dragerman Posted March 30, 2009 #1 Posted March 30, 2009 First of all I’ve got to say that I love this site and all the ideas, opinions and constructive criticism that flow through it. Some of the bantering that goes on is pretty funny too… like what color is the fastest, lol! ... Isn’t that silly, we all know that Black Cherry is the fastest and that 2nd Gen rules! So I’ve been wanting a new ‘Do you see me now’ horn because as you know stock horns just don’t make the cut. Stock horns are nice when you want to politely get someone’s attention without shouting but that’s about it. Having said that my goal was to find an alternate location for a horn, install a separate switch and keep the stock horn operational. I lucked out on a Bad Boy horn for $29. but couldn’t find a decent switch for a fair price so here’s what I did… I came across a left hand control cluster off an old Kawasaki, it’s almost identical to one on the venture. Long story short I cut the horn switch off the bottom of the cluster, made a separate switch out of it and installed it under my existing horn switch. Now I can use either horn (or both) and the switch is in reach of my thumb. Although it was a tight fit I made a little bracket and mounted the horn under the front faring to the left of the cassette player/amp (black box). Being under the faring the horn is still quite loud and its right up front where I want it. The horn is on a separate fused circuit through a relay wired directly to the battery. The other thing I did (with some help from our tech library) was a headlight mod. I now have the Tri Bar headlight with passing lamps to match. I’ve upgraded the headlight bulb to an ultra and the passing lamp bulbs to the PIA H-3. There is not much more I want to do to the bike besides ride it... although I do like the idea of swapping out the cassette player for some gauges... does it ever end!?! Here are some pictures including a before and after of the headlight...
Mikealiasmike Posted March 30, 2009 #2 Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) That is sooooooo cool. I like the positioning of second horn switch and the looks. Almost looks like it was made for it. Nice job Edited March 30, 2009 by Mikealiasmike
Guest tx2sturgis Posted March 30, 2009 #3 Posted March 30, 2009 Kewl....I bet it sounds good when you pull the trigger on BOTH of those puppies at the same time! By the way...in that last 'bike' picture, I think your scoot musta fell in the lake...better go check.
dragerman Posted March 30, 2009 Author #4 Posted March 30, 2009 Kewl....I bet it sounds good when you pull the trigger on BOTH of those puppies at the same time! By the way...in that last 'bike' picture, I think your scoot musta fell in the lake...better go check. Actually the picture of the water was taken this evening for ‘johnny-canuck’, on an earlier post I mentioned to him that I was taking a break to go watch the sunset.
SilvrT Posted March 30, 2009 #5 Posted March 30, 2009 There is not much more I want to do to the bike besides ride it... Now, that's what I was thinking.... until I read your post!!! geeeesh ... I better plant another money tree coz the one I got has been picked clean (almost). I like the headlight mod!
CMIKE Posted March 30, 2009 #6 Posted March 30, 2009 we all know that Black Cherry is the fastest and that 2nd Gen rules! ... Really cool mod but it is obvious you have not really looked at the Midnight RSV. They look faster just sitting still. If you try to follow one for a few miles...you will know exactly which one is faster...
SilvrT Posted March 30, 2009 #7 Posted March 30, 2009 Really cool mod but it is obvious you have not really looked at the Midnight RSV. They look faster just sitting still. If you try to follow one for a few miles...you will know exactly which one is faster... DITTO that ... it's a proven FACT that BLACK slides thru the air MUCH EASIER than any other color and any shade of RED especially has the highest drag coefficient, causing anything painted that color to be MUCH slower! :witch_brew: (Black Cherry is actually a shade of RED, not black)
dragerman Posted March 30, 2009 Author #8 Posted March 30, 2009 DITTO that ... it's a proven FACT that BLACK slides thru the air MUCH EASIER than any other color and any shade of RED especially has the highest drag coefficient, causing anything painted that color to be MUCH slower! :witch_brew: (Black Cherry is actually a shade of RED, not black) Black is not a color it’s the absence of light so therefore your bike doesn’t really exist!
KiteSquid Posted March 30, 2009 #9 Posted March 30, 2009 I do like the use of two horn buttons!!!!! One for saluting friends and one for saluting non-friends....
