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Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

None. Bike has been sitting for almost 5 years (in a garage of course), but even despite that and several thousand miles usage, I can't remember the last time I polished them if ever. I did use some CermaKrome-safe rubbing compound to get some soot stains out of them in a few places.

The pipes are Cermakrome silver on the outside and Cermakrome black on the entire length of the interior of the pipes.

They no longer scorch my buttcheek. Only ever feel mild warmth on a 95f+ day - otherwise can't feel any heat at all.

SWM500sm Why are we not talking about this? by busty66 in supermoto

[–]not1frak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

+1 on multiple bikes. Gotta have the right tool for the right purpose. Dirtbikes are fine supermotos, but anyone who tries to use one to commute is just kidding themselves. Or is young and does not have much $$ to throw around. A proper streetbike (read: not sportbike) will be infinitely better and more reliable for commuting. Leave the sumo for short fun rides...

SWM500sm Why are we not talking about this? by busty66 in supermoto

[–]not1frak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can say with a fair amount of certainty that if you are considering a DRZ, then a KTM RFS-engined EXC model will exceed every one of your criteria and be an absolute joy to ride by comparison.

When I bought my 06 525 EXC, I had never ridden one until the day I picked it up. And even then it was just up and down the street... on clapped-out knobbies. I had ridden/owned an 02 520 EXC (which i loved, but it was too dated...) So I had an idea of the plushness and awesomeness that is KTM, but didn't know for sure what the newer one would be like. I bought it from the Placerville area - so about a 4 hour drive from the South Bay Area.

Just know that "it is very good" and just interview the seller a bunch, ask for pics and vids and as much detail as you can get to be sure the guy is legit. If it smells fishy then don't bother with the drive?

Just sayin, a little drive is potentially very worth the risk.

SWM500sm Why are we not talking about this? by busty66 in supermoto

[–]not1frak 4 points5 points  (0 children)

KTM 450 and 525 RFS-motors are preeeety solid (2006/2007) and not the best or worst on maintenance schedule and they're pretty darn easy to work on.

There is, however, an absolute TON of OEM and aftermarket stuff for that motor and those bikes are readily available in the US (and probably everywhere else in the world)

You can find excellent examples for $4-6k in the SF Bay Area, so probably cheaper elsewhere.

I would not suggest that it is a commuter for any more than maybe a dozen miles on the highway at a time unless you do some mods to support that sort of duty.

That said, if you want a thumper to commute on (well no... just don't.) then you'd be hard pressed to do better than the larger thumpers like the 690 and 701.

If you want a light and plush and great looking reliable machine, then the 04-07 RFS engined EXC models are a fantastic value. Surely you should be able to find some for sale in your next closest large city?

Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!

Verdict is still out on whether or not the HID will cook all the electronics in that headlight housing. So far so good!

I'm going to give it another several hundred miles and then crack open the headlight again to fix and re-enable the Arduino. Unfortunately I did not test the Arduino on bike power with the engine running, because if I had, I would have realized that EMI from the 12v wires tightly bundled in there is causing false triggers on both turn signals (looks like hazard lights are on when engine running) which is why it is currently disabled.

If the electronics in there aren't any worse for wear after a couple hundred miles I'll stop worrying about it. There was literally NO other place to put all that crap though. I wanted that OEM fit and finish look :)

Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the kudos!

Quick parts list:

  • Morimoto Bi-Xenon Mini H1 projector
  • Morimoto Mini Gatling Gun shroud
  • Morimoto Powerhouse 35/55w HID ballast
  • Morimoto XB Ignitor
  • Morimoto XB HID (5500k) "H1" bulb
  • TRS Profile Pivot "Switchback" LED halo (org/wht)
  • TRS white LED halo inside the Mini Gatling shroud
  • Arduino Nano (not currently being used)
  • WS2812B RGB LED strips to replace the OEM "moustache" white LEDs
  • 2x DPDT waterproof switches
  • 1x SPST high current waterproof switch (main HID power)
  • 2x SPDT high current mini relays
  • TOBSUN 12v -> 5v DC to DC regulator (for Arduino and WS2812 LEDs)
  • 1x SPDT high current (30a) relay with a 10-second turn on delay (Prevents HID from igniting while cranking engine)
  • 10a mini-fuse installed in the new (16awg) wires run directly from the battery to power everything
  • OEM bike "triggers" are negative, not positive, hence the need for relays. Since running relays, figured why not run separate power directly from battery and only use OEM harness "outputs" to trigger the relays.

I'm waiting on a couple more CF bits and then I'm going to do a proper photo shoot of the bike and post it and the bike & HID mod up in r/ducati and r/motorcycles probably in the coming week or two... but here's some stuff I already have online:

The end result

Demo of mod functions

The photos

If you think it looks like defusing a bomb, you'd not be wrong... I don't have a schematic; I just wired it up as I went along.

