My new list for my new bike

Seasons greetings to all

Currently looking at buying a C800 boss and have a choice of new or used at the moment. If this happens (the wife is not impressed - she thinks I'm too old!) I'm going to have to hit the ground running.

1. I need to fit a towbar. Option one is to try and make the one fitted to my Shadow fit the new bike. Style is nice and is one inch s/s tube. But the back of the intruder looks alot wider than my Shadow so I'm not sure if this will be cost effective. Option two is to visit Freewheel trailers in North Walsham and get one made and fitted in 4 hours (not cheap). Option 3 is DIY. I've looked at BigMal's thread and this looks possible.

2. I need to fit a sissy bar, rear rack and side panniers. I already have the bags and will be looking at how to fit them. I have the Honda sideracks on the Shadow and they've been good so, again, I'm looking to fit them on the Intruder. The sissy bar on the Shadow has been raised and I have put indicators and a high level stop light on the back  of the pad. It works very well and when I'm towing, which is a lot of the time, it definitely makes me more visible so I'm going to try and transfer that as well. What I will need to do is make a bracket that fits on the rear side rails and use it as an adaptor plate.

3. Would also like to fit 38mm crash bars at the front.

4. I'm also going to try and fit the Skidmarx screen from the Shadow but I am happy riding without a screen if that doesn't work out. My mate has 4 screens, hardly used, in his loft so that is also an option....Don't ask!

5. With the Shadow the stock seat is just not fit for purpose for long days in the saddle and most people fit a Mustang seat, myself included, and these are not cheap. Don't know anything about Suzuki kit at all so that will be a try it and see. I need to be able to do 350 - 400 miles in a day without crippling myself so any information on this subject will be welcome. The way the seat fits makes it easy to fit a riders backrest which will help. I might ask some professionals if they can modify my Shadow seat to fit the intruder. On the grounds that anything can be made to fit anywhere with the right know how / application, this may be possibble.

All the stuff I'm looking to transfer is chrome and it will be going on a totally black bike! I can't seem to find 38mm black crashbars for this bike either so they might have to be chrome as well. If it all looks odd I'll have to powder coat them later.

If anyone has any opinions / suggestions as to good kit that fits this bike, or any comments about my choice of bike, I would love to hear from you.

KeithW

I'd probably spray it all black after a good rub down. Curing in the airing cupboard is often used. My local dealer has a pre reg C800B so I'm sure there are a few about.

Hi John
Which dealer would that be, then? The more choice I have - the more leverage!

KeithW

Thanks for that. My criteria for a new bike consists of mag wheels/tubeless tyres, shaft drive and must look like an old style v twin cruiser. It also needs to be under 250kg cos I'm not getting any younger! I think the VN'S, along with most of the others are now belt drive. It's just as well the Suzuki C800  looks good because it's the only shaft drive cruiser left. Hence, it's now or never - so it's got to be done!

KeithW

Hey Keith...... sold my m800 now....towbar is hung up in garage!

But.... I don't think the design works with the boss if that has the traditional deep rear fender (the m has the fishtail).
But might that be easier to  modify  than the shadow one?

Regarding black crash bars Keith - Johnboss bought some from ( I think ) Custom Cruisers in Alfreton.

They took ages to come after being ordered though - was it a couple of month or something like that John ?

Twojobmick wrote:

Regarding black crash bars Keith - Johnboss bought some from ( I think ) Custom Cruisers in Alfreton.

They took ages to come after being ordered though - was it a couple of month or something like that John ?

Something like that Mick, but maybe it was just a 'clitch' with Custom Cruisers. Can't knock bars on price or quality though.

bigmal wrote:

Hey Keith...... sold my m800 now....towbar is hung up in garage!

But.... I don't think the design works with the boss if that has the traditional deep rear fender (the m has the fishtail).
But might that be easier to  modify  than the shadow one?

Hi Mal
It would probably be easier to start from scratch as the design is quite simple. I think the arms on yours will be too short - the tow ball will be under the mud guard! And the more I look at it the less likely it is that my old bar will fit. I shall have to wait till I've got the bike to sort this one, I think.

KeithW

johnboss wrote:

Twojobmick wrote:

Regarding black crash bars Keith - Johnboss bought some from ( I think ) Custom Cruisers in Alfreton.

They took ages to come after being ordered though - was it a couple of month or something like that John ?

Something like that Mick, but maybe it was just a 'clitch' with Custom Cruisers. Can't knock bars on price or quality though.

