My 2003 Honda Shadow VLX600
All things considered, I'm impressed. It's everything
I want and need in a bike. The only disadvantage is
it's too nice to take out in the winter when the
streets and wet and salted. I planned on riding most
of the winter like I used to, but I realized, my last
bike was a 'hun'erd dollar Honda' and a little salt
spray wouldn't hurt it any. This one has enough
balls to carry two, it's good on gas, will do sustained
freeway, comfortable to ride, and it looks good.
I christened her, Ruth, in honor of Festus Haggen's
black mule (from Gunsmoke). She's not quite what
I'd call an iron horse and 'metric mule' seems so
much more appropriate, as it's smaller and agile.
The fact I bear some resemblances to Festus has
nothing to do with it!
I want and need in a bike. The only disadvantage is
it's too nice to take out in the winter when the
streets and wet and salted. I planned on riding most
of the winter like I used to, but I realized, my last
bike was a 'hun'erd dollar Honda' and a little salt
spray wouldn't hurt it any. This one has enough
balls to carry two, it's good on gas, will do sustained
freeway, comfortable to ride, and it looks good.
I christened her, Ruth, in honor of Festus Haggen's
black mule (from Gunsmoke). She's not quite what
I'd call an iron horse and 'metric mule' seems so
much more appropriate, as it's smaller and agile.
The fact I bear some resemblances to Festus has
nothing to do with it!
Above, the day I brought it
home. To the right, is what it
looks like now. I did away with
the stock air intake for a less
restricting pod air filter, drilled
the baffles with a half inch drill. I
rejet the carb with a Dynojet 130,
needle clip on 3rd notch and
adjusted the 2-1/2 turns out. All
for a nice improvement on the
performance.
The saddle bags are a touch too
big. Removing the stalks will
make them much sturdier
against the saddle bags. I really
wasn't impressed with the
mountings that came with
home. To the right, is what it
looks like now. I did away with
the stock air intake for a less
restricting pod air filter, drilled
the baffles with a half inch drill. I
rejet the carb with a Dynojet 130,
needle clip on 3rd notch and
adjusted the 2-1/2 turns out. All
for a nice improvement on the
performance.
The saddle bags are a touch too
big. Removing the stalks will
make them much sturdier
against the saddle bags. I really
wasn't impressed with the
mountings that came with
the sissy bar. I realize that this was the
easiest way to make and install an after
market back rest, but it doesn't look
right. I had a couple guys in the
fabrication dept. where I work (I thank
you Curt G.) cut out some flat plates to
match the overall shape I need to get the
mount to fit between the fender and the
side rail. I also moved the whole backrest
1-1/2 in to the rear. To the left is a quick
edit job I did to get some idea of what it
will look like when the plates are
polished out and chromed. I think it
looks much better than the 'out and over
the side rail' in the top picture. My wife
says the rear seat is a little
uncomfortable. I found the cost of
commercial seats rather expensive.
Since I do leatherwork, I have an
industrial sewing machine, I may as well
learn how to make seats. So, since I'm
going to learn seat making, I got a solo
seat base, to make one for myself. Below
is a picture of what the base looks like in
a trial fitting on the bike. A larger rear
seat and the solo seat are next on the list
of things to do.
easiest way to make and install an after
market back rest, but it doesn't look
right. I had a couple guys in the
fabrication dept. where I work (I thank
you Curt G.) cut out some flat plates to
match the overall shape I need to get the
mount to fit between the fender and the
side rail. I also moved the whole backrest
1-1/2 in to the rear. To the left is a quick
edit job I did to get some idea of what it
will look like when the plates are
polished out and chromed. I think it
looks much better than the 'out and over
the side rail' in the top picture. My wife
says the rear seat is a little
uncomfortable. I found the cost of
commercial seats rather expensive.
Since I do leatherwork, I have an
industrial sewing machine, I may as well
learn how to make seats. So, since I'm
going to learn seat making, I got a solo
seat base, to make one for myself. Below
is a picture of what the base looks like in
a trial fitting on the bike. A larger rear
seat and the solo seat are next on the list
of things to do.
Having a 'conservative' attitude,
I'm always trying to avoid radical
changes. I really like it the way it
is, but there's always something I
see I can do to make it suit me
better. I just wonder how long it'll
be before I get out the cutoff
grinder and really start chopping
it up?
I'm always trying to avoid radical
changes. I really like it the way it
is, but there's always something I
see I can do to make it suit me
better. I just wonder how long it'll
be before I get out the cutoff
grinder and really start chopping
it up?
I've added some schematic diagrams and will add some other technical information as I find it
and the time. Here's a link to the technical page.
http://www.wizardinthebasement.com/technical.html
and the time. Here's a link to the technical page.
http://www.wizardinthebasement.com/technical.html