VStar 650

2012-01-15T17:08:00.001-08:00

As I expected now that school has started, I have far less time for my VStar. Though I haven't been able to do much to complete the current project, I will go ahead and post a picture of what it looks like with everything drilled and bolted down. I intended to powdercoat the license plate I made, along with the fender struts. Unfortunately, the powdercoat business I've been using is up for sale. I guess I will have to find an alternative place, or simply paint them. All in good time though. For now, I still have to mod a small section of the fender. The OEM Yamaha fender has a slight divit for the seat to rest in, so looks like I'll have to do a little trimming on the new fender to get the seat to rest flat on the frame. All that is left after that is just a tad bit of wiring, and painting, but I plan to give better details later so I will stop for now. Ride safe....

New Fender for the VStar

2012-01-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Though I haven't completed the task at hand, I'll go ahead while I have time and update my status. I decided after finishing up with the side mount plate that I would go another direction. The previous design did not look well with the tail light I'm currently using, so I decided simplicity would be best. Relying on my past, I dredged up skills I haven't used since first grade. Though tracing a license plate and light are somewhat different than making hand shaped turkeys at Thanksgiving, the general concept is the same. Yes, making the side mount plate was truly that simple. After a couple of minutes with the jigsaw and a little sanding, it was done. I've also re-routed and zip tied the wires to the swing arm. I will detail more on that later. Now, the fender, as I mentioned before, was going to be cut short. However, after a better look, and a brief mock up, I've decided to leave the fender long. I did modify the struts for a better fit. The small extensions that the bolts pass through were cut, and ground down evenly with the rest of the strut. Now the struts fit firmly against the side of the fender, without the need for drilling oversized holes. I may still shave just a little, no more than an inch or so, off the bottom of the fender for a bit of individual style. I've always been one to strive for that unique look, and refuse to have a straight out of the box bike. For paint, I've looked into ordering the 2007 Yamaha Vstar OEM black from the ColorRite website for just the fender, but have also considered having the tank, along with the fender repainted with a black other than the stock color. I guess time, and the availability of extra money will tell. I will try to finish the install, and get a few more pictures up by this weekend. Unfortunately, I can't have it painted that fast, but at least the pics will give you an idea of the new look. Again, I will certainly try to share more details of this project as time permits. Until then...ride safe.

Out with the old...

2012-01-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

And in with the new! Now that it's the start of a new year, what better time to change a few things out on my VStar. As I've mentioned, I've been debating on changing the fender, and adding a side mount plate. Well, progress has finally starting moving in that direction. I purchased a new steel Roller fender from a seller on Ebay. It was very reasonably priced when compared to buying a used Classic fender, but even more so when considering the other new fender options that were available. I paid less than $120 shipped. You can see from the pics, though it's not mounted, and merely resting on the tire, that it is a full fender which allows for many different design options. I currently have a few that I'm thinking about, but really don't have an aversion with leaving it as it is. I will have to decide soon, as my winter break is over, and school is starting next week. This is my Senior year, and college classes have become really intense, so I'm sure my time will be limited. However, the time I've had this weekend I spent cutting out my side mount plate design. I sketched it out on paper, cut it out, transferred that design to sheet metal, and used a jigsaw to cut it out. I had to make a trip to Home Depot this evening for a couple of cut off wheels for my Dremel tool so I could clean it up a bit. The jigsaw left a few places that were a bit hard to get to, so the Dremel will come in handy for those. I've resolved to use the previous tail light due to the issues I've had with the one that was recently purchased. It's not that there is anything wrong with the light, but adding a different light that performs the same function as the old one, entirely defeats the purpose of swapping them. Besides, the older light was much brighter. As the wife pointed out, it's also much safer. The seller admitted that there was a mix-up, and the wrong light was sent. Though I will lose some of what was spent for shipping, I will receive a refund for the light. So for now, I will use the same lights that I've had. I do have another idea in mind, but I'll save that for later. My plate is full enough as it is, don't think I'll attempt to add any more until I manage to finish with some of what I've started. I do plan to make time to post a few more pics with the current progression. Until then...ride safe!

The Last Disappointment of the Year

2011-12-31T19:40:00.000-08:00

As the title suggests, I have disappointing news to report. I finally made time today for the installation of my new tail light. Unfortunately, when preparing to wire in the new light, I discovered what was shipped to me was not what I ordered. First off, the metal support on the back of the light was bent. I wasn't worried much though because I was already planning on making a side mount license plate, and would mount the light there. No big deal. However, I soon realized that the light appeared to be missing a couple of wires. What do we have? Run...yes, stop...yes, ground...yes, signals...NO! I was going to give the Ebay seller a chance to rectify the situation. I've sent him a message explaining my dilemma, but have had no respose yet. I went back to check the listing, and it has been deleted. I did however look through my purchase history, and the title for the listing cleary states it is an integrated run/turn/stop light. I will give the seller the benefit of the doubt, and blame his inattentiveness to my situation on the Holiday.I plan on giving him a few more days, and then will be forced to file a claim with Ebay. Despite this unwelcome set back, I have managed to pick up a piece of sheet metal, and draw out a template for my license plate/light combo. I'm also currently scouring Ebay for a fender, or fender blank that can be cut, and shaped to follow along with the direction of my build. I may simply pick up a used Vstar Classic fender and modify it, or pick up an after market fender. So long as it contours around the tire, and leaves enough length on the end to shape,I'll be happy. I will post more on this later. Well it's almost time to go ring in the new year, so I will sign off one last time for 2011. I hope the new year brings all of you happiness, good health, prosperity, and plenty of good riding weather. See you in 2012....ride safe.

