JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Apr 24, 2009 5:18:51 GMT -5
Right then, basically I'm bored of how old and tired my NTV looks. So I've decided to strip her right down and do a custom rebuild. Nothing to extreme, to put it simply I want: - a shorter and slightly higher seat unit
- shorter (maybe louder) exhaust to reveal rear wheel
- twin headlamps
- digital instrument panel
- rear hugger
- cone filters
- powder coating frame and swing arm
- painting rocker covers and calipers
- new throttle slides and carb seals
So far I've stripped the bike down to a rolling frame (all electrics, engine, tank, plastics, cooling and brakes off) and come to the conclusion that I need to alter the rear sub-frame then fabricate a custom seat unit. Here is where I ask for help: Does anyone have any experience doing this kind of customization to an NTV (or any bike I guess)? Does anyone know of anywhere in the south that does seats/seat units? Has anyone done any engine/carb work before? Particularly tuning carbs to a new exhaust? I'm quite technically minded (I'm an aircraft technician), so I'm don't see any problems doing the work my self, but what I lack at the moment are the contacts and detailed know how. I will get some pics up once I've moved into my new house with a decent garage  Hopefully this thread will also help anyone else thinking of altering their bikes. Thank you for any help you can give! -JB  |
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JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Apr 24, 2009 5:25:01 GMT -5
also other mods that i have considered (but not essential) were VFR wheels (anyone know if they fit on the NTV final drive?) and forks (anyone know if they fit in NTV fork clamps? or would you need a new clamps that fit the fork and headstock?)
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Post by Jake on Apr 24, 2009 6:27:15 GMT -5
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JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Apr 24, 2009 7:43:30 GMT -5
Cheers Jake, that exhaust on Beatty's site looks good, even just the down pipes for a custom tail pipe...
Have seen that Hawk modifying is popular in the states, looks like the Pro-Arm (chain) and out shaft final drives have different wheel attachment methods tho, so looks like the VFR wheel option is out...
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Post by Glenn Rowell on Apr 24, 2009 9:58:08 GMT -5
Hey JB, Sounds like your in for an interesting few months, We hope you will document your progress here. It sounds like you going to do what a lot of us would be very interested in. So, Pics and such of your progress would be great. Let me know if you need help with getting things up here on the site.
Cheers,
Glenn
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JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Apr 28, 2009 9:45:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the support Glenn, once I'm all settled in to my new garage next week photo's will start appearing... Some of my current thoughts: How similar (mechanically) is the NTV to the Hawk/Bros? I ask this mainly because I'm very fond of the down pipes/collector shown on Steve Beatty's site that may allow something like this:  As far as I'm aware the Hawk/Bros (650) is the same motor in an ally frame with a chain drive gearbox and Pro-Arm... if so I assume the pipes would fit straight on to an NTV lump...? Any one know either way? One of the first things I'm looking at doing is rigging up the wiring harness out of the bike to try and trim it down. I'm quite sure I wont be able to lose any of the black boxes, but I am aiming to cut down on the wiring. A problem I can foresee with my shortened rear end is the placement of all of these black boxes (and the battery). My initial thought was to put them in the space vacated by the air box (which is being replaced by conical filters), but I am conscious that they may be affected by the heat generated in this area. And the fact that they might not all fit... Which also brings me onto the battery... I've actually been looking at fabricating something like this:  (attaches to the top suspension mount and spare mount) Which leaves very little room for a battery tray, or any electronics... Another thing, has anyone had any experience making parts from fibreglass and resin? I've read a few tutorials on the net and it seems fairly easy, just wondering if anyone might have any first hand tips... Any thoughts or suggestions are quite welcome. ;D - JB |
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Post by Jake on Apr 29, 2009 1:33:19 GMT -5
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Post by ilegalalien on May 2, 2009 3:34:15 GMT -5
i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd106/ilegalalien/DSCF3832.jpgThat's my latest project coming to the ridable stage.. mmmm Bros 400. The downpipes on the Bros are 15mm shorter than a NTV and also have a reducing collar fitted inside at both ends (slows them down to 33bhp). The Hawk i imagine wont have the collars but it would be interesting to find out if they are the same length as a NTV. I got those downpipes so clean by using Garyflex rubber abrasive blocks and then a good polish with a Sisel mop and Grey polishing compound, the link pipe i made myself and the Can is a Laser, i fitted a Showa gas susspension unit last week and am itching to test it out, next Mods will be the carbs and cdi unit.
