Project ideas and Platform.
The Girl’s research focused her on the Generation 1 Ninja.
I found a 2007 w/11500mi locally, running but low end knock in the motor, it had a clear title, plastics, seat and frame were in very good condition, and new tires to boot. I picked it up and found a motor with 2450 miles on it…all said she is into the that side of the bike project for $Cheap. Plus figured the good fairings may be worth something.
It was fun working with The Girl in deciding what the bike should look like, she had some great ideas about the minimalist look she wanted & cost of the items needed and I was looking at it from 600 mi away dependability as well as cost and quality of the parts. I thought the more we could leave stock the easier for her to maintain, cheaper to build and less time to modify (and still get the look we wanted). So we left the battery & air box (no re-jetting of the carbs) and rear inner fender in place (keeping the rear shock cleaner & didn’t have to relocate electronics) and eventually decided to use a modified OEM seat that still used the seat latch versus a new seat pan and seat.
Chicagobob here on this forum, Blue Collar Bobber’s Ninja kit and Herm Narciso, Dime City Cycles - Makes a Fiberglass Cafe Racer Seat! - Part 2 YouTube video, along with many other forums, forums posters and web pic’s, were influences on our design, process and parts used.
A key feature we wanted in the tail was to be able drop it over and lower on the frame creating a more visual straight line café look without having to significantly modify the frame. This required us to make our own.
Couldn’t figure a way to use the stock speedometer set up that looked good enough and it was important to keep all the functionality of the indicator lights and coolant temp & oil pressure. The Trail Tech Vapor with Dashboard (as used by Chicagobob) filled the requirement.
Side panels and tank blanks we decided could be made out of Kydex sheet 12”x24”x .125”
Here is a list-of the parts & Tools we used and were we bought them (usually best prices too).
Amazon
Emgo Honda Style 6 1/4in. Headlight Assembly - Black 66-64313 $31
BikeMaster 122-9835 MINISTALK MARK LT VSHP BLK/CLR (turn signals) 2 sets $30.3
HTT GROUP Motorcycle Black 2PCs Adjustable Heavy Duty Round Mirror $16.66
KYDEX V PLASTIC SHEET - 12"X24"X0.125" THICK (BLACK) 2 sheets $23
Ebay
Headlight mounting brackets Honda CB650 CB750 fits 35mm Fork Tube Chrome $19.95
Red 3" Round 15 LED Surface Mount Brake Stop Turn Tail Lights / Red Lens pair $25.50
White LED SMD Motorcycle & Car License Plate Screw Bolt Light lamp bulb 12V $5.49
Phat Performance
Trail Tech Vapor 752-300 $96.95
Trail Tech Vector Indicator Dashboard $44.95
Home Depot Bondo fiberglass resin, Bondo filler, Bondo fiberglass cloth & mat, Cheap paint brushes
Tools (already had these); Metric wrenches & Sockets, Heat gun (harbor freight), 4 ½” angle grinder with cut off disks & Dremel tool, Drill & Bits & Taps of various sizes and Stapler