Tail Light and Signals Revisited

2011-12-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

If you've been following along with this blog from the beginning, you already know I've previously replaced the OEM tail light, and rear turn signals. However, my recent thoughts are to replace both with an integrated run/turn/stop light. I'm thinking, while I'm at it, I may pick up a small piece of sheet metal and make a side mount license plate. If so, I plan on mounting the new tail light to it instead of back in the stock position. I've purchased what is referred to as a cat's eye styled tail light due to the uncanny resemblance it's shape bears to that of an actual cat's eye. My decision to purchase the integrated light is driven by my thoughts of replacing, or customizing the current rear fender. Removing the tail light, and current license plate mount will significantly increase the range of rear fender options. If I do remove the current signals completely from the rear fender, I may try to incorporate them in with the front signals giving either side of the headlight a dual setup. One pair of the signals will remain as running lights, while the other will be strictly signals. The idea is to wire them both to flash when signaling left or right, then have the dual filament lights simply remain on after the turn is complete. With the Holiday season upon us, my time for the bike will be limited as much of this time is spent with the family. I'm sure I'll manage to squeeze a little extra time out eventually though, and will repost later with pics of the light, and perhaps the install. I will certainly give more details then including my design ideas for all that I have planned. Until then...enjoy the Holidays, and ride safe.

2011-11-11T19:27:00.000-08:00

My VStar is now much more visible at night. I’m happy to announce that the addition of the extra strip of lights, achieved exactly what I’d hoped for. The purple, or more appropriately called UV lights, have had somewhat of an entrancing effect though, and I feel now that I might want to add even more elsewhere on the bike. I am still mulling over fender options, and different ideas for the back of the bike, so I don’t think I’ll attempt to add anything there yet. I have thought about adding some temporarily behind the Kury axle covers, and perhaps find a way to add some near or under the triple trees. I still have the 4 individual lights that were purchased originally from a delusional seller on eBay, listing them as a complete bike lighting kit. Unbeknownst to me, the only thing complete about the listing was the fact it completely misrepresented the product. So now I’m stuck with the 4 small individual lights, and have the perplexing task of planning a way to incorporate them on my bike, or feel that I totally wasted money on them. My current thought leads me in the direction of the triple trees, or perhaps a little higher into the riser/bar area. I considered somewhere along the lower fork tubes, and perhaps even down around the fork bullets, but don’t really like the idea of wire running the length of the front end. For now though, I’ll enjoy what I have, and the gained attention derived from the curious onlookers wondering if they are being invaded by little green biker men from Mars. The pictures I’ve included show where the lights were placed along the top double back bone of the VStar , and again on both sides of the lower frame. Their placement is a bit closer to the heated areas of the bike than I would like, but after a couple of rides allowing the engine to fully warm up, everything appears to be ok. Thus far, I haven’t had to clean melted LED strip lights off of the lower side of the engine, or exhaust. So for now, I’ll assume they have found their permanent home, and I’ll continue my quest to find more unique ways to make my VStar stand out from the crowd. Until my next post….ride safe!

Good Source for Vstar Information

2011-10-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned a few informative sites of interest throughout my posts, and decided I needed to throw one more very helpful site out there for your benefit. The Yamaha Motorcycle Forum is a great group, that are very helpful for all bike enthusiast. The primary focus is simply the Yamaha/Star brand, and includes all bikes that fall within that category. There are individual groups within the forum dedicated to each bike. I personally enjoy reading,learning, and hearing about the experiences shared from all of the groups. I will admit though, I do spend most of my time perusing through the Star 650 Classic and Custom group the most.Becoming a member is just a simple matter of registering on the homepage.Incase you are wondering, no, I'm not in anyway affiliated with the forum other than being a member. I have simply found this particular forum to be very friendly, and most helpful for all of their members. Therefore, I feel they certainly deserve a good mention here from me. As for my bike, it still awaits the installation of the new lights. I've yet to tear it apart, and begin the proccess of figuring out the best position for the install.It's hard to see it sitting in an unrideable state while the weather is so nice. I do plan on making time for the lights very soon, and will post more with the results of the additional strand then. Hopefully, there will be a noticeable difference to report. Until next time...ride safe.

2011-10-23T17:11:00.001-07:00

There hasn't been much to speak of lately, but I'll give you a quick update on my expected modifications for the near future. The lights that were purchased from a seller on Ebay have arrived, and I plan to tackle adding them asap. I ordered an extra 48 inches to go with the current 24 that I have already installed. I'm thinking I may add these to the lower frame, facing up toward the bottom of the motor. The top half is nicely lit, but I'm just wanting things a little brighter. I'm thinking there may be enough of the light strand to follow along the frame behind the motor as well. I guess the placement issue will be a trial and error project. With 6 feet of lighting, I'm sure I can get things just about as bright as it's possibly going to get. I'm still searching out the best price I can on the spiked risers I would like to add. Again with Ebay, I have found a couple that are reasonably priced, but will still need powdercoat or paint for the gloss black. There are spiked risers that are anodized black, but that not only is a little different color, but they are about double in price of the others I've found. As with all of the items I've purchased, I've found that if I search hard enough I will eventually get what I'm after without giving up and arm or leg for it. In the meantime, the wife and I enjoyed a great ride out under clear blue skies. I couldn't have asked for better weather, or a better riding partner. We traveled until we ran out of asphalt, stopped for a quick break and picture opportunity, and made our way back home. I hope you all have a chance to get out and enjoy the fall weather as well, and as always ride safe....

