Low Budget Purple Project

Got a customizing or restoration project? Discuss it here

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Smoker
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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1306 Post by Smoker » Mon Apr 23, 2018 12:55 pm

Off Road wrote:So, I spent $50 of my hard earned money, and put in 10 hours of my time, to cut, file, sand, and polish, a one of a kind bracket,
and all I get is 1 atta-boy from my friend in Australia. :smt006

Wow, this is a tough crowd to please. :smt003

So, what’s wrong with my new part?
Is it too small?
Is it too cheap?
Is it not shiny enough?

I suppose the main reason that nobobdy commented is because it's a Mickey Mouse little part that serves no real pupose,
and as such it doesn't merrit much of a discussion. :smt005
For me, it's just a personal preference. Some things cost a fortune to fabricate, but don't appeal to me. Some are cheap and easy, and I might have to have one. You know how that works.

I just don't like adding "Yamaha" or other names or logos on a bike. To me, it's like an advertisement, making a bike into a rolling billboard. Just my opinion. I don't like some of the stuff I've made, as well.

Pipes look very nice. Are they chromed steel, or polished stainless? Who did the design and fab?

Keep up the good work.

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Off Road
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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1307 Post by Off Road » Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:57 pm

Hey Smoker. Good input.
I can appreciate you not wanting to turn your bike into a billboard for a big motorcycle company.

However, I needed a clamp to hold the reservoir line, and I like to use Aluminum because it’s light and easy to work with.
I thought the engraved logo looked better than just a plain old clamp.
But, that’s just my opinion.

If there’s 1000 members on the forum, then you’ll get 1001 opinions about what does, or doesn’t, look good on an RZ.

The pipes look awesome in person. They are Slingers 385 Stroker pipes, and are made of mild steel.
I had them chrome plated.

Here’s Slingers thread on this set of pipes.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13737" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1308 Post by Off Road » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:19 am

Hey Hooligan.
Your comment about the "crappy paint job" caught me by surprise the other night, and I responded without thinking.
I appologize if I came off as rude. I could have handled it better.

For instance I could have posted this.
Off Road wrote: - I sent the tank and bodywork out to be painted.
(Yes, you read that correctly. It’s official. I finally opened my wallet real wide, and paid somebody to paint my bike. I was really tired of it being purple.)
Or this.
Off Road wrote:And, the bike still looked like a piece of shit, because it still had the crap purple paint on it.
I had to fix that. The problem was easily solved by spending $1200.00 on paint and decals.
I really didn’t want to spend that much, but bodywork and painting requires a lot of time, skill, and attention to detail,
which are things that I don’t have, so I had someone else paint the bike.
I’m really glad I did. The paint looks awesome. The bike’s going to look Spectacular.

I'm just not ready to post pictures of it yet. :smt003

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Smoker
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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1309 Post by Smoker » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:24 am

You should absolutely build your bike in whatever way makes you happy. I definitely respect that. If you ask my opinion, I'll be 100% honest.

When did you receive those pipes? Last post in that thread was 2016.

I was under the impression that Slinger is MIA for pipe building, now.

Have to be honest again. I think Glyn makes one of the most beautiful steel pipes in the world. Just my opinion, and not asked for, but it's a crime to chrome over the beautiful coloring of the welding. Don't know how they look after much use, though. Maybe chrome is better looking for the long run.

I enjoy reading about all your mods. :smt023

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1310 Post by Hooligan » Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:09 am

Off Road wrote:Hey Hooligan.
Your comment about the "crappy paint job" caught me by surprise the other night, and I responded without thinking.
I appologize if I came off as rude. I could have handled it better.

For instance I could have posted this.
Off Road wrote: - I sent the tank and bodywork out to be painted.
(Yes, you read that correctly. It’s official. I finally opened my wallet real wide, and paid somebody to paint my bike. I was really tired of it being purple.)
Or this.
Off Road wrote:And, the bike still looked like a piece of shit, because it still had the crap purple paint on it.
I had to fix that. The problem was easily solved by spending $1200.00 on paint and decals.
I really didn’t want to spend that much, but bodywork and painting requires a lot of time, skill, and attention to detail,
which are things that I don’t have, so I had someone else paint the bike.
I’m really glad I did. The paint looks awesome. The bike’s going to look Spectacular.

