[Poncho]

ok , so a few of you are asking about this Bat Wing I grafted onto my new F6C. no its not a bat bike, it is my RedBaron. I may have to mount some machine guns over the radiators if ever I have to drive in traffic.
So in order to get dressed, first you have to get nekid. or at least partially undressed. Geeps, best you cover your eyes. we don't want you getting no more ideas about posting bikeporn pics.


so I took the plastic headlamp and fork cover assembly off and put it in a box and buried it in the backyar.. warehouse shelf.
then while I was waiting for parts that I ordered to arrive, I went ahead and yanked off those PLASTIC FAIRY ANGEL WINGS radiator covers that resemble Wings on Victoria Secret models strutting in their underwares. but hey, if that is what makes your sled special, knock yourself out.. (insert smiley face here).
So this is what the RB looks like with mostly no plastic clothes on the front of her.. Bangin!


Im going stop for now and give it a break b4 this system wipes out this post for the 3rd time. more later, tater. poncho

 

[Geepers]

I had to take a cold shower after looking at that...

 

[Poncho]

ok, so the new headlight arrived from JPcycles.com ($89). I fab'd a small piece of 1/8" steel plate and attached it to the lower triple tree securing it with the 2 stock bolts. I had drilled a center hole in front of the trees and can use differing lengths 8mm x (?) SS cap screws and spacers to adjust the headlight final position up and down. It has a standard lock clamp that allows aiming left-right and tilt up down. simple. as some otter said "old timey". if you walk into any bike shop and look at ALL the new scooters, count how many ROUND headlights you see.? and then count how many Oddball shaped headlights.? I bet most standard bikes are round and most oddball lights are on full dressed fairings and scantily dressed sport bikes with 2 squinty eyes in front.
I also installed a LED h4 lamp leftover from a previous project from cyclegear.com ($79?) so there is no mistake seeing it coming down the road, it is brite!

 

[Poncho]

so this was the first BatWing I ordered from Tsukayu.com . it is one piece construction front and back are either formed together or welded, I could not see any seams. cost was $450 plus $75 ship from hong kong. it came with a windshield and mounting kit. I inspected it and did not like it. It was TOO heavy 16lbs just for the shell only. the mounting kit was pisspoor. the shield, ~meh, nothing special. It was suppose to be made of lexan poly material. I couldn't say for sure, but it felt like heavy fiberglass. so I sent it back and had to eat the ship cost both ways. actually they had me ship it to another one of their customers in Fla. I took pix because I had to wait for their inspection before they credited me cost of the unit only 30 days.. It wasn't a horrible unit for reasonable price, it just didn't fit this bike in my opinion.. poncho

 

[Poncho]

eventually I got my game together and went back to Memphis Shades to get their BatWing. I have used these on a half dozen rigs and they always turn out well. Often I graft a model to fit a non standard bike that is not part of MS wheelhouse offerings. I went thru 4 gooses. geese? Hot Italian super models, er super cruisers with attitudes that needed Spankin.
these BW only weigh 6lbs. are made of super tuff acrylic and come finished in Black.
so this is model # MEM7011 ($299) specifically fit for the Old Style Valks with Round headlights.. old timey, eh?
also quick disconnect Trigger mounting kit # MEM8999 ($159?)
the old valks used upside down forks, so the fork leg clamps wont fit our New style Valks are 45mm forks.
so I ordered an extra set (4) 45mm fork leg kit ($69)
Add your pick of windshields , differing heights, clear or tint, straight or curved ($99).
it ran up about $630 total , but did include free shipping to US patriots only on American soil. all you outlanders are excluded from this special treatment. deal.
the mounting kit allows for the shield to be moved Up/Down/Forward/Back and change angle of Tilt. Muy Bueno!
Ok, so this first iteration of mounting and fitment was my favorite. aka NO angel wings.. I should have left it like this and worked on making New Rad covers.

 

[Poncho]

so I succumbed to re install those plastic wing rad covers (for now) Obviously there is a conflict of real estate space in order to rotate the forks left and right. The BW and the PW(plastic wings) don't like each other. much. This forced me to have to do some Trimming,, aka Cutting.. So do I cut the PWs or this brand new $630 BW.? well push comes to shove, I figured those Honda PWs would cost me a whole lot more than $630 to replace if I had to. So I cut only the base $300 part of the BWs.
Rotating and marking the BW with a sharpie, I used my dremel cutting wheel and slowly removed several inches of relief on both sides so much so that the forks could now turn a.l.m.o.s.t. all the way stop to stop. I removed about as much material as I was comfortable with and little more as I was starting to remove some of the back side superstructure that gives this thing more 3D integrity. So I quit. cutting. I used a hand file and then a small sand wheel on my dremel to put a soft edge where these 2 edges meet. When I could do no more, I cut some soft clear hose linear and glued it as a bumper edge..
All this is temporary. I will continue to push this until I am either satisfied with it or I decide to go another direction.. I may scrap these wings altogether and fab new rad covers. If so I will buy a new BW and replace this one that I cut.


Somes of the fellas keep asking me if I am going to paint this thing. No. not now, not yet. I have a schitt load of more work to do, front and back end of this sled. IF/when ever I get to the point of being complete, Then I might paint it.. its just not top of my list of things to do. I care far more about Function than I do about Finish Form. poncho


Also, I experienced zero air or turbulence coming under this fairing. the bike and its rads seem to keep most of that at bay. This is by far one of the most quiet , calm air set ups I have done to date.