2011-10-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

The weather was nice, and I had some spare time on my hands, so the recently purchased grips were beckoning me to install them. The left side went on without a hitch. I'd guess in less than a minute. The right side however decided to be difficult. After adjusting the speedo cables to give me enough slack to work with, the round ends of the cable, the ones inside the throttle housing, just did't want to cooperate. I've removed the grips countless times, but I was always installing the stock grips back on the bike. This time, the grips were markedly different. I was prepared though for any slight issue with the grips being specified for Harley. They were for 1" bars, so I figured it wouldn't be that difficult to adapt over. Really the grips were fine, and fit the house ok, but for some reason, the throttle sleeve pushed the ends so close together that I amost couldn't get them in. After a good bit of wrangling,lots of grumbling, and borrowing an extra set of hands from the wife for good measure, they are on. In the pictures, I still have the leather lever covers on. They seemed a little out of place without the leather grip covers, so I've removed them as well. I'm still awaiting on a few things from Ebay, but I will save that for later. Until then...ride safe.

Slow Progress

2011-10-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

The last remaining stock item on the front of my VStar will soon be no more. The grips I purchased through Ebay have arrived. I was a bit worried at first because the price was so unbelievably low when compared to some of the other name brands I originally considered. Now that they are in my possession, and I have thoroughly given them a good once over, my fears have been laid to rest. I am currently bidding on a set of risers to match, so I’m going to wait and see how that goes before installing the grips. The left grip uses 3 set screws to secure it to the handle bars, while the right will be secured by the throttle housing. They appear to be nice solid grips, and just what I was looking for. I expect to know something about the risers in the next few days, and will keep you informed of the latest additions.
On a side note, I really liked the looks of the UV lights installed along the frame, under the tank, and shining down on the top of the engine. So, I have purchased a few more feet of the UV strand lights to add at various locations around the engine which will hopefully brighten things up. The UV( purple) color isn’t as bright as some of the other available colors so I’m adding the new lights to achieve the same results I’ve seen on other bikes. I should receive the lights around the end of October, or perhaps the first week of November. In the mean time, I will continue to troll through Ebay looking for anything that may spark a creative interest. Until next post…ride safe.

Black spikes!!!

2011-10-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not thinking about riding the bike in a pair of my Wife's heels. That wouldn't exactly be the safest thing to do...she'd kill me. I'm talking about spikes for the bike.While looking my VStar over trying to decide what’s next, I made the observation that I’ve managed to swap out, or modify almost everything on the front with the exception of handgrips. I did add leather covers to both the grips and levers. However, I’m feeling it’s time for a change. Keeping with the black theme, I found a set of grips on eBay that are not only black, but spiked as well. Currently, the front sports a set of spiked fork bullets, as well as the fork tabs that I cut and shaped into a spike. I surmised the addition of the grips would add to the “look” my VStar is starting to exhibit, so they are on their way. I should receive them in the next couple of weeks, and will give more details on them then. This brings up the topic I left off with in my last entry.
I mentioned wanting to try my hand with metal, or fiberglass because of my desire to have a unique, one of a kind, rear fender. Black and spiked seems to fit the build best. I’ve thought, scrutinized, measured, and planned out several ideas in my head. All would work, and look good in theory. I just don’t know if the actual application would do the same. I will add though, I’ve strongly considered taking the easy way out with a not so unique look, just buying a fender, and cutting it to suit my style. My original plan was to build a fender that would bolt where the current fender struts do now, and do away with the struts completely. This would, in my opinion, make the lines of the bike flow much better. If I did venture into the realm of creativity for my fender needs, I would also like to design it as to include a custom made seat as well. I guess I’ll have to do a bit more research to see what I feel comfortable with, making one, or simply buying the fender and modifying it.
On a final note, while looking around on eBay for grips, I found another tidbit I might pick up if the price is right. Though I’ve replaced the risers already with Phat Risers, I might possibly change them out as well. There is a pair of black spiked 6” risers that I have my eye on. I’m not completely committed to the idea yet, but it’s definitely something I’m considering. The black theme was always the central idea, obviously because it’s a Midnight Custom. Within this past year or so, the spikes seem to be creeping their way in. I have a little more planning to do, but as you can see, I will have lots to talk about later…..Ride safe!

2011-07-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the pictures of the newest additions to my Vstar. I have the tube covers installed, along with the fork bullets, and Kuryakyn axle covers. All are glossblack powdercoated for extra durability. I'm thinking I might powder the fork sliders. Though they are already black, it's not exactly the same color. It may be more visually appealing to have all of the individual parts on the front match. Otherwise, I'm ready to begin my next little project. I'm still considering some of my options at this point. Should I purchase what I need pre-built, or do I try my hand at metal fabrication, or perhaps fiberglass. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I will reveal more later. Until then...ride safe.

Where there is a will...

2011-06-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

There is a way. Of course, a boring Sunday afternoon, a roll of masking tape, and paint are required. I finally decided to do a little something with that plain ole stock front rim. Though I would like to have added a fancy custom wheel to my VStar, this little project added my own custom flair to the current laced wheel. With a little time on my hands, I removed the front wheel assembly, cleaned it thoroughly, and started what turned into about an hour of masking tape fun. I masked off the entire rim, about two inches out from the rim around the tire, and each individual nipple per spoke. Yes this was very tedious. Then came the paint. I added two or three good solid coats each of Rustoleum self etching primer, gloss black, and clear enamel. After letting it dry completely, I spent a second hour of tedious work removing the masking tape. Clearly, the tape is the hardest part of the job. I guess compared to the alternative, unlacing and relacing spokes, the tape doesn't sound too bad. So the end product is now a chrome rim with black spokes. I'm pleased with how this turned out, looks just like those custom jobs I've seen, only at a fraction of the cost. While the axle is out, I plan to have the end machined down to match the stock metric axle. If you'll remember back to when I installed the new triple trees, the axle they sent had a very large head protruding out just enough, preventing me from re-using my fork bullets. I've also stripped the fork bullets of their paint, and along with the recently purchased axle covers, and the fork tube covers, I plan to have them all powdercoated gloss black to match the rest of the powder coated items on the bike. I previously had them painted, but felt like the powder would withstand the abuse from the road a tad bit better. Hopefully I will be able to have the powder coat guy get to this next week. I plan to update with more pics as soon as I have everything back and installed on the bike. For now, I've simply posted pictures of the wheel that was just completed. So, there is definitely more to come later. Until then, ride safe....