I'm very much aware of the limitations of Custom Cruisers. I've been in the shop a couple of times and I've had one delivery from them and it all went smoothly. but my mate has had terrible trouble with them on more than one occasion.
I still can't find the black 38mm crash bars on their site, though. I might give them a phone call in the new year and see what the score is. Were yours Renegade bars or highway Hawk - or some other brand. I would have liked Fehling bars but they seem to be mostly for Harleys these days.

KeithW

Pretty sure they're Highway Hawk Keith. As you say, maybe better to give them a bell in the new Year.  Don't know if it'll help but the product number was P-121412 (which is probably C/Cruisers own).

Thanks for that, John. I'll give it a whirl later.

KeithW

Still having trouble with getting anything in black. Highway Hawk have one listed but nobody's heard of it, seen it, or anything. I've got Phil's Mall (Metric Cruisers) chasing it up but ......it's the holiday period! Can't find anything about a black one from Renegade or anyone else.

It's taken on a new urgency now........my new bike arrives on Wednesday!

KeithW

Custom Cruise who supplied mine had to get it powder coated for me (about 25 quid).  Are they not able to supply anything?

Not sure about that, John. they're not answering their phone this week! If I can't get one I'll put a chrome one on and if it gets on my nerves I'll have it powder coated. Same situation with the sissy bar and rear rack really

KeithW

Cheaper option?
.
.buy the chrome stuff and black plastidip it. Obviously not as durable as powder coat, but could be a quick fix.

KeithW wrote:

Not sure about that, John. they're not answering their phone this week! If I can't get one I'll put a chrome one on and if it gets on my nerves I'll have it powder coated. Same situation with the sissy bar and rear rack really

KeithW

C/Cruiser supplied the Sissy bar and rack - also got the bags from there.  All-all-good quality.  They are probably closed now till next Tue/ Wed.  If ever you do get in touch with them, mention this forum.  I did and got a discount of around 10% - every penny counts!

All the chrome that I thought I was going to transfer to the new bike looks ok on an 8 year old bike with 42K on the clock but it looks awful against the new one. I took it all down to the dealers when I went down to look at the bike. I think the salesman was a bit shocked! Consequently I put it all back on the Shadow and it went on Saturday.
Decided to get a cheap sissybar and rack from China and have it powder coated and then make a plate to fit the saddlebags. I've got metric cruisers chasing up the Highway Hawk black crashbars and I'm going to have a go at making my own towbar. I'm hoping to have it all done by the end of February, by which time I will have done the 600 miles running in and had the first service.

KeithW

This post may be in the wrong place but I've chosen to put it here as closure to the thread. If the mods want to move it that's fine.

Well, the bike is now as I envisaged it when I bought it. It took a month longer than I thought but I am pleased with the result. There's now just over 1000 miles on it and the first service has been completed. Some of the changes have been mentioned elsewhere on this forum but the definitive list of additions/changes are these:-
1.  New Mustang seat
2.  Aeromach risers (from VTX1300) adapted and fitted
3.  15 inch windshield from Skidmarx
4.  HH Crashbars - left as chrome
5.  Rack/sissybar from China and powdercoated
6.  Bracket for saddlebag rack and towbar made and powdercoated
7.  Sissy bar extension made and powdercoated
8.  Second (higher) rack made and powdercoated
9.  Numberplate moved up (to facilitate the towbar fitting)
10. Added a tail/stop/illumination light for new numberplate position
11. Towbar manufactured and powdercoated
12. PDM60 fitted (accessory fuse panel)
13. Datatool turnalert fitted
14. Tank bib
15. Front panel (dashboard) fitted
16. Garmin GPS wired in
17. Nozatec (standby GPS and primary music source) wired in
18. Mixer amplifier and master volume fitted
19. Charge voltage indicator fitted
20. Front tool bag added
21. High level brake light / indicators fitted
22. Optimate charging socket fitted + cigarette lighter socket plug in
23. Black ISO lookalike grips (from China)
24. Dipped headlight on/off switch wired in
25. Side stand mod

The total cost of this to date is £1891. The wife thinks this is obscene but it has kept me occupied for three months!

Still giving some thought to:-
Truck hi/lo tone airhorns-had them on the last bike and may well fit them to this one
Spotlights (Control cct is already wired in)
INNOV K1 cameras

If anyone wants more information on any of these then just ask. I did do a "walk round" video but I haven't a clue how to put it on here! None of my (very limited) tech knowlege seems to work.

KeithW

Comprehensive list there Keith