I've had pics of my bike on here before so some of you may recognize it. For the last year I've been running it sans fairing or gauges, just a bare headlight.

I decided to go on a longer trip last week (1500~mi), and figured I could use some kind of fuel gauge or trip meter. Instead of buying a trailtech unit, I wanted to see if I could use what I had. The stock piece is too big to look decent with the round headlight, but I figured with some trimming I could make a little fairing to hide it.

Gauges cluster pieces


I don't really need or use the speedometer, so it was convenient that it lives on a little sub-circuit that's easily removed


Made an aluminum plate to block off the hole in the housing, and another to attach the cluster to the two ignition cover bolt holes. Then I started on the fairing




Finally got a shape I was pleased with, and cut it from thin gauge aluminum. I consider it a prototype still, but I kept it on for my trip


Decided to paint it black since I was short on time and didn't want to fuss with graining it to match the frame




I also made those obnoxious tank bags out of the cheapest backpacks they sold in Ross, with some D-rings and webbing from Jo~Ann crafts. Cheap! Worked great!

 

I thought more people would be interested in this, maybe it's a boring thread title. Maybe no one else cares to lose their speedometer? I figure with gearing change it's pretty inaccurate anyway, and I just go by the scenery passing.

 

What a good looking bike. Love the color.

Your mini-cluster looks good. If you wanted to get rid of everything, I'm sure you could build a little circuit to flash a dummy light when you're low on fuel like the pre-2000 bikes do.

EDIT: What dirtbike is in pieces in the garage?

 

I've actually grown attached to the trip meter, and I always missed the tach even though it's irrelevant off the track with this engine. I'm happy with the gauges I have now, I'm just going to work up a more finished looking cowl and headlight mount.

Quick derail-- The bike in the garage is an 88 XR600r that I've been restoring. When I bought it, it barely ran, barely stopped, and the forks were like a cartoon oil derrick. Now it will have an FCR, Ricky Stator, and various goodies... I can't wait!


When I bought it (cheaply)


Making a seat cover at my friends house


Old seat, new Gutz foam (taller, harder)


Repainted the frame battleship grey, need some new plastics and stuff


here's a photoshop of how I want it to look, probably w/ Clarke tank instead of Acerbis....

 

I have a '96 XR400 and thought the frame shape looked familiar. I'm jealous that yours is street legal.

 

That bike looks so fun, and they have better resale value than the 600's. It's probably more fun on trails, too.

The plate is why I bought it though, instead of another 450 or some 250 smoker. I want to head from my house out to the wilderness...

 

nice bikes.