Success!!!

2011-05-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

After receiving the strip lights from Ebay, I completely removed the individual ones. There was a very noticeable difference between the two options. The strip was much easier to install, and is far brighter than the single LEDs. While working on the bike, I wired the singles with enough wire to try several placement options. Unfortunately, the singles just don't cut it for me. I will probably add a few more strips under the frame and at the back wheel, and not worry with the dim little singles. The switch is a push button which I've installed in the speedo housing just below the speedometer. I have included a few pics of what I have so far. The first picture shows one of the individual lights that have now been removed. The next pic shows the bike with my camera flash on, and the next is with it off. Sorry,I know the pictures aren't the best. Perhaps a new camera is in my future. I will update more later, ride safe.

Lights

2011-05-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, the mod bug struck again. I purchased some lights on Ebay, to install under the tank, however was very dissapointed. I received 4 individual LED lights, and a push button switch. These lights are very, very dim. To remedy the problem, I've purchased a few feet of strip lighting (again from Ebay) to add with the small individual bulbs. I will probably move the smaller individual lights to the rear of the bike. I have also bought a set of Kuryakyn axle covers used that require a bit of sanding to remove the rust. Afterward, they'll get a good coat of gloss black, and a clear coat for that extra shine. The covers will perhaps be the new placement for the smaller LED lights. When all is said and done, hopefully, the bike will shine a brilliant purple around the engine, and likewise should reflect purple back off of the previously installed wheel cover on the rear tire. That's the plan anyway. We'll see how everything goes. I will post pics when it is all complete. Until then....ride safe!!!

2010-09-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple of months since my last post, but I really haven't been doing any modding on the bike. After spending the time it took to cut and re-shape the front fender, I decided I liked the looks of my Vstar better without it. I seem to have reached a point where most of my little tasks are complete. I only have a few things left I would like to do. One of them is to add a front wheel, which will take modifying the front forks, enabling me to add a Harley wheel. Most of the wheels I'm interested in are only manufactured for larger bikes, or a Harley. With a little work on the front forks, and machining a new axle, and spacers, I can fit one of several available styles on the 650 Vstar. After adding the black wheel cover on the rear, I would like to stay with black and chrome for the front wheel as well. Another item is paint. Though I plan on sticking with a gloss black base coat, and several layers of clear,there is a very unique coating I would like to add over the top. It's called HolaGrafix. It refracts sunlight, creating a rainbow effect over the black. I'm still debating on the different parts on the bike I would like to paint this way. If you're interested in the coating you can find it at DNA-Custom paints. When I finally get around to a paint job with it, I will certainly let everyone now how it turns out. There are a few other ideas I've been tossing around in my head as well, along the lines of a new rear fender and side plate. I'm not too sure of what I would like to do there. Never the less, I will need to make up my mind before the paint happens. Both the wheel and paint are costly projects, and being a family man, and a Dad, I have other finacial demands that require more attention than my mods. Don't give up on me though. I have high hopes that I can get the ball rolling again real soon. As alway....ride safe.

Front fender mod.

2010-06-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I 'm back at it again. With my trusty Dremel in hand, I went to work on the front fender... finally. I taped the front and back off, made a few quick measurements, sketched out my idea on the fender, and started cutting. I know this look isn't for everyone, but it is growing on me. At first, I thought maybe it was a bit overboard. However, I think I'm staring to like it more everytime I look at it. I'm in the process of making new mounting brackets for it now. I'm lowering the fender around 1/2 inch. I will soon be needing to replace the tires, so I think the 1/2 inch lowered distance will accommodate the new rubber. At any rate, here are a few pictures of what I have so far. Keep in mind, the fender is simply resting on the tire, and not mounted yet. I have an aluminum shed that I do most of my work in, and we've been having thunderstorms everyday now for about a week. As you can imagine, this has delayed my progress immensely. I will post more, hopefully of the completed project, when mother nature allows. Until then...ride safe.

Leftovers

2010-06-20T19:10:00.001-07:00

Though I wasn't going to spend anytime working on the bike this summer, it seems I just couldn't help myself. With the addition of all the new glossy parts I've recently added to the front of the bike, the flat black headlight seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. So, I decided with the leftover paint from my last little project, I would remedy that issue. I removed the headlight, and was in between painting coats of gloss black when I happened to spot a small sheet of 16 gauge steel tucked away in the corner of the shed. Again, another left over from a previous project. The wheels in my brain began to spin. I've been wanting to remove the turn signals from the fork tubes, but haven't thought of a plan... until now. Using the vice, and a few well place bends, I shaped a bracket that was about 1/2 inch wider than the base of the headlight. After a little more measuring, and while waiting around to add the clear coat to the headlight, I took a dremel tool and cut the piece down to the height and depth I needed. Now, I simply took the grinding wheel and shaped the ends round, drilled holes to match the lower mount on the headlight, as well as ones for the signals, and started painting away on it as well. I'm pleased with the end results. The headlight is now gloss black and the front forks look much cleaner with the addition of the new mounting bracket for the signals. So, even though I originally said I wasn't going to work on the bike, I'm really glad I did. Until next time...ride safe!

