MODS I'VE DONE
WHAT I'VE DONE SO FAR
I haven't done much to change the bike. It's still pretty much a 'Stocker Rocker'. But that's not as bad as it sounds. It goes EVERYWHERE around here.
-Armourdillo skid plate
-heated grips and thumb warmer
-big footpegs and extended foot area
-big rear bumper
-custom front tow hook
TOOL BOX
There's a tool box on the back that holds recovery gear: rope, 2 ton come-a-long, bucksaw, hatchet, tp, orange marker tape, water, hat, basic hand tools, and anything I need for a specific run.
*PROS -light weight
-big size
*CONS -none
The old one was cracking so bad that there were holes in it and small stuff was falling out of the holes. I would like a wider one though. I would like one that is the whole width of the bike. Have you ever said "I wish I had less storage space"?
-FRONT RACK CARRIER
I put an old Coca-Cola crate (my neighbour gave it to me for this) on the front rack to hold things better. I'm thinking about taking this off (it's only on with zip-ties) because it doesn't do anything and it would free up the rack.
-GAS CAN HOLDER
With the front rack on the way it is there's room to put a 1 gallon gas can down into the rack and brace it beside the coke crate. It gives me a lot of extra range.
-REAR BUMPER
We installed an aftermarket bumper on the rear on the bike. Those of you familiar with Fourtrax' know that while they have great brushguards, the rear protection is not so good.
The first ride out with the new bumper, the bike got hit hard from behind and the bumper saved it. If the bumper hadn't been there, the rear of the bike would have been seriously damaged.
*PROS -rear bumper works well
-makes bike look tougher
-great lift point for when I get stuck
*CONS -catches mud when I'm 'wheeling. Not a problem, just something that happens.
-nothing else. This was 100% improvement.
-FLOOD LIGHTS
Ok being able to put aircraft landing lights on their rig is what everybody secretly wants, I know I do. These babies get about a million candle power and shine a mile up ahead. Turn the night into day, no joke.
I'd like to put some floodlights on the front of the bike for night runs. 2 flood lights attached to the front rack (and a smaller one for a backup light) would be nice, I think it would really add to the fun and enjoyment of a night run. Usually when I'm on a night run I'm sort of worried about hitting things that I can't see in close. The factory headlights that are on the bike now point 25-30 feet up trail even when they are in low beam. Floodlights would let me see what is right in front of the bike. I have since adjusted the stock headlights so they point more in front of the bike.
The main problem is the alternator, it works fine for the factory stuff, but start bolting on lights and stuff and it quickly maxs out. I need a bigger alternator. I thought that the alternator from a 450ES might have more power because it runs the third light and the electronic stuff in the transmission.
We wired up a 50 watt driving light for a car on the bike. It makes a big difference but I want more, plus there's still nothing on the back. It's rigged to come on with the high beams but i've got got change that to low beams. I keep putting it off cause i hardly ever go out at night.
*PROS -mega increase in light
-looks cool (which is important when you're 50 miles from anyone who cares)
-helps stifle the 'Stocker Rocker' look
*CONS -something else to break/get broken(branches, rocks). Actually it's pretty well protected.
-cost $$ for a good set
-DRINK HOLDER
We straped on a water bottle holder to the front rack carrier. It's for a bicycle but it works well where I have it. It'll hold some water bottles and some food. It's big enough.
-FRONT TOW HOOK
There's no factory recovery point on the front of my bike. So we built one. It's made of angle iron, with 2 U-bolts holding it to the brushguard, and works really well. I've come-a-longed it out of a stream sideways with that tow point and it never failed. Also, in the back where the trailer hitch mounts we've put a big shackle. I never haul a trailer whereas I'm 'always' getting stuck. The shackels front and rear are really great. A while ago I got pulled out of a mud pit by a jeep with that front shackle so it's plenty strong.
*PROS -make recovery way easier (of other people too, not just me, plus to move trees that fall across the trail and other stuff)
-good coversation piece
*CONS -none
-SKID PLATES
I've seen aftermarket skidplates and A-Arm guards in mailorder cataloges (Royale Distributing) and they're guards look pretty cool. There's a guy in Nova Scotia that sells some kind of super plastic-polymer skidplate that is supposed to work great. So I went and bought it. It makes a big difference in the mud more than anything for me. Because the bottom of the bike is smooth now the bike goes better, further, easier and faster through mud.
We have a foot of snow right now (end of December) and the bike is going through that no problem. The skid plate is just like a big toboggan under the bike. The underside slides a lot easier than it used to.
Also, when I do get stuck, the bike is a lot easier to get out cause there's nothing catching under the bike, it's just smooth.
The plate is one piece that goes from under the front tow hook all the way to the rear swing arm.
This company sells the skidplate http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/atcharleys/
This gets a good review from me. If only they made Outlaw Radials or Bearclaws in my size I'd be set.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IN THE FUTURE
-REMOVING SOME OF THE PLASTIC BODY PANELS
I'd like to take off the black trim on the edge of the fenders. I think it would save them from getting beat up, plus then i'd be able to spin more mud up on the bike. And as we all know, more mud is always good.
I did this. Go here for pics: fenderless
-NEW TIRES
When the stockers wear off, I'm getting Duro Excavators. Same size as stock.
As I add more to the bike I'll post it.