[makenzie71]

Thanks! I REALLY liked that big braced swingarm, but that open wheel is more my style. This is going to make the 12th conversion I've done lol

 

[Classic250]

I get the braced swingarm, but the SS swingarm is really different on a CR, and it suits the style of your bike IMO..

 

[TrialsRider]

I like the giant poodle, but omg your land is so flat, now I see why you are always wrenching on bikes instead of riding them.

 

[makenzie71]

I spend quite a lot of time riding...

 

[makenzie71]

I know being at this point means progress has been made...that the end is in sight...but I always hate this part. I can finish the rest of the project and then sit over this point for months because I don't want to take it apart. But I'm trying to muscle through it, I want to be able to ride this bike this summer. There really wasn't a ton of welding to do...I've still got one joint I need to grind off and redo but the rest is done. I'll take half an hour this evening to clean it all and maybe get it primed. Fresh paint tomorrow. Maybe I can be reassembling by the weekend.

 

[makenzie71]

Welds finished, primed, and painted. I know the tail looks long and unsupported but the tubing if pretty heavy and all the weight is as the front near the tank mount.

Also cleaning up the engine. Repainted the case and heads. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to just clean up the chrome on the on the side covers or paint them a burnt silver color. I'm thinking of going that route because it'll match the swingarm a little more neatly...otherwise this bike is going to have a LOT of glossy/matte black and then BAM brushed aluminum swingarm.

Yuk. This bike was found laying on its side under a tree. It'd been there for years...

That said, though, the inside of the cases was surprisingly clean.

 

[TrialsRider]

I would not worry about the tail, that only has to hold yer behind, it's the rubber hinge like frame with no triangulation at the head stock I would be worried about.

 

[makenzie71]

incredible...if it's not "I'm going it wrong" then it's "Honda did it wrong" lol

 

[TrialsRider]

incredible...if it's not "I'm going it wrong" then it's "Honda did it wrong" lol

Honda built a economical cruiser, you changed the front and rear to make it something completely different, we see that a lot here, modern bits tied together with marginal frames, it is what it is. She's going to wiggle but if you ride lots you must know that.

 

[makenzie71]

I am thinking that I will keep the chrome covers for now.

Had to address one of the most important components...a bike without a paddock stand is a bike without a home.

and on to reassembly...

 

[makenzie71]

yuck.

 

[makenzie71]

More work on the 2006 Honda Shadow 750 Spirit (I've been calling it an Ace but I learned this morning this is allegedly a Spirit).

Got my exhaust set up, ground down, re-welded in places, and painted. It's painted with a generic epoxy so it'll burn off the first thing the thing is heated up, but it gives me a good idea of how it'll look redone in stainless. I will probably sell my CX500 once this bike is done, and then I'll have a new exhaust made in stainless...probably with some slightly shorter mufflers.

I also finalized how where I'm sticking the coils. I've been switching back and forth between the stock coils and some stick coils but fitment has been crazy with both. I sorted out I can fit them in the area that the fins would be on the #1. That spot looks funky anyway since it's normally occupied by an airbox so the coils fill that void. I'm thinking of running with yellow wires lol.

I LOVE how skinny this thing is!

And a money shot just to help with size perspective. I'm 6' even these days for reference...I use to be 6'2" and not sure what happened...

 

[Classic250]

I know that I'm being a little OC here, but are you going to change that front mag to match the rear?

 

[makenzie71]

Yes both wheels will be addressed, they both need work. They'll probably be black...but I'm also considering having them powder coated the most offensively obnoxious orange I can find...

 

[Classic250]

I'm not sure of your final colour scheme, but at the moment everything looks black and silver/chrome.

IMO, while orange might make a statement - I'm not sure what that statement would be.

If you are going with the silver/black motif then maybe black spokes and polished rims or vice versa?

But then, you have the gold forks....so maybe gold wheels as well?

Also, when I first saw the mufflers, IMO they looked way too long - but with the seat on and you on the bike, I would be inclined to only shorten them a few inches - they have a kind of 50's vibe, like the bikes at Bonneville (if that's what you like).

 

[makenzie71]

First start on the Shadow 750 project!
Punchlist:
1. Speedometer
2. Headlight
3. Tail light
4. Paint
5. Chain guard and bracket for holding the rear line off the chain.
6. Fork seals
7. Probably a bunch of stuff I'm forgetting....

 

[makenzie71]

I'm not sure of your final colour scheme, but at the moment everything looks black and silver/chrome.

IMO, while orange might make a statement - I'm not sure what that statement would be.

If you are going with the silver/black motif then maybe black spokes and polished rims or vice versa?

But then, you have the gold forks....so maybe gold wheels as well?

Also, when I first saw the mufflers, IMO they looked way too long - but with the seat on and you on the bike, I would be inclined to only shorten them a few inches - they have a kind of 50's vibe, like the bikes at Bonneville (if that's what you like).

I just want there to be a splash of something...I do like the orange like KTM uses on their wheels. That or black wheels with some kind of orange or yellow accent...but I don't know. My brain tells me that I want it, but usually when I have it I don't like it haha I'll probably end with just black/silver mostly.

I will be replacing the mufflers...the ones I'm using are going to be similar to what I have on my CX500. They'll be about 3" shorter. I got to get someone to build my headers first, though.

 

[Classic250]

I agree about the KTM wheels, but IMO they only look good because they compliment the frame and overall paint scheme of the bikes.

The mufflers on your CX look like Leo Vince ones?

The Ducati Conti style might also look good.

 

[makenzie71]

Alrighty...I don't particularly "like" this but it works and clears everything is easy to secure and it's mostly hidden. Unfortunately my 4-cell 26650 LiFe battery didn't have quite enough amps. I could have made an eight cell battery but then I'd have had to have built a solid BMS and it would have been nearly as expensive as just going and buying a Firepower battery (if you're looking at lithium batteries look at Firepower before Antigravity). This little AGM battery works just fine as was only $80 at walmart.

It does look tight against the swingarm but it's outside of the radius so shouldn't be a problem.

I did figure out that my swingarm has to move to the left about 5mm. It's going to throw off my alignment a little I think but that's life sometimes. I'm going to have to notch the frame after all.

Also got a set of UNI filters. Left side fits with lots and lots of room, right side...not so much...but UNI filters are pretty squishy so it works all the same.

Headlight is sorted out. Swapped the Shadow bucket out for a generic steel Sportster bucket. I wish I had gotten a chrome one, though. I'm going to have to remake the mount, though, because this bucket has no lateral adjustment. I need a single post to make my side to side swing.

And one of my favorite bits so far...the coolant neck on this bike is horizontal. How do you fill this up? Such a silly arrangement.

 

[TrialsRider]

...
And one of my favorite bits so far...the coolant neck on this bike is horizontal. How do you fill this up? Such a silly arrangement.

lean the bike over to the left side