$50 modification thread

[MadCapsule]

This is an awesome thread!

If you're in a bind and need something to remove a bit of light surface rust or a rust stain, a container of Bar Keeper's Friend is under $5.00 and can be found in the cleaning supply aisle of pretty much any supermarket.

Use it like you would Ajax: Either wet the affected area and sprinkle some on and wipe off or sprinkle a bit onto a damp rag and rub it in. Should just rinse right off.

 

[afholderman]

I bobbed my fender down the other day, cut 3 inches off the back and 6 off the front. Only took a few minutes with tools I already have and gave the front end a totally different look. Add in the cost of some door edge trim to cover the edge until I'm ready to repaint and the total was $8.00.

 

[davidduarte]

on the twins (which don't have a fuse panel), replace the old glass tube fuse holder with one that takes mini blade fuses. I did this recently on my 450 and just today on my CB200. $5.99 at Ace Hardware (Advance Auto had it for $6.79, those chiseling bastards).

 

[razor02097]

Sorry to revive an old thread... but I have one mod under $50 I think is worth while...


H4 headlight conversion from candlepower.

It replaces the sealed unit on some of the older bikes.

 

[7981GS]

Razor, the less expensive route, is to replace the lamp with a Sylvania Silver Star Ultra Halogen headlight bulb for autos.
About $35.00 At least 4 of my bikes have them installed.

Daniel

 

[razor02097]

Are they 5" headlights? I was thinking about looking for car lamps that would fit, but what is nice about the candlepower one is replacement lamps are H4 which are very common and very cheap.

 

[7981GS]

Pretty sure that the dual headlamp type are 5"
These seem to last forever! I have had one on one bike for over 25 years.

Daniel

 

[Tim Tom]

HID Lights

HID Lights

Wow great thread, not sure how I missed it...

Another option, as opposed to a silverstar or other type of beam is an HID light. While I know some people here dislike them, I love mine and love the fact that I can actually see at night.

For under $50 you can get a 35w or 55w hi/low beam HID. Very easy install, and the ballast is a snap to hide under the tank.

I got mine from these guys

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit

A daytime pic of when I did the mod. Notice how cheap gas was then!! Almost a dollar less than now.

 

[Pendulum]

Wow great thread, not sure how I missed it...

Another option, as opposed to a silverstar or other type of beam is an HID light. While I know some people here dislike them, I love mine and love the fact that I can actually see at night.

For under $50 you can get a 35w or 55w hi/low beam HID. Very easy install, and the ballast is a snap to hide under the tank.

I got mine from these guys

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit

A daytime pic of when I did the mod. Notice how cheap gas was then!! Almost a dollar less than now.

If you run an HID bulb in a halogen housing, please let me know when/where you ride. No vehicle mod ****es me off more. Best if we just stay outta eachothers way.

 

[Tim Tom]

If you run an HID bulb in a halogen housing, please let me know when/where you ride. No vehicle mod ****es me off more. Best if we just stay outta eachothers way.

I'll be sure to let you know the next time I'm in Arizona.

 

[old_skool]

If you run an HID bulb in a halogen housing, please let me know when/where you ride. No vehicle mod ****es me off more. Best if we just stay outta eachothers way.

I'm assuming it causes some kind of bright light the sun just went super nova effect??

 

[Bustedknuckles]

HID vs Halogen in an incandescent housing vs Projector housing shouldn't matter... they both reflect against the housing in the exact same manner... yes the HID's are brighter than halogens but as long as the headlight assembly isn't aiming up it shouldn't blind you... its not the light that is the issue but the rider... and how well they tune and maintain their motorcycle...

HID's and LED's are the wave of the future, they are brighter, last longer, AND they are more effiecient... everyone needs to get used to them...

 

[Bustedknuckles]

here is a great website with a wide variety of LED lighting. i just ordered the "brake strobe plus" module and the "M109 Rear Signal / Brake Light kit" both of which are going on the cafe 450... there's plenty of $50 mods on here...
for whatever reason when you open the link it only shows some of the lights, be sure to click "All Products" off to the left...

http://www.radiantz.com/index1.html?c16.html&1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li3XyUeLXYo

 

[Steve]

HID vs Halogen in an incandescent housing vs Projector housing shouldn't matter... they both reflect against the housing in the exact same manner...

Unfortunately, that's what everyone thinks, but it's not quite true.

Yes, they reflect off the same housing/reflector, but the HID arc (the source of the light) is not in the same place as the incandescent filament, which means that, while it does hit the same reflector, it does NOT go where it was intended.

That is what is so

irritating about the HID conversion kits. Now, ... put the HID capsule into a housing that was DESIGNED for it, no problem.

.

 

[Bustedknuckles]

Unfortunately, that's what everyone thinks, but it's not quite true.

Yes, they reflect off the same housing/reflector, but the HID arc (the source of the light) is not in the same place as the incandescent filament, which means that, while it does hit the same reflector, it does NOT go where it was intended.

That is what is so

irritating about the HID conversion kits. Now, ... put the HID capsule into a housing that was DESIGNED for it, no problem.

.

hmmm, that's something i hadn't thought of :-k, ive put HID headlights in my bikes, (6k and 3k to be specific)... but ive always adjusted the headlight assembly accordingly to where it wasn't blinding people... i understand the frustration with cars though, people with HID's in traditional halogen housings always seem to blind me ... i have projector housings on my 3 series and the HID's mean nothing but better visibility... but even though what you say is true, if people would just adjust their housings to accommodate the conversions it wouldn't be a problem right?:-s

 

[Steve]

It would certainly be less of a problem, we just need to get the owners to actually do that.

If you want to read some of the details behind it, take a look at THIS PAGE from Daniel Stern Lighting.

.

 

[Bustedknuckles]

very interesting, there's a lot of good information on there that i wasn't aware of. i appreciate you droppin some knowledge on me!

 

[Steve]

very interesting, there's a lot of good information on there that i wasn't aware of. i appreciate you droppin some knowledge on me!

That's why we're here. Just keeping the Band-Aids on those "Busted Knuckles".

.

 

[Colin Green]

Cheap fix $0.00 for excessive brake lever travel.

I had about 25% lever travel before the front pads would come into play. Bled them 100% but no real difference.

When bleeding them I noticed that a big jet of fluid would shoot up through a small pressure relief hole (designed to prevent expanding fluid from locking the brakes on).

I realised that the brakes weren't engaged until the piston seal in the MC passed over and blocked this hole and that was where the bulk of the excess lever travel was going.

I cut and hand machined an aluminum spacer (tried plastic but it dissolved) sized to allow about 5 - 10% max lever travel before the piston seal covered the hole and the fluid stopped squirting out (making for faster build up of pressure to activate the calipers)

Best mod I have made period (along with new braided brake lines - also a good $50 mod). Two finger braking now

 

[JStones]

Just added a new set of Pro Grip Cruiser Grips Model 862... Unbelievable change in comfort.

$10.60 on amazon.