A Little Paint

2010-06-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

I have not been doing a whole lot in the way of mods lately. I have finally decided to paint the speedometer housing black, to match everything else. I will probably remove it later and add a few more coats of clear, for that really deep shine I'm after. I have a few things I'm thinking about, but nothing major. From the begining to now, I've progressively become more engrossed with modifying and changing the looks of my bike, and though I still have several things I'm going to do, I will probably take the summer off to simply ride. I have enjoyed searching out and finding all of the parts, as well as watching my bike take on a different personality. So, taking the summer off will be new, and a bit of an adjustment for me. If anyone needs help finding a particular part, please let me know. I'll be happy to pitch in on the search. One last thing before I go, If you happen to be traveling through South Georgia, keep your eyes peeled for me. I'll be out there, and would love to meet some of you. Until then, Ride safe.

2010-03-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

I finally have the new tripletrees from http://www.bikercom.com/ installed. I'm really happy with how this turned out. There will be an adjustment period though, due to the extra length and rake. The price for the triple trees was 415$ plus the additional shipping, as well as powdercoating. This mod was bit time consuming, and you will need an extra set of hands to help hold and line everything up. Overall though, it's not too difficult, and certainly not as much as I previously anticipated. I'm currently trying to decide if I should run fenderless on the front, cut and reshape it, or simply re-install it as is. I will likewise need to re-install the mirrors but, that's not going to take long. Here is a picture of the new, much improved, stance. After I make a decision about the front fender, I'll be back with more pictures. Until then, ride safe....

Half way there!

2010-03-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I've completed half of my project. The painted rear drum and final drive are all shined up and, I've installed both the rear wheel cover, as well as, the driveshaft cover. The back of the bike is completely black with the exception of a few bolts here and there and, the chrome ring I left exposed as an accent around the inside of the tire. I'm extemely pleased with how things turned out. I will hopefully be able to start the frontend by the end of the week. I've tossed in a few pictures of how it looks now but, will post more when everything is finished. Until then,ride safe...

Finally

2010-03-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

After 6 weeks, I have received the last of my order from Scootworks and, the wheel cover, as well as, the triple trees are back from the powdercoat guy. There was a slight bump in the road concerning the installation of the wheel cover. Apparently the little ziplock bag with the hardware, wasn't sealed well and some was lost in shipping. Fortunatly, I was able to locate a local store that carried the matching chrome bolts and spacers needed. I have the wheel cover installed on the wheel however, need to have it balanced before re-installing it on the bike. After this is done, I will start on the front end. I plan to take a nice long ride beforehand though, due to my extended down time during the Scootworks episode. I've included a couple of shots of what I have so far. BTW, I still have no explanation from Scootworks concerning this order.I'm just glad to have what I paid for. After this experience, I will certainly use more caution, and research the vender completely before ordering. Ride safe...

Scootworks update

2010-03-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

I have received a partial order. The wheel cover was shipped however, the tube extensions were not included. I'm assuming they are still being made.During my email contact, I was assured on two occasions a week apart that ,"the guys are finishing them now". We are closing in on the sixth week now. I finally made contact with them by acting as though I was a new customer wanting to place a phone order. Otherwise, calling them or sending an email received no response. I wished I had an answer or, a reason for all the trouble. As I've mentioned before, I considered Scootworks to be one of the better internet companies for motorcycle parts. Hopefully, when this is all over with, some sort of explanation will be offered that will help restore my faith in their business practices.

No parts yet!!!

2010-03-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back with more bad news. It has now been another week gone by and, no shipment from Scootworks yet. My bike is still sitting in pieces. What makes it worse is that now, I can't get a response through email or phone call. They received payment a month ago, and without contact, I can't even try to cancel the order. Up to this point, I felt confident in using Scootworks for my motorcycle needs, and would have recommended them to others. I'm not sure what happened, a change of ownership perhaps.They have lost my business and, I will certainly warn others when ordering from them. I have a few other places in mind I can order the parts from but hesitate, due to my payment to Scootworks being in limbo. If I can't get a return then I will just be stuck waiting on them to drag around until they finally decide to send my order. I will update more later, ride safe.

2010-02-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

I started this blog to tell you of all the parts I've found along with their price, as well as, what my experience was like using different vendors around the internet. I feel it necessary to share with you my on going transaction with Scootworks. Though I'm confident I will eventually receive my purchase, and it will be of good quality, I'm more than a little disappointed with the current situation. I've just received yet another email stating that they are finishing up with my order and, it should ship out by the end of this week. The order was placed, and paid for almost a month ago. Initially, I received the standard email verifying my order. The following day I was contacted, and it was explained there would be a delay but my package would be shipped aound the middle of the following week. This is where I feel there was a communication breakdown. A simple explanation that the delay would be closer to a month instead of a couple of days would have been appreciated. This would have opened up the option, for me the customer, to have received the needed parts sooner, even if it was from a competitor. This simple act would have insured that Scootworks maintained an outstanding business repertoire with it's customer. As it is, my bike is sitting in pieces waiting on parts that have not shipped yet. This would not be an issue if I would have been more informed about the legitimate ETA of my order. So, as you've probably figured out by now, I'm currently at a stand still, awaiting parts to ship "by the end of this week" as I did the week before, and the week before that. I will let you know more later as things continue to develop. Ride safe...

