Converted to dual-sport? POST PICS!!

[Mambo Dave]

LOL at "beak" - I was wondering what the upper-fenders on BMW's were called.

That 'beak' concept is why I bought this Acerbis fender originally. I was toying with making a beak out of it (cutting the rear part off). It has the angles and shape to look great there, but in the end I wanted to try to protect from a little more spray coming up from under the bike, so I went for a traditional fender.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...nt-Fender.aspx is a link to them.

I think the design would look great as a beak on other bikes as well.

[ThomasVolomitz]

Originally Posted by KEN PHENIX

Yup, nice job on the fender. I think mine needs a beak right under the headlight. I'm workin' on it. . . . . .



I'm thinking about calling her "The Tigress" since this project was inspired by the 1050 Tiger I couldn't afford.

Bike looks great with the big round headlight. A beak definitely adds to the ADV mystique.

[AK Oldman]

Originally Posted by KEN PHENIX

... My 919 with suspension mods delivers close to the same thrill. (for half the money)

And looks great doing it!

[KEN PHENIX]

Hey AK, If you find yourself heading east on I-10 toward Beaumont I'll buy you a cup of coffee. It would be fun to compare the bikes side by side.

[AK Oldman]

Originally Posted by KEN PHENIX

Hey AK, If you find yourself heading east on I-10 toward Beaumont I'll buy you a cup of coffee. It would be fun to compare the bikes side by side.

That sounds good, but it may be a while. I broke my left elbow a couple of months ago, had to have surgery to put it back together. I'm not sure what all is going on in there, but I have very little strength in the elbow and the same with the wrist. I'm not sure how long it will be before I'll be able to ride again.

[Mambo Dave]

Sorry to hear about your elbow, AK.

---

So far the numbers of non-ADV people that have commented on my bike - people I know and who have seen it in person - have called it one of two things:
"That's a Rat Bike"
and
"Looks like something out of Mad Max"

...

I guess I'm not too offended by either, really, but I do sorta disagree with both interpretations. I don't know what i think of when I think of a Rat Bike, but my EX-500 doesn't seem to be it. I do, however, know what I think of when i think of Mad Max movies and vehicles (having studied and appreciated the movies extensively), and I don't see it as such. The guys said they liked it, but I don't know why their general theories of what to class the bike under make me question my own perception enough to be writing this, lol.

[AK Oldman]

I don't those people but they obviously don' know much about bikes unless maybe they're squids or super hard core cruiser guys.

[Mambo Dave]

Originally Posted by AK Oldman

I don't those people but they obviously don' know much about bikes unless maybe they're squids or super hard core cruiser guys.

Actually, you may be more correct than you know - the only people who have made descriptive comments like those are bike riders themselves, two cruiser guys who don't know each other, and another guy I definitely call a squid even though he owns more bikes than I, all much more expensive than mine (that he doesn't ride well, but it fits the image he wants to portray of himself).

Non-riders generally just say "that's cool."

[KEN PHENIX]

Originally Posted by AK Oldman

That sounds good, but it may be a while. I broke my left elbow a couple of months ago, had to have surgery to put it back together. I'm not sure what all is going on in there, but I have very little strength in the elbow and the same with the wrist. I'm not sure how long it will be before I'll be able to ride again.

Heal quick my friend.

[KEN PHENIX]

Originally Posted by Mambo Dave

So far the numbers of non-ADV people that have commented on my bike . . . . .

Yeah Dave, non-riders cannot understand why we ride or that there are many vastly differing riding styles. I also hear people who are not mechanically inclined and can't know the satisfaction we get from modifying an otherwise ill suited machine for dirt work or adventure touring say, "Why don't you just buy something made for that?" $$ Then there's what I call "the cruiser culture." If spending hours polishing to prepare for a 20 minute ride to the ice house your thing - that's fine with me but I don't get it. The other day I was explaining how my 919 project was inspired by the 1050 Tiger to a rider friend and in detail outlined the similarities in handling, suspension geometry, horsepower and torque and how both bikes pegged my little fun meter. He replied, "That's nice - but when are you gonna get a cruiser?" I rest my case.

[ThomasVolomitz]

Guys that only ride cruisers kill me. I went to bike week last Spring and I thought "They have no idea what they're missing".

It is an ego boost for them, representing how bad and rebellious they are in most cases, not all.

[ThomasVolomitz]

[Juanjo_NY]

not mine!

[ThomasVolomitz]

That is unbelievable. Any more info???

[AK Oldman]

I've owned approx 30 bikes over the last 45 years. Only 20-25% have been strictly street bikes and
a couple of those ended up converted. I have a two cruisers in the shop keeping my Tiger company right now,
an 85 Honda V65 Magna, love that V-4, and an 03 Yamaha Warrior, 1670cc V-twin. Neither of tose
heavy beasts will ever be anything but street bikes.