Show us your TransAlp modifications!

[dualdogdave]

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Originally Posted by azabeemerboy

Jeff:




Returned your PM.

Dualdog:

Thanks, I do have the XR650 forks. I will look for someone in the Atlanta area that can put a nice hard anodized finsh on them.

Barry

I had my old 93 XR legs done as well.

16 years of road and trail.




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[Ladder106]

Good Grief, the Pirate captured ANOTHER Transalp?

He's almost got the entire N. American fleet. I think we're going to have to raid the scoundrel to capture back our machines.

....or maybe he'll hire me...he's gonna need someone to chain oil, tires and chains on all those bikes.

[locorider]

Look also at eBay.fr.

Originally Posted by azabeemerboy

Jeff:

Returned your PM.

Dualdog:

Thanks, I do have the XR650 forks. I will look for someone in the Atlanta area that can put a nice hard anodized finsh on them.

Barry

[Menasco Pirate]

Originally Posted by Ladder106

Good Grief, the Pirate captured ANOTHER Transalp?

He's almost got the entire N. American fleet. I think we're going to have to raid the scoundrel to capture back our machines.

....or maybe he'll hire me...he's gonna need someone to chain oil, tires and chains on all those bikes.

Nobody contact my wife and tell on me - Please!
The 1989 white one has 50K miles, still running strong. This is my 3rd white one.
The 1990 red one has 7K miles, 3K when I picked it up in Tampa and rode it home. It is so perfect I can't bring myself to mod it or risk dropping it.

The new one may be my LA to Tierra del Feugo bike
So who's going with me?

Seriously, the TA's are my favorite bike. They do nothing really well, but everything good enough.

On buying parts from Europe, I have done well in France and Germany. England too. My luck with Italy is poor.



Steve

[Jeff@TheQuadShop]

Originally Posted by Menasco Pirate

Nobody contact my wife and tell on me - Please!
The 1989 white one has 50K miles, still running strong. This is my 3rd white one.
The 1990 red one has 7K miles, 3K when I picked it up in Tampa and rode it home. It is so perfect I can't bring myself to mod it or risk dropping it.

The new one may be my LA to Tierra del Feugo bike
So who's going with me?

Seriously, the TA's are my favorite bike. They do nothing really well, but everything good enough.

On buying parts from Europe, I have done well in France and Germany. England too. My luck with Italy is poor.



Steve

I was real close to buying that red one in Tampa but just couldn't come up with all the money before you bought it. That was a steal!!!

[Menasco Pirate]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TheQuadShop

I was real close to buying that red one in Tampa but just couldn't come up with all the money before you bought it. That was a steal!!!

I was offered an AT for it and declined. I was really surprised what it sold for and was prepared to go higher. I was lucky to have a business trip to Daytona and made a 4 day trip home out of it through Estes Park, Durango and southern Utah.
Here is the 89 at about 40K miles in June and the 90 Red one between Silverton and Durango in the spring time.

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[dualdogdave]

Today was the day to fire up the TANTAT Project Bike.

I grabbed the old battery off the shelf, disconected the tender to find it dead.

After sitting for all of these months on the charger, the wet cell battery that was used in the Trans-Hawk was cooked.

I replaced it with a Deka matted cell maintenence free battery.

Model Number: ETX15 About $80.00.

The case is heavier plastic than OEM, making it more robust in off-road use.

You don't have the plates vibrating lose and failing in a battery like this.

This is a battery that I ran in my Red Translp #2 for several years with very good results.

Slightly larger than OEM but still fits in the tray without the rubber boot.

Very few Transalps exist today without frame / paint corrosion from their old wet cells.

The terminals have redundant lugs for alternative cable mounting which are handy to connect battery tender cord.

Certainly worth the few extra bucks.



The best thing of all is: 210 Cold Cranking Amps. ( you could Jump start a car)





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With the new battery she fired right off like I just rode it yesterday.

Once I get the Lazer Pro Duro stainless exhaust mounted, a little tuning will be in order.

The stock airbox is restricting intake flow requirements of the 700cc jetting.

The old Trans Hawk air box was cut out for more air flow, but could'nt be used in high water crossings on adventure rides.

So I'll have to de-tune her a bit playing it safe using the Honda engineered air box with a K&N.

hhhhuuummmm...... Maybe I can fab a larger intake snorkel ?