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JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Jul 2, 2009 16:55:48 GMT -5
Right then, I think an update is in order... I've stripped pretty much everything apart. The engine, forks and calipers are still waiting for overhauls. I ordered a swingarm wrench from David Silver, seems Honda Japan are going to make me one specially as I ordered it a month ago now and rang them to chase it up, they said it was on back order from Japan and would contact me when they could get an ETA... end of August! Not too fussed as there's plenty of other things I can do in the mean time. I started to reassemble the electrics (off the bike) and came to the conclusion that I am going to need to make a new loom to allow me to place all the electrical components where I want them (hidden). I do this kind of thing at work, so with the hayne wiring diagram I hope this wont be a mega job, just need to get me some suitable wire and connectors. Bought a few bits recently: LED indicators, flasher relay, Dominator headlights (pair, probably to be mounted vertically, pic soon), conical air filters and just (literally, a moment ago) an acewell speedo unit (round one in black case). Things I still need to do (this list seems to get biger every time I do any work on it): - Brackets for Headlights (using original yoke mounting, fabricating new brackets)
- Engine overhaul (gaskets, valves, perhaps camchain?)
- Caliper overhaul inc. painting
- Fork overhaul (bushes and seals)
- Blasting and powdercoating frame, swing arm, final drive housing, wheels and fork bottoms
- Sanding and painting other bits and pieces
- Fabricating rear subframe
- Making new loom
- Painting tank
- Re-assembly
New bits still to buy include mirrors, rad and fan, solo custom seat, handlebar contols (maybe if I can find some cheap enough), supertrapp exhaust (check it out on a Hawk on youtube), and various fasteners and seals and bit and bobs... Will endevour to get some picture up soon (too busy getting on with it in the little spare time I have though) JB |
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JB
Junior Member
Posts: 37
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Post by JB on Jul 13, 2009 7:02:12 GMT -5
A little bit more news....
My engine is currently neatly layed out on a work bench (well everything above and including the barrels and piston heads). I must say Mr Haynes's instructions are incredibly helpful, if a little vague at times. Apart from the removal of the cam chain tensioner. When it says to pull up on the rear wedge with pliers to insert a pin I got quite stuck. The rear wedge was showing nowhere near enough material to grip (ie, none) so after some faffing around and getting quite angry i carefully dismantled the engine around it and came into no trouble... not sure if any one has experienced this before onr not. When I put them back in I will pin them first. Apart from that everything went quite smoothly. I even have an engine stand now, that unlike Mr Haynes's suggestion of supporting the engine on the crank case mine supports the engine on its engine mounting bolts, allowing you full access to revove any parts you need to.
A quick question: Apart from generally cleaning everything up (lots of carbon deposits on piston and inside of heads) is there anything else I could do while the engine is apart?
JB
ps. If anyone has any questions about any engine components feel free to ask me while mine are spread over my bench :-)
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Post by Jake on Jul 13, 2009 14:21:40 GMT -5
A quick question: Apart from generally cleaning everything up (lots of carbon deposits on piston and inside of heads) is there anything else I could do while the engine is apart? :-) Hi JB, According to Pops: ‘Heads have been cleaned valves have been ground in
and I have replaced the big end shells at a cost of
£42.00.Tappets have been reset….’growell.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=parts&action=display&thread=1085&page=1 |
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