{"id":72387,"date":"2016-08-19T15:29:23","date_gmt":"2016-08-19T05:29:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bikeme.tv\/?p=72387"},"modified":"2016-08-22T10:03:49","modified_gmt":"2016-08-22T00:03:49","slug":"2016-victory-magnum-project-bike-blinging-the-thunderbastard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikeme.tv\/index.php\/2016-victory-magnum-project-bike-blinging-the-thunderbastard\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 VICTORY MAGNUM PROJECT BIKE – BLINGING THE THUNDERBASTARD"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we began the Victory Magnum\u2019s transformation into the Magnum Opus Thunderbastard some months ago, there was some furrowing of brows.<\/p>\n

Editor Brum furrowed his and I furrowed mine. I\u2019m pretty sure the folks at Victory were furrowing theirs as well, but for entirely different reasons.<\/p>\n

Two quantifiably unhinged lunatics had got their hands on a $32,000 motorcycle and were drinking heavily, ordering things on the Internet and sending the invoices to Victory. One can well imagine what kinds of discussions were occurring around the Victory corporate table.<\/p>\n

Brum and I were having our own discussions.<\/p>\n

\u201cChrome?\u201d I said to him. \u201cBitch, please. Chrome is for men with firm buttocks and pomade in their hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I put big rotors and apehangers on it!\u201d Brum replied. \u201cApehangers are the most manly thing you can put on a motorcycle apart from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

I allowed this to be true.<\/p>\n

\"unspecified\"

Here it is with added black bling. The only kind of bling.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"19\"

Here it is before we took to it with darkness in our hearts. Note the unpretty swingarm can no longer cut into your eyes.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cGood point. The rotors were a great call. The difference to the braking is very noticeable. But chrome is far too cheery. It sparkles in the sun and reminds people that happiness is possible. I will have none of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must discuss this at length,\u201d Brum insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can discuss it all you want,\u201d I said to him. \u201cBut the bike is in my possession, and I have found a like-minded soul in Chris Papas (Service manager at the Victory dealership in Sydney). He orders shit off the Internet better than a nine-year-old girl. And, most importantly, he has a direct line to Victory\u2019s own aftermarket bling, which happily comes in not-chrome as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Brum demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinking we\u2019re going to do black.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s pretty much what happened.<\/p>\n

\"6\"

There’s a lot going on here. Note the different rocker box covers, the sexy new brake lever, footboards and black whatever you call that thing in the middle between the cylinders that covers the fuel injection.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"4\"

New black hexagonal mirrors, black apes and a black headlight surround.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"7\"

I’m all about the bass. Now there is sound aplenty from the lids of the panniers.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"16\"

These add a bit of weight to the lids, so you have to be mindful of that when opening them.<\/p><\/div>\n

Of course, first we did the performance bits, which you read about recently (and the link is at the bottom of this page). There\u2019s no point in putting heels on a stripper who can\u2019t dance, is there?<\/p>\n

Then I took it to Adam Layton at APL Performance (read about that HERE<\/a>) and had it properly and professionally dynotuned to within an inch of its life.<\/p>\n

So the Thunderbastard now produces more horsepower, and runs crisper and harder than it ever did before. I shall shortly be taking it to the drag-strip again to see what the numbers have to say about all of that.<\/p>\n

\"5\"

See that fancy new fork bottom? It’s very fancy.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"14\"

These extra tail-lights slotted in nicely on the back of each pannier. It looks great at night. And is all about safety. Honest.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"9\"

Gone are the rubber grips. These branded alloy jobbies have replaced them.<\/p><\/div>\n

But while I waited for the drag-planets to align with the weather-planets, Chris Papas had assembled a small mountain of magnificent bling which Julz doubtlessly enjoyed bolting to the bike.<\/p>\n

Oh, and he also had the swingarm powder-coated black so it didn\u2019t stick out like a sore silver thumb anymore.<\/p>\n

The aesthetic improvement is glorious.<\/p>\n

\"15\"

The two large and somewhat unsightly bolts that sit part of the way down each cylinder are gone. In their place are these knurled masterpieces of blackness.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"13\"

A gauge. With important numbers on it. You would be lost without it. It will also show people you care about things like oil pressure, even if you don’t.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"8\"

The chrome pannier hinges are now black, as are the locks.<\/p><\/div>\n

There is now a strong visual hint of the evil that lurks inside the Thunderbastard.<\/p>\n

Black tends to do that. Chrome? Not so much. I\u2019m sure Brum and I are now on the same page.<\/p>\n

I especially like the way the motor now looks. The Victory donk has always been a strong visual statement. Adding the finned bits to the top of the heads has enhanced it no end.<\/p>\n

Of course, the devil is always in the details, and there are now quite a few details, which individually all add a little something, but when taken as a complete whole, transform the bike\u2019s appearance completely. Just compare the before and after pics and you\u2019ll see what I mean. The transformation is both subtle and profound.<\/p>\n

Most happily, I am now able to draw even deaf people\u2019s attention to the Thunderbastard as I rumble through Sydney\u2019s urban canyons by blasting my superb musical tastes through the new 200W sound system.<\/p>\n

\"10\"

The new black primary case is just lovely.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"11\"

The all new footboards, gear lever and actuating arm.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"3\"

I’m thinking about vinyl-wrapping it in snakeskin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Just one thing you need to be aware of if you do fit the auxiliary speakers to the lids of the panniers; the lids become much heavier and you will need to take care that when you open them, you cushion them on your knee so you don\u2019t stress the hinges.<\/p>\n

Please understand the enhanced stereo was a necessity. That Trask two-into-one pipe is so thunderously loud, I was struggling to hear Taylor Swift\u2019s high notes at 120km\/h. I\u2019m good now. Though we will have to consider maybe another 500W if she\u2019s going to serenade me at 180.<\/p>\n

In the hours of darkness I can turn on the magical Purple Heart Of Evil LED lighting system Chris installed under the tank for shits and giggles. I can make it pulse, strobe or just glow balefully. Brum can now ride the mean streets of St Kilda on the Thunderbastard and not feel like he doesn\u2019t quite fit in.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re welcome, brother.<\/p>\n

Now then, what next?<\/p>\n

Well, after we drag race it and look at the new numbers, we shall go to the next level. And there is always a next level, isn\u2019t there?<\/p>\n

There is a Supercharger on its way.<\/p>\n

\"19\"

It is playing my song.<\/p><\/div>\n

It should arrive just as the Victory accountants return from Stress Leave.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s good. Because I need them fresh and perky when the invoices for the bike\u2019s new colour scheme start to arrive.<\/p>\n

Brum and I are once again in discussions about the direction this needs to take.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m concerned that he may want to walk the Middle Eastern spray-path he walked with his Indian. The paint-job on his Chieftain was superb in terms of quality, but the whole purple, gold-leaf and ivory melange was just too undemocratic.<\/p>\n

For his part, I know he\u2019s concerned I\u2019ll get drunk one night and take to the Thunderbastard with cans of matte black spray paint and glue icons of ancient Serbian war-saints to the fairing.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m pretty sure we shall find a compromise in there somewhere.<\/p>\n

\"20\"

Note to self: Come back when there are girls at the bus stop.<\/p><\/div>\n

All the parts used are available from your Victory dealer through the catalogue. You may view this HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE BUILD FROM THE BEGINNING, SEE WHAT HOT MODS WERE MADE TO THE ENGINE AND EVEN COME DRAG-RACING WITH IT HERE<\/a>, HERE<\/a>, HERE<\/a>, HERE<\/a> AND HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

And here’s a video review we did of the same bike HERE<\/a>, or view it directly below.<\/p>\n