I just sold the harley and had a gixxer for 2 years but always lusted for italian iron. well, it is finally here! a white 696 and can't wait to get modding [drink] What are the best mods for this beauty? I am a wood worker/cabinet maker by trade and I am thinking of actually making some of the parts out of balsa wood, balsa wood is lighter than carbon fiber, so i am going to try it!
Congratulations and welcome to the Forum, Where do you start?
I've had my bike for just under 12 months, spent a small (or should I say a large) fortune on Mods, and just when you think you've done everything you want to, some new Mod pops up on the Radar.
I was all ready to fit a Termi kit and that was it, now the Goldline brake kit has popped up on the list
I'd swear this bike is going to send me broke! [bang]
And I wouldn't have it any other way! [thumbsup]
Congrats!!! Balsa wood...interesting. I would be concerned due to the density of it...but I look forward to the pics!
Congratulations! Nice bike, enjoy.
Nice. Pics please.
Congrats & cool idea to use your trade skills to do something really unique to your bike. I like the idea of wood in a few interesting spots -- your 696 doesn't have (I think) the underseat trim bits on other Monsters that would look cool in wood, stained an appropriate color & with new decals applied under the final finish. Think you could pull off a replacement to the existing tail cowling in wood? Or for a real masterwork, replicate the replaceable gas tank shroud in wood. That'd be unique, and I'd love to see it. A lot of carbon fiber bicycle builders are also doing amazing things with bamboo these days, but I'd stay away from anything structural.
I'm a hobby blacksmith, and keep looking for good spots on the Monster to apply some tasteful ironwork...
The tank stripe down the middle could be a good place to start. also the front fairing although not sure how balsa would handle the wind/rain/vibration.
a nice burnished blackened wood center stripe on the tank would look awesome
Quote from: triangleforge on July 31, 2008, 01:32:16 PM
Or for a real masterwork, replicate the replaceable gas tank shroud in wood.
Remember those big station wagons in the sixties with woodgrain on the side? We used to call it beaver-panel. First there was the "Foggy" Monster. Then the TriColore Monster. Now I'm imagining a Monster 696 "Woody" ;D
Just kidding ya! Glad you made the move. I
think know you will enjoy it. [thumbsup]
Google 'steampunk' - plenty of ideas there!
congrats! i too just got a white M696 3 weeks ago. i am enjoying the bike very much! cant wait to see your italian woodie project.
Hey thank you all for such a warm welcome. I know, the wood idea is a little wacky but I think that it would work. I don't see why I couldn't replace some of the parts with different types of woods. I am going to try it, right now, I am working on seeing how I can use a wonderful left-over piece of mahogany from a job, could I make a set of handlebars out of it? I could seal it and it would be waterproof, it would look shetz-budness (an old sayin' round here!)
Has anybody ever tried wooden muffler ;D .... Naaaahh .... jk 696Racer ;D
Enjoy your new 696 [thumbsup]
I don't think I'd do the bars..... I stick to not essential bits. But welcome and enjoy.
Woody 696 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [bang] [thumbsup]
congrats.. [thumbsup] I too just sold my harley to buy a 696, but still waiting on delivery [bang] always wanted a sport classic but the ergos and seat height were a bit much for my old bones. I'm actually thinking if it can be done at not to much of an expense of putting on a dunstall fairing . just to give a longer profile.
Congrats! and welcome, as you can see you will have no problem getting this group to open up to new ideas [thumbsup]
hell ya!.... congrads.... and be sure to post some pics when you get those parts on there