SilvrT Posted March 30, 2009 #10 Posted March 30, 2009 Black is not a color it’s the absence of light so therefore your bike doesn’t really exist! then it must be REALLY FAST!!! :rasberry:
dragerman Posted March 30, 2009 Author #11 Posted March 30, 2009 (edited) Ok, ok… I’ll grant the Black Midnight ‘second’ place... After all Black Cherry is a Midnight with a Cherry on top! Put a Cherry on anything and it always seems to make it more gooder! Edited April 4, 2009 by dragerman
ManWithAVision Posted March 30, 2009 #13 Posted March 30, 2009 Black is not a color it’s the absence of light so therefore your bike doesn’t really exist! Actually the abesence of light is caused by the extreme speed of an RSTD Midnight topping out in third gear. Lightyears ahead of all those candy coloured Ventures with all that extra Samsonite slowing them down! As for the horn mod, nice concept. I'm always in favour of redundant systems, but I have enough trouble finding the original button in a panic situation. Having to choose which one to hit would be even more confusing for this old rider. I installed the Strebel Ear Cannon on mine using instructions found on this forum. On Saturday a cager decided to attempt a right turn from the centre lane as I approached on his right. First time I had a reason to lean hard on the horn button and I noticed several pedestrians as far as a city block away turning around to see where all the noise was coming from as I rode by. Great addition for those fast RSTD's and slow candy coloured Ventures. 06RSTDRider:big-grin-emoticon:
Sunman Posted March 30, 2009 #14 Posted March 30, 2009 Geez you are a craft/handy/ inventive kinda guy eh? And I was impressed with myself that I figured out how to install my clutch and brake res cover chrome bits. sheesh! Great job buddy! See ya soon
Marcarl Posted March 30, 2009 #15 Posted March 30, 2009 Nice job on the horn buttons and the lights,,, if I had a 2nd gen I would probably want to do something similar,,,,, and I noticed that so for the argument has stayed within the 2nd gen corridor and has not approached the 1st gen arena. There's good reason for that of course,,,,,,,,no need to dicuss this any further and make someone feel bad,,,,,
1sttenor Posted March 30, 2009 #16 Posted March 30, 2009 I hate to be nosey, but roughly what did the light upgrade run? Just tell me if its none of my business.
SilvrT Posted March 30, 2009 #17 Posted March 30, 2009 Ok, ok… I’ll grant the Black Midnight ‘secound’ place... After all Black Cherry is a Midnight with a Cherry on top! Put a Cherry on anything and it always seems to make it more gooder! so what you're really saying is you're a Cherry and you ride a Midnight Venture....??? Now as for your second statement, I'm just not gonna touch that one!
Cougar Posted March 30, 2009 #18 Posted March 30, 2009 damn it. now I got another project for this next winter. (2 now) Goose ya might wanna place that in the tech section since the Bird is not able to right now *hint hint*
TEW47 Posted March 30, 2009 #19 Posted March 30, 2009 Question, I have a Stebel horn attached to the right rear passenger floorboard bolt. Can I mount another Stebel on the left and use the same relay. Hookup both horns on one relay? tew47
johnny-canuck Posted March 31, 2009 #20 Posted March 31, 2009 Dragerman, Thanks for the info and pictures. The last one is good. It's been a long time since I've seen water without ice. Attached is a pic of the view from my front porch. There is a river out there somewhere. And they're calling for more snow The pictures are helpful. I was debating which side of the headlight to put it on. Now since I've got it all apart I may do the headlight mod as well. I hadn't noticed that mod before. And since I've got the front off, I may as well lower the front end. If I keep this up, I may never get it back together... John
Cougar Posted March 31, 2009 #21 Posted March 31, 2009 were does one get those kewl looking lights from? Are the the same watts etc.?
KiteSquid Posted March 31, 2009 #22 Posted March 31, 2009 Do you know the part number for the Kawasaki horn button?? I need to find something like that for my bike. Does anybody have any other ideas for a secondary horn button?
dragerman Posted March 31, 2009 Author #23 Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) were does one get those kewl looking lights from? Are the the same watts etc.? Hey Cougar, those are the Yamaha Tri-Bar lights that they sell for the RSTD. They’re not available for the Venture because headlight doesn’t come with the required mounting bracket. To do the mod I took a bracket from a damaged Venture headlight and put the one inside the other but using this particular headlight didn’t come without its challenges. First of all after I removed the old lens the new light didn’t fit into the bracket. It took some shaping and fitting to get it in, properly centered and secured. The other major consideration was the fact that the Tri-Bar headlight from Yamaha has a nylon exterior housing... the problem with that is that there aren’t any products that will properly adhere the nylon to the metal bracket. Long story short, with some creative thinking, lots of patients, some Devcon, epoxy, silicon, and a headlight ring from a 68 mustang I was able to make it work! ... kinda reminds me of an old Johnny Cash song! I would suggest that anyone doing this mod should measure the bracket opening to make sure the new light will fit and to find one with either a glass or metal housing. The bulbs have been upgraded to the PIAA H-I-D 55w Super Plasma. I must have them angled right because they don't seem to bother the oncoming traffic. Edited April 4, 2009 by dragerman
dragerman Posted March 31, 2009 Author #24 Posted March 31, 2009 Do you know the part number for the Kawasaki horn button?? I need to find something like that for my bike. Does anybody have any other ideas for a secondary horn button? I have no idea what the year or part number is for the horn button, almost any control cluster will do. Originally I was looking for one from a venture but then found this one. As I’ve mentioned I had to cut the button portion off of the cluster then shape and square it down with a sanding disc. After I made a new backing plate for the switch I used some Devcon (liquid metal) to close in the top. When the Devcon cured I smoothed it down with the sanding disc and attached it to the bike with some 3-M exterior two sided tape. I made sure it cleared the gas tank before I put it on. Find a shop that sells used bike parts and you should be able to find a cluster with a horn switch that will work.
a1bummer Posted April 3, 2009 #25 Posted April 3, 2009 DITTO that ... it's a proven FACT that BLACK slides thru the air MUCH EASIER than any other color and any shade of RED especially has the highest drag coefficient, causing anything painted that color to be MUCH slower! :witch_brew: (Black Cherry is actually a shade of RED, not black) However the case may be... Blondes still have more fun!
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