Stay tuned............


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[locorider]

For those of you who use the hand mitts, is it enough? Or, do you recommend heated grips and mitts? Of course, using the right gloves with either setup.

[locorider]

Cuándo vas para Tierra de Fuego? It sounds interesting! I can help you out with the español...

Originally Posted by Menasco Pirate

Nobody contact my wife and tell on me - Please!
The 1989 white one has 50K miles, still running strong. This is my 3rd white one.
The 1990 red one has 7K miles, 3K when I picked it up in Tampa and rode it home. It is so perfect I can't bring myself to mod it or risk dropping it.

The new one may be my LA to Tierra del Feugo bike
So who's going with me?

Seriously, the TA's are my favorite bike. They do nothing really well, but everything good enough.

On buying parts from Europe, I have done well in France and Germany. England too. My luck with Italy is poor.



Steve

[Jeff@TheQuadShop]

Originally Posted by locorider

For those of you who use the hand mitts, is it enough? Or, do you recommend heated grips and mitts? Of course, using the right gloves with either setup.

Mitts and grip heaters work wonders!

[Menasco Pirate]

Originally Posted by locorider

Cuándo vas para Tierra de Fuego? It sounds interesting! I can help you out with the ...

Not sure at this time. Most likely in 2011. I would really like to ride with someone who has comand of español. I've had a few conversations with californiaxrv on this subject. Dos cervesas porfavor is close to my current abilities.

I will be riding to Alaska this June. I can help you with Candaian.

On the subject of grip heaters, IMHO there is no better improvement you can make to a bike you use a lot.

Steve

[dualdogdave]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TheQuadShop

Mitts and grip heaters work wonders!

I strongly endorse grip heaters...........

I have an installation Tip for grip heaters:

On many installations the throttle grip is hotter than the other.

This is due to dissimilar thermal masses.

The throttle tube is not in contact with the handle bar therefore it heats up easier not having the handle bar as a heat sink.

To make the grip heaters heat the same temp on both grips, I take electricians tape and wrap the non-throttle bar end so that a spare throttle
tube can be slipped on for a tight fit. Now I have two throttle tubes isolated from the bar approx the same, allowing the grips to maintain a more even temp in both.

Of coarse this requires a second throttle tube and two pairs of grips to get the second throttle grip, but worth it.

I use the bar switch sold by aerostich / rider warehouse. I can't tell you how many of those inferior do dad swithches have broken.

Also I don't bother with low and high settings and the resistors involved, I just use them on or off. When you need them you need them all the way.

Gloves can do the rest.

My favorite grip is the: 737 by ProGrip.

A tip for grips easy on and off is:

Wet the inside of grips with isopropal alchol and they slide right on.

The alcohol will evaporate leaving the grip perfectly stuck to the bar or grip.

I use a lab bottle with a long squirt spout to inject isopropal alcohol in under the grip wetting it inside. The long spout reaches up in under and around un-sticking and allowing the grip to twist loose and slide right off.


Hopefully this is useful info.



.

[NorCalTA]

I've heard of a much easier way to prevent thermal loss through the clutch side grip heater. All you have to do is install a piece of over-sized heat shrink tubing over the handlebar end, then install the grip heater.

[showkey]

Originally Posted by NorCalDave

I've heard of a much easier way to prevent thermal loss through the clutch side grip heater. All you have to do is install a piece of over-sized heat shrink tubing over the handlebar end, then install the grip heater.

Also this a much bigger problem with alloy bars........steel not as bad.......and several brands also size the heating grid on each side to compensate for the throttle tube insulation value. Also several brands have high low without using a resistor, this is done again by energizing part or all of the heating grid.

Once you had heated grips you will not want to go back HAPPY HANDS
( edit) or heated gloves either way or both ways you will Happy Happy Hands (no peference just anything hot)

[Andy G]

Originally Posted by showkey

Once you had heated grips you will not want to go back HAPPY HANDS

Hmmm, there is no rule without an exception... I had heated grips for several years by several brands. All had two things in common: they made the inner side of your hand feel warm while your fingertips were getting iced and they break every few years. Last year I got bored by repairing / replacing the grips AGAIN, so I throw them away, using regular grips again. When I will have some extra money I'll try heated gloves although I hate being wired to a machine.

Cheers, Andy