| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:01 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 |
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So I have gone all in and completely converted my Lightning long to a Firebolt. Aside from the drop pegs and Ss frame it looks like a Firebolt.
I just swapped my crossroads for a R upper tree and bars to complete the look. I still have some finishing touches to add, but this is what I have for now. She's dirty, I have been too busy riding to wash her! It started last fall as a stock 2007 sunset orange Lightning Long 
Here are some pics I took today. 
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| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:06 | [?] |
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Nice work...
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| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:16 | [?] |
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Sweet, nice job.
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| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:24 | [?] |
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Thanks guys appreciate it. I think its a obsession! Once I get my header coated again(ceramic coating started to flake, but its getting fixed for free), I just have some more parts to black out. I am going to leave some parts with a brushed silver look to break up the monochrome a little. I have a scratched up stock flyscreen I think I am going to try to paint The frame color to see how it looks.
Hey Doc you see your crossroads changed hands again! There getting passed around more then a $2 whore ;-) |
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| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:29 | [?] |
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| Can you tell me about the turn signals? Nice bike! That's wild! | |
| Posted: 04 Aug 2009 23:30 | [?] |
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| Nice job. What's on the front left fork? | |
| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 00:39 | [?] |
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| Very nice! What kind of paint did you use on the plastic? | |
| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 00:51 | [?] |
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The signals are flushmount hotbodies leds for a fzr. I saw someone post it somewhere and decided to try them. They dont fit perfect, but pretty close.
The bracket on the fork is for my camera. Its just a mock up, but I think the design will work. Just need to stiffen it up with some heavier steel for the pivot point. It vibrates under acceleration the way it is. Here is two I took yesterday |
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 04:56 | [?] |
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Awesome job Jornum, great looking ride.
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 05:52 | [?] |
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Great, other than the height which I am scared of thus my lowered bike and truck.
CF looks good and everything else is very well done. Good job Jay |
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 13:24 | [?] |
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Ha thanks, yeah love the CF, just need to get the inserts for the front fairing now and I am done. Just enough to accent it a little.
Arent you a pretty tall guy, looked like it from the pic I saw. I dont know how you fit on your bike being so low. I sit completely flat footed on mine with no problem. I scrape my toes as it is on turns, I would loose a foot if my bike was as low as yours! |
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 14:22 | [?] |
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| Vera Nice! Just one question. Did they not have any Firebolts for sale? or did you want to make it a project bike? or did the Firebolt grow on you once u got into the Buell community? | |
| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 14:51 | [?] |
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What happened was I have always wanted a Buell, had a xb12s pic black with Red translucent on my desktop for a long time.
I decided to bite the bullet last summer when I got tired of fixing my KZ. I was set on the lightning, just loved the look. I decided on the long because I am tall and the standard s felt more cramped. Actually the long even felt small compared to other bikes I have ridden. Anyway bought the long and the firebolt look has just grown on me. And as I have riding more aggressive twisty roads I like the more race oriented feel of the firebolt front end. So to make a long story short, yes it grew on me! Plus I have never seen anyone put a R tail on a Ss so it was a challenge. As far as I know I have the only firebolt long around ;-) |
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 19:26 | [?] |
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Nice bike. But still just look like a firebolt, but a damn good looking firebolt that is 
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 19:53 | [?] |
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Very true, just a liiiitle bit longer ;-)
And different suspension. But thats what I wanted, so mission accomplished. |
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| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 20:08 | [?] |
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| Not the tallest, just satand 5'10" high so the lower stance fits me great. I was flat footed before the drop but now I sit about 4" lower with the susp. drop and the Scg tail. Still it is comfy. | |
| Posted: 05 Aug 2009 21:19 | [?] |
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Hey thats all that matters. Thats why we customize these things, so we make them our own, to fit our own taste.
