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Long time lurker, 1st time poster: I did a few modifications; check it out!

12K views 90 replies 50 participants last post by  Haggis 
#1 ·
Here is a before and after image of some changes that I made to my 1998 Thunderbird Sport. Let me know what you think.
 

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#64 ·
If it was painted, you'd get nothing but praise. I bet if it was hot pink, the nay-sayers would like it more. Again, the brushed metal look is great.
 
#71 ·
Oh well I guess I am just a waxed cotton boy who wipes his bike with a diaper. My bike only has 100K on it so what the hell would I know? I guess some butt hurt wanna be "kustomIZR cafe racer" has all the answers.
 
#73 ·
I remember someone else getting all worked when his bike was critised too, Larry.
This person got quite Polly Pissy Pants as I recall.....
 
#78 · (Edited)
okay the gloves are off.
Jag312 that's the most idiotic, self-loathing comment I've seen. the bay area is one of if not the most open minded, socially aware, culturaly diverse, place in the U.S. not to mention the perfect year around riding weather & the miles & miles of AWSOME twisties with breath taking views of the ocean or majestic redwoods to see. name another place where u can take a ride at dawn for a couple hours & go snowboarding then ride back & go surfing ALL in the same day 5 months a year.
U don't like it here? MOVE.
i'm sure there's some village looking for it's ... ;)

& who exactly thinks the bay area is a joke?

maybe the stunted iq level of the gene pool u & yours r splashing in but not someone with half a brain
 
#81 ·
Rooster, I think your bike looks awsome. The yellow one looks stupid. Ignore the haters.
 
#84 ·
Haters? No some pople just don't like it. When you post a picture of something up for people to look at, you are delusion if you think everybody is going to like it.
 
#82 ·
im sure if all the haters actually saw the bike in person, their comments would be different. the bare metal look is great, i saw a bike that had the same scheme going on, and i was pretty jealous.
 
#83 ·
Who started this S__t Storm?

Just kidding, I always thought having a bike was about being an individual. I usually change things on a bike to make it unique and mine. If I wanted to be like everyone else I'd be riding a Harley. Triumphs are unique motorcycles and so are the owners. I kinda like the MadMax look. I think Abe Lincoln said it best. "You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time" Everyone should enjoy their machine no matter what it is or whatever they make it into And respect others choices Even if they are from the Bay Area! Just kidding, I've never been to the Bay Area I'll save my opinion on that for when I have enough info to make intelligent statements about where someone lives. Enjoy the ride guys, and don't sweat the small stuff. The Cyclone Ranger rides, tonight!
 
#86 ·
Wow, I had no idea this board was full of such purists! I for one am NOT a purist, and I will chop up just about anything.. being a motorcycle enthusiast is about sharing a common bond with other bikers over the thrill, the danger, and the sheer joy of riding ON the open road, not THROUGH it (such as in a car).

I've never aligned myself with any particular brand of bike, in fact the only "big brand" bike I haven't owned is a Harley - however, that will probably change in the next year or so when I finish up my Triumph and start a bobber project. By finish, I mean totally hack up and ruin.. or do I mean restore and customize? Perhaps a little bit of both, and also dependent on who's looking..

In the end, it doesn't matter because it's my bike, and if I want to light it on fire just to watch it burn, I can. These bikes aren't Brough Superiors, Francis Barnett's, or flat tank Norton's... to say ANY of our bikes are "rare" is a stretch.. my bike, a '95, the first to come back to the US, is "rare" I suppose but you know there are thousands out there so.. it isn't rare.. at all.. sorry..

Two things apply on this thread for me;

1) To each his own
2) If you don't have anything nice to say...

Anyway, I happen to dig this bike just for the sheer fact that it was made into something the rider enjoys riding.. again, for me, riding motorcycles isn't about popularity contests or pleasing other people's eyes, it's about enjoying camaraderie and that common bond I spoke of earlier.

I think it's uncalled for to openly flame this guy for modifying his bike.. I've seen plenty of bikes on here that look like total sh*t, and you know what.. the dude or gal riding it loves it, and is proud enough of it to share; just because they're asking for an opinion isn't license to be an a-hole to a fellow rider.

PS - I'm originally from Detroit.. so.. I'm pretty sure people think a lot less of that than California on any given day.

Later,

Jim
 
#87 ·
Another long time lurker. I jump up here now and then to see what is happening and whenever my Legend craps out.

Rooster, Amazing job! Anybody can throw paint and chrome at a bike but yours is art.

I wish I had the nerve to do that to my Legend. It would look wicked with the blacked out engine. I am stunned by those shaming you. Are you guys really bikers?
 
#88 ·
It's different - maybe not my style but if it makes you happy then who cares what others think. You paid the money so it is your bike to do what you wish with it. Get on it and ride it like you stole it!:)

I'm not worrying about passing anything on to the next generation. When my father got older he started to get a little flack from some family members for spending some of his hard earned money (he was a widower for many years). When he asked my opinion about it, I told him it would just fine with me if took all he had and blew it on a vacation to Vegas with a sweet, young lady and bet whatever he had left on one spin on red. Because it was HIS to blow not to keep for the me and my siblings.:D
 
#89 · (Edited)
The Legends are so rare and sought after, I believe they'll be collectible one day, and the closer to original the more valuable. I've only made changes to my Legend to increase the comfort (fly screen to block the wind) and to protect the tank (tank pad with the British flag, which is removable).

On the other hand, I agree we should all be individuals - that's what motorcycles are for - to NOT be like everyone else. The bike is yours to ride and no one else's, so enjoy it. Hey, I bet you get lots of attention when you pull into a parking lot.
 
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