2010-02-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

I'm back with a few more parts toward the expected mods in the future of my bike. The triple trees have arrived. They came with spacers and a new axle due to the extra width of this particular set of trees. I believe they will also be slightly taller than the stock trees meaning, the previously mentioned tube covers might not work. Another concern I have is that the axle nut looks considerably larger than the one currently on the bike. If so, I'm not sure the fork bullets will fit either. I'm hoping for the best. I plan to have the triple trees powdercoated gloss black. Once this is done, I will begin to assemble the front end, and take a look at the tube covers, and fork bullets, to see what can be done to make them work. Another stroke of seemingly bad luck hit concerning the wheel cover, and fork extensions. I decided to order these items from Scootworks due to my previous experience with them. I received a polite email stating there would be a delay and, I could expect shipping to resume during the middle of the next week. Well, one week turned into two so, I sent them an email questioning the whereabouts of my order. Again, a very pleasant reply stating it should be shipped within the next day or, perhaps the beginning of the following week. That following week is now upon us and, no confirmation of shipping yet. I will give it another day or so and check back in. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon. In the meantime, I've started disassembly of the rear end, as well as, a little sanding and painting. I've discoverd Rustoleum black primer, with a few layers of clearcoat, looks very similar to the powdercoated parts I already have. This will be the route I take for the parts I intend to paint. I'd like to keep the glossblack parts all similar in color. I have already changed the mirrors from flat to gloss. I'm currently working on the rear drum. I will update later and let you know how things go with the Scootworks order. Ride safe.....

2009-12-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is a picture of what I have so far. This is the drive shaft cover and, the polished aluminum fork tube covers. As mentioned in my previous post, I will install these when I have a few more items in hand. Overall, I think what I have planned should continue along with the midnight theme, as well as, add a little more custom flair to the bike. I plan to post more later, as things progress along. I hope you enjoy your Holidays and, as always, ride safe.

New Ideas

2009-12-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

Though I haven't added anything new to my bike lately, I figured I would list a few things I have planned for the future. One of the items includes something I happened upon by accident. Lately, I have been seriously contemplating the idea of adding a Harley front end to my bike. Not only will this give more options of wheel choice, but aftermarket triple trees are cheaper, allowing me to add some rake to the front end. The added rake is the eventual goal. Anyway, while looking around, I happened to find a set of fork tube covers on Ebay for only 20$. They are longer than what I will need but, for the price, I'm sure I'll think of a way to remove the extra 1/4 inch. The plan is to paint them black. This will leave only a small section of the front fork tubes showing. Also,while scouring the internet for options to rake the front end, I did find a few of sets of the raked triple trees that are made specifically for the Vstar 650. One is from Mortons at 699$, and comes with the needed tube extensions, as well as built in fork tube covers. Mortons offers 7 degrees of rake. PCS (Pacific Coast Star) offers similar trees at 6 degrees, only without the extensions, and tube covers, for 690$. Scootworks likewise has a set of trees, lacking extensions and covers, at 4 degrees for 499$, with a cheaper raw version available for 344$. The ones that have my attention are from Highway Hawk, found at biker.com. These offer 6 degrees of rake, and a price tag of 415$. In trying to find the most rake, at the cheapest cost, these seem like the best option so far. I will have to add in the cost of powdercoating them black but, that should be minimal. Along with my searching, I found a gloss black drive shaft cover for around 30 dollars from Ebay. It's wrapped up under the Christmas tree waiting on me. My plans here are to buy a solid wheel cover, which can be found at Scootworks for around 200$, powder coat or paint everything black, and virtually black out the entire rear end. So, as you can see, my next few mods will encompass a few items instead of just one. To start, I think I'll shoot for the cheapest route and buy a wheel cover to go along with the drive shaft cover. I still haven't decided if I want to black out the rims, or simply black out the rear hub and wheel cover, leaving the chrome rim. If I decide to black out the rim, I would likewise blackout the front as well. In the meantime, I will try to post pictures of the new items, as I recieve them, and update my progress. As always, ride safe!

A few more changes

2009-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

After adding the rigid bar, and determing that the ride was acceptable, I decided to drop the bike down as low as it would go. A friend over at the CC & D shipped me a rigid bar that was drilled at 8 3/4 center mounting holes. This shorter bar placed the fender almost on the swingarm. Yes, now it is, as low as it will go. Also, while looking around on Ebay, I ran across a set of fork bullets that I simply had to have. Their condition was a used, and they were for an 1100 but, I knew with a little work, and a little paint, they would be perfect on my bike. Luckily, I won the bid, and only paid a fraction of what the new price would have been. I've sanded them smooth to get ride of some slight road rash, and painted them to match the rest of the bike. I 've also finally added the small LED taillight that was purchased some time ago. I made a bracket from a peice of metal purchase at a local hardware store, shaped it like the original Yamaha bracket, and bolted it right up.Well, that's it for now...Ride Safe!

2009-07-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

I’ve been contemplating my next mod for sometime now. Though I enjoyed the lowered stance offered by the Baron’s lowering shock head, I have admired and longed for a bike that was a little lower. The approach I decided on was to change the set up of my bike from a single shock to rigid. Again many thanks go to the great people over at the 650 CC &D forum for all of their help and advice. To achieve the lowering of your bike by running it with the rigid set up, you begin with a one inch square or round piece of ‘stock’ bought at most any place that carries steel. You’ll need a piece only 10 ½ inches long, then using a ½ inch drill bit, drill two holes approximately 9 ¼ inches from center to center. I’ve spoken with some who have lowered their bikes even further by moving the holes. However, this distance was just right for me. Unfortunately, during the process of completing my project, I was caught in a rain shower. I persevered and finished last night. Due to how late I finished and the rain, the pictures could be better. As always, ride safe.

2009-06-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally finished my "honey -do" list well enough to have a little time for my bike. Despite the 100 degree temperatures, I took full advantage of my time off, and installed the Harley horn. Though I previously read the instructions, there was still some guess work regarding the measurements for my Custom Vstar. Once all final measurements were determined, and the appropriate length bar was cut and drilled, I simply bolted everything together. The Harley horn offers a louder and deeper tone that, with luck, will help announce my presence to the other vehicles.This addition not only dresses up the side of the bike, but also adds to the facade of riding a Harley. Though I'm content with my Vstar, it is always fun to see the look of some folks, and even have some unwittingly make the comment of "nice Harley". Until my next mod update, ride safe!!!

