Modern cafe, "Project Kool-Aid/ Christine: CASE BACK OPEN...

Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

But at least it will be fun. Man, I have to get going on this project. I have had a few other projects going on, and haven't really done anything here yet. Hopefully I will be starting again soon!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Got all my other projects wrapped up, so I am finally getting going again on this ::) I am now going with a 2-1 pipe, as I noticed that the Two Brother's Ti pipe set I had was 2-1-2. So I figured, I will just eliminate the last 2, and go 2-1 to lose weight. Sound is pretty similar, but I do have to clean the collector up a little to facilitate flow to the now RH mount muffler. It opens the LH of the bike, though, and makes it look cleaner. I have a seat base ordered from Sean at RCC, and as soon as that comes I will be able to rework the rear and clean it all up. I am binning the front fender, and instead will have a tube fork brace in its place to take up the gap. Also, the engine is soon to come partially apart for a lightened flywheel, and some other minor bits to improve quickness. I am really going for light on this one, and am trying like hell to drop below 400#.
But in the meantime, while waiting for the seat, I pulled the gas tank and prepped it for paint. I need some help from you guys on this one. Since it is not a traditional shape tank (though I like it) I am having some trouble with layout. I am painting the tank pearl white, and I am thinking a silver stripe to tie the white to the polished rest of the bike. But I would like to add a little something to the sides of the tank without getting out of hand, and I can't really visualize it. Have any of you seen sportbike tanks done in cafe style paint? Any help is appreciated!

I am not posting pics yet, since I want the overall shape to be complete before I unveil it! I will hint that it is going on a severe weight reduction both physically and visually!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Well, you guys were no help at all... :D

I ordered paint today, pearl white (at $120 a pint :'() and silver it is. Since I got no suggestions, you all will just have to wait and see what I come up with! I am hoping for something good!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Hah, missed this...sorry dude! But I'm really no help at all as I'm still trying to come up with ideas for my own. You're making that thing lighter?? I know it absolutely rips already...I can only imagine how fun it would be if it's as stripped as you say it will be! Crazy.
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Well I figure it will never wear fairings again, and so absolute top end is out. It might as well get to its new top end as quickly as possible, and so that is where light comes in. I am hoping to pick up a few HP with the move toward a single, and by all reports the lightened flywheel makes a lot of difference in the kind of riding I do. I will be starting from scratch on the jetting again, but that is not too bad on this thing. This is kind of my inspiration for the project, albeit with quite a few differences. But I love this bike:

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Mine will not be so heavily powdered out, but the amount of detail I am working out is increasing all the time. We shall see how that plays out ::) I got some a whole lot of LED's ordered today for some hoop-dy lights (taillights, turns signals) as well. I am getting pretty excited about it all!

Sorry I didn't make it out there this weekend. My wife had family in town. I really want to stop by; the DTT Montana chapter really needs to organize! :D
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Dear God that bike is phenomenal. Wow man, I had my doubts that the honda could have a whole lot of cafe elements done to it, but if that's your inspiration, I'm STOKED to see where this goes!!!

No worries about this weekend. Ain't a whole lot to look at right now anyways!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"

Well kids, I have been making some progress. Got primer laid tonight on the tank. I am sanding it as I want this thing to be a little on the shiny side, so I couldn't lay the pearl tonight. Oh well, it is supposed to go way below zero again anyway, so it looks like I have some time.

I did get some parts today, too! So I have a little fab and modification to do. These are the new rear marker, stop, and turn lights in kit form:

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I have a rad idea for mounting them in the seat base, so stay tuned for that...
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint


Got the airbrushing and the final coats of clear laid tonight! This will now reveal the mystery of the title, and allow a little comic relief on an otherwise bad ass bike :D

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*ahem* pardon the cell phone shots...

Though it is not really evident by my 2 pixel phone camera, it is pearl white with silver, and the airbrushed Kool Aid Man graces its front. At least it is all paint. Now you know why I can't have nice things!

On to the next step of the build!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

Hahaha! Even with the title I wasn't expecting that.

Where did you get the leds from? Lookin good man!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

You shitting me?? Yes!! That's awesome dude!! I about pissed myself when I scrolled down to see that. Ah hell... I'm still laughing. Bad ass man, bad ass...
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

hahaha freakin rad man!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

Thanks, guys!

Rich, I got the LEDs off ebay from buyer 727kirky. Pretty good service. I tried pricing the LEDs and resistors locally, but it was way more expensive than this route, and they were already wired. I have bright red, red, and yellow, but all with clear lenses. That and a cool plan for install!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

Not much to report tonight. I am waiting for the paint to cure for the color sand and the final buff. I did polish the cap tonight, but won't post pics of the whole tank until the cap is screwed on solid. I am hoping to achieve all this tomorrow, so stay tuned!
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

man that is going to be bad ass! you going gloss on the clear or knocking it down with a flat?
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

Thanks, man!
I went with a full gloss, color sanded and buffed. The base coat is pearl white (and silver), and so kind of demands the full gloss for the full depth effect. Here are a few photos of the final finish:

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I will be moving on to the seat base and subframe this week, so stay tuned...
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

Great job man! That little Snap On car looks real! :D

Seriously though, the paint does look great. I'm sure it looks even better in person.
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

That's very impressive! Keep the progress comin'.
 
Re: Modern cafe, henceforth "Project Kool-Aid"...The Mystery Solved by Paint

This afternoon I got some time, so I fabbed up the seat/ tailpiece support. I was able to reuse some of the original base, but changed most of it. I did not get a full on before picture, but the first pic kind of shows how the original was (there was more on it that has already been cut off), and the process of the change. I got it installed tonight, and everything fits like it is supposed to. After I get the undertail made and polished, there will be very little wiring exposed. Only the electronics are under the tail, as the big twin needs a substantial battery to crank it over, and I wanted to keep the center of gravity low and centered. I am holding off showing the bike itself until a few more key bits are in place. But here is the seat frame:

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It is painted with bumper chrome spray paint, to look like polished aluminum. Hopefully more progress to show soon! Thanks for bearing with me :D
 
Re: Modern cafe, "Project Kool-Aid"...seat support done

Nice Tyler! I was thinking how much of a pain in the ass it must have been to polish in that, then I scrolled down and saw it was paint. I might have to try that!
 
Re: Modern cafe, "Project Kool-Aid"...seat support done

Have you had any luck with chrome paint in the past? Every time I've tried it I wasn't impressed with it's durability. Seems like it never really cures.
 
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