Honda Directline in Louisiana

[Jack G]

Hal just told me he will definitely be at the Louisiana SuperDome next month. Finally a good vendor for a Louisiana M/C Rally and Exhibition!

[Fr8Hauler]

It is really a relief to have a vendor that the local dealers can learn from... :lol: I am looking forward to meeting these guys, and and seeing that VTX Chopper... :twisted: I've spent enough money with them, I should get to see it... :D

[Jack G]

Hal's booth was the only place at the Dome where you could actually buy something for your bike. I know the choices were limited but I was able to pick up a few things at prices that sure beats the local shops. Glad they were there. Oh yeah, those perfect angels were nice too. I am sure their daddies are quite proud of them!

[Bareass172]

FYI - in case anyone is wondering where Hal was... I spoke with him on Friday and he said that his son was supposed to supervise some construction in the office, but his son got called away to attend a seminar on the new software they are implementing at HDL. With the son being gone Hal got stuck staying in FL to supervise the work in the office.
So Hal wasn't there, but I did get to meet Wilbur and see several of you guys. :D

[Fr8Hauler]

I helped the Hal cause...Cause I dropped $50. Isn't it great not to hear, NO, but I can order it...Doh. So can I and get free shipping....
But we must support the stealer...
Sometimes... :twisted:

[Gumbo]

What did you all think of the chopper in person? Wilbur and I spoke for a few seconds...nice guy!

L8er!

Gumbo

[Bareass172]

What did you all think of the chopper in person?

Honestly... I've never been very impressed with it form the pics (the color and paint just don't "do it" for me) but after seeing it in person I am even more unimpressed. It's a fine bike with a lot of work in it IMHO, but I do think that there were a lot of little details that were obvious and overlooked that could have been attended to - details that would not have been overlooked by a good custom bike shop.
This is however, just my $.02 and I can appreciate the effort that was put into it. No matter what it's still better than the one I didn't build, lol...

[Fr8Hauler]

Dog gone Bare, I thought that I was the perfectionist... :twisted:
I noticed a few things as well, but first custom that I am aware of,
working all hours of the day and into the night. I think they pulled it off to an extent. It is a stepping stone, and probably to get others thinking and doing... Still not sure about the yellow, but it did look good with the pink on it... :lol:

[Bareass172]

Dog gone Bare, I thought that I was the perfectionist... :twisted:
I noticed a few things as well, but first custom that I am aware of,
working all hours of the day and into the night. I think they pulled it off to an extent. It is a stepping stone, and probably to get others thinking and doing... Still not sure about the yellow, but it did look good with the pink on it... :lol:
I agree completely, the bike looks good considering they were on a tight schedule and all, but IMO there were things overlooked that could have been done better.
Just my little smart-assed opinion. :D

[Gumbo]

What details?

[Bareass172]

What details?
The front motor mount was chopped off and left all "ragged" just hanging out there. It looks like someone hacked it with a sawzall or grinder and never cleaned it up.
The spark plug wires were just kinda "there" and there were no rubber plugs to hold them in the covers properly so there was a lot of space around the cover hole, that just looked bad IMO.
The new tank didn't hide any of the UGLY electronics, hoses, etc that reside between and above the engine. I think that with some creative ideas this could have been cleaned up a LOT better than what it was.
The sidemount license plate was pieced together with parts from a glacial graphics sidemount and a biker's choice sidemount. The curve didn't match up properly so it left big gaps, and they welded onto the glacial bracket to make it mount to the plate holder - they didn't clean up the welds or paint/chrome the piece, so it's rusted...
There is a big "crack" on the front of the gas tank that should have been bondoed before it was painted.

And that's all just off the top of my head - maybe I'm anal about it, but for a "show bike" I think those are things that could (should) have been attended to. I still say it's an accomplishment to have it made, and it's sure better than the one I never built - but I do think that it could have been done a bit better. :D

[TASSY5]

Agreed. It is a very nice bike, yet it does have several areas that could be cleaned up with maybe fiber glass or coverings of some sort. I know it was a 1st time project and you learn as you go. So don't take any of the comments as insults. It is just that several things could have been thought through a little more for a more of a Company Show Bike.
Further more it was nice meeting Wilbur. He WoWed several women with the air ride suspention. :)

[Red Devel]

Just my meager opinion, but, the VTX chopper was way too 'meaty' to be labeled a chopper. Too much was "filled in" that should have been left empty or bare. I liked seeing a raked and stretched 'new' honda, but it didn't do anything for me.

Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one and most others' stink.

[CC]

I think it was the best VTX chopper I have ever seen! I think he did pretty good. Ive never seen a better one.

Boogie :pepper1:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db23b3127ccebd890e1fc8470000001610

[Red Devel]

its the ONLY one ive ever seen, but just like the way we set up our bikes, some hit home with many, but not most, same thing here. it just didnt appeal to me. not to take anything away from those who did it. i personally wouldnt my bike for that bike even if i could.