Thanks to some great ideas from members I am changing my 92 interstate to a kind of f6b.My goal is lightening and hopefully lowering the bike. This is my 7th 1500.I am taking off the trunk, cutting down the windshield to about 10 inches.I will possibly make a driver backrest.the huge saddlebags I cant do much about.The bike has no reverse andis a bear to back up not because of the weight but because of being on my tiptoes. One person said shorter shocks.My knowledge is limited.I assume the interstate had no air assist.The stock shocks were like 12 inch? I go with 11 inch? What brand, any idea where to get them.Shocks come in all sizes and price ranges. I found some for $26.those must be junk.I figured progressives about 100 bucks each would be likely.So the bags I cant change, the seat changing to the f6b profiler style does not appeal to me at all.I did a shocks search, found nothing specific
My stepbrother wanted to build a custom Triumph twin, chrome stuff, drag pipes, extended front, beautiful paint, custom thin seat, and just struts in place of rear shocks. He arrived at strut lengths by removing shocks, let bike ease down until the new laced 5.10-16 rear tire / 16" rear wheel combo rubbed, measured length between shock mount holes, and added 1/2".
In mid '70s, he took a job out of town, and took this Triumph with him. Few years later he transferred back, he asked me to ride up in his car one Saturday and ride his Triumph back. Waynesboro to Lynchburg.
now I have one big ugly square where the trunk used to be.the round tubing with all its mounting points jutting out.I will post pictures.await suggestions.I will have the seat recovered.I will have the rear end extended and use it to cover part of the hole.now the trunk is locked and the bags.hopefully there is some way to find a cable to pull and open them.Thats another problem.I didn't plan well because I have never done this.I also will cut the windshield down to 12 inch height.
have you ever cut your foam down.i would think it would reduce the comfort a lot.my problem with the seating position is I am too close, my right knee doesn't bend backwards due to a motorcycle accident 18 years ago.If I sit on the top of the hump of the driver portion of the seat I am far enough back and high enough to be comfortable.but that's dumb looking and not comfortable.And when I have to come to a stop I feel like I have to drop into a hole.I am seriously looking into Knight design lowered pegs for honda st1300.I think they will work.
You also have to relocate the turn signals to the saddlebags and the harness where you removed the trunk has those wires plus ground and a set of these to replace the originals: https://cyclemax.com/inc/sdetail/gl1500_saddlebag_corner_turn_signals/83/749
Now what you need for the job is what's in the pic and it comes from MBL Innovations to cover the hole. https://www.facebook.com/MBL-Innovations-154659934696593/
The internal saddlebag releases can be relocated to the cover mentioned above.
What you're building is a one off custom GL1500/F6B.
the second link was all about some sort of remote fob for an 1800. I don't see anything that will plug the hole.however the ugly bracket trunk support appears to be a subframe and is removeable. I can replace it with something if need be.I intend getting the rear of the seat extended back several inches.So not really not much of a hole anywhere eventually.those f6b saddlebag fobs I cant see working on my cable actuated bags.But I feel certain the handles from the trunk can be relocated one for each bag like it is stock.60 pounds off and I can scarcely tell a difference.I have a 1500 repair manual coming in the mail.I think I will remove the bank angle sensor and its relay.that wont help much.here is what I want, my dream bike:
1.2 inch lower footpegs
2.700 pound final weight.
3.saddlebag lights, thius looks solved now
4. passenger seat length increased.
5.Some removeable passenger backrest ala corbin style
6.as much Tupperware removed as possible.show off the engine
7.12 inch tall windscreen
8.denim blue or denim black semigloss
9.blacked out around the headlights behind the lenses
10.I would love a Dakota digital dash but this would be getting out of hand then
11.remove the gaudy disc brake covers
12.instead of 1500 Goldwing fender emblem have a sign company make one 1500 litewing
The bank angle sensor is a 'Safety' you don't want to remove that.
The headlights that's the reflector bowls and you need that. You can upgrade the headlight and turn signals with the newer version that is clear and that looks nice. Plus to avoid the "Egg Yolk" look of the turn signals you use silver bulbs. You can powder coat the aluminum garnish trim under the windshield , but changing to the 2000 lights the garnish is different. These are the silver bulbs for clear turn signals: http://www.autolumination.com/titaniumseries.htm They offer a lot of other items too, they even off a film to cover the headlight. The two colors you selected are what HD uses and you can get the paint from colorrite paint https://www.colorrite.com/
If you look at this pic you'll see a cover over where the trunk was located and that was offered through MBL Innovations. On their Facebook page they call the cover a 'Sport Kit'.
Here's a couple of clever ideas for removing the trunk and what they've created. You could also modify the trunk lid to be used to cover the open space on the back.
By using the trunk lid as a filler panel you have two choices, but also bear in mind that it must be removable for maintenance. Do you want the cover to be load bearing or non load bearing? Most of these in the above pics seem to be decorative and covering the trunk support.
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