X-Challenge - Accessories/Farkles

[snooker]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger1

Got to talking to Tedd at ......... Wilbers America ...

Ted has the best service around.... not necessarily a shock setup expert (like TrailTricks) but a BMW expert and willing to work his ass off to make you happy.

I got my Wilbers 642 (piggyback reservoir like yours) on my XCountry about 2 years ago, still having issues getting a stiff enough spring rate to handle water bars and harsh edge cross ruts while off road. (I've tried all the damping adjustments but I think I need more spring). I told them my weight (190 lbs in my birthday suit) and "aggressive offroad" and they gave me a 160 Nm spring rate. Now 2 years late he is helping me and I've exchanged it for 170, 180 and still not much better... My loaded (rider) sag still hovers around 28% and will bottom on a sharp edged rut or rain groove across a dirt road (say 30mph).

I would like to hear all of your dimensions for stroke length, mounting length, especially spring rate, etc. Compare to what I have at my Wilbers web page. Please post or PM me if you like...

-matt (UMR '79 Black Hole University)

[Gunslinger1]

Originally Posted by snooker

I would like to hear all of your dimensions for stroke length, mounting length, especially spring rate, etc. Compare to what I have at my Wilbers web page. Please post or PM me if you like...

-matt (UMR '79 Black Hole University)

............ Ted took a lot of data from me before having this shock built, what height I wanted the bike, weight, how I ride. I came back from the rally weighed all my gear that I typically ride with, boots, backpac full of water, I included my racks, extra fuel tank full, and I also measured the gear I will carry on trips which came to 20lbs I think. All of this came to probably 60 or more lbs than I weigh. I was supprised what everything weighed. Regardless that was the number I gave him. I was a bit worried it was going to be too stiff but it's not. I will pm you my personal info and Ted can give you all the technical data.

.......they changed the name...........it's S&T now.

[Johnnyboxer]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger1

............ Ted took a lot of data from me before having this shock built, what height I wanted the bike, weight, how I ride. I came back from the rally weighed all my gear that I typically ride with, boots, backpac full of water, I included my racks, extra fuel tank full, and I also measured the gear I will carry on trips which came to 20lbs I think. All of this came to probably 60 or more lbs than I weigh. I was supprised what everything weighed. Regardless that was the number I gave him. I was a bit worried it was going to be too stiff but it's not. I will pm you my personal info and Ted can give you all the technical data.

.......they changed the name...........it's S&T now.

How close is the reservoir to the link pipe

Looks too close for comfort

I was thinking of a Wilbers with a remote reservoir on a flexi pipe mounted well away from the exhaust

[Gunslinger1]

Originally Posted by Johnnyboxer

How close is the reservoir to the link pipe

Looks too close for comfort

I was thinking of a Wilbers with a remote reservoir on a flexi pipe mounted well away from the exhaust

It is close........maybe to close............I don't know how that will change the performance and I know the added heat can't be ideal. I may wrap the pipe. They do make a remote reservior I stayed away from it on purpose to avoid mounting something extra. I may change it later to remote. Riding the bike the reservoir gets warm but never hot. Maybe somebody that knows more about this can speak to it. I don't use this bike for hard off-road riding as I have other bikes that are better for that type of riding.

[ridepjride]

Tooling my xchallenge to suit my riding. Xtank and Spitfire shield are the most recent.

[Powershouse]

Has anyone ever plumbed an extension to the air valve for better access? It would be nice if you could inflate it with any pump or compressor, nut just the few that fit into the spot at the top of the shock. I'm going to explore some RV supply shops and see if I find anything that might work.

Oh, and that x-tank above looks sweet!

[Mtrain]

Originally Posted by Powershouse

Has anyone ever plumbed an extension to the air valve for better access? It would be nice if you could inflate it with any pump or compressor, nut just the few that fit into the spot at the top of the shock. I'm going to explore some RV supply shops and see if I find anything that might work.

Oh, and that x-tank above looks sweet!

Your problem may be getting the required pressure rather than the access.

[FinnDuro]

After about 4 years of ownership, with lots of farkles bought or part developed, investigated and mulled over, many many a night spent in my garage, numerous nice pm's and great comments with you guys, I must report my stable is completely empty. And so is my mind. Sold the Xchallenge R, not knowing what's next.

Why such compassion over a piece of consumable merchandice, you may ask. Well, for me, done the way I made it, it really set the bar high for subsequent bikes. I put my heart in it, really. So, I think I'm going to go either much lighter or much heavier next, as in the middleweight adv scene I found my ex-X the best there was available, bar none. But, now, it's time for something... else.

Once again for the good times:









Cheer, guys, I'll drink to this! :)

[Turps]

Originally Posted by Mtrain

Your problem may be getting the required pressure rather than the access.

If its just a schrader valve. Extended it will make no difference with how it will take air.
Most compressors go to 125psi. Servo ones might take along time to get there.

[AZ-Twin]

Finn, That must have been tough to do. It is hard to let a bike like that go, but in the world we live in you can't keep stuff forever, and reliability is always in the back of my head, especially when I bike starts getting old.

[Powershouse]

I just got a 1-gal Rotopax to extend the range of the bike for an upcoming trip. I have the TT Large Tail bag on the back now, but that is all air where I would want to mount the Rotopax. Looks like I will be fabbing up a rack specific for the Rotopax which I can swap out with the TT rack. I'm thinking the simplest solution may be a plastic cutting board trimmed to fit and drilled to bolt to the grab rail.

[Powershouse]

Originally Posted by Turps

If its just a schrader valve. Extended it will make no difference with how it will take air.
Most compressors go to 125psi. Servo ones might take along time to get there.

I picked up one of these gizmos - Topeak Pressure Rite Unique internal check valve on our shock pumps isolates the pump from the fork or rear shock preventing air pressure loss during removal of pump head. With this attached to the shock I won't have to worry about dumping the air accidentally.

[tbarstow]

Originally Posted by Powershouse

I'm thinking the simplest solution may be a plastic cutting board trimmed to fit and drilled to bolt to the grab rail.

You'd be suprised at how much torque a full 1 gallon Rotopax will exert on the rear rack, even if you stay on the road. Put a 1/4" aluminum plate on the rear, as a piece of cutting board won't take the beating.

[DRONE]

Originally Posted by FinnDuro

Cheer, guys, I'll drink to this! :)

Finn, you're bike was (is) super special. One of the best ever!

[snooker]

Originally Posted by DRONE

Finn, you're bike was (is) super special. One of the best ever!

+1

We'll miss ya Finn... but hey you won't be able to leave us (just ask Drone)