Important Announcement
This is my bike. I've had it since I was 16 (currently 23) and decided just
last year, I was bored with it. At that point it was a 1985 Honda Shadow
VT500C, still is I suppose, but then 2 friends and myself started looking it
over and decided to tear it up.
We took off turn signals first then started
taking off the seat to get a good look at the bike without the bulky thing.
We decided to shave the bulky bucket seat down to a single seat that you see
here. Then a friend of mine wanted to try something, always wanted to try
this. We stripped the handle bars and flipped them upside down. I tried it
out and decided that I love it and that it really has made the bike. We then
proceeded to bob the back end. After this picture we also took off the center
stand and the muffler, then heat wrapped the pipes. As it is only 500cc, it
is tiny, but it screams like a banshee. We have lovingly dubed it the
Bullpup. Any suggestions would be great, I'll keep you posted as I continue
to finish this work in progress.
Ben, Brookings SD
Ben, Brookings SD
Update, Fall 2011:
Since I've posted about this bike the first time a few years ago, the bullpup has gone through some major changes. My father offered to give it a paint job that turned out very very nicely. The handlebars, the way they were, started to hurt my back. So I put some european drag bars on. I wanted to put a broomstick on there, but those hit the tank. I managed to find a nice little pan seat in my dad's garage and he allowed me to take it. My father-in-law (who did a lot of the metal work) and I put it on the bike, but we figured we'd raise it off the frame a little higher to my comfort. The rear fender was a gift from my brother-in-law. It originally came off of his '72 sporty. We took it and welded mounts for it onto the swing arm so that it would bounce with the rear tire and we could put it as close as we dare. The taillight, which is a trailer taillight from the local autoparts store, is mounted onto the fender using a swing set bracket that was cut in half.
Since I've posted about this bike the first time a few years ago, the bullpup has gone through some major changes. My father offered to give it a paint job that turned out very very nicely. The handlebars, the way they were, started to hurt my back. So I put some european drag bars on. I wanted to put a broomstick on there, but those hit the tank. I managed to find a nice little pan seat in my dad's garage and he allowed me to take it. My father-in-law (who did a lot of the metal work) and I put it on the bike, but we figured we'd raise it off the frame a little higher to my comfort. The rear fender was a gift from my brother-in-law. It originally came off of his '72 sporty. We took it and welded mounts for it onto the swing arm so that it would bounce with the rear tire and we could put it as close as we dare. The taillight, which is a trailer taillight from the local autoparts store, is mounted onto the fender using a swing set bracket that was cut in half.
As it sits now, the bullpup has won 3rd place at the 2010 Skinner's Ride Through in Brookings. I am very proud of this bike. There are a few things that I would like to do with it yet, but it's very minor. I wish to make a battery cover, a air filter cover and a cover for under the seat out of some diamond plate and I think that would really complete the bike.
Not pictured here is a detachable sissy bar that slides into the frame behind the seat and goes up to the rider's shoulders. I only use it when going on trips for luggage.
Not pictured here is a detachable sissy bar that slides into the frame behind the seat and goes up to the rider's shoulders. I only use it when going on trips for luggage.
