Any Motörbike riders here?

Haych

ALR said:

Question for the Motorati: Tank bags: Ring mounted or magnetic?

I have both (plus a strapped on one). Ring mounted are ok but the tank ring is normally permanently mounted to the tank so if you want to use a different tank bag it means removing the ring first. 

They’re also a pest when you need to refuel, especially if you have one that’s locked on 

Magnetic are convenient but less secure (from a theft perspective) but if it picks up debris on the mounting surface you risk scratching the tank. 

sinbaadi

Oh it's a guarantee that a magnetic tank bag will scratch your tank at some point.  The question is only whether you mind that or not.  

cruxiform

I’ve recently got an Oxford ring mounted one and it’s fab! No less hassle than a magnetic one that I can see. Feels very secure when attached.

Kittyfrisk

cruxiform said:

I’ve recently got an Oxford ring mounted one and it’s fab! No less hassle than a magnetic one that I can see. Feels very secure when attached.

Totally innocent, but why does it sound so very 'specialist interest' / S&M? 

cruxiform

That made me LOL.

Kittyfrisk

Motorcyclist harassed by police ruffians... 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-66212199

p90fool

Kittyfrisk said:

Motorcyclist harassed by police ruffians... 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-66212199

It says "motorcyclist" but was probably "bike thief". 

Kittyfrisk

Just because he had fake number plates, no insurance & was riding like a total nutter... hmmm, you might have a point.

Dominic

good at wheelies tho'

Dominic

'Ride it like you stole it '.......and all that

AK99

Yeah. Nice wheelie - and good fence-vaulting form.

I'd say that certainly ain't that scrote's first rodeo

AK99

Box of goodies arrived from Germany today. A set of Progressive 412 shocks. I don't usually spend loads of cash on Bolt-on-upgrades, but the shocks on the FXR were the wrong length - as well as being bouncy as hell. The short shocks always bugged me as I imagined I could feel it in the turn-in. Probably bollox, all in my imagination,  but I had to do it.  (Besides, the black springs and dampers help in the de-pimping programme )



And ... with only a limited amount of swearing and foul-language ... they're on..



Best guess at sag set, free length of the shocks is 12.5" - where it should be to match the longer front forks on the FXRT (the older ones were 11)"- and I think not looking too shabby at all. Seat feels taller, and the rear not as soft as before. That should cure the grounding issues when one gets a little too carried away with oneself - but the interesting bit will be to see if the turn-in feels any different. Haven't got out yet, but will shortly.

Emp_Fab

I just stumbled across this guy....

Not your typical engineer type you get on YouTube!  How about a Kawasaki Z2300 V12?

Or a FIVE LITRE TWIN ?!!

Dominic

I've got progressives on my front end .....they're good 
I don't think that they're gonna make a huge difference on the turn-in but should feel more planted and controlled on the way out....although I don't think any Harley can push the rebound hard enough to make a huge difference either way

AK99

Yeah, I suppose fine suspension tuning is a tad academic on a 30+ year old / 1/4 of a metric tonne motorcycle really.
Look the part though - and that is important

Did you go with the progressive-wound springs, or one of the cartridge kits on yours Dominic ?

AK99

Emp_Fab said:

I just stumbled across this guy....

He's on Henry Cole's Motorbike show which airs on the one of the Sky free-to-air channels (ITV4?) fairly regularly. Top man Mr Millyard

Dominic

Front forks .......progressive wound I think (did them years ago because I'm running a 21 inch front wheel on a bagger and it kept smacking the fender every time I hit a pot-hole or gentle hump .....too much dive under braking too

Kittyfrisk

Allen Millyard is a bona fide British homegrown mad engineering genius.
He cuts those crankcases with a fucking hand hacksaw!!!
I'm in awe of his casual attitude but superb skills & projects. Long may he continue.

Kittyfrisk

Listen to this little handbuilt pearl of a Honda Mike Hailwood replica...  what a fucking noise!

AK99

Yeah he's a mechanical genius. Any one of those things he has built would put you right up there with the best - but he has made at least a dozen I can think of that would leave you gobsmacked. And they all look like pukka factory made machines.