Byrdmans "SCUD" cafe project

[byrdman76]

I need to find a sweet black VH pipe like that. I have a nice new shiney chrome one that i cant bring myself to paint. Where'd you get yours or did you paint it?

I picked it up on ebay already painted. I then stripped it all the way back down and painted it again with high temp paint. Its holding up really good so far.

Sell yours or save it for another project but don't f-up that sweet chrome pipe :-D. If you decide to go black with these you can always send them to jet hot. They will strip the chrome off and then ceramic coat em. A friend of mine had this done on his Guzzi.

[byrdman76]

After looking at these pictures I noticed my V&H emblem was tweaked. I used what is supposed to be a really good high temp 3M adhesive. Its rock solid now but it must get a little gooey when hot.

Any suggestions - I think this is why V&H went to rivets...

[Commodus]

Finished up this stage of the SCUD project a few weeks ago. Today was nice enough to push it out and snap a few shots of the progress.

Dude I'm in love. And I'm pretty jaded when it comes to cafes. :shock:

[Hap Call]

Looks like a Bike of the Month contender...submit it to the editors!

Very nice, one of the best 550 cafes I've ever seen, if not the best!

Hap

[jknappsax]

Gotta ask, where's the battery?

It's a very sweet-looking bike, though I don't think I'd want to do a 500 mi. day on that seat LOL, but I guess that's not what you're planning. Nicely done.

[Cassius086]

Um, all I can say is WOW

[n1elkyfan]

That thing is sweet and I love those emblems.

[beergood]

You really created something gorgeous there.

Congrats.

[byrdman76]

It's a very sweet-looking bike, though I don't think I'd want to do a 500 mi. day on that seat LOL, but I guess that's not what you're planning. Nicely done.

Thanks for everyone comments! :-D

The battery and electronics are under the seat. I welded in a tray to mount everything to.

[ggreenfield]

What a beautiful machine! I was also considering putting pods on mine but I can't afford the 4-1 exhaust just yet. How did it run when you were using the stock exhaust w/ pods? Did you rejet the carbs before or after installing the 4-1?

[tkent02]

As excellent as I've seen, great work.
I'll second the question, did you eliminate the battery or hide it in the tail?
Maybe a tiny battery just big enough to make a spark but not run the starter?
Either way, it's a thing of beauty.

[byrdman76]

As excellent as I've seen, great work.
I'll second the question, did you eliminate the battery or hide it in the tail?
Maybe a tiny battery just big enough to make a spark but not run the starter?
Either way, it's a thing of beauty.

Thanks for the compliments tkent2 :-D

The battery is the original one mounted in the rear tail section. I welded a panel to the frame in order to mount all of the electronics under the seat. Then I welded in supports on the pan to support the battery. I need to find some photos of the finished product in case someone wants to do the same to their bike. It worked out pretty well for me - I think it does a better job of cooling and makes it easier to work on the electronics.

Theres a photobucket link in one of my posts that shows the work in progress of the relocation of all of the electronics.

[mortation]

Hey Byrdman, did you go gloss on the frame too or low gloss?

[TheCafeKid]

Byrd i would like to see some pics of your undertail set up. I plan on doing it with my cafe at some point. Likely over the next winter, as i will have to weld on a bit more frame from the lack of in back there. But it would certainly give me some ideas

Thanks!
TCK

[Splittie]

Byrd i would like to see some pics of your undertail set up. TCK

Post #29 in this thread has a link to a photobucket account that shows the reworking of the wiring, battery, etc.
Looks really nice.
I have a 750L that I want cafe, but.....
NOBODY WILL HELP ME WITH THE YEAR OF TANK I NEED!!
Not hijacking, but if anyone knows, PLEASE HELP.\\/