It's finally winter...let's get chopping!

[nortstudio]

I have been checking out some of the build threads here and on the archives, and have decided to have a go at chopping the stock rear fender and rear fairings. I have an extra set - so I'm not too worried about it. The bike needs a paint job anyway, so all of my plans should be benign (unless I cut off the rear bars that surrounds the VR and coolant overflow - but I could always weld that back on).

I have a couple questions:

1. I have already made the R6 VR swap. Can I move it to the flat spot under the passenger seat? Will it get enough airflow - if I have the finned R6 style, and put the "heat sink" plate there too?

2. Is there a need to reinforce the back cowl that the light sits in, if I cut it upwards to raise the light? It seems I the photos I have seen, that piece looks fairly small (and fragile???). Also, how are people attaching the light now that it's chopped. I thought about cutting the black brace and shortening it - but that would require drilling new holes to the subframe, and possibly tapping?

3. Where are people putting the helmet lock once that bar is gone? It's nice to have, and I know there are options, I just haven't seen any photos of that.

4. Is there a good pictorial for the rear fender chop? I've searched, but can't find anything specific, other than mentions that it's been done.

Any and all advice is appreciated Thanks in advance.

Scott

[Clanky]

Hi Scott,

Here is a good pictorial guide to doing the R6 tail swap on a FZR 600, shows a lot of the issues involved in any tail mod and covers remounting the VR, coolant bottle, etc:

http://heath.agdog.com/fzr/workbench/19 ... ndex.shtml

I asked a question about the VR mod and earth leads just the other day. Lamer kindly posted a photo of how he mounted his VR under the seat, take a look.

Good luck with it all.

Nigel

[nortstudio]

Thanks so much Nigel. I actually found that site since I posted this - so hopefully that will steer me clear on some issues. I believe IIRC he mounted it to some part that came with the R6. Battery box maybe?

I'm looking to mount it under the passenger seat - on the flat part of the fender (the only part I kept.

So far, the cuts of the rear fairings have been a little nerve wracking, but with an extra set - I should be ok

I'm loving how clean it looks already, and I haven't even removed the gray brace bars yet. Takes years off the look of the bike. And isn't that what we all would love, a quick hair cut that makes us look 10 years younger!

Appreciate te help.

[Clanky]

I know what you mean about the shape of the stock tail but I actually quite like it, part of the bike's character I suppose. My mate hates it and says that Yamaha lost interest at that point in the design and thought, 'That'll do'.

I do wonder if I could get a FZR 400 tail to fit though, has a slightly retro look to it.

[nortstudio]

Clanky, that mod would indeed be unique

I don't hate the tail, and in fact don't love super-modern tails either. My hope is that I will fall somewhere in the middle.

My dilemma now is whether the VR plate (heat sink) needs to be touching metal, or whether I can attach it to the plastic fender. I believe the current welded mount on the side where the plate bolts to has gray paint on it - leading me to believe it wouldn't be a true ground. But I could be mistaken with that. Either way, I planned on running the ground wires to that mount - which will not be seen hidden beneath the fairing.

[Clanky]

Scott,

I'm new to all this so I can't give you an informed answer.

I don't think that the VR heat sink plate would have to be bolted to metal provided the plate is properly earthed to the engine block or frame somehow.

The pics in the link to the R6 tail swap seem to show the VR mounted directly to the plastic fender without using the aluminium heat sink plate (I would be wary of that because I assume the plate helps to dissipate any heat the VR generates).

Nigel

[DonTZ125]

If you're already using a newer 5- or 6-pin VRR, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[nortstudio]

This is where I got to tonight. Ended up putting the VR on the plate, bolted to the fender.

After I took this photo, I got the plastic tail light section chopped. Tomorrow I will cut the metal brace. I'm going to fab a few braces of my own to secure the light. Seems easier than cutting and welding the existing brace. Still need to sand the cuts on the fairings to make them more uniform and shapely. But I'm waiting until I have everything together and can look at it from a distance.

[nortstudio]

Not sure why the pic is cut off to the right - you can't see the tail, right?

This is the direct link if anyone is interested...

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee4 ... a7257f.jpg

[cowboi]

keep up the good work, AND DONT GET SLACK.... we want to see a finished product here soon.

[nortstudio]

Well, "finished" is subjective

Tomorrow I will have the tail light sorted out, and that will wrap up the shape. But painting is another story. I need a little more time to get the rest of the fairings stripped of the stickers, and then I need to build a makeshift paint booth in the garage.

Does anyone know if people usually lose the back most fairing peg support when doing these chops? I made it so I still have it, but I've seen mods that are more sharply angled up in the rear - which leads me to believe that the last peg must be useless. Maybe I'm missing something?

I have an R6 rear shock swap on the way and new adjustable clipons. Hopefully the weather gets back in the 40's and I can try these changes out with some enjoyable rides.

I've been riding this bike all winter so far, doesn't act as pesky in the cold as I thought it might. The last two days in the teens seemed like the right time for these fixes though.

I'll post some more pics as the changes keep coming.

Thanks for the support folks.

[nortstudio]

This is the last mod I did before this latest adventure in chopping....

Helps with the view behind me, which I wasn't satisfied with even after swapping the the YZF mirrors.

[Clanky]

Looking good, Scott.

Keep posting the updates.

That's one decent size workshop and some interesting bikes in the background there. Looks like you have plenty too keep you busy.

[nortstudio]

It's a decent sized shop - but cramped right now. I found the spot after spending the winter last year wrenching on my CB550 on the curb. Once snow hammered us in for 2 months, I started looking for a space

I found the space, set up some benches etc. filled it with my tools (and a few more that i bought at the time - like a cheap HF lift). I share it with a bunch of guys (and 1 gal). I think we may be up to 10 people, 20 bikes right now. We all do our own wrenching on our bikes. It's a little cramped, but hey, it's Brooklyn

My friend is about ready to take a ride on a 1973 Bonneville 750 that he started with his dad 2 years ago (who has since past away). It will be a hell of a ride, and certainly emotional. That's the bike you can sorta see in the background.

I'll keep you all posted.

This is the chop I have been using for inspiration - you can see that his rear fairing is MUCH smaller than my cut, but I am assuming that there is no way he is using his hind mounting peg.

[sweekster]

This is the last mod I did before this latest adventure in chopping....

Helps with the view behind me, which I wasn't satisfied with even after swapping the the YZF mirrors.

I did this:




Ignore the dust as the bike is in garage art mode currently. Those are GSXR 750 mirrors bolted on using the FZR mirror base. No issues for me and more pleasing to the eye in my opinion.