Project Valerie

[christianmb]

Here is my first attempt at a post, and it will probably be drawn out. I have had my Lightning since '09, and I figure it is about time to make it more unique than it is already. Here is what it looks like this season:
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20110724093937_L.jpg

What I'm planning on doing to it over the winter:

Converting to R front end
Cadillac CTS V Bi-Xenon Projectors
Blue CCFL "Angel Eyes" - running lights
Crossover relay with headlight switch for HID kit and turn angel eyes off when HID on
Both lights on for low/high beam
Paint pushrod tubes
Replace top end gaskets
paint cam/primary covers black
ceramic coat header black
House of Kolor frame paint
Black main color with dark blue stripe from footpegs to front following frame shape and silver accent stripe between colors
Clean, polish, fluid change
Cat-eve turn signals (from ASB)
"pig spotter" mirrors (I'm not completely sold on these)
Blue windshield
spray tint EBR LED taillight
Inspect/replace as needed stem/wheel/swingarm bearings
New levers

What else would be a good thing? I think I have my hands full

[12R_FIRE]

let me know the quality of those pig spotters when u get em, ive been thinking about it

[Burton]

why do lightning tails look better on firebolts and firebolt tails look better on lightnings??

Bike looks fantastic. I will be excited to see how it changes over the winter!

[McMurphy]

Check local laws, in some states blue lights are illegal

[buellbradski]

I would remove the reflectors and firebolt stickers.ive only seen a few lightnings look good with the firebolt tail and youve pulled it off[up]Shes one sweet ride belongs in the frankinstein thread

[08levin]

Where did you get the wheel stripe?

[christianmb]

Thank you, all, and this is the first post in this series. I agree, Burton, and thank you for the heads up Mc! I had thought about that, and I will be sure to be careful on that one.

BTW, Bradski, that was one of the projects I had thought of, but forgot :D

More to come...

[Lesley]

Nice lookin bike[up]
In the USA amber and red lights ONLY on the rear. White or amber only in the front. This is the only legal colors for a vehicle. Some states and towns are more lenient but you CAN be cited for impersonating an emergency vehicle with blue lights and that is a FEDERAL offense. Not that it will happen but now you can't say you didn't know. BTW: I got a citation for small green side marker lights on my car once here in OKlahoma. My fine was $185.00. Ride safe and easy.

[christianmb]

Looks like I might have to reserve the halos for when I'm parked :)

[christianmb]

08levin, I got the tape at a local off-brand bike shop. It is just 3M 1/4" reflective blue tape

The tear-down and fitting of the new nose and headlights have started. I'm in process of draining the fluids now. There is a long way to go to get where I want to be though!

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20110928073932_L.jpg


http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20110928073749_L.jpg

Since these photos, the tail is completely off and now starting to work on the front end

[xtremelow]

Chin fairing? Or going without?

[jmill25]

Possible other options, black header wrap, and right side scoop. Didn't appear from your last picture that ou had those

[christianmb]

No chin fairing. Mounting it on the custom exhaust I have doesn't look right. I tried mocking it up, and it kind of looked dumb.

I'm really torn between header wrap and ceramic coating. I like the scavenging affect I would get from the added insulation, but I really don't like the way it looks, personally. I'd love to do the RSS, but it looks like I'm already going to be over-budget on this project...paint is expensive!! [mad]

[ATFIII]

You might as well just buy an R :P

[christianmb]

Yeah, ATF, that is the bike I fell in love with, but now I have the advantage of the S insurance and R styling (yes, they wanted to rape me on insurance for an R)

This part was easier than I thought...now the real work begins
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111001130552_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111001130709_L.jpg
Then I found this. Man, those headers get hot. I guess this is a vent, but what for, and can I just run a piece of fuel line for the vent?
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111001130900_L.jpg

[wolfo68]

Transmission breather I do believe

[mc4life27]

i do believe wolfo68 is correct. there is another post on the board where another member melted his too.

[wolfo68]

No worries. Shouldn't hurt it

[christianmb]

Thanks wolfo! I didn't think it was a big deal since there was no oil residue in it. I figured while it is apart, I might as well give it a really good once over. I don't want to do this often at all. I was surprised with disasembly how loose some of the fasteners and how tight other were, and no sign of anti-seize anywhere. I had white powder on just about every fastener I took out.

Either way, I have started roughing out my headlight bracket and test fitting my projectors. So far, so good!
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111002055315_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111002055420_L.jpg

[christianmb]

Does anyone think this will work? If you see any problems with it, let me know! Thanks!

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111009035931_L.jpg

[Sirius815]

I can't read all of your writing - and please let me know what you are trying to do. Everything works - just maybe not the way you intended. :D

The lines are nice and straight though and easy to follow.

[christianmb]

Sirius, what I was going for was for the halos to com on with the ignition, but alternate with the turn signals, then when the HIDs are on, halos off, but still flashing with the turn signals (H/L is the HID headlights). Does that make sense?

[Sirius815]

Do me a favor - email me a higher resolution copy to my screen name @hotmail.com

[christianmb]

Well, with the nice weather last weekend, I was able to start painting, and putting her part of the way back together. I'm still a LONG way from being done, but I'm making progress.

http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111129014314_L.jpg

After everything, and saving some $$ on the paint, I think I'm going to get the RSS kit from ASB. More updates to come

[donphantasmo]

WOW, that looks great..

[sewerman]

when you replace the trans breather hose route it to the left side of the bike, away from the headers. Its worth the little effort.

