DIY Cheap Mods
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 485
Likes: 8
From: FLA
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
Auto zone sells toppers in the engine dress up section, dozens of them cheap. I have put \\;them all over my bike. For the large CAD bolts I put a dab of silicone glue (instead of the fastener) and smack it with a rubber mallet. They been on there of thousands of miles. Glued one remove very easy by prying or grabbing with a plyers.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1
From: texas
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
Easy way to run wire inside handle bars. Tape off one end of bars. get a long shoe string or fishing line. Tie a knot or something on that will fit threw the barsand tie the other end to the wires. Get your vacum and put the hose on the open end of the bars and turn it on. Feed the line in and let it suck it up. Then just pull the wires up. \\;Then do the other side. It works I have done it 5 times so far.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 3
From: Bel Air Md
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
here is one I did on my sportster last year, a 1" metal door hole saw and a $4 can of high temp flat black BBQ spay paint and about 1 hour labor not counting dry time.
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oh yea, and 25 cents for the bandaid when the drill slipped
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oh yea, and 25 cents for the bandaid when the drill slipped
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 6
From: Florida
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
I've got the perfect fix for the grip stick problem:
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This is a bearing for your throttle and it's only 20 bucks.
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http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetai...&\\;search=
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This is a bearing for your throttle and it's only 20 bucks.  \\;
http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetai...&\\;search=
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 6
From: Florida
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
I don't know what happened to that link, but here it is. It's part number 500-467 at J&\\;P Cycles
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http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetai...&\\;search=
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http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetai...&\\;search=
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
I have the Harley smoked turn signals on my bike and they are way to light they almost look clear. I decided to make the background of the lights black so the lens would appear darker. i started to use black tape place a piece in position to get the cut out for the bulb and when i removed it the silver backing came off so i keep applying tape and removing it until the silver backing was gone. the results was a much darker look to the lens but the lights as just as bright. its not a true cheap mod because the smoked lens are not that cheap but its a mod that i feel looks much better. you can use the black tape or remove the silver backing
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Oahu, Hawaii
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
On my Crossbones I replaced the soft CAD torx bolts on the rear fender strut with Chrome allen bolts and stainless washers. It was $25 at ACE and it looks killer. I am going to paint the washers black but for now it is fine.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Manhattan, Kansas
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
well.. this is actually a cheap way to un-do the cheap "punch a hole in the baffle" mod. I did that almost immediately on my 08 fatboy and after 3k miles I was noticing that the engine always runs hot and pings under acceleration (lean). so I removed the mufflers and drove a 1 5/16 freezeplug (available at any auto parts store) from the inlet side down the baffle tube until it bottoms out on the remainder of the baffle cap you punched out. the freezeplug fits nice and tight and cant be worked out the pipe due to heat and vibration. It looks totally stock when you look down the pipe compared to before any mod was done.
 \\;You will be surprised how much better the bike runs and how much low end torque you were missing when you modified the stock exhaust. I asked \\;my service manager what modifying the stock mufflers can do to affect the warranty and basically if the engine is damaged due to a lean condition that you caused its your baby. I am planning on eventually getting the vance and hines 2 into 1 big radius and the fuel pack.
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 \\;You will be surprised how much better the bike runs and how much low end torque you were missing when you modified the stock exhaust. I asked \\;my service manager what modifying the stock mufflers can do to affect the warranty and basically if the engine is damaged due to a lean condition that you caused its your baby. I am planning on eventually getting the vance and hines 2 into 1 big radius and the fuel pack.
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: SD
RE: DIY Cheap Mods
I have a Night Train and Hate lots of chrome so I decided to do something about it. I took off the python mufflers and heat shields off and used VHT 1500 degree flat black paint. It has chipped a bit from the wife's car door but it is an easy touch up. As I said I am not a fan of lots of chrome so I pulled off the brake lever, **** lever and linkage and painted them with VHTs Wrinkle paint to try to match the the bike. the wrinkle did not come out perfect but until you get down close and look at it you can not tell. all this for about $30. I got the paint through the local auto parts store because it is about $5 cheaper then JP and no shipping. Up next is the rear turn signals but I am not sure about painting plastic.