 

[sanmo]

I continue to like the old timey headlights, but that gap between the headlight and the BW is a bit disconcerting. Could you have mounted the headlight higher or is that gap needed for suspension reasons?
Unfortunate that you needed circumcision on the batwing to clear the radiator covers......

 

[Poncho]

ok, so the new headlight arrived from JPcycles.com ($89). I fab'd a small piece of 1/8" steel plate and attached it to the lower triple tree securing it with the 2 stock bolts. I had drilled a center hole in front of the trees and can use differing lengths 8mm x (?) SS cap screws and spacers to adjust the headlight final position up and down.


I may scrap these wings altogether and fab new rad covers. If so I will buy a new BW and replace this one that I cut.


san'man, there is more to these expose' than just the pics. everything is a work in progress. the lamp can be moved up or down to fit the fairing. the fairing can be moved up/down , back/forth, tilt to fit my preference. even the BW itself can be replaced to eradicate the Cutting.. If/When I shitcan those plastic wings for good.


Fitment, Function, Performance then Form. there is a formula to science and art. poncho

 

[Jambriwal]

Great post Poncho.
Thanks for all the pics. I had cobsidered doing this my self. I have modified an electra glide into a road glide and made a detachable shovel batwing on a switchback.
If i try it im considering trying a Choppa fairing. They lay back like a Corbin fairing does. I need to see one for myself b/4 i decide. Maybe this winter. Great job, thanks for the inspiration.

 

[Poncho]

I continue to like the old timey headlights, but that gap between the headlight and the BW is a bit disconcerting. Could you have mounted the headlight higher or is that gap needed for suspension reasons? Unfortunate that you needed circumcision on the batwing to clear the radiator covers......

once again I have to apologize for the coarse response to your question. it us that leopard/spot thing, is hard to shake.
the question I would have expected is "WHY didn't you raise the headlight to match the fairing cut out?".. and the answer would have been that I did. and then I lowered it back to original position. I have moved this fairing up/down, back/forward, and varied tilt angle trying to find the best fitment for both me, the bike and minimum intersection with those rad wings. So moving the headlight needed to be out of the equation, until final placement of the fairing. I just moved it down out of my way.
then this trip window opened. I didn't want to fuss with the light before or during the trip, so I just left it in its lowered position.. the BW gave me good service and I think its in its final position, So now I can go ahead and raise the lamp to fit the curvature of the batwing.
Cutting the new BW was not pleasant, but needed to be done. kind of like having to cut off a limb in order to save your life. necessary but painful. I would have preferred to cut or shitcan the rad wings. I try to leave a machine in such a state that IF ever I have to return it to stock, aka resale, it can be done. Replacement cost of those 2 color matched wings and their back support structure would have been significantly more than just this BW shell. and the shell is not useless. I can morph it over to just about any other bike I find myself in possession of..
so I am sorry for being rude with my response. poncho

 

[sanmo]

once again I have to apologize for the coarse response to your question. it us that leopard/spot thing, is hard to shake.
......so I am sorry for being rude with my response. poncho

No reason for remorse on your part. I was not offended. I misread your earlier description of the headlight screw as being intended only for vertical tilt.
Now about changing that poor leopard's spots. Just let it be. Unless it was albino and you were planning to paint spots on it and then wash it off? Gotta quit rambling now......

 

[topshelf]

I had a Batwing from another bike and sold it when I got the Valkyrie. It looks like I may have jumped the gun. I did a long ride on Saturday with a windshield and it works fine in my opinion but would just like to find something that looks better. Thanks for your posts.... very interesting and its got me thinking again about some kind of fairing...... To be continued.........

 

[Rich Wentz]

ok, so the new headlight arrived from JPcycles.com ($89). I fab'd a small piece of 1/8" steel plate and attached it to the lower triple tree securing it with the 2 stock bolts. I had drilled a center hole in front of the trees and can use differing lengths 8mm x (?) SS cap screws and spacers to adjust the headlight final position up and down. It has a standard lock clamp that allows aiming left-right and tilt up down. simple. as some otter said "old timey". if you walk into any bike shop and look at ALL the new scooters, count how many ROUND headlights you see.? and then count how many Oddball shaped headlights.? I bet most standard bikes are round and most oddball lights are on full dressed fairings and scantily dressed sport bikes with 2 squinty eyes in front.
I also installed a LED h4 lamp leftover from a previous project from cyclegear.com ($79?) so there is no mistake seeing it coming down the road, it is brite!

Im impressed how much better this Valk looks with a round headlight....

 

[Poncho]

Im impressed how much better this Valk looks with a round headlight....

what you are seeing , or not seeing, is not just the old skool round headlamp, but all the plastic shroud on the front forks and the in your face radiator wings. the radiators almost disappear in these first pix. almost. allowing the front end to impose its presence. the 45mm forks and triple trees are well done all by themselves. those Fat Lady leg stockings can be removed so she can show you some leg. when the front tire needs replacing, very too soon, I will pull the fork tubes and shed those sox and change fork oil. I will also flat black the lower fork legs as I did the rear seat horns. Red and Black is ok. silver is just too many colors going on.

 

[bscrive]

Oh my goodness Poncho!!! Put those britches back on. The glare from those legs are hurting my eyes...

 

[Poncho]

Oh my goodness Poncho!!! Put those britches back on. The glare from those legs are hurting my eyes...

I know what you mean, jelly bean.. I would have preferred a blueberry with all black trimmings. but they are the fastest. movers. so all that was left was grape and cherry flavor. with shiney bits.