So back in February I got hit by a cage (car for the non-riders). Hit and run actually. Banged up my 96 XJ600 Seca II pretty bad (I walked away unscathed; take the MSF course and ALWAYS wear gear). Lost my front fairing, scraped up the exhausts on both sides, bent the handlebars (not the fork or trees thankfully), and generally turned my once pretty bike, into a mangled mess.

At the time I was unemployed so I just took the money and pocketed it, and fixed the mechanics on the beast to keep it running until I had some money to buy a new bike. I’ve since been working again but instead of a new bike, I decided that a new computer is more important (I’m an aspiring director so I need good tools) so I’ve decided to make a cafe/rat/hooligan bike out of my old SECA II, and since I love the project threads so much, I’ll be making my own.

For posterity, here’s how my baby looks right now:

She’s in dire need of a bath, but mechanically she’s pretty solid. Could use a carb cleaning and all, but that’s part of the plan. I have it pretty much worked out that I’m going to rebuild her in stages.

Stage 1 – The Basics
In this stage, I’m replacing the dash cluster with an Acewell Unit, 7″ headlight, LED turn signals, LED brake light, black clubman bars, grips, and bar end mirrors. I went online and purchased a bunch of stuff and it’s slowly arriving. Hopefully by this weekend I’ll have all the parts I’ll need for this stage.

Stage 2 – Performance
I’ve recently come into a V&H Supersport Exhaust full system for my bike. They usually go used for about $500, but I picked this gem up for 1/5 of that. The thing is super light. I can effortlessly lift it with one hand. Definitely a departure from the heavy and gargantuan system currently weighing my bike down. It does have some surface rust and scratches, but I’m going to refurbish it (more on that in another post). Anyways, Full 4-into-1 Exhaust System, black heat wrap, silicone sealing spray (for the wrap), a 20mm Pilot Jet, FactoryPro Jet Kit, and a good ole fashioned carb cleaning and (if needed) valve adjustment.

Stage 3 – Suspension & Propulsion
For Stage 3 of the Hooligan conversion I’ll be getting a new rear shock (progressive 420, or an OEM), going with a heavier oil on the front forks, getting some steel braided brake lines, going down 1 tooth on the rear (48 -> 47) and going up 1 tooth in the front (16 -> 17), new Pirelli Sport Demon Tires (upgrading from a 130 to a 150 in the back), POSSIBLY do a FZR front end swap so I can get dual front breaks (and better stopping power), and a partridge in a pear tree.

Stage 4 – Spit and polish
Re-black the engine, matte black (or graphite grey) paintjob for the tank, side panels, and rear plastic.

I’m budgeting ~$2k for this upgrade. I know I can buy a faster, better bike etc, but I’m doing this because it will be awesome to build my own custom bike, I’ll learn a buttload about bikes, I’m an artist so this kind of thing appeals to my creative side, and I think those mad max looking bikes just look badass (if done right).

So I felt like sharing a little bit of one of the projects I’m currently working on. This piece is a work in progress for a current client. Can’t really say TOO much about it until the piece is done except for the fact that it’s an abstract 3d piece that said company is going to use in it’s 2009 demo reel intro sequence. This is just the first scene of three scenes. The other scenes are rendered, but aren’t really polished yet. This scene is the first scene, and it’s the furthest along. Still a little tweaking to do, but for the most part I’m happy with where it’s going. Thoughts?