| Author | Message | ||
     Nwrider |
When I first bought my X1 one of the first ideas I had was chopping up the tail. I saw the short tail kit available from Trojan Horse and liked it but... not enough to spend 1400 bucks. I played with the idea of buying a used tail and seat and hacking them up but it seemed like a waste of time and effort since I may not like the result. Finally I decided on making one from scratch. I had great ideas but I'm no fabricator by any means. I got a friend involved who is and in turn we had to get someone else involved who has a cnc tubing bender. Bending mirror image pieces of tubing by hand is well... computers do it better. Better but not cheaper and we have to make more than one. So what started off as a one off part for my bike has turned into the idea of offering these for sale. Within a couple weeks I will have mine completed and will share photos. I was originally planning on cutting a seat down and making it a reaaaaal shooorty but have decided to make it to where it would utilize the stock seat, tail lamp and attaching points for the electronics and such. This way it would be a bolt on part and easy to install if we produce more. I have already committed to make enough parts to assemble 5 of these. I may just end up with extra material and an expensive one off sub frame. Or maybe some other X1s will be sporting our handy work. The first 5 will be chromoly steel but if people like them and we sell the other 4 we may run another batch in aluminum. I look forward to showing mine off when its done. Is this something anyone here would have an interest in? | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
Ya got my attention. would sure like to see the final product. | ||
| Nwrider |
I want to see the final product too! I have built it in my head a hundred times and can not wait to be able to bolt it on. I saw your comment "less is more". I totally agree. You may like my design as much as I do.. others may think its odd. But... so am I, and its my bike! It will be very, very minimal and I even referred to it once as a sub-frame eliminator kit.  | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
i had the same thoughts you did about the tail. (just no follow thru) the tail almost didnt go back on after i painted it, said "Damn this would look great with a little solo seat!" hats off to you for making it happen. | ||
| Nwrider |
If you had your tail off... did you by chance hold your seat up to see what it looks like with no sub-frame? My opinion... pretty sweet. The profile of the seat alone makes a pretty sick looking tail section. I like the aluminum tail but... my OCD kicks in and I think I could do better. Ha. I rounded up a few seats and some have a slightly different profile. One is lower where your butt sits and thats the one I am going to use on mine. I am also raising the angle a bit like a high tail but not too obnoxious. This actually makes the gaps fit better by the tank and frame. (Message edited by NwRider on July 14, 2011) (Message edited by NwRider on July 14, 2011) | ||
| Nwrider |
Here is my cheezy before and after doodles to give an idea of what we are up to. Before:  After:  | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
IM DIGGIN IT. definately the right direction. i like the length. to short makes it look unballanced. | ||
| Nwrider |
I've seen one with a super short solo seat and it was interesting but yes... unbalanced. | ||
| 01x1buell |
hey michael i can not wait to see the product,, must be light..  | ||
| Nwrider |
Me too Neil. I am excited to get this completed. Even in steel this should weigh less than that big chunk of cast aluminum. Worst case scenario, weigh the same. | ||
| 01x1buell |
 i have those covers in the space.. i guess they would not fit anymore,if i can afford this piece...damn i love those. | ||
| Nwrider |
And just for fun... nuclear blue. I am thinking black. Opinions?  Anyone have a paint code for nuclear blue... PPG doesn't have anything close. | ||
| 01x1buell |
that would be freakin cool,, but what about the insert?? would that fit?? | ||
| Nwrider |
I like those too but no... The gap will be way different. Edit: One could get creative and make them out of that mesh material. (Message edited by NwRider on July 14, 2011) | ||
| 01x1buell |
ahhh ok that sucks well we will see how everything goes. | ||
| Dolzinnig |
I'm interested to see the final product. I've got some ideas I've been kicking over for a while too. | ||
| Lander_x1 |
Good option Nwrider, i'm in the project to swap the x1 tail, for the S1, now i have doubts with what i can do... 1.- Make "one piece" with the x1 tank cover and S1 tail and make a custom seat to fit 2.- use the s1 tail and s1 seat ,with a custom front s1 tail, 3.- s1 tail with a custom x1 seat to fit in the S1 tail, | ||
| Goldtooth |
nwrider,I would be interested also. We should meet up and go over some ideas. nate (Message edited by goldtooth on July 15, 2011) | ||
| Nwrider |
I had even thought about later model Lighting and Firebolt tails. Never seen one on a Tuber. I wanted to do something totally different though. Nate... We need to go on a ride sir! Go over ideas when we take a break.  Going camping and playing on my quad this weekend but am always game for evening rides. You have my # yea? | ||
| Jacob83z28 |
I do like your concept drawing. I like short tails. Nothing ahead of the front axle, nothing behind the rear axle. Looks balanced to me.  An S1 tail is not much longer. This is an M2 with an S1 tail.  (Message edited by jacob83z28 on July 16, 2011) | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
Jacob83z28 .....is that a chopped X1 tail? or a custom made? Looks freakin GREAT! | ||
| Dolzinnig |
That looks like the Speed of Color X1 tail. www.speed-of-color.de http://www.speed-of-color.de/index.php?cat=HECKUMB AUSMX&product=HB-002 | ||
| Capital_g |
RRC - Bad pic of my bike but it has the same tail. Brushed aluminum is the is how they start out. They one above was painted or powder coated by the owner...I guess.  | ||
| Jacob83z28 |
Capitol G-How much did that cost you, if you dont mind me asking? They have alot of cool stuff for Buells over seas. http://www.x-race.net/ | ||
| Dolzinnig |
I remember now Capital g. We had this discussion last time around. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/610757.html?1294333207 | ||
| Nwrider |
I like those short tail kits but think mine will look better Plus they will be cheaper and I like my idea of using tubing to match the frame. I look forward to showing off the finished part. RRC from trojan horse - $1200usd RRC from speed of color - $1300usd We should be able to cut those prices quite a bit. Maybe 600-700 for one in bare steel for those who like to paint. Or we could paint and powdercoat for additional cost. Other options could include: High Tail version: Higher seat position by varying lengths of the lower supports utilizing original mount and not a bracket to achieve height. Trim kit: We could also weld mounting tabs to the frame and make side enclosure plates plates to hide the oil tank. And also offer a panel to serve as a fender and close the underside up. We could make these in aluminum or stainless. I am personally going to see if I can cut up my Carbon Fiber under tail to fit mine. We even talked about designing the lower supports in a way that will fit the Carbon under tail everyone seems to have. That way we could offer one up with the tabs and template you can use to cut up a carbon tail. And like I mentioned before, if we get enough interest we will do the next run in aluminum. This would be at an additional cost as well due to materials. Just need to sell 4 of of the Steel ones first! Anything is possible.. just can not stray too far from the original design. | ||
| Nwrider |
Jacob.. I just browsed around on Race-xs site.. They do get better stuff in other countries!!! | ||
| Jacob83z28 |
Yeah it sucks! You would think cuz Buell was made in the US we would have a bunch of cool stuff here. | ||
| 01x1buell |
yes there is some real nice stuff onrace ex site very nice | ||
| Nwrider |
I meant xrace.. haha.. | ||
| Scm2 |
 | ||
| Nwrider |
I saw that one on there scm2. Pretty close to what we are making but without the cowl. | ||
| Nwrider |
 Finally! I got a call that the tubing we were having bent for this project has been completed. I am picking the materials up on Monday and hope to have one built within a week. Can you tell I am excited? |
