Underdog

I need to get hold of a bike and take a look I think, ideally I'd like to keep the cage to offer support for a passanger (just incase its ever needed) but the rear fender just seems so much further away from the wheel than almost all other bikes, if it wasn't so far away then I'd happily just reshape it a bit. The rest seems straight forward enough, drag bars, risers, New seat and then think about the pipes, oh yeah and actually find a bike for sale

Cheers for the advice, I could probably live with the exhausts (if I really had to) just think by the time you shorten the look of the back you make the already too long pipes look waaay too big Thought the rear of the frame would need to go, having no welding skills the new mounting for the mudguard worries me somewhat. Plate and light I'd like to move to the side (though not sure on legalities of this), had planned on trimming the old seat, didn't realise it needed that frame to fit, so new mounting method could be another concern due to lack of skill. I'd still like it to mount direct to the frame, not on springs. Though I'd happily have a go at making the seat itself.

I'm not bothered about having a big or bigger bike (yeah I know easy to say ) it has taken 7 years to convince my wife that a 125 isn't a death machine so going up to a 650 could be a little while away yet, so a bigger bike would probably be years away if at all. Just want something for running around on when kids are in school and wife in work. I've had bikes in the past (had my first off on a yam 50cc when I was 5) but not ridden for over 15 years, cars were just too practical during this period I guess.

Not really worried about its value to be honest, they aren't that expensive to beging with, just want to be happy with how it looks while riding, and get some practice in on it before a bigger bike.

So in the absence of an actual bike I've been looking at photos of lots of bikes, standard and modified. My two real dislikes on standard dragstars are the rear mudguard and the exhausts. So 2 questions, what can I do with problem number 1? I do love the look of the small and low bobber rear guards but would mean cutting the supporting cage to achieve it. Is there a compromised way of getting it to follow the shape of the rear wheel better and making it look closer without chopping the cage off . Then, the pipes, I just dislike how long they are, what's the easiest and cost effective way of shortening them, power or noise gains are not important. Thanks for reading

Yeah, I'm going to wait it out for one, this rain makes me realise there's no rush There is one on eBay in Aberdare that looks better by the day and not so far from me.

Yeah, I did not like that tank mate The tank from the Chinese cruisers (Ajs Daytona) would look excellent on your bike I think. Well couple more 125 drags come up on eBay but again all at least an hour too far from me, I will keep waiting.

Oh the wife paid for the guitar(s) too, I'm starting to see why she spends so much time annoyed with me if I'm honest sadly while I waited for the wife's approval I missed out on the perfect pre chopped bike on evilbay Noise, I spent last week looking through your build threads on here, much inspiration taken from you. Though my adjustments will be a lot more basic due to skill level. But I'm sure in time I will have a hundred and one questions, so sorry in advance for that.

Ha, underdog is a name that's been in my life for a long time, even named my shop it I'm happy to spend what it costs (if that makes sense) I want a tidy reliable bike that I can chop I change bits on to make it look how I want, and probably repaint it too in the process. So looks isn't an issue but generally with most things the well maintained ones also look nice.

I hadn't planned on using it for the CBT (just with hassle of transporting it there), its all good with the wife, she's agreed (and is paying) which is nice as we work together all week so I'm happy I don't have to go with your plan though I done similar with a Les Paul a few months back. Thanks for the welcome. Just need to find something local enough, and get removing bits.

As it says really. No bike as of yet, looking for an xvs 125 in the south wales area to get me going. I'm just an old man who's taken 7 years to convince his wife that a bike is a good idea. Hope to pick up omething suitable during winter and strip off all the uneeded bits ready for spring and CBT, though working 6 days a week leaves little time. Anyway, hello, read a lot of the forum already.