I respect anyone that has a vision and can do it. I am the kinda guy who hates people that buy a off the shelf customized car/bike or whatever. My cousin has this huge big dogg chopper that he paid God knows how much for. And he rides around like he is a hard core biker. Drives me nuts! He wouldnt know how to change the oil in that thing! |
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| Posted: 06 Aug 2009 01:46 | [?] |
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Quote:
He wouldnt know how to change the oil in that thing! HILARIOUS  |
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| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 02:00 | [?] |
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| Do you mind me asking how much a full conversion like this costs to do? Purchased an '08 XB12scg last summer but spend enough time on the highways that I wish I had the extra wind protection and the more aggressive riding position of the R. Plus, the bolt styling has seriously grown on me as well. | |
| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 13:31 | [?] |
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Its hard to say. I did the rear conversion first, then did the front. I paid around $350 for the full tail. Subframe, plastics, seats, undertail, ect. Everything. I think thats a fair price, not great, but not a rip off.
When I put the front on I actually found everything stated above, with the front fairing, and headlights for the same price. I bought it just because it was a good deal. I ended up selling the subframe, and kept the plastics for a custom paint job over the winter. The hard parts to find are the front fairing stay, and the rear subframe. I never see the fairing stay's for sale and the subframe's people usually want too much for. They think that because they are like $500 new, that they can get that much. Around $125 + shipping is a good price for a used one. For you its a pretty easy swap. just a matter of making the electrics fit in the tail. You dont have the problem of modifying the subframe like I did. Also, just IMO there isnt much added wind protection. Maybe with the zero gravity touring wind screen. But even with the double bubble I didnt notice that much. Also be warned that the firebolt seat has a lot less cushion then the S's. You can get the custom seat, but I didnt like it. It raised the seat height up too much for me. |
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| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 16:32 | [?] |
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Someone already asked the question, but I didn't see a response, so sorry if you already answered.
What kind of paint did you use? It looks like a flat black, matching the stock engine scoop. Exactly the look I was going for but failed miserably at. |
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| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 20:13 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 |
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| Your going to laugh, but its just Duplicolor rattle can bed liner. It has a textured look, its easy to repair, and sticks very well if you rough up the plastic a little. | |
| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 22:09 | [?] |
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Moderator Join Date: May 2008 |
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| Did you lower the front? The tops of the forks look odd. | |
| Posted: 30 Sep 2009 23:28 | [?] |
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I was kind of figuring something like that. I used the exact same stuff on my primary cover, cam cover, and some accents on my frame. Was contemplating doing the whole bike in it, but i don't really like how gritty it is.
But you are absolutely right, awesome look and easy to repair. Thanks Jornum. |
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| Posted: 01 Oct 2009 00:24 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 |
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Dave,
No that is the stock Ss fork height. The manual says to set the preload at 7 lines for my weight, but its too soft. I have since tightened it up to 4 lines. Its probably because they are so far out they look strange. Buellysses, how did it hold up on the metal parts? I was thinking of doing the same until I can afford to powder the covers. |
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| Posted: 01 Oct 2009 00:27 | [?] |
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Moderator Join Date: May 2008 |
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| Did you shave your seat too? It looks short like mine. | |
| Posted: 01 Oct 2009 03:14 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 |
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| no didnt shave it, just had a cover made for it. | |
| Posted: 01 Oct 2009 23:25 | [?] |
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I had one little chunk flake off my primary cover while powerwashing it. Other then that it's held up really well. That stuff is tough, as long as you do your prep right.
That's one downfall of your situation Jornum, that stuff is really hard to get off once it's on there. If you are going to powdercoat your covers I would advise against coating them with this stuff. Unless you have a sandblaster or something to remove it later. |
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| Posted: 02 Oct 2009 00:20 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 |
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yeah I do have a blast cabinet, so it wouldnt be a problem.
Though it is late in the season. I have had enough down time the last two weeks. I probably will just wait till over the winter when I can tear everything down and have it coated. But thanks for the info, |
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| Posted: 15 Feb 2010 01:00 | [?] |
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Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Apr 2008 |
Posts: 467 Reputation: 23 [?] User Rank: Colonel 
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| i know this is an older topic posting, but i have say your buell is sweet n wicked, damn cool , i dont think i have seen any firebolts with bar end mirror , i like the look , what kind are your mirrors . | |
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