[gtp3800]

but now I have the advantage of the S insurance and R styling (yes, they wanted to rape me on insurance for an R)

There is a difference in the insurance? I never knew that... good thing mine is an S with and R front :D

[christianmb]

Well, I know I haven't had a lot of posts on it, but I am starting to get her back together. Today was a long day of work, but VERY productive. She is back standing on her own with both tires and kickstand down! Here are a couple pictures of where she's at after today's work...still a LOT of wiring to do because of the front end light redux
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111223092904_L.jpg
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111223092933_L.jpg

[BuellyBagger]

looks good! looks like ur painting went well![up]

[christianmb]

Yeah, not bad for rattle-can :) Thanks Buelly!

[ATFIII]

Awesome work! Coming right along! How difficult is it painting on the frame?

[christianmb]

Not too bad. I used etching primer, and then srayed the color and then clear, and it came out really well. I also used thin metallic insulation on the inside of the frame to help with the heat. I hung it up from the rafters putting a bolt through the shock mount and a hook through the filler neck (I removed the ring), and it held wonderfully. I wet sanded with 800 on the outside of the frame to get a good finish. I had to sand out a little bit of "orange peel" I got, but went pretty smooth. My advice, invest in some good (3m) 600 and 800 wet/dry sandpaper if you plan on doing it.

Thank you ATF!

[BuellyBagger]

[up]perdy good advice christian! I have to ask why u used etch prime?? Did u have alot of bare metal cut throughs after sanding? If not etch primer is not required and not recomended. It wont really be a problem doing it that way but self etch primer is not super good at adhereing to paint or body filler @least not as good as it is to metal.

[christianmb]

I had some, and I had good results with it in the past. Before, it also helped me keep from getting a lot of orange peel. I don't know why, maybe dissimilar paints.

[BuellyBagger]

no biggy it turned out good!

[christianmb]

Front halos installed ... getting there, finally http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111226091904_L.jpg

Cadillac HIDs installed. She's almost ready for the street! Some AMSOIL brake fluid and engine oil, and she will at least get a test ride :D
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/4605_20111226091947_L.jpg

[christianmb]

Finally got pictures "in the wild", notice the Indianapolis skyline in the background.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj511/dramsrt10/Valerie/FreshWashandWax4292012014.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj511/dramsrt10/Valerie/FreshWashandWax4292012001.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj511/dramsrt10/Valerie/FreshWashandWax4292012005.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj511/dramsrt10/Valerie/FreshWashandWax4292012008.jpg

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj511/dramsrt10/Valerie/FreshWashandWax4292012004.jpg

[ATFIII]

Beautiful work! Glad to finally see it done! Bike looks flawless. [up][up][up]

[kbfnail]

Bitchin

[noone1569]

Drool. Love your bike man!

[creeping death]

nice work! that is one sexy beast fosho![up]

[Rhino1]

That looks fantastic! Great job!

BTW, has anyone attempted to paint their engines? When I had my STT, I seriously thought of pulling the engine and spraying it black...

[Loki]

Other then that wind screen she is very very sexy!

[christianmb]

Yeah, Loki, I wasn't impressed by the profile of the wind screen, but like the shading of it. The wind flow behind it is nice when it is cool out.

[cgo]

Yeah I like the paint but would ditch the halos and that windscreen.

[ASH]

What happened to the pig spotters?

[thumpin1203]

Gorgeous, nice work!

[Applepooh]

Damn, very clean sir. Beauty.

[UH60CrewDawg]

I may have missed it but where exactly could i find those headlights is each one hi/low beam capable im trying to fab up a single headlight angel eye type off the nose of a trimmed 1125r fairing

[Jmal18]

[up] looks good!

[christianmb]

UH60, those are out of a Cadillac CTS, out of the housings. They are the Bi-Xenon housings. They have solenoids and flappers in the housing that change the optics for the high beam. It took a completely new headlight bracket (not stock) and a LOT of test fits and tear aparts.

Thank you all for the kind words. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. after nearly a riding season, I would DEFINTELY recommend the spray on bedliner for the high wear parts (peg mounts and guards, primary and cam covers). after they cure, they are GREAT.

Loki, you will be happy to know, I ended up changing out windscreens. I found a great deal on a factory Buell Blue windscreen. The one in the pics above started micro-cracking at the base, and looked horrible. Besides, the air off of the one I had hit me right in the throat when riding "spiritedly" :D. I'll get a couple more pics as soon as Isaac passes us by, and I can get it out of the garage.

[FastTimes]

Great Looking Bike! What kind of helmet is that, if you don't mind?

[Squeadlies]

That is absolutely gorgeous. NIce work. My compliments on your clear and concise schematic for those headlights as well. Did the halos end up flashing correctly?

[christianmb]

@ FastTimes. It is a Caberg Ego. I had to order it from the UK. The price on it is very nice. If I remember it was about $250 USD, shipped. It is a very comfortable helmet, and has an opening sunroof. flows a LOT of air, and is ECE certified (not DOT [mad]) 10X better than my KBC that it replaced was.

@squeadlies. They did end up flashing correctly. I ran into a problem where they weren't visible with the headlights on, so I had to modify the circuit a little bit. Now, with the headlights off, the halos (now the same color temp as the headlights) flash off for the turn signals since they are constant on. When the headlights are on, the halos are off and I have LED signals mounted in the stock location. They are mounted in the pictures above, and they don't take away from the design. I ended up using the VHT night shades spray to tint the taillight and turn signals to keep the color scheme going.

Thank you both for the compliments!

On another note, I'm thinking about a new airbox cover. I want to try my hand at carbon fiber, and not entirely sure what design I want to go with yet. I have found the fabric I want to use though. I want some feedback though. What do you think of this, if I can get it to lay right?
Blue/Black CF fabric (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbon-Fiber-Kevlar-Cloth-Fabric-Blue-DUAL-Twill-50-/110942664536?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d4b2b758)

[Chetjay]

Whoa I think the fabric would look BA on your airbox!