XB12R cafe conversion

[nicholas900]

Seriously consider offering it as a kit for sale.  If you could keep it under $1500, you'd sell me on it.

Thanks. The way I do things is just too time consuming to think about making a few kits. I like doing this for myself, but making things for other people just seems like a job lol.

 

[nicholas900]

Very nice.  Have you considered stripping the paint off the frame and swingarm to match the aluminum body work?

Yes I have. I'm still not sure what I want to do for colors, but originally I was thinking a "no coat" look. Polish everything that's aluminum, and use a stainless or titanium color powder coat for everything else. Not sure. Might be too much.

Also thinking about powder coating over the polish with a black chrome transparent to give it a little more dimension. Ive done it before and it looks really nice. And less up keep.... not sure. I have some various samples of powder coat on the way. The local coater is gonna do a sample run on some scrap. Guess I'll go from there.

 

[08herobolt]

Wow. Just wow. It looks amazing. You have extraordinary skill my friend.

 

[nicholas900]

I got the seat brackets tacked in. I trimmed 1/2" or so from the bottom of the seat cowl. I guess it's official, mock up is done.

Next is complete disassembly. Still can't figure out colors. Gonna look at it for a few days. Maybe something will come to me.

 

[nicholas900]

Took it for a neighborhood run. Just have a back brake so I took it real easy. Just wanted to be sure all was working good. She runs nice...

Looks a little better out from the shop fluorescent lighting. I think a gloss black swing arm and frame would look good. Polish the engine primary cover and cam cover. Then all the little parts matte black. The wheels? Maybe Bentley Blue? Or black. Any ideas?

 

[DrogeN Omen]

[up]

 

[Route0766]

your is almost perfect but it is some inspiration ...

 

[camouflage]

how about some nice spoked chrome rims??

 

[nicholas900]

The plan the whole time was to use Alpina tubeless spoke wheels. Until a month ago when they replied to my email informing me they are no longer available for Buell. Bummer. Anyone got a pair for sale?

 

[nicholas900]

I'm interested to see how you've mounted up your rear brake reservoir please.

Here you go:

Take off rear set. Trace an outline of the master cylinder mounting holes and draw it out to match up the reservoir nipple with the cylinder nipple.

Then cut them out of the paper for a template. The round one is a rubbing of the bottom of the Rizoma fluid can. The can is secured to the bracket by screws in the bottom.

Then I put them together. This is the outline of the bracket.

Then I taped it to the steel and center punched all the holes. I drilled them out with my drill press.

I added a little bend to the bracket by grinding and bending. Then welded the seams. This is the roughed out bracket.

Here it is on the rear set bracket. I'll be using cap screws when I final assemble. Basically the screws that hold the master cylinder also hold the brake reservoir.

On the bike.

 

[pur pony]

yup, Alpina wheels are discontinued..... I was looking for a set for my tuber.

 

[stellio78]

Very cool design, thanks so much for that.

 

[nicholas900]

^ yup.

 

[Gloomshadow]

I think I would just bead blast the stock wheels and then polish them.. I bet it would look real good..

 

[camouflage]

has any body tried these guys?
USA wire wheels

They could possibly do a rim with the mounting bosses for the Buell rotor?

 

[nicholas900]

^That company makes nice looking stuff. The reason I like the Alpina wheels is you can run tubeless. They are the only manufacturer I know of that makes tubeless spoke wheels.

I tried 5 different powder samples. I like a few of them. Went ahead and ordered 5 more. Should have this narrowed down soon.

The blike is totally disassembled. All the little parts one of the red boxes. All the nuts, and bolts in little zip lock bags in the other red box. I like to disassemble bikes section by section. Them gather up the fasteners for that section and bag and tag them. Really speeds up reassembly.

I'm susprised how easily these bikes come apart! Took about 4 hours and three beers. Being everything was already totally fabbed up, it should go back together like Logos. I did manage to snap my front axle by being a cave man lol.

 

[camouflage]

How about a spoke to sealed conversion kit? You could then get a cheap set of spoked wheels and then weld some lugs on for the brake disc to mount to......? tubeless spoke kit

Great work on stripping the bike down but if my math is correct your hour to beer ratio is definitely out by some margin [up]

 

[nicholas900]

Here are the finalists for powder coat. Really hard to get a grasp on the colors by a cell phone pic.... but....Left to right.
1- Flat Black Chrome
2- Black Chrome I
3- Black Jack
4- Ultra Black Chrome
5- Black Chrome II

I'm pretty sure I'm going with 3&4. Black Jack and Ultra Black chrome. All the little parts that can't be seen will be black jack. Then picking one color for the wheels, subframe, and the other for the frame and swing arm. The rockers/ primary/cam covers will either be polished or the same as wheels/ subframe.

 

[gbalias]

Kineo wheels!!!


not sure if they make em for buells, but the finest looking tubless spoked wheels IMO.

 

[doberdann1019]

Just came across this thread. It's like binge watching a TV show on Netflix, then catching up to the current season and having to wait for new episodes.. Can't wait to see it done!