Batwing Venture

[Ay_Dee]

Folks, I have had my new 2003 Midnight Venture, ride it every day to work and am loving it more and more each day.

 

My only gripe is the dashbaord. Dang, it is something I cannot get used to. I like old analog style clocks, also the fairing just does not 'do it' for me. Was at the Cassoday ride this weekend with thousands of riders - the bike itself in black and all its studliness looks great, its just that fairing and it digital speedo that 'has to go'.

 

The Kawasaki Voyage has such a great fairing and dash - I'm a little green!

 

[vzuden]

That is a good looking dash. We could always bolt our cassette decks onto the handle bars

[djh3]

Mine looks like this. http://bikernetbaggers.com/docs/stories/10370/03%20Dashboard%20Active%20-%20with%20Highway.jpg

[Midicat]

Those are a couple of nice looking displays. Got me thinking, has anyone refit a first gen with a batwing?

 

Thomas

[bongobobny]

Strongly doubt it could be done Thomas, First Gen's are Fixed fairings, 2nd Gen's are fork mounted fairings...

[camos]

Those are a couple of nice looking displays. Got me thinking, has anyone refit a first gen with a batwing?

I know style is a very personal thing but why do you think putting a batwing on a 1st Gen would be better? Doing anything is always possible but often it boils down to is it worth the cost of accomplishing it. Replacing a 1st Gen fairing with a batwing would also require making mods to the side covers which is likely to be more difficult than actually installing an aftermarket fairing even if you could find one that looked any good to you. I have never seen a batwing that looked looked good 360 degrees around. Some look OK from the front or the side but all that I have seen look either awkward or down right fugly from some angle.

 

If you are just interested in changing the look of the dash, then that would be more in the realm of possible. The Kawi dash that Ay_Dee posted certainly is nice looking and would look great installed on a 1st Gen. It looks to me that the 1st Gen CMS would fit in the center area of the Kawi panel with only minor modification. Assuming the gauges will work with the Venture then the hardest part of the project would be creating a decent looking surround support for the panel. Working with ABS plastic is relatively easy but like everything else, takes some knowledge and skill to do a nice looking job.

 

Just think, you could be the first. Remember to take lots of pix for the write-up you will have to do.

[cowpuc]

I have done a fair amount of cross country touring with both Batwing, regular windshield, naked (no shield,, not a lot of naked body on the scoot - a little but very little) and fixed.. Personally I LOVE my fixed fairing 1st Gens - very stable in high winds like out in Wyoming with 2 up, even those nasty cross winds.. I would LOVE to see a Batwinged 1st Gen though.. Someone on here has got to have done that?

As far as that Kawi dashboard look Dee - right there with ya brother = IMHO,, that is GORGEOUS!! Matter of fact, there is another thread here where Big Lenny was commenting about the Voyager.. Think I made comment in there about how much I LOVE the looks of that dash,, definitely a nice setup for old school crazies who like to watch dials and gizmos.. It's funny cause redid an 85 Honda Wing SE years ago.. I nick named the thing "the shuttle" cause it had more electronic gadgets on it than the space shuttle and more wiring then such.. Wayyy to much electronic stuff happening for my tastes.. Dials and guages for this ol grease covered gear head,, love my analog dials and gauges...

 

PS Deej,, LOVE the looks of that Victory dash too:thumbsup: