| Author | Message | ||
     Hoon |
Apologies for the time it's taken to get round to this,here goes. The reason for doing this was that the standard mudgaurd let road-dirt get sprayed up on the headlights and I also felt (at the time,prior to hearing about the front Dunlop being the cause of high speed weave) that the standard position could be catching air at speed and making the front end lift,causing the 90mph weave. Ok,so here are the templates and close ups of the brackets and gaurd in place. I'm hoping you get the idea of how I did it 'cos I didn't think to get photos of the work in progress (it was done nearly a year ago). I used basic hand tools and thin aircraft grade Dural sheet (I used to work for British Aerospace,building commercial aircraft so I learned some useful skills but I'd say anyone with a bit of practical skill and ingenuity could do stuff like this)which was easy to manipulate and light in weight. A lot of it was done by eye,with a bit of (alright a lot) measuring as I worked,I wouldn't say it was constructed to aeronautical tolerances (+-0.007ins) but that's where the eye work and continual adjustment and filing came in. I used pop rivets,bicycle inner tube rubber (between some of the brackets where they could rub and vibrate) and nyloc nuts (on the bolts) so as to avoid things coming apart. Something to consider with sheet metal work is that all the edges,bends,holes,etc need to be smooth (also remove burrs) so as to avoid stress risers (areas prone to cracking). The rest of the pictures are just to show the various other mods and farkles which I've done,just in case they're of interest to anyone. As I'm sure you can guess,I'm into the whole 'Mad Max'/ratbike thing,so for me,form follows function,which breeds an 'interesting' look (if you're interested in ratbikes check out www.ratbike.org). Feel free to ask questions about anything you see. The 'tank panniers' are really handy and you don't notice them once you're used to them being there. They're made from the zip-off pockets from British army rucksacks and webbing straps I had from old soft luggage I had lying around. I call them my 'booze bags' as I load them up with 12 cans'o'beer (each side)for rallies and they make excellent ballast to balance out the fully loaded hardcases,topbox and assorted crap on the pillion seat.                                 Hope you enjoyed all that,I've got a list of stuff still to do and will post again when I have more to show (I'll have photos of the work in progress next time). Regards,Hoon. Edited for Hoon to remove pic with exposed license plate number. (Message edited by blake on October 08, 2007) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Hoon, Love it. You are the Road Warrior. | ||
| Crusty |
You need some Aprilia Tuono mirrors. | ||
| Hoon |
No I don't. I know where you're coming from but I get on fine with the standard ones. (I'd think about using Aprilia ones if mine ever got damaged though.) I only fit/change something if it has to be done for a practical reason,plastic shite/cosmetics aside.  | ||
| Strokizator |
Lots of cool stuff there. The grenade lends your bike that certain je-ne-sais-quoi. Damn, that bike'd be a hit on this side of the pond. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Tuff looking uly man. Mad max called, he wants his bike back.  | ||
| Mike_dinger |
Dude, is that chainmail? At first I thought you wrapped your forks with those washable rubber dinner table placemats, but as i went further, I was thinking a nice Berber carpet. You are MADMAX! | ||
| Chadleys1 |
Hilarious. | ||
| Chadleys1 |
... and by hilarious, I mean... ROCK ON !! | ||
| Sanchez |
Haha, that is awesome. I've only seen a couple of Ulys that are really unique and distinguishable from every other Uly, and yours is by far the best. What's the metal guard on the back of the left switch cluster for? Official guess: prevent horn honking while reaching for the key. | ||
| Bross |
You forgot to blank your plate on the last photo.  What are you using for your fork gators? Looks good BTW. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Totally. Speechless. | ||
| Treadmarks |
"Lost again with TWATNAV" Now that's freakin funny!  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Hoon, How often do you let that fender rat off it's leash? I like those side bags hanging off the faux gas tank. | ||
| Wesman |
Is that a Bagster tank cover? (Message edited by wesman on October 04, 2007) | ||
| Cavi |
I am curious about the idea that some wind turbulance may come from the high fender, does anyone else have feelings on this, a simple swap to a lightning fender would solve it. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
Dude, you're turn signals are erect! I vote you into the BBD Hall of Fame if there is one. If not, you should be the Grand Pubah! | ||
| Brad1445 |
did they find the people that did this to your bike?  | ||
| Karlsbad |
OK, DAD ALWAYS SAID NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANY ONES (OR ANYTHINGS) APPEARANCE THEY COULD NOT CHANGE IN 5 MINUTES, BUT IN THIS CASE DUDE WHATS UP WITH THE GS FENDER? I LIKE THE RAT BUT SOME OF THE OTHER SH## IS JUST THAT. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR REASON YOU MOVED THE TURN SIGNALS TO YOUR MIRROR STOCKS ? YOU SHOULD SHIP THE BIKE OVER HERE AND GO TO STURGIS NEXT YEAR YOU WOULD FIT RIGHT IN. | ||
| Hoon |
Cheers for all the comments guys. A few answers: Sanchez-The metal gaurds stop the horn and starter button from being pressed by the tankbag on full lock (It's too wide but I had it already from my previous bike,Triumph Tiger). Bross-The covering on the forks is non-slip rubber matting,it's cosmetic,it was a non-permanent way of covering up shiny bits. Electraglider-No,I never let the rat go,it wouldn't come back and who would gaurd the bike then? Wesman-Yup,it's a Bagster. Mike Dinger-Cheers for that,I'm afraid you'll have to explain the term 'Grand Pubah' to this limey,I've heard it before but don't know what it means. Brad-Yes we tracked them down but they were too scary to confront. Karlsbad-GS fender?It's the standard one. Every man to his own,I have an over active imagination and too much spare time on my hands,what can I say? The turn signals were moved 'cos they couldn't be seen past the glare (yes,they were actually bright enough to cause one!)of the headlight on an un-lit motorway (interstate to you). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Grand Puba is from the "Flintstones". Fred Flintstone is in the Royal Order of the Water Buffaloes and the Grand Puba is their leader. http://www.wbshop.com/cat/The-Flintstones-Fred--Ba rney-Grand-Puba-Superlink-Italian-Charm.html | ||
