Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

Other Stuff => The Blue Oyster bar => Traitors Corner => Topic started by: Brockett on January 12, 2018, 16:22:59

Title: Fat Bob
Post by: Brockett on January 12, 2018, 16:22:59
I traded the Lowrider (top photo) for a  Fat Bob. Same engine but gone are the spoked wheels and lots of the chrome.
The colour is "red denim" or something like that. Looks to me more like that old red lead undercoat.
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: UK_Vstrom650 on January 12, 2018, 18:18:47
Looks nice  :thumb: I do miss having a cruiser on occasion....
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Rusty Nuts on January 12, 2018, 18:21:23
Me too. Nice. This is the last of the twin shock fat bobs, then?
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Brockett on January 12, 2018, 18:54:01
Yes Rusty. It's a few months old with 2000 on the clock. I went looking (honest - just a look) for the latest Lowrider which is a monoshock 'soft tail' with a lighter and stiffer frame and the new 8 valve 107 engine.
 :dl_soapbox: However after spending on frame and engine development Harley seem to have given up and rushed the bike onto the market. The tank is too small and there is a big gap between the seat and the tank. The muguards look "bobberised" and are usless and then to cap it all after installing a more powerfull engine they removed one of the front discs. :icon_exclaim:
It's a sunny Sunday bike for me. I will use the Wee for going places and camping and the Scooter when I feel lazy and need some comfort.
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Graham62 on January 12, 2018, 20:40:08
Looks nice Brockett.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Barbel Mick on January 12, 2018, 21:05:45
 :thumb: looks nice!
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: SuzukiSte on January 12, 2018, 21:53:37
Very Nice Brockett :thumb:
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: tallpaul on January 12, 2018, 22:41:34
Enjoy, Brockett! Not sure on the colour (red lead as you say!) but there is something appealing about the way Harleys sound. Looks comfy too...
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Andy M on January 13, 2018, 08:19:26
.... to cap it all after installing a more powerfull engine they removed one of the front discs. :icon_exclaim:

The tyre limits the brake force. The master cylinder sets what it feels like. Twin discs are just race fashion left over from 1970's parts bin problems at the track that increase your running costs.

Nice bike though. Enjoy.

Andy
(Brake Engineer)
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Dark-Strom on January 13, 2018, 11:58:18
Very nice and by the condition of your old bike, it'll be well looked after  :thumb:
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: MartinW on January 13, 2018, 21:12:12
Don't forget the paperwork Dave :)
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Brockett on January 13, 2018, 21:27:37
MartinW :- lol lol

Andy M :- Yes I was grumbling to local dearler about the single disc issue and he said the trouble with double discs is that whatever pressure comes out of the master cylinder it is then split 50/50 and therefore less pressure per disc than if it was a single disc. I rather thought that was BS as I would expect the master cylinder would have generated double the pressure to the twin disc set up. Anyhow .... I did notice the new version Lowrider has a narrower section front tyre compared to the old one and maybe that was the reason they went to a single disc.  However, if the reduced section front tyre cannot handle a twin disc set, up the ABS will cut in and increase the stopping distance. If so then it just confirms my intial thought that the bike is not for me.
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Wayne_202 on January 13, 2018, 21:36:02
Love the colour scheme dave. Lovely bike
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Andy M on January 14, 2018, 14:07:49
Quote
the ABS will cut in and increase the stopping distance.

No, absolutely not. ABS REDUCES stopping distance. A locked wheel is producing less deceleration than one in deep slip. Its how one horse can pull tens of tons on a ice sledge or canal and why the locked back wheel often steps out, trying to overtake the front. ABS (and better still AEB) goes directly to either the maximum decel or the decel demanded, whichever is lower.

If the bike will lock the front or get the ABS to cycle the brake is big enough. You will struggle to find anything later than a TLS drum on a Norton that won't lock out. Every single caliper hydraulic disc certainly will. Under worked twin callipers just glaze the pads.

Andy

 
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: Brockett on March 21, 2018, 08:44:39
@ AndyM I Have read your comments again and can see that what I wrote was complete tosh. (nothing new there then)
Title: Re: Fat Bob
Post by: vwee on March 26, 2018, 00:37:23
Much prefer the top photo.But the other one should in theory ride better.Back in the 1990's H.D.had Mickey  mouse brakes and a few owners started to fit 4 pot billets on only to find the forks bending under heavy braking,as the story went.Article in one of the bike mags of the day.I looked into this as at the time my main bike was a cbx 1000 prolink,heavy and crap brakes.Not a good idea in winter down icy side streets