Okay, I'm finally digging out and trying to get caught up. I slept for a week when I got back and then I had surgery on my wrist to remove some hardware from an old crash - that's slowed me up a bit. When you're older and a guy, they don't really make much of an effort to avoid a scar you know? It makes typing a real bitch. Anyway, enough of my sob story! Does it run? Is it finished? The short answer right now is no. The timeline was pretty tight obviously and... well, how about some photos of the week? This is Scott's patterns for the tank. That's just silly right there. It also helps explain how his 60 hour estimate became 120 hours. When we were doing the mockup of the tank we only did the side without taking the mockup all the way to the middle of the frame. Normally we'd want the time to make a full foam model but we didn't have that luxury. When Scott finally brought the tank down I think all of us were surprised that it was larger than we'd anticipated. We never had a capacity goal but we did want it to be larger - at least the capacity of an Adventure. And to those that said it reminds them of the old HPN Dakar bikes... yup. Sure does. I think the whole team has a love affair with those bikes. Classics. There was discussion on the treatment of the tank; leave the welds? grind the welds? round the corners? grind them to a crease? sand the tank? leave the panels raw? I mean this was a new process for Revit and Gerbrandt and it was great and essential that he was there to make what turned out to be dozens and dozens of decisions about the finish of the bike. In the end we tested a few different finishes and decided on grinding the welds, rounding some of the corners but leaving several of them as distinct corners to help define the shape. We also orbital sanded the whole thing to knock it down a bit. While Chris was turning out parts on the CNC, I was fitting and designing the exhaust and Scott was grinding the tank. All of us were pitching in putting parts on. One of the things Gerbrandt was working on was this tank cover. Since the tank was so large and all bright aluminum he came up with the idea to make a cover or tank strap for the center of the tank. The idea was to visually break up the tanks size and to integrate the tank with the seat. I was working on the exhaust. Gerbrandt fitted the soft bags he made with a ceramic fabric so that they could lay over the megaphones. Chris worked up a temporary bracket for them. Same with the brake light - it's a place holder. We really wanted to integrate the tail light into the frame tube but the several LED lights we ordered didn't work out. We have a couple of other options headed in now but not in time for the shoot. Chris was a mad man on the CNC. He kept saying, "I can make that in a few minutes..." and then an hour later he'd have a part. Not minutes mind you but you'd be hard pressed to design and make a custom CNC bracket in an hour. It's bespoke on speed. Despite the lack of sleep everyone was in a good mood and there were no break downs, crying fits or shouting. We're so professional! I have to say I really dig the cockpit. It's a cool mix of old school and new tech. I personally would like a tach and it's something we'll probably find a place for if we can't come up with an app. I also like the stark black and aluminum. I tend to think about what the cockpit looks like as it's really the thing you see the most on your bike and I have to say this one works. It's really cool to look at. We haven't finalized it yet but one of our ideas is to integrate magnets into the tank cover that would pair with a custom made tank bag. We used HighwayDirtbikes hand guards and then used one of Revit's new, high tech shoulder armor pads as the "cover" - tying it back into the brand. I'm not sure Paul would approve but it does fit the look. We'll also be tying in the warning lights to the triple clamp. The rear tire looks really cool. In fact I've decided that I'm going to put a set of TKC's on my AWD 990 on the 17/19 rims and probably use that for 90% of my riding. It's the perfect balance for the bike I think. Jeff came through with a killer set of ice tires. We're dying to get the bike on the ice and see what it's like. Anyway, while I can't show you the final studio shots (which are way more complicated and retouched) I can give you a couple of shots I took before we started. It gives a good sense of the bike. In many ways the shoot was a dress rehearsal. So, yeah, sorry it took so long. We should have it finished by the end of the month and then we'll do a real video shoot of the bike so you can see how it actually works. Gregor
Thanks for posting the pictures and progress report Tattoos are just wannabe scars, you have the real thing. I had the same stitching for 12" on both sides of one leg and was rather disappointed at how small the scars turned out to be.
That's funny. I'd never heard that one. Yeah, no worries about not having a scar there. I guess since I already had a scar from the first surgery they weren't very concerned about leaving one here. I think if I was a surgeon I'd take more time to do a nice job if for no other reason that that is the lasting impression of the surgery... The funny thing is that I wanted to watch the surgery so I went with a local anesthetic and it was cool to watch them cut me open and take out the screws (phillips head - I was very disappointed in the fastener choice and glad to have them out) but by the time we got to the stitching I was starting to doze off. Perhaps it was for the best as having a patient critique your stitching from under the sterile tent is most likely frowned upon. Looking forward to getting the bike finished up. Revit is planning on bringing it around the US for a few months and then it's going to Europe later this summer. They'll post up the dates on the bikes own site and that's where the video will be too: Revit DoubleDare (which appears to be down at the moment...) Hey, for those in the area, this weekend is the big 1 Moto Show here in Portland. My KTM AWD 990 is going to be in it somewhere and my boxer will be just outside at the Velomacchi trailer. We tried to get the Revit bike in the show but politics prevented it. :huh I'm going to be there tonight. I'm going to try to ride my Duc and see how my arm holds up. Come say hi. Gregor
Gregor, very impressive build, especially on such a short schedule. Looking forward to more pictures, and the final details. Maybe you've seen these taillights already, but it might be just what you need for the rear hoop:
Hey Gregor, a bunch of ADVers will be meeting at the Doug Fir Lounge at about 3pm on Saturday. Not as close to the show, now that it has moved, but still in the same neighborhood.
I had planned on road tripping to the OneShow with Jullian F, but I tore a ligament in my ankle (those damn motorcycles are dangerous). It would have been nice to put a face to the name.
Went to the show yesterday, was looking at a bike in the back of a pick-um-up and chatting with the builder. Next thing I know we were standing in line to get into the show...without moving...the line formed right around us. Saw your BMW but not the KTM AWD ? ?.....did see a 510 Husky near your BMW....had one for a short while...hot motor..hot hot...tried to make it a Dual Sport..but...hard to start..left kicker... Was hoping to run into you....maybe the vintage show again in Corvallis in May...ooooooooo ...hope you bring the new build down in May.... later...
If you go back today, it is toward the north end of the building, in one of the two smaller rooms off the main hall.
Friday night I was under the weather and Saturday I took the kids to the MonsterJam monster truck show (priorities you know) otherwise I would have loved to meet up with the ADV'er's. The show was quite the trip. I'm amazed at the variety of bikes that show up - both in and around the show. It's become quite the festival. I'm certainly going to head down to Corvallis this year. I'm also hoping to ride up to the Vashon Island ride and any other interesting rides in the PNW. I want to ride this summer. As much as I can. It's been too long working on the house and I need to get some saddle time so if there's any dual sports in the PNW that are big bike friendly (or unfriendly but ridable) send me a note. Also, any of the cool vintage events I want to attend so let me know about them. I'm trying to squeeze "rider" in between "father" and "carpenter". Gregor
Only you and probably my father (also a machinist) would be more concerned about Phillips head vs. Torx/Allen than pulling metal out of bone...
A suggestion for you, if you use the ice axe and rope in the final shoot, use the studded tires. It will tie it together nicely