OH NO!!! It's Frankinbike Build Thread

My name is Case. I live in Flagstaff, AZ. Ive been riding dirt bikes since I was a kid, so now that im older, time to
get a big boys bike. I have a friend who is an adventure photographer, and our plan is to do a trip down though Central
America. Its time to get down to business getting it ready to "Adventure".

That was alittle about me, now about the bike.

This was my bike the day i got it!


This is my bike now:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/74875089@N07/6932122778/" title="Untitled by casejeep1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/6932122778_d464bb1a68_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a>


Right now my ideas are as follows:
Upgraded Lights (not sure what i want to do yet, i have some ideas though)
Upgraded Forks
Upgraded Rear Shock
Upgraded Chain
LED Blinkers All Around

TT Tank In Progress
Steering dampener w/ bar risers Done
High-fender Option *http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=525404&referrerid=204199 Done
Upgraded brake lines Done
Wolfman Rear Rack (or something like that) Done
Soft rear luggage Done
Off-road tires, TKC80's Done
Lighter muffler And done
Tail bag Done
Britannia Composites Mirage 2 fairing Done
GPS unit to mount on fairing Done
Center stand guard Done
Rear brake res guard Done
Tank bag Done
Rear rackDone
Dual USB Charger Done

I have a 800GS. I have crash bars and a bash plate for it already but thats about it so far. Ive been learning how to
ride this bike for a while and i finally think i have a handle on it. A few weeks ago i crashed and my bike slid over the
edge of the road and was stopped from plummeting down a 500ft cliff by a small branch that caught the front tire. i
smashed up the left side of the bike. all the body panels have atleast some damage. This was a sign to me, and my
wife, it was time to start the buildup of my 800.

Here is some great pics of my crash...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669237/" title="293441_10150305566433399_110805518398_7840767_221283400_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6674669237_07c8b4e9a7_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="293441_10150305566433399_110805518398_7840767_221283400_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669361/" title="309404_10150305566473399_110805518398_7840768_108991875_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6674669361_f4c9d2cc31_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="309404_10150305566473399_110805518398_7840768_108991875_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669463/" title="313734_10150305566498399_110805518398_7840769_1547490652_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6674669463_aba419dcee_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="313734_10150305566498399_110805518398_7840769_1547490652_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669545/" title="317159_10150305566538399_110805518398_7840770_215610854_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6674669545_6e6d2840c9_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="317159_10150305566538399_110805518398_7840770_215610854_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669683/" title="292704_10150305566598399_110805518398_7840772_1639209157_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6674669683_a824934641_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="292704_10150305566598399_110805518398_7840772_1639209157_n"></a>

that bush and a root from a nearby tree was the only thing that kept it from going all the way over!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669771/" title="319993_10150305566708399_110805518398_7840776_167259929_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6674669771_2526e221b2_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="319993_10150305566708399_110805518398_7840776_167259929_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669937/" title="293224_10150305566653399_110805518398_7840774_870378759_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6674669937_f5f569c58b_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="293224_10150305566653399_110805518398_7840774_870378759_n"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674670043/" title="316864_10150305566683399_110805518398_7840775_404780886_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6674670043_ef0f7e5f17_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="316864_10150305566683399_110805518398_7840775_404780886_n"></a>

after leaving her overnight, i was pretty happy to see that she was still there!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674669855/" title="299998_10150305566638399_110805518398_7840773_1159558_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6674669855_8c23a60b26_b.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="299998_10150305566638399_110805518398_7840773_1159558_n"></a>

and i still had to ride it out!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6674670167/" title="301296_10150305566978399_110805518398_7840786_2143585181_n by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6674670167_601eb177ea_b.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="301296_10150305566978399_110805518398_7840786_2143585181_n"></a>

Buster714 took all of these pictures by the way!












Today i started to pull apart the panels to see what i have, and if anything was broken under the panels
because of the crash.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6196639863/" title="2011-09-29_17-30-39_809 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6196639863_44795093ec.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_17-30-39_809"></a>

Then once all the strews are out, it took alittle pushing and shoving but i got it off.
I would recommend taking off any crash bars.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6197154004/" title="2011-09-29_17-30-44_742 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6197154004_96aa678da1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_17-30-44_742"></a>

After i get the panels off i take a look at my radiator. the only thing holding it to the
bike was the radiator lines. The plastic mount that strews to the frame has broken,
and there is only one hard attaching point.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6196640389/" title="2011-09-29_17-33-38_516 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/6196640389_de600bd562.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_17-33-38_516"></a>

Im not sure why BMW thought it would be a good idea to have the radiator
mounts be plastic on a adventure touring bike?
But the mount wasn't unusable so i just strewed it back together and will hope
that it doesnt fail completely. but other than that, nothing else seems broken,
so yay me!
I took off the black plastic air scoops from the panels because im going for a
White on White on Black color scheme. I wanted the front to have more white,
and since the scoops were scratched during the crash, it was a perfect opportunity
to sand them down and paint them.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6197155368/" title="2011-09-29_18-28-24_822 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6197155368_0c695324af.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_18-28-24_822"></a>

