Gyrobob
Serious Thumper
Offline
Posers ain't motorcyclists
Posts: 2571
Newnan, GA
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Some folks have asked about costs. Most of what is below is in the new moderator thread. The info is more relevant here, methinks.
If you count everything I have spent on it, the total might be $4,200. Maybe $3,400 if you don't count things like:
-- doing the paint over and over and over again to correct screw-ups and sometimes just to experiment. I've probably spent $200 on Duplicolor and other rattle cans so far. If I had it to do over (knowing what I know now), a can of bondo, two cans of primer, three cans of color, and a can of Spraytek 2k would do it, maybe $75.
-- digital flasher
-- extra LED brake lights
-- ad-libbed smog system parts
-- Avon Speedmaster tires (for a 1960s look),.. my buddy used Goodyear Deluxe Champions for the same reason.
-- bar end turn signals
-- parts for underseat tool kit storage
-- parts to redo the fork seals
-- carb rebuild kit
-- K&N fuel filter
The install for all these parts is scattered around in this thread.
The welding expense was near zero because I have the equipment. If someone REALLY wanted to redo the front mount on the battery box to get more room for the RYCA-supplied K&N air filter like I did, the welding would cost $50 to $100 and you'd have to take the frame to a shop. An alternative would be to make one out of cheap strap steel or aluminum from Home Depot (or some workshop scrap), bend it to shape, and rivet it to the frame with cheapo pop rivets. That is not a high-stress area.
Also, you can save a lot if you don't go to a larger diameter rear tire like we did. That way you don't have to pay RYCA to cut into the swingarm,.. just use the stock swingarm and smaller diameter rear tire.
Yes, double the cost because we built two bikes, but we split the cost. Also he spent some extra on a Li-Ion battery. I want one too. UPDATE: If you want a really good Li-Ion battery, don't get an Earth-X. When they disintegrate, the Earth-X company has a lousy attitude.
On a bobber project a guy did last year in LaGrange, he used about $30 of Rustoleum rattle can automotive paint for the whole project. Home Depot stocks it, as does Autozone, etc.
-- A can of automotive black for the frame, brackets, small parts, etc.
-- Gray primer for EVERYTHING else,... tank, fenders, side covers, etc. Primer lays on quite thickly. You probly only need two or three coats for full color.
-- All the gray parts were finished off with a couple of topcoats of clear gloss engine paint.
-- It looks good and there are several colors of primer available. (white, light gray, gray, dark gray, black, brown, reddish brown, tan, greenish-yellow, etc.)
-- I saw it when it was first finished, and appeared to be quite professionally done,.. probably because he put a lot of knowledgeable effort into preparing the surfaces, and because he rubbed it out. From five feet away, it looked like it came from a good shop. Most folks would have no clue it only set him back $30 and 10 or 15 hours.
-- I have no idea how it has held up over the past year, but that clear gloss engine paint is pretty tough. It holds up well except for direct gas spills. The instructions aren't as simple as plain rattle can color paint, though,.. the timing of recoats is an issue.
Anyway, if you are on a very tight budget for the paint job,... a little know how, a lot of elbow grease, and a few rattle cans can do an impressive job, at least initially,.. for about the same cost as a dinner at Denny's for you and your current wife.
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