I'm just not ready to post pictures of it yet. :smt003
Rude? It'd take a lot more than that to make me think you were being rude. :smt022 Besides, I know you are just feeling lonely now that Rory has left and I haven't been around for most of the year. :smt003

I'm just happy to hear that beauty is finally getting a paint job. Because lets face it, the first thing people see is the paintwork. For example, Kelly's RZ is nothing special mechanically but it does get a lot of attention because it superficially looks great .... even if I still see all the flaws. :smt012
'82 RD350LC in '81 colours, OEM pipes, UNI filters
'85 FZ750

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1311 Post by Off Road » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:29 am

Hey Smoker.

I got those pipes in May 2016.
I also really liked the raw metal, welded look.
Unfortunately, I live in Canada. It will rain. They will get wet. They will rust.

The plating hides a lot of the welding and craftmanship that went into building them,
but it will be easier to keep the chrome looking good.

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1312 Post by Off Road » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:50 am

That’s it. The bike’s done. More or less.
It’s Spring, so it’s time to stop wrenching and start riding.
After I put the headlights back on, and install the bodywork, it’ll be ready for its first test flight.

So, now that the hard work’s over, it’s time to have some fun.
OK, let me rephrase that, it’s time for me to have some fun.
I can’t say how you’re going to react, but I’ve been LMFAO, the whole time I’ve been writing this next post.

Let’s get to it, shall we.

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1313 Post by Off Road » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:52 am

Off Road wrote:My last post for the evening.
Maybe I’ll say something that’s interesting, or attention-grabbing, or out of the ordinary in this post.
Maybe not. It's hard to say.

So now that I’ve gone to all this trouble to justify this latest figure of $11,500, it’s Wrong, :smt005
because it doesn’t include all the stuff I’ve bought this year.

- Koso EGT Gauge. $300 - $350?
I don’t know the final price because I haven’t paid for it yet

- Remote Reservoir & Braided Steel Line for the Ohlins rear shock. $10? maybe more?
I don’t know the final price because it's still being negotiated.

- EGT Gauge Bracket & Shock Reservoir Bracket - Welding & Machining. $100 - $150?
I don’t know because I haven’t paid for it yet.

- Tires. I haven’t paid for these either, but I do remember the costs
$450 for a set of Metzeler Z8’s. 110/70ZR17 front and 140/70ZR18 rear.
$100 for a new 150/70ZR18 Bridgestone BT016 Rear tire.

Yup, you’re right. That is too may tires for one motorcycle.


I realize that English is a second language for some of the forum members, so it is possible that they might not have understood everything that I’ve been talking about in some of my latest posts.
And some forum members are more into the LC’s and may not have an in depth knowledge of some of the RZ’s technology.


Therefore, the following question is only directed at the people who own RZ’s, and speak English as a first language.
(I honestly don’t mean to offend anyone, so please take this question in the kind and loving way in which it is intended) :smt003

What f*cking part of “out of the ordinary” do you not understand?

In 6 (six) of my recent posts I’ve said that I’m building a bracket to hold on a part that …….might not exist.
I’ve never seen one of these parts before, I don’t know anybody who’s ever seen one and I’ve never heard of anyone having this part before.
I kinda thought this would make some of the more experienced forum members just a little bit curious.

Turns out I was wrong.

I started to think that maybe I was being too subtle, so I posted a picture of the bracket, holding a part that’s rarer than rocking horse poop,
and still nobody says: WTF?

Hmmm. Maybe it’s me.
Maybe I just live a sheltered life and haven’t seen what most people have.
I suppose that’s possible.

How many forum members are running an Ohlins YA-415 shock on their RZ350?
- (I can’t say for sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say maybe 50 or 100 people)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock for an RZ350?
- (Who knows? Maybe 500 or 1000 people. Maybe more.)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock with a Remote Reservoir?
- (Anybody?)
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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1314 Post by Off Road » Tue Apr 24, 2018 2:52 am

Now I imagine that there’re a couple of you who are wondering how I managed to get my hands on this piece of unobtainium.

At the moment, I'd rather not divulge that information.
I will neither confirm nor deny any rumors that you might hear.
But, here are a couple of possibilities.

Option A – I’m the smartest, most technically skilled person on the planet, so I modified my Ohlins RZ350 shock accept a remote reservoir.

Option B – I’m the most persuasive person on the planet, and money was no object, so I talked to the people at Ohlins and convinced them to design and manufacture a one of a kind part just for me.

Boy, I’m glad that I’m not any of you guys. I hate to have to choose between those 2 options.
Neither one seems very likely. :smt003

Maybe this will help. :smt044
Off Road wrote: - Remote Reservoir & Braided Steel Line for the Ohlins rear shock. $10? maybe more?
I don’t know the final price because it's still being negotiated.

