Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Firstly a progress report on Elsie - since the replacement of the aluminium plugs not a drop of oil has sullied the underside of the motor or the floor, so I think I can safely say that I've at last cured her incontinence. Result.
The VFR has been ferried off to Mark Chittenden for him to sort out the exhaust downpipes and their dodgy angles, the KTM is going in for its MoT next week and will be coming down to France in the van with me and Wilko the cat, so that only leaves the Falco...
Ah yes, the Falco. The last time I posted up about it, it was November 2021 and we were only on page 6 of this little soap opera. Since that time I've had no less than 3 sets of bars made up in my quest for the right dimension, hacked a perfectly good top fairing and new (!) screen about to enable bars to work without fingers hitting fairings and stuff, made up longer clutch and brake lines, found that both clutch slave cylinders I have are faulty, bought two sets of throttle cables (the first set - for a Tuono - were impossible to get to work), and done an awful lot of waiting.
I had to wait 5 weeks to get the (Mk III) set of bars back from the anodisers, and I'm still waiting for the paint guy to get started on my top fairing. The race season has started and everyone goes to the back of the queue, apparently. But the bars were finally delivered on Tuesday, so Wednesday saw me trial fitting them and hoping and praying that everything would fit, even if only slightly.
I'm still highly ambivalent on the looks (OK, I think it looks a Bit Shit), but I'm hoping the comfort aspect will make up for it. Here are some pics from various angles of the bars with all controls and switchgear fitted. First of all, the front view:
Everything will need tidying (particularly switchgear cables), but I'm very pleased with the new (straight exit) throttle cables, custom made by Venhill. The throttle action is perfect at all bar positions with no tightness or binding. My brake hose making skills are at least adequate as the brakes bled quickly and easily with no leaks. Perhaps the bars will look better when there's a top fairing to partially hide them (he said hopefully). Next, the side view:
When it came to bleeding the clutch, things didn't go so smoothly. I was adding fluid to the (tiny) reservoir and bleeding from the nipple thoughtfully provided by Brembo on the master cylinder's highest point, but not getting any clutch action. I decided to bleed from the slave cylinder end, which was then I noticed a small puddle of brake fluid on the floor. On closer inspection, fluid was oozing out of the small bleed hole on the back of the aftermarket slave cylinder. Bugger. My other slave cylinder has had one of its o-rings renewed but hasn't been tested for leaks. Guess that's next on the list. And now the (almost) rider's eye view:
So at least some progress has been made. But it's very unlikely that the Falco will be ready before I go to France, which means it probably won't be on the road before June at the earliest. Oh well...
The VFR has been ferried off to Mark Chittenden for him to sort out the exhaust downpipes and their dodgy angles, the KTM is going in for its MoT next week and will be coming down to France in the van with me and Wilko the cat, so that only leaves the Falco...
Ah yes, the Falco. The last time I posted up about it, it was November 2021 and we were only on page 6 of this little soap opera. Since that time I've had no less than 3 sets of bars made up in my quest for the right dimension, hacked a perfectly good top fairing and new (!) screen about to enable bars to work without fingers hitting fairings and stuff, made up longer clutch and brake lines, found that both clutch slave cylinders I have are faulty, bought two sets of throttle cables (the first set - for a Tuono - were impossible to get to work), and done an awful lot of waiting.
I had to wait 5 weeks to get the (Mk III) set of bars back from the anodisers, and I'm still waiting for the paint guy to get started on my top fairing. The race season has started and everyone goes to the back of the queue, apparently. But the bars were finally delivered on Tuesday, so Wednesday saw me trial fitting them and hoping and praying that everything would fit, even if only slightly.
I'm still highly ambivalent on the looks (OK, I think it looks a Bit Shit), but I'm hoping the comfort aspect will make up for it. Here are some pics from various angles of the bars with all controls and switchgear fitted. First of all, the front view:
Everything will need tidying (particularly switchgear cables), but I'm very pleased with the new (straight exit) throttle cables, custom made by Venhill. The throttle action is perfect at all bar positions with no tightness or binding. My brake hose making skills are at least adequate as the brakes bled quickly and easily with no leaks. Perhaps the bars will look better when there's a top fairing to partially hide them (he said hopefully). Next, the side view:
When it came to bleeding the clutch, things didn't go so smoothly. I was adding fluid to the (tiny) reservoir and bleeding from the nipple thoughtfully provided by Brembo on the master cylinder's highest point, but not getting any clutch action. I decided to bleed from the slave cylinder end, which was then I noticed a small puddle of brake fluid on the floor. On closer inspection, fluid was oozing out of the small bleed hole on the back of the aftermarket slave cylinder. Bugger. My other slave cylinder has had one of its o-rings renewed but hasn't been tested for leaks. Guess that's next on the list. And now the (almost) rider's eye view:
So at least some progress has been made. But it's very unlikely that the Falco will be ready before I go to France, which means it probably won't be on the road before June at the earliest. Oh well...
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- weeksy
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- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
I was rather afraid that might happen...
