My Custom X-Challenge

[Jovan]

Been meaning to do this for a while....

Last year, after much deliberation, I bought an X- from Tazzman. It started life as a fairly standard X-. About 2500 km, new road tyres, 2 finger levers and headlight protector.


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_dfo9atG6r_NCPWgM3CzGA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIgqwjG-I/AAAAAAAAA38/yAPGNUErMFg/s800/x_img01.JPG" /></a>

There was some minor panel damage on the left.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HcjxsgNvNjiAeoARyjrYsw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIjf6OUJI/AAAAAAAAA4A/AW5D3iMq3Pg/s800/x_img02.JPG" /></a>

so I thought, rather than repair and return to standard, let me try something a little different.

From then on it all went down hill.

I made up a whole lot of templates so I could give the outlines to a designer buddy of mine.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YRjoLK9431EQmeBb5XJGpg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqLfh2UU2I/AAAAAAAAA5I/q40jvM74u8A/s800/IMG_0424.JPG" /></a>

The body panels then went off to Race Box in Edenvale.

The zorst went off to Isando to be de-catted.

When it all came back together this is what it looked like.

The graphics are printed on vinyl with a clear laminate to stop it fading.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BJRDfL_cYhYSLENqTotwAw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqInAy1ijI/AAAAAAAAA4E/XORuvjtCnsU/s800/x_img06.JPG" /></a>

The 'dragon scale' effect is silver vinyl. its pretty durable under normal riding/washing conditions but falls off very quickly in the bush.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lUgCeNSlVnacns0IprK-qw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIqi-pIoI/AAAAAAAAA4I/0DH31oDboC0/s800/x_img07.JPG" /></a>


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rJpTTVvniD0iO4iO4dFRRw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIs0RIPcI/AAAAAAAAA4M/VQr7BhkyZzI/s800/x_img09.JPG" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jHCVKAT8YnvGE153OtX50A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIwbFPA6I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/A_p2vEtgq9o/s800/x_img10.JPG" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NWcPUwT7gXYznDvajM1kbg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqIzuRaS4I/AAAAAAAAA4U/V19SUOfIa_I/s800/x_img11.JPG" /></a>

I took off the standard blue vinyl cover and had some oke in Edenvale make me a custom vinyl seat. its still as hard as the orginal but at least its now black like the rest of the bike.


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0lrCY-v2UGwJSZGANtf3DQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqLit0wVhI/AAAAAAAAA5M/TI4qFoCevtE/s800/IMG_0477.JPG" /></a>


Overall I am pleased with how it came out. Instead of a normal looking "Cross Challange" I was looking for a friggin' ANGRY Challenge.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W_l3iS76bJocmo8PVceu_g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/_W9LiKTD4MRc/SiqI5lEuCrI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/nGqQY9Zbl4Q/s800/x_img12.JPG" /></a>

The only trouble is that its now too pretty to take off-road. The first time it saw sand at the Maraisburg dunes the paint got scratched and the scales started coming off.

Now I'm looking for a plastic bike to go off-road with and I'll keep the Angry Challenge to tour/commute.

Please stop me if I decide I dont like the look of the plastic bike and decide it needs a bit of fixing up.......

 

[BlueBull2007]

 

[Varadero]

 

[Dakota]

 

[Frannarossi]

 

[Smithey]

 

[Jovan]

 

[BlueBull2007]

 

[Jovan]

 

[Maverick (R.I.P.)]

 

[Iron Bru]