Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Member's Rides My "Blue"...Transition

With my kids gone and for business purposes I bought a Thunderbird 1600 in 2010. My wife Judy asked me why I wasn't selling "Blue". My response was like anyone in my time in life. First bike that I ever had paid for, I am not selling it until I have too!

There is a reason beyond just keeping "stuff", I still love riding my America! Really, I love the Thunderbird too, but I love my America as much as the day I bought it. WITH 43,000 miles on it it is still a great bike. I also like having it around for if a friend comes to town or one of my kids wants to go for a putt with their old man.

I originally set it up for doing touring miles, but with the Thunderbird in the stable, I am taking off all the high mileage comforts and transitioning into what I call a "profile" bike. One that looks "cook" cruising in town, but yet can still knock out a comfortable 200-300 mile day without causing a visit to the chiropractor or fear of taking it out at all.

I started the transition this spring but now I am getting serious. I plan on having it done by this spring and I expect I may get done a bit sooner. Just wanted to share the progress with you as I go.

Here is how she started out.



To date I have switched from the SS Long Cannons to BC's Cocktail Shakers, awesome sound...
different look but that is what I am going for.



I have swapped out the stock headlight with the smaller bucket from my Thunderbird. I have
removed the driving lights and replaced them with smaller profile and higher power 55 watt
2 inch RIVCO lights mounted with turn signal relocation brackets to sit them closer to the
headlight and give a narrowing appearance.



I have added black Hagon 2810's dropping the rear to 11.8 inches lowering down 3/4 inch.
With the seat I am totally flat footing with my short legs!



New low profile gel seat, went with distressed brown to go with the Blue stock paint scheme.
This seat has a slimming effect as well(close to four inches narrower than stock) a very
comfortable sit, but won't know how she does on the road till spring but it does has padding
in the right place.

More as soon as I get my bars on.

eddy

I really like that seat. Looks like my couch.

dam it i might have to try that seat, wonder what that color would look like against the all black speedy? Hmmmmmm

she's coming along nicely, eddy!

Looks good eddy

Very nice. And I bet you buy your accessories from Fasteddysports.com

Good on ya.

WHERE did you get that SEAT!!!???

Very nice looking TBA, I,m with you on keeping "Blue". I picked up a used 2010 T-Bird last March, which I love riding as a Highway cruiser. I'm also thinking of stripping down my Black TBA for around town and occasional runs with the west coast Cambria/Bay area Bonneville presidents bunch. It's nice having the extra bike around for the wandering kids/friends.

Eddy, I think you will find the Speedmaster drag bars, if you have the right risers, a very comfortable proposition, besides, everybody deep down inside, knows they are way cooler looking than America bars. Whether they will admit it, is another thing.

Looking good, Eddy!

Oooh, and I wanna see a pic of that new headlight on her!

(...I like what I see so far there, Eddy!)

Lots to like. Blue always looks great with tan leather and chrome. I like the short pipes and more paired-down look. I agree with Ryk about the speedy bars. They go well with the Rivco 6" risers. About the same height and pull back of the America bars but a more comfortable narrower grip. I rotate the bars putting a slight turn down on the grips. I like the narrower seat - nice lines.

Nice bike Eddy!
Blue is cool.

looks good

It's funny how many of us who bought a America/speedmaster still have it in the stable even though they have purchased others. Nice looking bike Eddy and keep it as long as you can bro, you never know when I may pop over for a run out

Looking good Eddy,and I want to see the headlight too.

looks great man. that seat looks good.

Headlight Thunderbird headlight on the America (same as the Newer Speedy I am pretty sure.)



Also looking at either lowering the Speedo or removing it and finding one to fit the console...?

eddy

Love the brown seat Eddy. If I had to choose between lowering the speedo or relocating to the console, I'd definitely choose the console.

Eddy, your IGNORING us(me)!

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SEAT!??

Sorry Earl, not ignoring...missed it, got it from this shyster!

Low Profile Gel Seats

be very careful!



Scott, think I might have found a Speedo that will fit into the console, electronic and programmable!

