Back in Black

[FINNDIAN]

Originally Posted by Geek

Has anyone else had a KTM brand heated grip fail?

I figured it was the wiring and cut the wires off at the base and rewired the entire thing.. but no luck. The grip itself is bad (I have electricity right up to the grip).

Maybe you held on too tight at some point

[DirtyADV]

Originally Posted by kamanya

Hello,


I changed a bit of the plumbing on mine.

The vent and T piece didn’t work for me when the tanks are really full. If you have filled them really to the top the vent pipes because they do not loop high enough, then act as a siphon on the first application of the brakes, you then lose a litre or so. Even when not completely full and you brake, for that little time that the petrol is forward it vents out. Also the vent pipe from the "T" piece was too short as it drains to just forward of the radiator and when it does drain I can smell petrol badly.

So I changed it by buying quite a bit of piping to create a loop that runs to the highest point behind the light (it’s a tight fit). At the highest point I put the “T” piece. This pipe then runs back through the head stock and then between the left tank and the frame above the radiator and then down by the clutch slave.

The other thing I’ve done as a result of having to fill other bikes more than once is make it easier to do this.

The right hand tank runs directly to the fuel petcock instead of going to the left tank forward tap. This pipe has a “T” piece that runs to the pump. On the left hand forward tap I have a pipe that I use to tap from.

The beauty of this system is that breaking the left tank is not a show stopper – just turn off the petcock. Break the right hand tank turn off the right forward tap.

This system would not work on the 990’s because of the pump being in the tank.

Where did you get hold of the T? Since its a larger hose going to the pump then between the tanks, or did you just use a larger T? And forced the too small hose onto it?


Looking to feed both the right tank and my rear tank into the hose going to the pump rather then the cross hose and I would have a runner even if busting 2 tanks (if crashing that badly I guess fuel wont be the biggest problem, my broken body would be the problem).

/Johan

[Nailhead]

Originally Posted by Geek

this weekend we are doing a "Freezing our Buttes Off" ride up to the Pawnee Buttes in the Pawnee National Grasslands.
It is an overnight winter-camping ride and unfortunately the weather is wanting to make us suffer; the low is supposed to be 4 degrees (i.e. -15 degrees celcius) with the high temp still below freezing.

Geek, you are either extremely dedicated, inconceivably desperate, or off-the-scale crazy.

Or some of all of 'em.

[CafeRacer]

Originally Posted by Geek

Careful. You're about to travel back in time.

[Geek]

Originally Posted by CafeRacer

Careful. You're about to travel back in time.

Good call; that's exactly why I took that photo. For the Colorado Tag-o-rama I did a back to the future reference and got a pic of the speedo doing 88 mph

[Geek]

So a few more final points on the Safari's...

You have to disassemble your turn signal connector to get the wires to fit through the hole. No big deal, just pay attention to which side of the connector is brown and which side is black

[Geek]

The tanks come with 4 long screws that I didn't understand the purpose of at first. Turns out they are the new upper fairing screws where your tank bolts to your headlight frame.

Here is the new bolt compared to the longest of the stock bolts (the upper most). The extra length is to accommodate for the tank's extra width.

[Geek]

For some reason my stock fuel line wasn't long enough. This probably has to do with the way I have my Facet 171 fuel pump and filter positioned



A quick trip to the local autoparts store and problem solved.

[Geek]

Side Question: Has anyone found a good source for pelican-case "pluck it" foam?

My local pelican dealer charged me $40 for the replacement foam for my Pelican 1450 (ouch). I want to say I've paid $18 in the past. I won't be visiting that dealer again.
I needed a second set for the NEX-5 Camera (my regular foam is setup for my laptop for work).

I love the pelican 1450 but I sure don't fancy paying $40 every time I need foam

I'm just starting to arrange things for this summer's adventures

[Apple Jam]

Originally Posted by Geek

Good call; that's exactly why I took that photo. For the Colorado Tag-o-rama I did a back to the future reference and got a pic of the speedo doing 88 mph

On a DIRT ROAD !!!

At 8,000 rpm

Nice

[Geek]

So even though the bike isn't done and I have to take it all apart again tonight.. I had to throw it together enough and roll it outside to see what it is going to look like (like a little geek at christmas).



Tomorrow I'm supposed to receive a new airfilter, new unitfilter, euro headlight and euro switch (quick service from KTMTwins.com I ordered it Tuesday!).

Hopefully I can get all that installed for this weekend's frozen ride.

Then sometime next week the carbon fibre rear fairings should show up and I can wax all my stock body work and put it in safe storage. s

[Geek]

Originally Posted by Apple Jam

On a DIRT ROAD !!!

At 8,000 rpm

Nice

Unfortunately the 100mph photo turned out blurry (I was shooting with motordrive with my left hand and I couldn't see the viewfinder)... gotta love this bike; you just "sit there and twist that" and it does the rest
here's the 97mph (156km/h?) one:

[Geek]

For some reason my handlebars looks shorter?

[Geek]

For the person who asked about the finish.. I think this photo accurately captures what it is like.

The "streaks" are from where I spilled fuel all over the place

The texture (finish) of the plastic is more of a "satin" finish than the high gloss finish the stock black body work has.

[Geek]

New view from the cockpit.

You visually notice the extra width although you don't really feel it with your knees.

One thing to note is how the new fuel tank uppers do not overlap the instrument cluster like the stock fairings do so the lip of the dash is now exposed. Mine is pretty scuffed up from 20,000 miles of fairing rubbing with sand on it.

Overall the fit isn't nearly has neat as the exceptional quality of the stock KTM body work. Overall it is definitely more function over form (which works for me ).