I can put it back to how it was if I really don't like it. All the old parts are untouched, that was a basic part of the plan.
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- Yorick
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
What were the original bars like before you fitted the apehangers ?
- weeksy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Ain't my bike fella, if it works for you, go with itmangocrazy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:38 pmI was rather afraid that might happen...
I can put it back to how it was if I really don't like it. All the old parts are untouched, that was a basic part of the plan.
- Count Steer
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
It does look a bit 'prototype' and those cylinders sitting proudly up there don't help.mangocrazy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:38 pmI was rather afraid that might happen...
I can put it back to how it was if I really don't like it. All the old parts are untouched, that was a basic part of the plan.
Thing is though, if it rides right you can always work with that geometry and refine it later. Wouldn't bin it if it all does what you want. Function first, form later.
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But certainty is an absurd one.
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- Skub
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
That's your big chance in the fashion industry gone,right there.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
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- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Yes, the reservoirs look like an afterthought and definitely need tidying, as do the switchgear cables. It will definitely get a chance to prove itself on the road - I've come this far with it, I have to see if it works as intended. I think a heavily smoked screen on the top fairing might help with the front view...Count Steer wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:45 pmIt does look a bit 'prototype' and those cylinders sitting proudly up there don't help.mangocrazy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:38 pmI was rather afraid that might happen...
I can put it back to how it was if I really don't like it. All the old parts are untouched, that was a basic part of the plan.
Thing is though, if it rides right you can always work with that geometry and refine it later. Wouldn't bin it if it all does what you want. Function first, form later.
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- Yorick
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- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Hah! I knew someone would come up with summat like that. And the smart money was on @Yorick ...
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- Count Steer
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
King of the 'Industrial Chic' catwalk me.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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But certainty is an absurd one.
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Love it.
Well, obviously I don't love it, it looks fucking atrocious.
Way more interesting than slightly longer rear mudguard though right?
Well, obviously I don't love it, it looks fucking atrocious.
Way more interesting than slightly longer rear mudguard though right?
- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Yeah it ruins the looks of a (to my eyes) fine looking bike. If you (or anyone) can suggest how I achieve the same kick back of the bars without it looking like a bag o' shite, I'm all ears. The fixed point around which I had to work was the top fairing (and mirror) main mounting points. I cut the donor top fairing back until it just missed the mounts, effectively shortening the fairing as much as I could. Then I had to fabricate the shortest extended bars so the controls just missed the top fairing and cut down screen.Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:49 am Love it.
Well, obviously I don't love it, it looks fucking atrocious.
Way more interesting than slightly longer rear mudguard though right?
The result is what you see, unfortunately.
I didn't want to go the top yoke bar riser/swept back bars route, ironically on aesthetic grounds. I may revisit that view in time...
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- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Sorry, missed your post... Here are some pics of the (relatively unmolested) Falco.
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Nah it's always gonna look weird innit, the bars are a foot higher than they should be The only other way would be proper full on ape hangers chrome stuff, which would look even stranger.mangocrazy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:29 amYeah it ruins the looks of a (to my eyes) fine looking bike. If you (or anyone) can suggest how I achieve the same kick back of the bars without it looking like a bag o' shite, I'm all ears. The fixed point around which I had to work was the top fairing (and mirror) main mounting points. I cut the donor top fairing back until it just missed the mounts, effectively shortening the fairing as much as I could. Then I had to fabricate the shortest extended bars so the controls just missed the top fairing and cut down screen.Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:49 am Love it.
Well, obviously I don't love it, it looks fucking atrocious.
Way more interesting than slightly longer rear mudguard though right?
The result is what you see, unfortunately.
I didn't want to go the top yoke bar riser/swept back bars route, ironically on aesthetic grounds. I may revisit that view in time...
- Count Steer
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Stick the fairing on. It's what it looks like assembled that matters.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
- weeksy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
Triumph Tiger 800, KTM 790 adventure etcmangocrazy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:29 amYeah it ruins the looks of a (to my eyes) fine looking bike. If you (or anyone) can suggest how I achieve the same kick back of the bars without it looking like a bag o' shite, I'm all ears. The fixed point around which I had to work was the top fairing (and mirror) main mounting points. I cut the donor top fairing back until it just missed the mounts, effectively shortening the fairing as much as I could. Then I had to fabricate the shortest extended bars so the controls just missed the top fairing and cut down screen.Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:49 am Love it.
Well, obviously I don't love it, it looks fucking atrocious.
Way more interesting than slightly longer rear mudguard though right?
The result is what you see, unfortunately.
I didn't want to go the top yoke bar riser/swept back bars route, ironically on aesthetic grounds. I may revisit that view in time...
- mangocrazy
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Re: Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git
I'm hoping that the presence of the top fairing will soften the look a bit. Unfortunately it's with the paint guy and he can't even give me a vague ETA. So it will continue to look batshit weird for the moment.Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:47 am Stick the fairing on. It's what it looks like assembled that matters.
I am seriously thinking about a very dark tint screen though.
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