Nice mods, Tony. Well done!
Not yet having my Cyclone to drool on your pics let me start planning my own mods.
Since US DOT forced me to take 2 weeks off work dealing with an unannounced rule change sprung on us at the last second I'm a little short of pocket change until tomorrow, when my first full check since comes in.
Not really wanting to cash in investment accounts for nonessentials, so I've resisted temptation and been Responsible. Boy, that sucks.
I thought this bike was supposed to be inexpensive. Obviously, I was wrong about that. Here's my plan so far. I reserve the right to practice a good androgynous attitude and change my mind.
I've a few of the larger tool tubes left from another project. No idea, yet, where they will go, but I'd like to mount them lower and further forward for tool rolls, air compressor, tubes, and other heavy things. Any ideas?
I wanted to order coolant, matching grips, oil filters, spare clutch cable, and a seat cover with the bike to save the shipping since I'm such a cheapskate. Unlike brick and mortar dealers, CSC's prices aren't THAT out of line with the discount places on the internet. Chrome won't run on any of my old P. O. S. computers so I can't use Taobao. I sure would like to have a reusable oil filter because that would certainly save quite a bit of money over time.
I've been hoping CSC would have an accessory sales page up before I needed too order more stuff, but I've seen no evidence of that. I have a hard time scheduling business calls during their hours around work demands. Just my opinion, but NOT having easy 24-hour access to accessories and supplies has to be hurting their sales. I understand the CSC peeps have to be really busy working through this first load of Cyclones, and perhaps things will slow down a bit when they have a few in inventory in Azusa to meet demand as it grows, so I'm not harping on the company's priorities. Much.
I have several sets of grips bought off clearance tables if grip comfort is a big deal, but none in the right color. I want an elegant and protective hand guard solution before delving in to grips, heaters, guards, bars if necessary, auxiliary light switches, and routing a spare clutch cable, so maybe DOT did me a favor. I really wouldn't want to do grips after installing guards.
I've done several 500+ miles days on a TW200 with the stock seat, including a SS1000, along with another SS1000 and a BB1500 with just a Sterns seat cover from Walmart, so seat issues aren't expected to be a really big issue right off the bat. I'll probably just toss the stock pad and cover and build my own gel seat on the original pan before it's over, as I have a big enough pad of gel 2 inches thick and a piece of beige Sunbrella left over from a boat interior project to do that.
I don't see a need for power outlets on the dash of my bike. I'll be going to a sealed AGM if the stock battery isn't, for reduced maintenance requirements, and I'll install a 2-wire plug for a maintainer then. That set up has worked so well on the TWs I've done some traveling on I retrofitted my CB550. I prefer a route roller to a GPS so the only need I have for electric toys on the road is charging cell and sat phone batteries (extra phones under the side panel, swap the batteries every couple days), air compressor, and a LED flood light for making and breaking camp since I like to ride from dawn to dusk. The laptop and wireless router usually can be plugged in at the one meal a day I treat myself and that is usually enough to keep it running. All I really need is that one plug used to easily access the battery with a maintainer when I'm on the road. All that may change over time now that I have a more reasonable size bike with a higher output alternator than normally comes on small bikes. We'll see.
I will be using some alternator output for better forward lighting, haven't made up my mind on that yet. I LOVE the way the European style JW Speaker LED headlights on Tdub2 throw light without blinding incoming drivers, but I'd really like a functional upgrade to the stock headlight to preserve aerodynamic qualities. The CE approved European light patterns are not legal as headlights on cars and trucks, but ARE legal on motorcycles, just in case you're wondering. They are very similar to the pattern of the stock TW headlight with a premium H4 bulb (PIAA or Silver Star Ultra with power through a relay and fat wires), and they put out even more light!
Plus I have to buy new gear. I'm finally getting back to a comfortable weight after dropping over 100 pounds due to terminal cancer that wasn't. Joe Rocket now has Phoenix Ion mesh pants in short-and-fat sizes so I need to visit a retailer a and try some on. I like the idea of reflective knee pads, the better to be seen at night. I have high vis rain pants left over from my wrecker driving days that work well over mesh pants all year around. Joe Rocket's Alter Ego 3 Jacket also comes in color to match my Cyclone, and it's waterproof layer keeps the mesh layer clean and dry. I've been doing water and wind proofing layers over mesh with insulating layers under mesh for years, and I'm thrilled to actually see the change away from popular fashion and towards far superior function. Joe Rocket also has some mesh gloves and street boots that might fit that have trim in matching colors. Neither is likely to fit. I'm needing a new full face helmet, too. Actually, I have a couple brand new helmets on the shelf, but they are the wrong color for the Cyclone. Maybe I'll just paint one to match, though we really aren't supposed to do that.
I expect to have about $12,786 in this bike before I get done. Oh, well, the only hearse I ever saw with a trailer hitch was mine, one of the best dirt bike haulers ever.
