pics
#1
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SuperSport
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Posts: 963
Shayne's 1998 Firestorm
Well, here is two years of work, and about $20k. The pics I took are high rsolution, so I had to reduce them a lot to get them on here, which I didn't have to do on the Australian forum. Really they are too small to see all the detail work I have done, as I have spent a lot of time removing cast marks, and dressing welds which you won't see in these small pics.
Oh well!! Maybe one day I will get some bigger one's on here some how.
Actually, I think this is what Nuhawk told me to do, so this should give you some better pics. Thought this would be worth a try after I went to bed!
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Frontview.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ontcloseup.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...Ridersview.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...trcloseup2.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...qtrcloseup.jpg
Oh well!! Maybe one day I will get some bigger one's on here some how.
Actually, I think this is what Nuhawk told me to do, so this should give you some better pics. Thought this would be worth a try after I went to bed!
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Frontview.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ontcloseup.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...Ridersview.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...trcloseup2.jpg
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...qtrcloseup.jpg
#4
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SuperSport
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Posts: 963
Mirrors are a custom job, lots of work in making them. Every mirror with an blinker in it I could find was not suitable to fit on the VTR because of the mounting angle. Nothing I found would fit, so I decided to modify as set of these French (I think) made units.
The mirrors are standard or course, but I had to use the Honda mounts and re-shape the mirror stem, re-route the wiring (tricky), and then re-paint them.
They look good, but were a nasty job! If you were keen to do something similar, it may pay to look around yourself, as you might find an easier option.
The mirrors are standard or course, but I had to use the Honda mounts and re-shape the mirror stem, re-route the wiring (tricky), and then re-paint them.
They look good, but were a nasty job! If you were keen to do something similar, it may pay to look around yourself, as you might find an easier option.
#7
WOW! - stunning! That is the look - three colors - all in balanced usage - terrific! I got to the third picture (the big ones) and thought it was too perfect to ride. I'm not sure I would - outstanding job - truly one of the best.
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Posts: 963
Thanks very much. I have made some concessions during the build so that it was usable on the street. I have been practical in regards to certain things, rather than go for a "show bike" look. Main one would be the use of powder coating to protect the aluminium. I didn't see the point in building something that I couldn't get dirty, otherwise it could look better. And instead of things like rearsets that look flash, I have kept the stock pegs to be more comfortable. I didn't want a show pony, this one is to ride.
As for the paint on the fairing, it is all one colour, which is a pearl. It is hard to photograph actually, as some pics don't show the true effect. It is a Ford Aust colour called "Blueprint". Is it the fairing you thought was 3 colours, or did you mean that the engine and frame are the contrast?
The black engine paint looks really good, but you can't take a photo of it!!! It looks terrible in the photos, I dunno how the pro photographers do it. It is the same type of paint you see on Harley engines, called "Wrinkle Finish".
As for the paint on the fairing, it is all one colour, which is a pearl. It is hard to photograph actually, as some pics don't show the true effect. It is a Ford Aust colour called "Blueprint". Is it the fairing you thought was 3 colours, or did you mean that the engine and frame are the contrast?
The black engine paint looks really good, but you can't take a photo of it!!! It looks terrible in the photos, I dunno how the pro photographers do it. It is the same type of paint you see on Harley engines, called "Wrinkle Finish".
#10
As for the paint on the fairing, it is all one colour, which is a pearl. It is hard to photograph actually, as some pics don't show the true effect. It is a Ford Aust colour called "Blueprint". Is it the fairing you thought was 3 colours, or did you mean that the engine and frame are the contrast?
The black engine paint looks really good, but you can't take a photo of it!!! It looks terrible in the photos, I dunno how the pro photographers do it. It is the same type of paint you see on Harley engines, called "Wrinkle Finish".
The black engine paint looks really good, but you can't take a photo of it!!! It looks terrible in the photos, I dunno how the pro photographers do it. It is the same type of paint you see on Harley engines, called "Wrinkle Finish".
It's good to hear that you can ride it. It almost looks too good. I think the use of coatings to make the bike easier to clean is a real heads-up move. Certainly most of us want those pedastel good looks but maintaining it can be a major headache with the stock finishes. I didn't do much studio stuff when I was in the business but I think the device used on black surfaces to give them a bit of illumination is called a soft box. Ask around and someone can explain how to do it. I would try here but it's really one of those "show & tell" things. It's next to impossible with one strobe on the camera. It would take at least two.
Regardless, I think your pictures look great and I'm glad you got at least one of the methods down for posting them up. The more you mess with it the more flexibility you'll learn.
#11
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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I took the pics with no flash, but I think you and Nuhawk are on the right track, it would be the light. Anyhow it's god enough to show you boys my ride.
As for cleaning it, I shall know that next week. I went for a ride today and it was wet, so it is dirty now!
Should be no problem, just wash and chamois off. It won't need polishing. Love the clear powdercoat over the ally.
As for cleaning it, I shall know that next week. I went for a ride today and it was wet, so it is dirty now!
Should be no problem, just wash and chamois off. It won't need polishing. Love the clear powdercoat over the ally.
#16
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Posts: 963
Thanks guys.
The engine is painted, not powdercoated. The exhaust is a combination of Standard Moriwaki Ti headers and Staintune mufflers. The Mufflers mounts I made myself, and are integrated with the rear sub-frame. I then had custom mid pipes made up to link them together.
As for the engine, I have had it on the dyno, but power figures are quite different to what most people get, so I think the dyno reads different to a lot of others. Can't remember what type it was.
I think it made about 100hp, and the operator, who is a well known tuner and twin racer, made comment that it produced the most torque of any VTR he had done, which I think was about 68 ft/lb. As you can see these numbers are quite low.
In real world testing, I have a friend with a VTR with a filter, jet kit, slip ons, and 15 tooth countershaft. It has been dyno tuned, and runs very nicely, but mine kills it. I was running 15/43 gearing, but found I couldn't use full throttle until I was in third gear, so I went to 16/43. With my engine that feels good. It was designed to be a torque producer, and give good throttle response, rather than high power output, so it seems to have turned out well.
I am curious what the peak power figure would be with the baffles out of the mufflers and my other intake set-up though. Might try it one day just for curiousity. But the baffles need to stay in for my liking, otherwise I find it to noisy with my Ti pipes and Staintune mufflers, which are louder than some I think.
The engine is painted, not powdercoated. The exhaust is a combination of Standard Moriwaki Ti headers and Staintune mufflers. The Mufflers mounts I made myself, and are integrated with the rear sub-frame. I then had custom mid pipes made up to link them together.
As for the engine, I have had it on the dyno, but power figures are quite different to what most people get, so I think the dyno reads different to a lot of others. Can't remember what type it was.
I think it made about 100hp, and the operator, who is a well known tuner and twin racer, made comment that it produced the most torque of any VTR he had done, which I think was about 68 ft/lb. As you can see these numbers are quite low.
In real world testing, I have a friend with a VTR with a filter, jet kit, slip ons, and 15 tooth countershaft. It has been dyno tuned, and runs very nicely, but mine kills it. I was running 15/43 gearing, but found I couldn't use full throttle until I was in third gear, so I went to 16/43. With my engine that feels good. It was designed to be a torque producer, and give good throttle response, rather than high power output, so it seems to have turned out well.
I am curious what the peak power figure would be with the baffles out of the mufflers and my other intake set-up though. Might try it one day just for curiousity. But the baffles need to stay in for my liking, otherwise I find it to noisy with my Ti pipes and Staintune mufflers, which are louder than some I think.
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