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1315 Post by JonW » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:38 am

Damn I thought you'd binned the 'everyones-got-one' ohlins for a fox twin clicker... shows what i know ;)
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1316 Post by Smoker » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:34 pm

Well, you asked!

I sent my Ohlins RZ350 shock to a shop. They unscrewed the cap/head and screwed on a cap that accepted the hose from the Ohlins remote reservoir. Got it back complete in about a week. Didn't cost much.

That had to be more than 20 years ago. :smt003

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1317 Post by Smoker » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:39 pm

Proof of statement:

Image

My reservoir is the standard Ohlins. Yours looks like a different model.

PS: I think you need an Option "C". :smt003

Edit: Should have mentioned the new cap on my shock is a standard cap from a different Ohlins shock.

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1318 Post by Smoker » Wed Apr 25, 2018 12:21 pm

Off Road wrote:Hmmm. Maybe it’s me.
Maybe I just live a sheltered life and haven’t seen what most people have.
I suppose that’s possible.

How many forum members are running an Ohlins YA-415 shock on their RZ350?
- (I can’t say for sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say maybe 50 or 100 people)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock for an RZ350?
- (Who knows? Maybe 500 or 1000 people. Maybe more.)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock with a Remote Reservoir?
- (Anybody?)
I suppose that's possible.

I've posted plenty of photos and text about my shock here on this website.

I verified by typing the word "Ohlins" into this thing called "SEARCH". :smt023

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1319 Post by Off Road » Sun Apr 29, 2018 4:27 am

Smoker wrote:
Off Road wrote:Hmmm. Maybe it’s me.
Maybe I just live a sheltered life and haven’t seen what most people have.
I suppose that’s possible.

How many forum members are running an Ohlins YA-415 shock on their RZ350?
- (I can’t say for sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say maybe 50 or 100 people)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock for an RZ350?
- (Who knows? Maybe 500 or 1000 people. Maybe more.)

How many of you have seen an Ohlins YA-415 shock with a Remote Reservoir?
- (Anybody?)
I suppose that's possible.

I've posted plenty of photos and text about my shock here on this website.

I verified by typing the word "Ohlins" into this thing called "SEARCH". :smt023
Thanks for the heads up on that.
I might have saved myself a bit of embarrassment if I'd have used that feature. :smt003

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Re: Low Budget Purple Project

#1320 Post by Off Road » Sun Apr 29, 2018 4:29 am

Smoker wrote: Image
[smilie=yikes.gif]
That shock looks so cool. I really like the combination of the red, blue and gold. Very nice work.

I was trying to have a laugh with the forum, so I posted a picture of my unicorn.
Then Smoker posts some pics of his gold plated unicorn, with the diamond encrusted horn.
Damn, that thing sure makes my unicorn look pretty mundane.

But enough dicking around. It’s time to fess up and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Smoker wrote: PS: I think you need an Option "C". :smt003
Obviously, there has to be an Option C. There is no way in hell that anybody would believe that Option A or Option B is possible.
However, before I get to Option C, I’d like you to think about something else for a minute.

Have you ever been in the middle of a road trip where you desperately needed to get from Point A to Point B, and the weather is freaking miserable.
Pouring Rain. Freezing Snow. Ice Cold Temperatures.
But, it didn’t matter because you absolutely had to be someplace else.
Staying where you were at was not an option, so you sucked it up, got on your bike, and went for a ride.
After hours, and hours, and hours of riding, you were so wet and cold that you were shaking, and couldn’t think straight.
Your luggage was soaking wet. All your riding gear was wet. Hell, it’s been 4 hours since you had dry underwear.

When the ride is over, and you finally reach your destination, all you want to do is get off the bike and warm up.
On some trips you’re lucky enough to get a motel room for the night.
On other trips, you’ve already spent all your money on sex and drugs and rock and roll, so you have to pitch your tent in the great outdoors.

At a time like this it would be helpful to have an Emergency Kit with you.
The emergency kit needs to be 100% waterproof, and IMO it should to be securely attached to the bike, so that you always have it with you when it’s needed.
But where do you mount a waterproof emergency kit on your bike, without it being in the way and looking silly?
And how do you keep it secure, so that nobody steals it?

I decided to hide mine in plain sight.
The majority of people, (and hopefully all police officers :smt003 ), will just think it’s part of the bike.
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Last edited by Off Road on Sun Apr 29, 2018 4:56 am, edited 2 times in total.

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