Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner New pics of some mods

Here's the tank retro pinstriping.cost $5.00


I chromed the swingarms with a chrome wrap tape, took awhile for all the different cuts but came out nice. cost $10.00


And Neon Purple lights.Cost $80.00


Let me know what you guys think??

Looks good, Ryan. I especially like your work on the tank !!

Thank Mike, How do you like the TBS needles and the 45 mains with your setup?

I too like the tank work, it really looks good.

The tank looks good! Great job!

Ryan,

Looks great I like the tank and may give it a try myself, where can you find the chrome tape ?

The Honda Rebel is the same color as my wifes.

Hey Ryan...

Y'know when I first read that you'd stuck gold pinstriping and chrome tape on your bike I thought "that sounds really cheap n nasty" but having seen your pics I've changed my mind. The gold pinstripes're very art deco, the chrome tape looks much better than I expected, and neon lights always look funky. Consider me impressed.

The tank looks fantastic. More info on that chrome tape stuff would definitely be appreciated.

Thanks guys! It's actually chrome pinstriping on the tank, 1/4 inch thick and 30 ft long on a roll. I bought it for $5 at Advanced auto parts.

And the chrome tape that i used on the swingarm comes in 3 inch and 6 inch wide, it was $10 at advanced auto parts as well. I bought the 6inch wide, but ended up cutting alot of it long ways since our swingarms are 2 3/4 inch high. My chrome tape came with a plastic flat edge to get the bubbles out as you apply it.
I cut out 4 seperate pieces for each ide of the swingarm.

-One for the dipped-in section where the axle bolts up.
-One long piece for the entire side of the swingarm, cut it so that it so that it aligns just along the edge of the top and side of the swingarm and leave at the bottom to tuck under.
The next 2 pieces are on the top but I split them up to avoid crinkling of the tape and it work.
-One from where the shock bolts back.

-And the last One from where the shock bolts forward.The trick to this piece is to use the natural weld thats there to hide the seem.And to get the exact shape of the tops curve you simply hold the tape face up to the bottom curve of the swingarm and trace a line, cut it and then just leave 1/8 lip so that it falls just on the edge and covers the top of the side chrome strip.

Just make sure everything is clean and there's no sand or dirt beucase it will show through the chrome tape. Also their was a protective dull film covering the chrome I left it on each piece until i smoothed it out and then removed it with an exacto knife from the edge Before puting on the next piece....other wise it will pull it apart at the seems. It actually looks way better in person, especially during the day. Let me know if you got any more Questions

Now if I can only find a headlight nacelle to fit my bike...Hmmm black or chrome, preferably black...

that looks like a 1968 mustang in the back???

Oh yeah and the tape looks very nice also!

Yep...that's my baby Sue in the background, Laser red sitting on Chrome 100 spoke Daytons....Can you tell I like toys???

Chrome tape looks pretty cool....better than I expected

Tank reminds me of this:

Thats a good lookin bike

thanks but I am actually going for something like this...

Whoops. Well if you want to shoot for the authentic Speed Twin look, you'd probably be pretty unique. But you've got a long way to go. Some people have used selected visual cues, such as the sprung seat, but they've taken the rest of the bike towards the custom bobber look rather than vintage Triumph. And of course the tank kneepads are all over the place. But you should push it further with the headlight nacelle and front fender number plate (people put the latter on new standard bonnevilles but I haven't seen one yet on a TBA).

Thats exactly what I was thinking great Friar, I see the pads and the seat, which i will probably buy the seat next. But I agree the headlight nacelle and and front fender are key. You think if I lower and extent my headlight with some brackets, and clean up the bars it may give my bike a more level look like the older style ones. O and I definately need to get rid of the speedometer.

I think a bonnie or thrux front fender would look nice on our bikes. I wonder how tricky that would be?

Tank looks awesome. The Pod lights Not

hm actually...the front fender from my mom's park avenue bicycle has that same fender side support and its skinny. Made for a 26 in wheel...might work..and im sure i can Dr. up the number plate...and buy the brackets and home depot

Just made a front fender plate for my '04 TA.
Don't know when I'll get pics though. I'm a digital idiot.

By the way I love the tank mod you did. Cool beans.

Well it looks like they bolt up with the same sort of two bolts on each side thing, but who knows what the spacing is like...

Yes Jethro666 very nice!...David you gotta do it man....I gotta see it!