Small mods (Mirror removal, handlebar & headlight sanding, tailchop, & bar-ends)

[Travman]

I took off my stock mirrors in anticipation of putting on some bar-end mirrors.  Then I turned the clamp that the mirrors screwed into over so that the empty threaded socket for the mirrors no longer points up.  What do you think?  Is there any harm in reversing these clamps which hold the reservoirs.  I think it looks better than having the empty mirror socket sticking straight up.

[mmakay]

No problem at all.  That's been the standard "fix" for years....

[Travman]

My second small mod was to the handlebars.  I didn't like how shinny my handlebars were so I sanded them down with some 320 grit sandpaper.  I sanded the bars several time in a cross hatch pattern that looked OK, but then I sanded it one last time all in one direction.  I thought that looked best.





*When taking off the reservoirs, switches, and throttle attached to the handlebars make sure you take notice of all handlebar holes and dimples for when you put everything back together.  These are used to properly align everything.

[Travman]

Spray painted the headlight bracket black.  I always hated the visible wires that are beneath the headlight bracket so while I was in that vicinity I used some electrical tape to cover up the wires so they wouldn't be as noticeable.  When I was done I could still see a little bit of the wires where they entered the connectors so I applied some black touch up paint to that area and now they've practically disappeared. 





I would like to apply the sanding treatment to the headlight trim ring.  However, I don't think the handlebars were chrome like the headlight ring.  Do you think the headlight ring will look similar to the handlebars if I sand it also?

[lazarus7]

i finally cleaned up my stock mirror sockets yesterday,
was lazy posting this up aah well....

try these on for size as an alternative....
can be found at your local lowes/ home depot type shop.....
total cost = .75 

[DarkDucati]

Cr@p!!! All this time I thought I was so smart using the .34 cent plastic hole plugs from Ace Hardware...who knew. Great solution. 

[teddy037.2]

made myself some turn sig brackets... but I don't have a pic of them online anymore. thanks for nothing, imagestation!

[Travman]

I just did the tail chop and used the Competition Werkes tailchop kit.     Very good quality.  Expensive, but worth it.  It is all stainless steel.  I think it looks great .  I wish I hadn't waited so long to do the chop.  In pictures it looks good, but in person it looks even better.  That shorter rearend that aligns nicely with the exhausts is exactly the look I wanted.  Also put some ebay barend mirrors on.

I also added Clear Alternatives smoked brake light and turn signal lenses. 

[Travman]

Another small mod I did was to use 320 grit sandpaper to sand the shine off of the chrome trim ring around the headlight.  I sanded it only in one direction and gave it a brushed steel look.

[macker]

I see your cw tail chop turned out better.  I went for a ride after I installed mine and while I was out I just so happen to lift my front end off the ground(unintentionally of course ).  When I got back home my bracket for my plate had caught the wheel and flipped it flush with the under tail.  My plate had a blackie on it and the tire curled it over the bracket.  Funny thing is after I had bent it back apparently I didn't bend it far enough.  Three times the charm I guess 

[Agent47]

Hey Travman nice efficient work! It's the small touches that are cooler than big mods. I was just thinking about the mirror thread holes. Isn't there a GPS mount one can use those holes for (granted you're looking into a GPS).

Just a thought and thumbs up!

[Trenchdigger]

I painted my headlight bezel black ... sand it down first, then apply the rattle can.    Looks GREAT!

[DarkStaR]

Another small mod I did was to use 320 grit sandpaper to sand the shine off of the chrome trim ring around the headlight.  I sanded it only in one direction and gave it a brushed steel look.

I did the same thing a few years back.  It's now starting to lightly rust in some spots. 

I'm gonna end up paining/powder-coating it soon. 

That chrome was way harder to sand than I was expecting.

[Travman]

I did the same thing a few years back.  It's now starting to lightly rust in some spots. 

I'm gonna end up paining/powder-coating it soon. 

That chrome was way harder to sand than I was expecting.

The chrome was hard to sand off.  It took about an hour to get the look I wanted.  If I had used a coarser grit sandpaper the job would have gone faster, but I've done this before on other parts and just like the look I get by using the 320 grit.  When I use the more coarse grit sandpaper and then move up to the 320 grit I can not get rid of the deeper scratches. 

Hopefully, I won't have any rust problems.  I have an air filter on my Harley that was done the same way and so far no problems (about two years).  Both bikes are garaged, maybe that helps.  I think the trick is using the fine grain sandpaper and not rubbing off too much metal.  If I do have any problems I'll sand the rust off and apply some WD40 to the whole ring every now and then.   

[lazarus7]

to strip chrome w little effort at home,
remove the ring and soak it in straight muriatic acid overnight....
this is how i dechromed the handlebars on my '71 flattracker to paint them....
works like a charm.....
you WILL still have to sand them after the acid,
but itll be MUCH easier.....