Just turned over 23,000 miles. Besides the smoked windscreen I had changed nothing on the bike until yesterday. Last weekend had front and rear sprockets/gold chain changed out with DID x-ring. New Bike Master air filter and clutch oil changed out. Yesterday I installed a license plate bracket with two Whelen red flashing TIR3's for additional visibility when brakes are applied. Can be seen up to a mile and half away at night. Need to get a plate frame next. I also yesterday installed two PIAA 35 Watt Cross Country HID's that make up for the limited 40 foot or so headlight radius which I found not comfortable for nighttime riding. I never knew they made lights this bright. Extremely pleased with these mods and looking forward to more riding this year. Almost forgot, yes, I do like the bike quiet (like a ninja) and replaced the OEM muffler cans with an earlier year OEM's. The originals had black heat shields and I am kind of liking the silver accent of these. Ill get the other cans repainted and stick them on the shelf as they do have a few scratches from my "learning curve" with this bike.
This is a terrific forum and I appreciate all of you. You are a bunch of great guys and thanks for sharing all you do, especially you Rook. Your tutorials have helped me a bunch.

Looks GOOD, doznkoz! i'm glad you shared about the PIAAs because I was wondering if there was something to temporarily replace headlights. I'm planning to remove all stock headlights and I'll need something to make it look street legal. I could make some kind of bracket to attach one of those to a suction cup mount. Hook up a couple bullet connectors and it's easy on/easy off.

I'll tell you what Rook, I was very apprehensive about drilling holes in the upper cowling but the spot I put them at the plastic is actually twice as thick in that area. I used four drill bits to get to the proper hole size (3/8")and even then I had to turn the entire light clockwise to get the mounting bolt through the hole. Good tight fit with rubber washers on both sides and also used one size up stainless washers. The lights fit very snug and I don't ever see a problem happening in the future.
If you plan on just temporarily using additional lights in lieu of then I agree with your idea of suction cups. The wiring will have to be exposed but as you said, just temporary. Curious. Why are you removing your lights?

I estimate there are 7~8 lbs of lights and brackets in there. I'd cast some covers out of a plastic clay material and find some way to fasten them in place of the headlight lenses. It's either that or an expensive race upper fairing.

Beautiful bike! Do you have a picture with the lights on?

Rook- I see. While I am adding you are subtracting. I understand that completely. I'll admit in the first year of riding this monster I took it to its factory limits a few times but I think those days are over. With about 3-1/2 yrs. left on my extended warranty I can't do much to increase performance without changing out much of what you are doing yourself. This thing is already more powerful then I would need since I don't drag and just use it for commuting and weekend trips to the country more then anything else.

Hello SouthPaw- Thanks. I agree, I too think it is a beautiful bike. I get lots of positive comments from the public on it. Later this evening I will take a photo with the lights on. The bikes factory lights look quite dim in comparison, even with the brights on.
Hope you are getting your PayPal issue resolved brother.

LOL It takes a lot of mods to amount to anything. I don't make use of most mods I have. Maybe on rare occasions.

doznkoz.... sure does look a beauty. Did you make the number plate backing/lamp carrier yourself or did it come with the lights?

Taffs- a guy I purchased the Piaa's and mufflers off of directed me to a fellow in Florida who specializes in the installment of police lights and such. These TIR3's are what most law enforcement use on their vehicles. If you are directly behind them and look at them for more then a second they will temporarily blind you. I don't engage them when at a standstill unless I see a vehicle coming up behind me just for this fact.
The mounting bracket came with the lights already wired and mounted. The harness is watertight and ties both together. I would much rather have had the opportunity to powdercoat the plate black but I now would have to cut into the wires to remove the lights before powdercoating. Last night I ordered a license plate frame that should cover 95% of the chrome color.
The fellas website is ledsbyrobert.net - you can order everything separately if you desire but I didn't. There are 20 or so strobe sequences but the one he sets them on is the best for brake lights.
Take a look and give him a call. He goes by "Bob" and is a pretty cool cat! Easy hand written instruction too.
The lights are awesome and easy to hook into your brake light. Just two wires.

thanks for that doznkoz.

You're welcome Taffs.

Its been cold and raining here for the last day or so. I'll get a photo of those lights when I can get the bike out of the garage SouthPaw. After looking at your new lights on yours I see a similarity between ours. It is the whiteness of the lights that I notice. I guess it compares to the high priced vehicle headlights I see running around out there on the streets. Never had HID's before on anything I have ever owned.

excellent job

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 2/14/2017 @ 7:15 PM *

Thank you Grn14. I appreciate that.

WOW! Those are blinding!!

They are something else David. I doubt I would have paid full price for these lights but they sure appear to be worth what I did pay for them. Good thing is I see no draw down whatsoever on the electrical system when they are operating.

25,000 miles. Got the new plate yesterday and I really like it. Keep it up U.S. Navy!
Spent my time on the Flagship USS JFK CV-67 (aircraft carrier).
In God we Trust.
All others we track

Very cool Doz! USN is bad ass, would not want to be on the other side of a Super Hornet.

Looks good shipmate, I had the exact same frame on my Super Blackbird. I was a Missile Fire Control Tech on the USS Mobile Bay (CG-53).

For those that have served thank you. Very cool bike and plate!

Thanks guys. I'd serve again in a heartbeat if they needed me. I'm very proud of our military and this is how I can show it everyday.
Only the Best for the Best.

That is quite a ship BobZ. I looked it up. Thanks for your service brother.

PR4 Gonna give them a try.

In regards to the air filter, was it the first time you replaced it and if so, how dirty was it?

Yes BobZ. First time I replaced the air filter. There were a few bugs and dust accumulation build up and I felt it was in need of replacement. I should have just cleaned the OEM and reused it but I was not aware that it was a reusable filter with proper cleaning. I had to remove some of the foam lining on the outside of the Bike Master filter in order to install it because the fit was extremely too tight to push it in the slot.

This is the first I have heard of the OEM filter being reusable--Gen2 or Gen1. I do not believe it is --not in the same sense that some aftermarket filters are. You can check it and put it back in but I wouldn't clean it first...unless this is something new. Aftermarket filters are synthetic sometimes even removable materials that clean up with special solvent. OEM are paper and any liquid is going to be less than helpful. My dad thinks he saves money by cleaning air filters with a blow gun but I was told early on this is probably going to cause particles to enter instead of stop them.

My filter is finished after 8000 miles. 11,000 is too long. I guess it depends on what is floating in your air and if the filter ever gets wet.

You will get a few more wheelies out of those tires, doznkoz!

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/20/2017 @ 11:16 AM *