Mach VIII

I should add that I originally wasn't going to post this sale over here in light of the help I got from members in terms of parts & information. I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea and feel like I was just using the forum to take advantage of the group's collegiality. That was not the case. I have enjoyed the group and the forum (and will certainly recommend it to any buyer). I just ended up finding a different bike I wanted even more when I went home over Christmas and now need to sell the 'Bird to pay for it and to make room in the garage. I genuinely appreciate all the help (and parts) from members. In light of that, if any forum members are interested in the bike, I'd be willing to provide a "member discount."

Ok, I'll own up to it, this is MY bike I'm selling. The previous owner had dumped the bike - once on each side. Can't really tell you much beyond that, other than to say it was only cosmetic. I replaced the upper fairing and the two lowers with some nice used ones. They were somewhat scraped up and there was some custom airbrushing on them and it was going to be too hard to try and match that all up. So, it was easier to just buy some stock black ones. Nothing was bent or damaged underneath - the replacement panels fit right on. There were some other bits & pieces I replaced, including the right footpeg, and the right bar end was pretty gouged up. I got some of the parts from forum members (thanks again guys), including a replacement rear shock. Anyhow, yes, there are some scratches in the engine covers (mostly the stator cover) but it doesn't take much for that to happen. Take a look at all the pictures in the photo gallery Photo Album for lots of detail shots. In any case, the bike rides, tracks, and runs perfectly, which is what matters ultimately. Cosmetically, it's nice, but not "perfect" and the price reflects that. If you can live with a few cosmetic blemishes, this is a great deal. If not, it's still priced right and you can use the savings to fix the blemishes and still be ahead. I'm really only selling because I need the money and the space in the garage. This is quite a fine bike really.

NICE, but YIKES, that's too pricey for meeeeeee. Oh well.

So I'm mostly done with the de-ghettoing of my '99 BB. One of the few remaining ugly spots is the alternator/stator cover on the left side. It's got some rash on it and generally looks pretty shitty. Aside from simply spending $90 or so to just replace it, are there any other good options, such as some stick-on carbon fiber covers, cheaper aftermarket covers, or something of the like? I've considered having it polished (I don't have the equip. or facilities to do that myself), but that would probably cost almost as much as buying a new one - and then the clutch cover (which also has a small amount of rash) wouldn't match. My fall-back plan is to just remove the cover(s), sand out the gouges & scratches, and paint it/them black, or possibly the stock color if anyone knows of a touch-up to match that weird greenish-gold color. Of course if somebody has a nice one they want to sell cheap, I could be interested in that too.

Forget the saddlebags on a Super. The turnsignals and the pipes make it pretty much unworkable. A good alternative though is the Nelson Rigg EXP-200 tailbag (I think they MAY have changed the model number in the last year). This bag works excellent on the Supers - provides lots of storage and can be removed/installed in about 15 seconds. I've got one that I've used for a few years now on my own Super. Just set it on the rear seat, then use the built-in bungee cords and hook onto the chrome grabrails and around the rear signal stems.

Drat! So you're the one that beat me to the punch on that rack. Oh well. Enjoy!

Damn you!! I can resist anything ....except temptation. Man, and I've really been wanting a dual sport lately too. [gnashing teeth]

Undercutting is the terminology I'm familiar with, and yes, Dave Dodge is THE guy to talk to about Honda V4s (especially the older ones). Dave can undercut the gears. In fact, if your buddies gears aren't too badly worn, then he can often undercut the existing gears to solve the problem, thus avoiding the cost of buying new. Even still, he charges around $500 just to do the gears, plus you're going to spend some money on gaskets and fluids. I know all about this as my '88 SuperMagna just started popping out of 2nd gear. :icon_doh: I'll get to tackle this project myself - likely this winter.

Terrific work on the bike! Nice job rescuing this one. Purple wheels rule.

Good info there Mack. Thanks. How do you like the Pimp undertail? Good quality? Any issues? Seems a lot cheaper than the similar looking SW Mototech one(s).

Damn it! Every time I see your avatar I get drawn into a trance-like state. The only thing that brings me out of this glassy-eyed condition is when the drool dripping off my chin finally soaks through my shirt, or the phone rings. Anyhow, thanks for the info. I didn't realize that. That explains the lack of response/offers. :icon_think: By getting an undertail though, don't you pretty much HAVE to get a hugger? Without a hugger the undertail will get trashed almost right away, won't it?

[bump] Anyone gots? Or even an undertail (even better really) that you're not using, etc. (what the hell, it's worth a shot)??? I just figured the stocker was more likely to be laying around collecting dust in garages across the realm of BB owners.

Hi Rickrad, is the shock still available? I sent a PM, but haven't heard anything from you. Lemme know. Thanks.

PM sent on the shock.

