Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[mangocrazy]

Been a while since I have heard one of those but you never forget that noise….

And with a full custom system and Akra cans they sound wonderful.

[Mr. Dazzle]

My phone must now know I've been looking at perverted handlebars, it just recommended me this.

[Supermofo]

Thank fuck I like the bars on my GSXS!

[Bigjawa]

As we are still ribbing mango, can we just spare a minute to remember Supermotospike, whose engineering ambition severely outweighed his ability.
It's a sobering reminder if it does go horribly wrong!

It's more sobering that nobody physically stopped him from riding the thing. I take it that it wasn't legally insured?

[mangocrazy]

As we are still ribbing mango, can we just spare a minute to remember Supermotospike, whose engineering ambition severely outweighed his ability.
It's a sobering reminder if it does go horribly wrong!

It's more sobering that nobody physically stopped him from riding the thing. I take it that it wasn't legally insured?

This was before my time - what happened?

[Count Steer]

As we are still ribbing mango, can we just spare a minute to remember Supermotospike, whose engineering ambition severely outweighed his ability.
It's a sobering reminder if it does go horribly wrong!

It's more sobering that nobody physically stopped him from riding the thing. I take it that it wasn't legally insured?

This was before my time - what happened?

I vaguely remember something about shoe-horning a completely unsuitable/overpowered? engine into something in a rather haphazard way, but not what happened...but I can guess.

[Bigjawa]

As we are still ribbing mango, can we just spare a minute to remember Supermotospike, whose engineering ambition severely outweighed his ability.
It's a sobering reminder if it does go horribly wrong!

It's more sobering that nobody physically stopped him from riding the thing. I take it that it wasn't legally insured?

This was before my time - what happened?

Kid shoehorned a CR500 engine into a Derbi 50cc thing.

Thing ended up killing him.

[mangocrazy]

Good grief.

[Screwdriver]

As we are still ribbing mango, can we just spare a minute to remember Supermotospike, whose engineering ambition severely outweighed his ability.
It's a sobering reminder if it does go horribly wrong!

It's more sobering that nobody physically stopped him from riding the thing. I take it that it wasn't legally insured?

A bunch of us on VD really tried to talk him out of it. He had all the facts at his disposal but went ahead anyway.

Damned shame but it was what he wanted.

[David]

Do tell...what happened?

[Screwdriver]

Do tell...what happened?

Talented and smart teenage kid thought he knew more than he actually did. Stuck a CR500 engine into a moped, there was a mechanical failure (iirc) and he died.

[Demannu]

Do tell...what happened?

Stuck a CR500 engine into a moped, there was a mechanical failure (iirc) and he died.

I should cocoa,.ripped the headstock clean off the frame iirc.
Everyone except him could see it was a bad idea.

[mangocrazy]

Turning to happier thoughts - yesterday the weather improved sufficiently and I shook off the lethargy/lurgy I'd been feeling since I arrived at the gaff and I went out for a spin (and to collect a few bits and pieces/do some shopping) on the Duke 690. It's been nearly 6 montrhs (!) since I've ridden it (apart from taking it for an MoT) and I'd forgotten just how much FUN it is. It just whispers in your ear - 'go on - do it!' whenever there's a choice to be made between sensible and silly. I love it.

Feeling a bit achey today, so it's very clear I'm not at all bike fit. I need to repeat the dose at regular and frequent intervals...

[Demannu]

It just whispers in your ear - 'go on - do it!' whenever there's a choice to be made between sensible and silly. I love it.

Many moons ago I got nabbed at some serious mph over the limit, and decided that possibly a nice sensible single would be the way forward if I was to keep my license.
So I bought an early Pegaso, which i soon discovered I could get into 3rd on the back wheel if I was really careful!
I don't think it's the bike whispering btw!

[mangocrazy]

That was my reason for buying a 'lower-powered' single, but I'd overlooked the fact that all KTMs have hooligan DNA injected at the factory.

But yeah, it's my hand on the throttle...

[mangocrazy]

It's nearly two months since I updated this tread (less of the shouts of hooray! if you don't mind), and in that time I've spent a month in France, returned to Blighty and then promptly went under the knife for a hernia repair. So nothing at all arduous has been attempted in the interim, but small amounts of progress have been made.

When I got back from France, the modified yoke with steel inserts was waiting for me at my friendly local engineering shop. Paul's elliptical comment was 'well they certainly haven't made it any weaker'. I'll go with that. Here's a photo:

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The top yoke and the bars I intend to use have now been taken to another local firm who will be Xylan coating both parts a ravishing shade of black. And just to remind you what the finished top yoke/risers/bars assembly should look like, here's one I made earlier:

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The KTM bars will not be used on the final build as they give me pains in my wrist, elbows and shoulders. They are there just to give an idea of the finished assembly.

[Screwdriver]

Fat Bars are super cool though. Fact.

[mangocrazy]

The bars I'll be using are 'fat' in that the central (clamped) section are 1 1/8" (28.58 mm) diameter while the grip sections are 7/8" (22.22 mm). Just not those fat bars. It does make sense to have a bigger diameter tube section for the central part.

[Skub]

How will you know which bars don't give you pains in wrist,elbows and shoulders?

Without trying,obv.

[mangocrazy]

How will you know which bars don't give you pains in wrist,elbows and shoulders?

Without trying,obv.

The ones I intend to use are pretty much a carbon copy of the ones I use (very successfully) on my Duke 690. They replaced the OE KTM fat bars in the photo.

These are the ones currently on my KTM:

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