Should have known!

Best price for comparable product that I've seen.

Now to find a way to slip this one under the wife's nose.

Glad that you're keeping Blue, Eddy. I'm looking forward to the transition.

I love that headlamp setup! Great job so far. Can't wait to see how the transition progresses.

I can see why this stuff can get addicting. Photo's to come as soon as I get the handle bars squared away.

Drag bars for sure maybe Speedy (like the wider bar which will equate to better control). I placed Deuce risers on it, like it better than the Speedy Risers as it does bring them back more and up but gives the appearance of sitting much much lower. Had to drill the top triple tree as the Deuce have a 1/2 inch bolt rather than 10 mm. Makes it look squat but don't have to lean forward so ergonomically better on the back. Remember, goal here is look cool and still be able to ride a 200-300 mile minimum day and still walk!

Found a programmable electronic Speedo that will fit into the tank console but have to make sure that I can match up a converter that will work with stock pick up. This will add to the lower profile and clean up the look dropping the highest remaining point on the bike.

I am trying to maximize optical changes that give the appearance of physical changes to squat it out. So far the ideas have been working.

Fender. Bobbing is the trend in production, I want to stick with the long look of stock rear. Going to enhance it by removing the plate and tail light, cleaning it up. Moving the tail lights to the fender struts and including the brakes with the turns and move the plate down low somewhere likely on axle or at the end of the fender to make it look even longer, similar to the mounting location on the Thunderbird and new Speedmaster.

So there you go, really photo's as I flesh it out.

Go Eddy!

I want to see it.Sounds Gooood!

The Speedo looks promising, I just want to make sure that the pick up will work "fits most aftermarket pick up's". Will be a great application once I confirm fitment, this particular one you can adjust if you change tires sizes and calibrate it to accurate representation of speed.

eddy

OK, all fun things..should go slow.

Liking the handlebars that I now carry more than I though they would look on the bike.

Mods' so far.

Grips: Avon Air Cushion. Not as full a handful as Kury ISO, about twice of stock. I like the feel much better.

Bars: Wide Drag bars from EMGO, excellent quality and great shape, best position seems down low.

Deuce Risers. Required drilling out the top triple tree to 1/2 inch. Spacers to fill the "Deuce" protrusion.

Speedo. Working on two options now. Lowering stock speedo by two inches with a spacer that will drop it down so face is flush with top of triple tree. Still a good view, and will fill the gap created by using the smaller headlight bucket (Thunderbird 1600 bucket same as New Speedies)Looks cool when I lay it in that place.

Second option is a bracket and mounting a Drag Specialties Tach and electronic Speedo side by side on stock Speedo mounting location. In my head it looks really good, a different look with low profile minimalist view.

Considering Fork Gaiters on the bottom shroud location. Trying to do a mix of black and chrome as not to have one dominate.

Mirrors; may go with lower profile Pro-1 mirrors

License plat lay-down kit and relocate the turnsignals front and back.

I like the look of the bars and smaller headlight. I agree the speedo would look better lower. Islandbum gave me the idea of using a couple of sockets as spacers. It works well. Those mirrors gotta go. Don't know about the digital speedo option cos I can't envision it. I think the toolkit looks sorta outta place with the smaller headlight. I'd like to see a pic with it gone. Looks a wee bit cold there Ed.

I just put a set of those mirrors on my America!

I thought they looked good!

I do think they suit the America bars better though.

I must say, I really like watching a vendor make changes to his personal bike.

The mirrors would look ok lowered a little on those drag bars IMO.
The lowered speedo sounds like a good look.

bar end mirrors would be a better look for those bars.

my butt in the saddle would finish the look.

I love that seat! I will own one like it before next years riding season begins for sure!

New addition!

Just got this made from Ryk and will be carrying them in near future (American Made). I chose mine to be made out of brass, throw back to Navy/Marine days nothing looks cooler than polished brass, actually looks like gold. Photo does not bring out the color real well but is an awesome contrast against the chrome clutch side engine cover. This is so much fun. Will match with a gold chain as well.