardware store that will not interfere with the tire and mount inside the tire well to help support the fender. Not having the 'struts' may cause your paint to crack on the fender.

I agree with the Hoghunter! You will have to design some sort of support for the fender. The only place it is attached to the frame is at the front end. If you notice, the original fender struts have two bolts in a diagonal position at the forward end on each side where the fender connects to the frame. This allows the fender struts to act as cantilevers and stiffeners, which in turn, support a certain amount of vertical load. I.m afraid that if you carry any size of passenger(be he or she a child or adult) the fender will probably bend at the point where it is attached to the frame. You will also more than likely get excessive vibration at the backend of the fender when riding solo.

"Innovation is the mother of invention"

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sluggo

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Re: POOR MAN'S MOD
Reply #14 - 03/11/05 at 12:16:53

woodworker wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

I.m afraid that if you carry any size of passenger(be he or she a child or adult) the fender will probably bend at the point where it is attached to the frame. You will also more than likely get excessive vibration at the backend of the fender when riding solo.

as we sometimes can disagree on things.
i have made that mod. and have not experieced the effect you speak of. with the rear wheel off the machine, look at how fender is constructed and attached. that will answer the question. others with rails removed?????

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