| Author | Message | ||
     Sparky |
The May/June issue of Fuell has a great article on rear suspensions and how to set them up. It shows a simple rod with marks that make for an effective go-no go tool for setting preload. Unfortunately this takes an extra person who is not always available. Here's a tool I came up with to measure preload myself. It consists of 2 wire pieces that fit on the shock mounting bolts and a slider. The only requirement is that the shock mounting bolts be of the socket head type that comes with the upgrade 2001 shock kit. What you need is an ordinary coat hanger and a 1/4 x 20 threaded spacer nut (a nut that's about an inch long). Any nut can be used, even a piece of tubing or rubber hose; it just has to slide on the wire. Cut the coat hanger into two pieces, approx 12" and 28". The rear piece: Wrap the end of the shorter wire around a socket or something similar that is slightly smaller than the dia of the shock mount bolt head. Wind it tightly around three times. You should now have a 3 turn coil approx 1/2" ID on the end of the wire. The coil should be able to slip onto the rear shock mounting bolt head and fit snug. Bend the wire 90 degrees at the end of the 3rd coil so that the wire goes straight out to the right side of the bike. Cut the wire so as to leave about a 3" straight length from the coil. The front piece: Make a coil on the end of the longer wire and put a 90 degree bend the same as for the other wire. This coil should be able to slip onto the front shock mounting bolt head and fit snug. Position the wire on the bolt head at the 3 o'clock position so that the straight part of the wire is facing the front of the bike and sticking straight out to the right side of the bike. Bend the wire 90 degrees straight back at a point so that the wire will be positioned just alongside the shock. Slip the smaller wire on the rear shock bolt and position it with the straight part at the 3 o'clock position on the bolt head. The front wire should cross over the rear wire with a light touch. Cut the front wire so as to leave about 4" overlap on the rear one. Make an adjustment: Place the 1/4 x 20 nut on the front wire so that it just touches the rear wire. Sit on bike with expected load (passenger, luggage, etc) and don't bounce. Carefully get off bike and measure from the front of the front wire to the front of the nut. That is the preload with your bike loaded. Don't forget to remove this stuff before you go for a ride. (Maybe I should've made a sketch.) Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Wheel stands: If you're looking for a good deal, especially if you own more than one Non-Buell, Handy has a package deal for a universal front and rear wheel stands for $99! Click here I have also found a cheap way to straighten your bike by yourself for checking oil, primary chain, etc. Get two HOCKEY PUCKS from your local sports store and stick them under the kickstand. They are small, strong and cheap at $.99 each. | ||
| Xgecko |
Hockey Pucks???? UMM what about those of us who don't have an icerink within 4000 miles. | ||
| Mikej |
2x4's maybe? Or telephone books, just open the right number of pages for the right tilt? Just be certain to have the bike near a wall on the far side, because when using a kickstand to hold a bike near level they have a tendency to topple over with the slightest nudge or gust of wind or smack of a wandering dog's tail. | ||
| Jmartz |
Jose: Have you seen that front tire device (like a wheel vise) that teeters into position keeping the bike upright? Ideal to do swingarm stand insertion w/o having to ask for help. 100 and some $$. Saw it in the latest cycleworld. Specially designed for skinny 17's. Jose | ||
| Jmartz |
Jose: It is made by a company called www.baxleycompanies.com, $195 | ||
| José_Quiñones |
Yes, there is a review of that in one of the last magazines I got, they spoke very highly about it. José | ||
| Buellsknr |
I lost the retaining ring to my trip odometer on my 97 S3T. I inquried on a replacement from the dealer. The parts dude then said I would have to buy the complete reset retaining collar and cable. He then suggest to go to Radio Shack. I went and after a couple of tryys found a light kit that works just fine. Only cost $2.00. Cheapest Buell repair so far. If you need more info send me a email. I can let youi know what part I bought. I did the running around you can just do it once! | ||