2009-06-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

The newest addition was simply a little paint. I decided, with all the black, why not paint the front clamps and signals,as well as those on the rear, to match the new headlight. While I was feeling creative, I tried my hand with the little protective plastic tabs located on the forks. Using a Dremel tool, and a pattern I made to insure each would be symetrical to one another, I cut both into a point and painted them black too. The tail light did arrive, however it looks as though I will need to design a new bracket for it to custom fit under the fender. Also a word to the wise, always check measurements of parts you intend on ordering. The tail light was much smaller than I had anticipated. I'm presently waiting on an 1-1/4 frame clamp I ordered from Phat Performance. When it arrives, I will use it to move and replace the stock horn with the Harley horn and locate it as close as I can in the position of a Harley Motorcycle.Until then...Ride safe.

2009-05-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

From the beginning, I have always strived to create a bike that was unique. My recent addition of a new headlight definitely emphasizes, and exibits,this fact. The Wave or E.T. headlight, as it is sometimes refered to, offers a stand alone look for any bike. However, a black powder coated version, was in my opinion, a perfect match for the Midnight Vstar. Offered through Ebay, at 75.00 plus shipping, this purchase I simply could not resist. I'm patiently awaiting the arival of a second Ebay puchase which, hopefully, will add a little more personality to the rear of my Vstar.This time around I decided to go with the addition of an LED taillight designed more for the street/speed bikes as oppose to the cruiser style. With luck, it will accomplish the desired look I'm aiming for. Last on the list is a modification that I would like to thank all the great and wonderful people at the 650 VStar CC&D forum for. This is the horn relocation mod through the use of an Harley Davidson horn and cover. All of the directions for achieving this can be found at http://www.650ccnd.com/ . Again I searched the treasure trove of Ebay for a Harley horn. After finding one in good shape, I had it powdercoated gloss black, and am now waiting for clear skys to begin the modification. Due to the weather lately, picture opportunites have been few. I took a couple between down pours to let you see what the new light looks like.

2008-12-31T21:31:00.001-08:00

Christmas has come and gone, now I sit here writing to you just minutes away from the new year. As promised, I can now inform you of my surprise gift, a HyperCharger. My "better half" also gave me a new set of Flanders 35 degree dragbars. Both are gloss black in color, and compliment the midnight custom VStar beautifully. The HyperCharger, along with the adapter for the 650, was purchased from Phat Performance,and at $292.00, was much cheaper than their competitors. The focus here was performance and the HyperCharger added an incredible amout of speed, that is, once much larger jets were used besides the ones included with the kit.The Flanders dragbars we picked up off of Ebay for $75.00. Style was the name of the game for this buy. Sitting lower and with just as much pull back as the stock bars, the Flanders bars not only add to the sleek profile of the VStar, I also did not sacrifice any comfort in achieving the look I was trying to obtain. I am completely satisfied with the direction my bike is going and my recent purchases however, the wheels in my brain are already spinning toward my next modification. Until next time, have a happy and safe new year.

2008-11-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Subtle changes do make a difference! My VStar is now about two inches lower thanks to the Baron's lowering kit. Though there is not much of a visible difference, the handling is greatly improved, and for under forty dollars (Ebay) I highly recomend this modification. With a lower center of gravity, the cornering can be acheived, as they say "on rails". Another subtle change, was a quick swap of the drivers footpegs. Though I originally considered forward controls, Kuryakyn's swingwing pegs, sold for just over a hundred dollars, kept more money in my wallet and yet achieved the overall results I'd hoped for. The swing wings are just as described, when closed they behave much in the same way as the regular wing pegs, however a simple flip of the switch on the side, swinging them open, and voila, three extra inches of leg room. Although neither modification dramatically changed the apperance of my VStar, both have made my ride much more appealing on a personal level. My next planned upgrade(hopefully) will not only be eye catching, but performance enhancing as well. I will let you know more around Christmas due to the fact that this is going to be a gift from my Wife, so officially, I don't know about it yet. Ride safe!!!

2008-08-09T12:50:00.001-07:00

It has been a while I know, my apologies. Been just a little too busy for any leisure writing, so I figure I am overdue for an update. After my last upgrade I decided It was time to match up the lighting therefore my motorcycle now sports a new set of bullet LED lights on the front as well. I also picked up a great looking set of leather grip covers off eBay. I am happy with both purchases, but here is the real “meat and potatoes” of my recent modifications. A brand new set of gloss black “Phat Risers” purchased for 104.95 plus shipping, from Scootworks.com. There are three options available, 4, 5.5, and 8 inches. To prevent any cable changes I opted for the 4 inch with the 1.5-inch pullback, which translates to a grip point that is 2 inches closer. What a difference! Longer rides are now pain free, no shoulder cramps or muscle tension at all. Not to mention, these things are built to last. Each riser weighs in at a hefty 2 pounds. Yes...2 POUNDS, for a grand total of 4 pounds of heavy metal. I am talking about class meets strength, Chuck Norris style. Sporting a gloss black shine comparable to most paint jobs, and the durability to withstand time, this is arguably one of the best mods yet. Well, I’m going to take advantage of some of this free time, beautiful weather, and new comfort by going for a ride. I will keep you posted, until then, ride safe. (By the way, I removed the shield for the picture, giving you a better look at the new “PhatRisers”.)