And since im planning on going with a high-fender, i cut the small fender.
i cant take it off just yet because i need to reroute the break lines.
Im going to paint the fork guards, so i cut them off.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6197161874/" title="2011-09-29_17-10-09_470 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/6197161874_ed6b1dbda2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_17-10-09_470"></a>

After tapping the reflectors off with Scotch Tape, because the wife forgot
to pick up painters tape from home depot, i painted the guards.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68113294@N06/6197154622/" title="2011-09-29_18-28-16_566 by casejeep, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6197154622_f6eaffbb25.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2011-09-29_18-28-16_566"></a>

As you can see, i run a high end operation. I put on 3 coats, all 20 mins apart.
the sun was going down so im not sure i got all the coverage i wanted,
so ill check in the morning and maybe put on one more coat before work.
then i plan on putting on a heavy duty clear coat.
I hope it turns out well. i will let you all know if it does.

My next thing to do will be to reroute the break lines and install the high fender. i hope to do that next week.

My build is being sponsored by SoloMotoParts.com these guys are great. they carry a
bunch of parts and have free shipping on almost all orders. They are going to hook me
up with some discounted parts, i think thats the deal of the year!

Sorry the pictures are so huge, not sure how to fix it,but im working on it.

Please shoot me any good ideas you may have for this build. im not 100% on any one idea yet so im a sponge.

Thanks for reading,
Case

subscribed.

For the radiator, I believe that TT doest the metal bracket.

Good luck with the project!

I went and checked on the panels this morning and they looked pretty good.



there were a few dark spots, so i just touched them up. i have them in my shed, and it get 120+ on a sunny day inside so i hope it will speed up the drying time. So i will have them installed back on the bike by Monday morning.



This is what it looks like as i rode to work. I dont really like the little fender being that close to the wheel, and only attached by 2 points. so im going to try and find a high fender asap.

Does anyone have one lying around they might want to donate to the build?

im not even sure what kind to get, if i must buy one new.
i went into my local KTM shop and they had fenders that looked like they would work, but they were $80.
But i have a question for anyone who has done the high fender, on the freeway, does it blow around like crazy at the high speeds?

Thanks for reading,
Case

Which means...?

YAY
Thanks!

The Touratech Radiator "hard part" or whatever it is does away with that plastic piece you don't like. But it's somewhat stupid, because that's actually designed as a sacrificial part to save the radiator. If you use the TT part, instead of having a $10 part break, you can screw up the entire radiator. It'd be much more cost effective to just buy a few of the OEM plastic ones to replace on the road instead of having to get a whole new radiator. Just my 2 cents.

I was talking about the radiator itself. if you see in the 3rd picture in the first post, the mount point on the radiator, is a plastic ring. but there is a plastic mount, which is what im guessing your thinking of.
but yes. i understand your thinking on that part

Mine does vibrate a bit, but doesn't blow around or anything. It performs as if it were made that way stock. There are a few types you can use. If you want the type I have, a KTM 690 one works, or the one Finn got (I forget what kind...) Really though, anything that you like the looks of works fine; you have to fab your own mounting solution anyway.

If you want to keep the beak and just ditch the hugger, then get one from a 650 Dakar, and trim it. Directions are in the thread you mentioned, I believe.

I like the KTM one i looked at yesterday. now i just have to find it for cheap-er....

Try KTM Cycle Hutt, that's where I got mine. Price wasn't terrible.

Yeah they do have good prices. but the fender you have, looks like it doesnt really protects the radiator, do you think that might be a problem? or should i go with a bigger one.

The radiator is fine. Yeah, you do get a bit more mud spray, but it mostly collects on the oil filter and skid plate. Especially if you add an aftermarket radiator guard like the one from Touratech or Altrider, you'll be fine.

Found this on good old Craigslist, says its off of a KX 1990? it might work, anyone have any input?

Thats what i was wondering, should i get a guard for it. is it worth the $200?

$200?! :huh

Touratech's is $136, and well worth it. The stock one is just a piece of plastic, and IMO could be easily defeated by a few pebbles. The one from Altrider is $146. Both will do well. The Altrider comes in black.

I think i would rather have it in black. but is it worth more weight? im worried im going to add 100lbs to this bike, and i dont want that...

Yeah, you'll add some weight. That's why you have to be sparing, and not put on every little (useless) piece of tin that Touratech offers. But there are a few things that really are necessary: bash plate, radiator guard, handguards, some kind of luggage (hard or soft). If you have the lightest bike that can't take a hit, what good is it? Find that line; but get the stuff that will make sure your bike won't leave you stranded on a trail!

all true!

Im going to go look at this tonight. the guy only wants $5 for it so i might as well check it out, he lives 10 miles from me. ill let everyone know how it turn out.