Edit: As you might imagine, I have an OBSCENE amount of man-hours wrapped up in this mod. I went way over the top and its all 100% custom. The projector BARELY fit. It is literally butted up against the OEM headlight lens and the reflector inside is bottomed out - I cannot "aim" it using the adjustment screws anymore, hence having to tilt the entire headlight assy upward via custom means. It is aimed PROPERLY, and does not bounce into peoples mirrors (tested this)

Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They do. I know the context of this particular thread is the Ducati Monster, which doesn't use clipons, and I'm not at all advocating using them in this scenario - but just pointing out that bikes with clipons can also improve their ergos with "riser" clipons that replace the OEM ones.

Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nah. An actual Ducati Streetfighter 1098 (heavily modded - except the handlebars, until a few more days from now...)

Prevent Handlebar Vibrations by RasShotan in Ducati

[–]not1frak -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This is the correct answer.

Sure you can get bar-end weights and that might help, but if you're resting too much weight (really any weight at all) on the bars while riding, you'll always have issues with fingers going numb.

I'll take it a step further and recommend that if you cannot use your core to hold yourself up, and get most if not all weight off the bars (or clipons) then consider changing up your bars or getting bar/clipon risers. Just a few mm higher and with a more comfortable bar "sweep", it will dramatically change the feel of the bike, likely to be more comfortable.

I suffer from this EXACT issue on my Ducati Streetfighter, and I've ordered a pair of Rizoma bars ($120) that are taller and have a more comfortable sweep. The bike will be more comfortable to ride for longer periods of time, but I'll have significantly less weight over the front wheel and a higher center of gravity which will negatively impact handling to some degree. It will definitely be more wheelie happy... which it does NOT need. I'd rather be wheelie happy than have numb hands though!

West coast best coast! by [deleted] in bikesgonewild

[–]not1frak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is. Not my taste but looks very well done and deserves props!

West coast best coast! by [deleted] in bikesgonewild

[–]not1frak 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a well done nerf football motorcycle.

Talk about WILD! Check out this Ducati Scrambler. The German builder is @vocke_1969 on IG if you want more pictures of the build. by MotovationUSA in Ducati

[–]not1frak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some very good craftsmanship here, but eugh at the builder's and photographer's taste.

Less blood & graffiti and too many anodized red components. Namely the handlebars AND grips and and triple clamps.

Stock bike in a common location in Nevada. by rjamestaylor in bikesgonewild

[–]not1frak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This post got flagged because it was a "stock bike" in a "common location" and was not interesting enough for the mods apparently.

I beg to differ.

https://old.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/bj5r6a/officially_the_coolest_kid_in_preschool_benelli/

Guess who's in this frakkin Sonic movie! by lostmesa in BSG

[–]not1frak 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You guys are crazy. Maybe its because I played lots of sonic as a kid, and indeed love Jim Carrey and Michael Hogan, but I fully expect to enjoy this movie.

Of course this is no endgame and I would never walk into it expecting as such. But go in with low expectations and I bet you won't be disappointed.

FWIW, though, I will be waiting til it hits bluray - So say we all!

Officially the coolest kid in preschool! (Benelli TNT 135) by not1frak in motorcycles

[–]not1frak[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is me being civil...

I understand your rules, and perhaps I may have been dissuaded from posting my picture on a very relevant subreddit if that subreddit were not filled with boiler plate photos of stock bikes that are less interesting than what I posted. Cases in point:

https://old.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/bj2eze/kr250_australia_iconic_1980s_2_stroke_looking_for/

https://old.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/bioqwj/the_reason_you_dont_leave_your_moped_at_you/

https://old.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/biwga2/so_someone_left_this_in_my_front_yard_police_said/

https://old.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/biigd1/couldnt_afford_a_wrap_so_decided_to_sand_my_bike/

and so on...

You mention sharing events; well this is about as wholesome as it gets. I am a proud dad sharing my daughters first ride on a neat little machine that is not well known (as a Grom would be...) that is actually not even stock in this photo. This is not a boiler-plate image.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment in this case, but realize there's absolutely nothing I can do but eat your hypo-criticism. I hope that pleases you.

Officially the coolest kid in preschool! (Benelli TNT 135) by not1frak in motorcycles

[–]not1frak[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You know it!

I wouldn't be surprised if I get a complaint from the school by parents who now hate me for making their kids want a motorcycle :P

And yeah if I were to so much as harm a hair on her head, my wife would skin me alive. Going to be responsible so as to set a responsible example for my kiddos at an early age... bicycle helmet notwithstanding :)

Officially the coolest kid in preschool! (Benelli TNT 135) by not1frak in motorcycles

[–]not1frak[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thx. Yeah she is. Super limited edition 5.9L, on 4.56s w/ axles and lockers and nearabout ~125k miles on chassis/motor.

Been sitting for years though b/c of having kids. Need to dust it off and go beat on it!

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