Rainy Day Delivery

2008-05-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

My new seat from West Eagle arrived today and, wouldn't you know it, it's rainy. Luckily, it has cleared up enough for installation and a quick test run. As with the windsheild, this modification actually requires more time removing it from the package than it does to install. I can honestly say under a minute. My excitment added with the pressure of the looming clouds above might have improved my time just a bit. The style and look are exactly what I was going for. The only improvement I could have asked is for the rear section going up the fender to be a little thinner. It's no big deal though since this adds to the comfort factor. While on the subject, after a short run, I'm quite pleased. I was a little apprehensive at first, wondering if I were sacrificing comfort for looks, but after the test run I no longer worry. This little seat, in my opinion, out performs the stock one hands down. Over all I would say it's money well spent. The West Eagle seat at 154.99 is far below much of the competition.Though there are many seats and styles out there, if your looking for a low "in the saddle" feel, look no further. West Eagle gets a thumbs up.

motorcycle tip (just the guys)

2008-05-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ok guys this is something that should be a "no brainer", however, until recently I was unaware of how effective it could be. On mothersday do everything in your power to keep your wife from having to lift her fingers to do anything. Afterward, even though it's mothersday, she'll buy you new parts for your bike. I'm not refering to mowing or taking out the trash. We need to go much beyond that into the realm of dishes, cooking, and laundry. Get my drift. My new seat from West Eagle is on the way. Try this technique next year and watch your motorcycle transform.I'll post more later when the seat arrives.

New Pipes

2008-04-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

2008-04-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

After installing my new "strippers" last night I'm simply speachless. New pipes have been on my list of mods but I honestly didn't expect the results. Even the "HarleyGuy" that helped me install the pipes had to smile. What a sound! My little 650 grew up. I was totally blown away and I fully, and whole heartedly recommend Hardkrome's "strippers". The Guys and Gals at HardKrome deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. Though the old exhaust were a bit of a pain trying to wriggle them out between the frame and the engine, the strippers slide right into place with no problem.Not only do they sound phenomenal, but adding the black ceramic pipes to an already mostly black bike simply looks just too cool. I also think I should toss a little "hats off" mention in here about Phat Performance parts. This was a speedy delivery, right on time, and everything in order. I'll post a new picture on here soon.

2008-04-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

I just ordered the new style "HardKrome" strippers exhaust for my VStar. This is a much awaited improvement. Though VStars look great, the new pipes should give this bike even more of a custom flare than before. When I say new style what I really should be saying is color. They have very recently added the black ceramic coat to the strippers and I simply could not resist. Previously, I was thinking about the "Vance and Hines" shortshots. However, they only offer the black option to the Harley guys.Bummer...I really liked the slashcut ends, not to mention they sound great!At any rate, these pipes should be in around early next week so I will post more about them then. BTW, I elected to go with PhatPerformance. After searching around abit, they seem to have the best deal( At this time they offered free shipping , can't beat that).

atlast!

2008-03-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

They're heeeere! After much ado and almost a month waiting, I finally have my mirrors as well as the new lights installed.Other than a missing wrench from my tool box, which was easily remedied with a trip to the local hardware store, there were no more problems to speak of. Phat performance parts stuck to their word without any problems refunding the original money spent for the mirrors. I'm extemely pleased with the outcome.The black teardrop mirrors and bullet lights are a great complement to the Midnight VStar. In comparison to much more expensive lights, I have to say I cannot tell the difference. Drag specialties bullet lights in my opinion are definately the best bang for your buck out there. I will try and get a picture on here soon,until then I will continue to update with any new information pertaining to Vstar parts that I find.

Mirror Trouble

2008-02-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

There is quite a story behind my next modificaton so get comfortable. After the first good experience with Phat performance parts I felt it would be a safe bet to begin there. I found a great looking pair of Arlenness rad II mirrors for around 100 dollars and placed my order. A week goes by and I receive an email explaining that only one mirror is being shipped and that the second was back ordered and would be in around a month later. This was not acceptable, especially since they were already suppose to be here by now. I replied That I would like to cancle my order only to have them respond by saying when it comes in deny shipment and when they received it back I would be refunded my money. Disappointed, my search began again. This time ebay prevailed and for about $10.00 cheaper. After about four business days my mirrors came in supposedly with all the hardware for metric and standard fit, or atleast thats how they were advertised. WRONG! It appears Yamaha, out of all the bikes, needs and extra reverse thread adapter for the right side. Lucky me, I save money ordering the mirrors just to have to spend it putting them on. Calling my local dealership, I found out how incompetent some people can be. Credit card number, order placed, and a four day wait behind me I decided to call and check on my part. They guy answered and claimed he forgot the card number and lost our phone number and so he didn't place the order. Frustrated, I went back to my computer and found cruisercustomizing.com which had my part for half of what the dealer was charging. Shipping was going to be $6.00 so I decided to toss in a set of "Drag Specialties" bullet marker lights as well. I just placed the order so no news yet. By the way, I'm still waiting on the original order from Phat performance to come in just so I can deny it and get my money back. Alot of trouble, but on the up side the one mirror I have on does look really good. They are a bit small, but with proper adjustment you will still be able to see the jerk behind you just before he rear ends you. I will post back with more on this dilemma later.

First Modification

2008-02-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

Because I'm not one of those tough guys that can handle all that wind blowing them off their bike, my first purchase was a sheild. After looking around a bit I decided to go with a Memphis Shades "poptop" sheild purchased from phat performance for a total of 144.43( sheild and hardware are sold seperate). The sheild is black across the bottom, clear at the top, and matches my Midnight Custom Vstar perfectly. Simpe installation, I think it actually took longer to tear it out of the shrink wrap package it came in. I'm around 5'10"so I still get a little wind in the face but this was a dramatic improvement.

Introduction

2008-02-21T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hi, My name is James. I recently bought a new V-Star motorcycle, and have been searching the internet for parts on the V Star 650. It has been harder to find than I thought it might be, so I figure I can share what I am able to locate here, and maybe save someone else the headache.