If anyone's got a stock rear inner fairing (like if you replaced it with an undertail) they'd like to donate for shipping or sell cheap, I could use one. It's fine if the bottom has been cut off, so long as it looks good with the plate in place and the signal mounts are intact. Mine has been broken and glued together where the right signal attaches and it just kinda looks like crap. Since I have other "big pieces" to source and buy yet as I piece this bike back together, I don't have the funds to commit to an undertail and hugger kit right now. If any of you guys are like me, I know you just couldn't bear to throw out that stock mudflap, even if you know you'll never re-install it on your bike. Send it to me and you can sleep better at night knowing that you've helped bring a neglected and abused (not by me) Blackbird back to it's former glory AND freed up some storage space in the garage for those soon-to-be-collectible 1993-2007 back issues of CycleWorld that are currently sitting in boxes beside your computer desk. TIA

Still looking for a left lower fairing and an upper fairing in good condition in black. Likewise for a nice fuel tank. Thanks.

Cool deal. Yup, sounds like it just needs a carb cleaning. No big deal - especially on an I4. Don't waste your money on "rebuild" kits and the like. Just get a can of carb & choke cleaner along with a 1 gallon can of carb parts cleaner (has a basket in it to soak jets and such). That's usually all that's needed. Good luck with it.

Thanks for the quick answers guys. Disappointing, but saved me some wasted money and frustration. Thanks a ton!

Does anyone know if I can use a '97 (carbed) tank on my '99 (EFI) Blackbird? I don't know if the plumbing is different between the carbed and injected bikes. If it can, is it a direct bolt on, or are there some modifications that need to be done? Thanks.

Ahhh, well I guess mine can remain unlost in the drawer of my tool chest as well. Thanks though.

Here's a couple of pictures of a LP bra on a 99. Should give you an idea of what it will cover. Thanks for the pics. God that blue hawt!!! Looks like the bra cover up most of the big dent. Thanks man. Sending you a PM.

I'm looking to cover up some rather ugly dents on the tank of the BB I just bought. The worst of them is on the right side, just below and to the left of the wing/Honda decal. The other two are much smaller and I know will be covered by any tank bra. I see that Lockhart Phillips & Targa each sell half-bras. Can anyone tell me which one will cover more (ie. which will get closest to covering the decals)? Anyone got pictures of each mounted? I did a search here and found some pictures of mounted tank bras, but don't know which ones they were. I'd prefer the carbon fiber pattern (LP only I think), but covering the dents is the biggest priority. I'm not that interested in the 2nd look & Bagster full covers, as those are much more expensive than what I'm looking to spend on this band-aid fix.

After looking at photos of your bike, the "bracket" you're missing, isn't a bracket per se. Rather the right lower cowling bolts to a tab on the oil pan, or rather it used to. The tab breaks off easily. Several members, myself included, are missing the tab. You have to replace the oil pan to get that tab. The cowling secures just fine without it. Yes, that tab is broken off as well, but that's not the bracket I'm referring to. I'm talking about the one that is almost right across from the oil fill cap that the black plastic insert piece mounts too. I can feel a small hole on the backside of the frame where the missing little bracket mounts to (plus I can see a bit of the bracket on BPG's 'Bird). As for the busted oil pan tab, has anyone successfully tried reattaching the broken off tab (I've still got the tab in hand) with a JB Weld, or epoxy type product? I've no interest in replacing the pan (especially if the fairing will hold fine w/o this mounting point), but figured I might give it a go with such a product while I'm fiddling about.

Cool. Pics would help. You can send them in a PM if you like. Thanks.

Got a black '99 that I just picked up which is rather cosmetically challenged. All of the fairings have some [ahem] beauty marks on them, some can be salvaged, some not. Depending upon what parts are available, their condition, and prices, I may either get some painter parts and repaint the thing. Or, if I can get some nice condition black panels I'll just piece it back together without a repaint (which is more than fine with me). There are a few other bits that I need for the bike as well. So here's the list (after one day of ownership and pawing around the bike for an afternoon/evening): -Upper fairing - mine is beat and needs to be replaced -Right & Left lowers - neither of mine are good, but possible painters with some plastic welding & body work I suppose (which doesn't thrill me) -Tank -Tailsection - mine just has a few scratches & isn't bad (more than fine for a repaint), I would only want a really nice one of these and really only if I'm able to get some other nice black pieces such that I don't need to do a repaint -Tank Bra - would like one of these to cover up the dents in my tank, nothing fancy here, cheap is good! -Right driver footpeg (w/ feeler) -Brake lever - mine is bent like the toes of a Munchkin's shoes -Right bar/clip-on - screw for bar end is busted off in mine and the few threads I can see look totally stripped out, not sure if I can salvage mine or not yet -Bracket piece (and screw) that right lower fairing mounts to towards the back bottom corner (I think there's a bracket that is supposed to mount to the back of the frame (???) that the fairing mounting bolt screws into - I ain't got one) -Owners Manual -FASTENERS!!! I'm missing most all of the fasteners for the fairings & windscreen, so if someone's got some (parts bike???), I could use 'em. I'll probably think of or find more that I need, but that's a good enough list to start with. Thanks all.