[Bigman]

Has anyone come across a black grab rail or rack for a Bonneville? I am not a fan of chrome, and don't want to buy chrome and then strip it and have it painted black. Has anyone made a black grab rail in their own shop that may be willing to make another. If so, send photos of them.

Signed Anti-Chrome Man

 

[Scrambler900]

Here is one possible, easy remedy.

In my Harley days, I owned a totally black FXDX bike (tank and fenders, engine coating, exhaust, handlebars, etc.), and didn't want to add ANY chrome. But there was a nice voltage regulator cover I wanted to add - only it was available in chrome.

I took some sand paper to it to rough up the surface, then bought a can of flat black paint from the Harley dealer, and painted the piece. That can of flat black paint perfectly matched the rest of the bike's flat black engine cases, etc. Once installed, it looked like a factory custom accessory.

[ This message was edited by: Scrambler900 on 2007-01-03 19:15 ]

 

[bsmith222]

I agree. I think your best bet is to get a chrome piece and having it powder coated. We had some Renntec racks blacked a while ago and they turned out very nice. See if you can get a used part. It doesn't even matter if it's scratched a little...

-brent

 

[mase]

I was lucky to get one from these classifieds from someone who bought it from Brent from NewBonneville.com.

it's beautiful in black!

 

[modre]

>Has anyone made a black grab rail in their own shop that may be willing to make another.<

I'd be more inclined to teach skills and pass it on.

here's an old set of 7/8" buck bars I cut apart and made a seat back so mz. modre doesn't feel insecure falling off the back. it's not finished yet...it gets a further upright piece for a pad, but it'll likely be black...I'm not a chrome polisher myself either Bigman.

bar is strong enough to pull the bike out of the mud by.

you have to make a mount to grab the 4 threads in the frame and get a place to bolt below the seat...I used 1/8" X 2" bar bent, drilled...then the sissy bar bolts to that...which also gives flexibility for panniers ect...

see also my pegs and skid plate:

I'm working out a couple other outside the box projects as well.
I'd love to see other home made stuff contributions...being much more impressed by creativity than invoices.

 

[modre]

here's an update...
added a leany-back for the mz...and a rack (about the size of a small igloo cooler) over the tail light.

now I'm thinking chrome, tho not a fan, it makes sense to armor where normal use would take paint right off.

I painted the welds and bare metal...the chrome showing is I used an old set of handle bars as the sissy bar part.
I like the BMW effect of the satin black rack, the chrome of the sissy bar, and not sure which way to go with the leany-back...chrome all over would cure it...but I may try all over satin black first...but without power coat or serious hardener, I'm not altogether sold on paint here.

the gussets on the uprights are to get drilled for bungie ends.

anyone like it...or hate it?...I'm not sure what I think of it yet.