| Sparky |
If you've got an S1 with the Blast battery conversion and are wondering what to do with the little remnant of tray in front of the battery, put your disk lock there. There's even a hole for the lock pin. The Krypto mini disk lock fits perfectly and a little duct tape on the tray prevents rattles (from the lock). Incidentally I use the Krypto mini on the rear disk (after dummy me broke the front fender a couple of times). You can't see the lock if it's on the front wheel but you can when it's on the rear. The pin on the mini is larger than the holes in the rear disk so I just had to enlarge 4 equidistant holes to clear the lock pin. 4 holes so that there would always be one in the upper rear quadrant of the disk available. Sparky 96S1, 98S3 | ||
| Tripper |
Great Idea! It even incorporates one of the Trilogy of Tech. Mass Centralization! | ||
| Racinswifty |
You guys are awesome! | ||
| Loki |
Sparky, I too tried to ride off with a disc lock once.... Now have a "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" streamer attached to it. Serves two purposes now, one to remind me it is there. The other points it out to the OTHER guy. Loki | ||
| Rick_A |
I came up with this breather/catch device idea...influenced by the Yodude "PukePipe", only it's about $45 cheaper. I used extra breather hose from an aftermarket aircleaner kit, a drain spigot from NAPA, a K&N breather, and the stock plastic T fitting to put it together. I'm routing it beside the oil tank, with the breather exiting under the seat, and with the drain tube and breather hose nicely tucked behind frame tubes.  | ||
| Gstewart |
Here is a home-made stand that worked pretty good. I'll be glad to give the dimensions to anyone that wants to whip up one of their own.  | ||
| Mrossi |
Gstewart, Yr stand looks really useful, I'll gladly have the dimensions to try and have it made. Thanks in advance M. Rossi | ||
| Road_Thing |
Gstewart, Me too! Ping the dimensions to me at my profile address, please! TIA r-t | ||
| Blake |
GS: Email 'em to me and I'll post 'em as an attachement here! If you have a sketch or drawing in jpeg or gif form that would be even better. Thanks, Blake | ||
| Roadrunr |
why not just go to sams club and pick up a bike JACK for $120? Just make sure you get the one with the 4 extra lifting arms. I got one and it works great unless you gotta change a muffler or a shock. | ||
| Blake |
I think you answered your own question.  | ||
| Gstewart |
Bet ya can't hang the bike jack on the wall.. | ||
| Roadrunr |
well??yes you can hang it on the wall. at least I do. but I guess you do have a point blake, considering alot of the talk on BWB is directed towards the exhaust. | ||
| Blake |
Home-made stand specs from GStewart:
Thanks GS!   | ||
| Road_Thing |
Are those saddles in the picture just 1/16" thick? They look thicker than that to me... Thanks for the specs! r-t | ||
| Gstewart |
My mistake!!!!! Saddles are 1/8 thick... Sorry 'bout that! GS | ||
| Blake |
Fixed. | ||
| Road_Thing |
Muchas Gracias, amigos! | ||
| Lake_Bueller |
Can anyone recommend a good disc lock? Thanks Mennis | ||
| Bomber |
all . . .. . stands . . .. . I've got a bull dog stand, and I love it . . .. however, my garage is also holdoiong a couple of other buells (Bomber's Home for Wayward Sccots), and I got tired of transfering the stand . . . after a couple of days, the 25watt bulb went on ofver my head, and I grabbed a couple of jackstands and a 1/2 (I think) length of stainless stock that was hiding in the scrap bin . .. slip the round stock through the rear axle, and place on the jackstands . . . .presto! | ||
| Mikej |
Mennis, Don't know how "good" it is, but I use a Krypto disk lock. Comes with a nifty little pouch that easily slips/connects/wraps around the frame on a tubed-framed Buell. I hung mine on the left side of the M2 below the enrichener knob. Fits the same place on the S2. MikeJ  | ||
| Spike |
Mennis/MikeJ, I've got the same lock, but I've found there's room for it under the left side of the tail section beside the oil tank. It keeps it out of sight. I'm not sure if there's room on the pre-'99 Buells. HTH Spike '99 Cyclone |
