V649HP-Kawasaki's new gravel runner

[OHjim]

JD - Do you know what the length (eye to eye) and travel is for the R1 shock? I searched the thread but couldn't find it. Also I know you changed to a 900 lb/in spring but do you know what the OEM rate is?

Thanks.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by OHjim

JD - Do you know what the length (eye to eye) and travel is for the R1 shock? I searched the thread but couldn't find it. Also I know you changed to a 900 lb/in spring but do you know what the OEM rate is?

Thanks.

the R1 is just slightly longer, maybe 10mm, with about a 7mm longer stroke which yields about 6.5" of travel...except it's not usable since the tire will contact the fender liner first. the tire will hit the liner with the OEM shock too if the shock is bottomed.

the OEM Versys spring is 16kg/mm or 895#. i replaced it with the 900# custom spring, or 16.1kg/mm.

i think guys swapping in the R1 tend to use a spring that's a little too light for gravel road use, or any other condition where there might be a load on the bike.

[jdrocks]

the thing looks like a pile of goop, but it's the mold for the fiberglass rear fender. did i mention that i hate working with this stuff, but fortunately it doesn't take all that long. it takes longer to figure out what the shape should be than it does to mold the part.



while the resin was setting, i made up the plate mount. left a little room for a LED plate light.

[MTrider16]

lol. I like your stories JD, you do know how to drag them out for effect.

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

lol. I like your stories JD, you do know how to drag them out for effect.

David

i could write a report on my efforts making fiberglass parts, now there's a long rocky road.

that's nasty stuff to work with, next time i'm going to subcontract the work to this moto guy in Montana, he must be looking for some winter work, tired of forking hay to those cows already.

[sanjoh]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

thanks, but man, have you noticed that there's some weird stuff going on in here?

It wouldn't be ADV without it.

How do you do this:

Threads: 602,598, Oddometer: 18,488,556, Inmates: 216,968

and not take advertising

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by sanjoh

It wouldn't be ADV without it.

How do you do this:

Threads: 602,598, Oddometer: 18,488,556, Inmates: 216,968

and not take advertising

plus, they let guys sell LED lights and stuff.

[jdrocks]

grabbed a little shop time to fab the last little pieces for the tail, a pair of light mounts. the small parts seem to take twice as long to fabricate than anything larger.

[jdrocks]

then the light mounts get welded on the sides if the plate mount...

[jdrocks]

then a little primer on the new fiberglass rear fender...



nothing like some primer to bring out things that need attention before the topcoat.

[jdrocks]

painted a bunch of parts, always a challenge spraying urethane in a cold shop, and started reassembling the tail. i wanted more light on the bike after numerous long runs in the dark this season, surrounded by cager madness.

the first new lights were LEDs flanking each side of the plate that get tied into the brake light circuit.



the lights are tucked in tight, but visible from the rear and side, and have a wrap around gravel guard for bottom and front protection.

there's also a new LED strip light above the plate, way brighter than the OEM light.

[jdrocks]

the next set of new anti-cager lights are 2" LEDs mounted in behind the Wolfman racks, and between the two will show plenty of red on the back of the bike. these are tied in on the running light circuit.

[MTrider16]

Looks good JD, when are you going to bring the horse out from from behind the barn and give us a full on picture?

How much weight did your horse gain in this procedure?

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Looks good JD, when are you going to bring the horse out from from behind the barn and give us a full on picture?

How much weight did your horse gain in this procedure?

David

not much net gain...unless you factor in urethane paint. i think the parts have around 5# of urethane tar stuck to them.

i need to wire the tail, and there's another set of lights too. then some other changes, and more paint. i need to hurry up, big expedition planned.

[jdrocks]

new 2" amber LEDs mounted behind the Motech guards, out of harms way, also on a running light circuit. i think i'll put the ADVmonster LEDs back on too, help those cagers see me. it may seem extreme to add all these lights, but over this past season of travel, i've had more close calls than i could begin to count.



now, on to the rest of the plan to make the bike more visible.