k well..i'm bored so thought i'd document my bike.
i've always loved the idea of taking a stock bike and doing things (be it big engine mods, wheels and swingarms to little things like barends or indicators) to them to make them personal. i also like the idea that a bike can show someone's personal style thats unique to them. examples from PSB to me include rc sam's cbr600rr, jules' 998, hewie's heathen R1, desmo's R1, tyson's busa, rudleo's VTR and the one bike that stands out that i've taken as inspiration, turbo's R1.
ok so when i went big bike shopping i didn't really have a bike in mind. i was keen on a 600 and all four jap 6's were possible choices for me...then i went to have a look at a 636 and the right deal came along and i was sold. The fact that it was black made it that much better.
i didn't really have much in mind for it...actually, i was pretty set on not spending much money modding it because at the time i'd blown most of my money on it and a holiday i had a few months later.....well that plan went out the window quick smart.
i was lucky to pick the 636 up already modded very similar to how i would've like to mod it had i bought it brand new. The previous owner had chucked all the R&G crash protection on, a yoshi slip on, braided lines, MRA screen, gear indicator, integrated tail light and fender eliminator on.
my first thing i did to it was chuck some reflective white rim tape on because i had it on my cibby and liked it.
next up, after reading joker's dual headlight thread was the dual headlight. i couldnt stand the one headlight thing cuz it made the bike look broken. "hey your headlight is out"........
after lookin around on other ninja forums i liked the clean look when you removed the stickers so i got rid of them...
then i hit up ebay and ordered little things like frame plugs, a darker rounder windscreen and a solo seat cowl.
after eyeing off carbon parts for a very long time..i bit the bullet and got them....after fitting them, i looked at the bike and decided to take it in a similar direction to turbo's. I loved the whole stealth/ demon looking bike.
i then got some headlight covers to add to the stealth look, then by my mistake, they ended up smashed to smithereens on the road so i'm onto my second pair.
after i scoured ebay looking for more carbon, i found clutch and engine covers.
after Joker wrote another write up for the backlight colour change, i was keen on changing mine from puke orange to white....
(cheers again to joker for his help not only doing the writeup but installing them for me)
then i got some smoked indicators for the front and LED's for the rear.
the LED's arent as bright as i'd liked but i can't be bothered to change it again. it still looks pretty decent i reckon so it'll do for the time being.
so after looking on the ninja forums again i stumbled across a carbon gauge cover and i had to have it.
and that's where it's at atm.
however, with my tax money coming soon and some stuff on it's way in the post, there's a bit more to come.
things on the list:
1. in the next week i'll powdercoat my rearsets black and order some carbon heel guards. (because i'm too poor to get black gilles atm)
2. i'm also waiting on a little carbon brake resevoir cover in the post.
3. then more carbon in the form of a ram air duct and a slip on switch to the carbon jardine dual outlet.
4. i'm also going to install CCFL halo's and (possibly red) park lights which don't come on the aus or us model 636. i've driven infront of BMW's and looked in the mirror to see this
which i always thought looked cool so i'll do something similar.
5. funded by tax money will come some shorty levers soon.
6. on the wishlist is gilles chain adjusters in gold to add something different to the rear
7. also looking at little bits and pieces to finish off like black bolts and black billet bits (resevoir covers, oil plugs, preload adjusters)
8. and time permitting, i've started designin decals for my bike but it'll be a long process to perfect to how i want it to look. i've drawn up new '636' stickers in the same font as the '848' :p...and i'll get them cut in metallic brushed vinyl.....the decals i want will hopefully keep with the stealth theme using the metallic brushed vinyl or mattblack to go against the gloss black fairings. we'll see.
and for all those who will ask about the plate, i havent had any trouble so far.
watch this space!
Team Dianella - Harder than a girl's best friend...
Cafe Racers"
