Build Thread: Another VLX600 Bobber

[huviduc24]

Hey guys, bought a 2005 VLX600 3.5 years ago with roughly 2500 miles on it. First few years only mods were exhaust, velocity stack, new bars, and hardtail strut. oh and a box of parts i had hoped to install one day when i finally got to choppin.

A friend of mine welds for a living and used to teach at a welding school. Although I bought a MIG to learn on, he brought over his TIG/MIG and we got to choppin this last weekend.

Before the Chop
IMG_20150516_152910967_HDR_zpsm4wtys8h by huviduc, on Flickr

Mid strip down
IMG_20160617_170335625_zpswoprwe2w by huviduc, on Flickr

Started the Chop...
IMG_20160624_163134056_zpsiyh1w4gv by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160624_164245786_zpsuwplc7pl by huviduc, on Flickr

Hardtail done and mostly finished battery box
IMG_20160628_204716442_zpsrjw6f8lj by huviduc, on Flickr

Started electronics tank
IMG_20160628_204743493_zpsl1gtu8vs by huviduc, on Flickr

This is my first project bike but I have been modifying cards for 15+ years so I am not a total noob to this stuff. Learning a lot as I go but having a a great time. Next up is to finish the battery tie down and electronics box, then mount the fender and seat, and bend up a sissy bar. I'll post pictures as I go. If you notice any issues come up that I may be missing, please feel free to point it out. Thanks!

[huviduc24]

got some more work done on friday. Still need to finish sissy bar and electronics tank. Had to order 3 inch springs which should be here today.

IMG_20160701_204413959_zpsvd6bd9vj by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160701_204517191_zpsvkdo1swe by huviduc, on Flickr

[mikecola]

nice lines. looks good so far

[huviduc24]

Thanks, hopefully getting the electronics tank and sissy bar done tonight. Ill hopefully post some more pictures tomorrow morning then on to wiring and painting...which I hate

[OleDirtyDoc]

Looking good

[huviduc24]

got the sissy bar, battery box, and electronics tank finished up this weekend. Came up with one issue though, I have the Biltwell P-pad to match the solo seat but its going to look terrible when mounted to the rounded fender. Is it possible to reshape somehow?

IMG_20160708_204813265_zpsw8aofu2g by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160708_204916293_zpsrihctz1m by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160709_141850991_zpsym2yxslz by huviduc, on Flickr

[huviduc24]

Didn't get much done for a few weeks. One of my best friends wife's who was a great friend was killed in a motorcycle accident. It's been tough to get out to the garage to get into anything.

I did get everything painted (rattle can) this weekend and started wiring everything up. Got the bike started last night with no issues. Only thing left to do is assemble everything and wire up the tail/turn lights. Ive heard a lot of guys running the wire up the inside of the fender with the aluminum duct repair tape. Planning to give that a try. Here are some pics

IMG_20160730_173358878_zps3hfsn7p2 by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160730_173426987_zpsihxsnult by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160730_173438656_zps2vb7nldk by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160803_192801925_zpsggbojf9p by huviduc, on Flickr

IMG_20160803_192810958_zpstkyruevs by huviduc, on Flickr

[Townson]

Looking good buddy. Keep at it.

[Reflexion]

Is that a tjbc rear fender?

[huviduc24]

yes sir it is. Thanks guys, hoping to get it on the road tomorrow night

[helikopteri]

Looks sick mate! The hardtailing gave it a tad more look since you dont have to use those ugly sidepanels anymore. How would the bike look like with the original suspension on but without the sidepanels, can you make it look as clean as a hardtail? Also what did you chop off of your ex-swinger cause it only shows the upper tubes cut on the images. Does the lower suspension linkage on the swinger bolt off or does all the "excess" pieces come off when cutting from the swingers upper tubes, a bit behind the cross on frame and the vertical tubes on frame which holds the passenger peg stands etc? Just asking because I'm thinking of getting one and if I decide to do so, I'm going to hardtail it.

Keep going man, you got a follower!

[huviduc24]

I have seen a few that have made it look pretty clean with the strut on there. Just not really the look i was going for.

The cuts are pretty simple, they have been circled in red. the only one you cant see is the matching vertical tube on the other side. The odd piece in the middle that the strut bolts to was just cut as low as possible, capped off, and used to weld the all thread for bolting down the battery.

cuts_zpsdrgocg3x by huviduc, on Flickr

[helikopteri]

Cool, that's pretty much what I thought hardtailing would require. Helps a ton to have images like you have if I ever end up getting a VLX 600 and chopping it up, thanks a bunch. Next up would be the conversion from double to single backbone haha! May I ask how you removed the small "plates" covering up the frame behind the neck? You seem to have it open besides a coolant(?) filler in there, this bikes frame sure needs some fabbing if you want it to sit just perfect.

Eager to see more pics of the bike and everything you end up doing with it, keep us posted!

[huviduc24]

the backbone is stock double, all i did was remove the plastic cover and reroute some of the wiring to clean it up

[huviduc24]

got it on the road for a test drive (around the neighborhood). Still have some kinks to work out

1. Right turn signal in the rear isnt working
2. Brake like doesnt change much when brake is pressed, thinking i have the brake and running like switched?
3. Throttle cable needs tightened
4. touch up a few spots of paint