| Karlsbad |
HOON Great answers don't you just love individuality. If you ever get over Stateside (west coast) Spokane Wa. actually look me up, I have plenty of bikes to ride and always willing to put a fellow biker up for a few days or week. Great twisties are mere minutes away from my front door. And my wife makes a mean yorkshire pudding | ||
| Onemanclan |
I'm curious as to why you would blank out your license plate number...What could someone do with it? Especially since its from another country... | ||
| Muppet |
Hey Hoon, greetings from a fellow Limey. Interesting mods, whereabouts in the UK are you? Ever get down Wiltshire way, if so let me know. Tell me if the mudguard mod stopped the weave problem. I get it real bad at anything over the ton and that's with Michelin Pilot Road 2 tyres on, so shouldn't be those causing it. If that mudguard mod makes the difference I'll get one from a road bike fitted (too lazy to do the mod myself!). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Here's a thought. Fellow BadWebber "Soloyosh" ordered himself a new front end for his ULY. He'll have all those spare parts around like the lower triple tree. If the price were right that lower tree could be mounted low along with the fender. Lowered fender with lowered triple tree acting as a super strong fork brace. | ||
| Hoon |
Hello all, Karlsbad-Cheers mate for the generous offer,it takes a lot to offer a stranger the use of your bikes,home and wifes cookery skills,does she do Toad in the Hole? (another English culinary delight),I'd love to do a riding tour of the States,seeing the non-tourist,real America sometime. My g/f and I are in the process (the fun part at the moment) of starting a family at the mo so it won't be for a while yet. I'll bear it in mind though,thank you. Onemanclan-I blanked the number plate 'cos I've seen the majority of people who post pictures on the web do this,something to do with 'cloneing' the identity of the vehicle (which could result in the owner of the legitimate vehicle getting stung with other peoples fines,etc). I know the majority of people on here are in the US of A and are genuine folk who wouldn't practice this sort of thing but 'you never know who else is' lurking!' It doesn't worry me too much,it's just better to be safe than sorry as they say. Muppet-I'm in Hainault,NE London (Edge of Essex) Weave,now there's a tricky subject. I thought lowering the gaurd made a slight difference but it's still there,what with the 'tank panniers' it's not the most aerodynamic Uly out there! I've still got the orignal Dunslop on the front and until that wears out and I bung a Pirelli scorpion on I don't see the weave going away. I reckon if you've got your suspension set-up correctly and you're running Michelins then just un-do the 3 bolts holding the gaurd to the bottom yoke/headlight and go for a blat,if the weave is lessened/eradicated then order the lower gaurd. I've seen a Uly with a proper lower gaurd fitted,I pinched the pic a while ago so forgive me if this is yours:  Looks very good if you ask me. I've heard there are some 'Uly friendly' tracks/gravel roads in Wiltshire,have you found them? (I've toyed with the idea of joining the TRF but haven't got round to it.) If so we could try gathering the English Uly clan from here and ADVrider and having a day or w/end of fun (at least there'd be people to help pick the Uly's up!). (Message edited by hoon on October 07, 2007) | ||
| Bigkuri |
Hoon, re English Uly clan ride outs, I'm in come November (although I'm not a Pom but close enough...). "Onemanclan-I blanked the number plate 'cos I've seen the majority of people who post pictures on the web do this,something to do with 'cloneing' the identity of the vehicle (which could result in the owner of the legitimate vehicle getting stung with other peoples fines,etc). " This is a form of identity theft in the UK. I've had it done to me in my car. Little buggers find same model and colour on web, and then get a plate made up, and speeding is suddenly risk free again... You would not believe the hassle it takes to prove that you were not the one (and car/bike) doing the dead. Hoon - I'd edit that picture of yours asap. | ||
| Hoon |
Bigkuri, Sorry to hear about your cloneing incident,it's good we can pass on this knowledge in case it prevents it happening again to other people. Hopefully my Uly is unique looking enough and Ulys rare enough over here that it won't happen,I'll ask for it to be edited though to be on the safe side (after 2160mins? why that long? you have to get admin to do it). Hmm,UK Uly ride out,it'll take a while to get an idea of interested parties,what d'ya think-start threads on here & ADVrider to gauge interest? I'm not on UKBeg so maybe if someone who's on all three could liase with each site we could organise something. Happy,hassle free riding. | ||
| Bigkuri |
"Hmm,UK Uly ride out,it'll take a while to get an idea of interested parties,what d'ya think-start threads on here & ADVrider to gauge interest?" You are on mate. As long as we don't do the usual ankle-deep ford crossing as the GS crowd and waste 30mins in yeahahs...  Kidding... (as only one coming into the light can say ) Although I'm not sure I can manage some field-grass burn-outs like some.... (at least maybe I can when I get rid of this RT in a month!) | ||
| Chrisw |
i reckon the weave was /is caused by the handgaurds , took mine off my 15k uk ully and reckon its better , tall buell screen and rubber hose to stop the screen deflecting under hard use. standard suspension setting s from book - although owners manual is incorrect but workshop manual is better settings only slightly out but .. |
