What have you done with your bike today?

[Brockett]

I see now why your leg injury deserves , at least, a triple "bugger". 

[Brockett]

I took the Guerrilla for a trip around the Suffolk countryside, keeping well away from dual carriageways. Of course I still ended up at Oulton Broad only to find the cafe, always closed on a Monday, was also closed today. oh! well another 160 miles ticked off and only 45 miles to reach the 300 miles for the first service target.
I'll not bother with the tale of the ROAD CLOSED signs that I followed for 20 miles past various junctions until the road was actually closed 0.4 miles from the crossroads I was aiming for.  so I had to do a "U" and a merry detour that confused my Satnav so much that it gave up and stopped giving any instructions.

[2112]

It really does look good in that colour scheme, good choice 

[Brockett]

Up close the pearlescent paint is all sparkly but it doesn't affect my chosen pronoun.

[Asmith61]

Lovely bike Brockett  great choice 

[Asmith61]

Right then.

Long story long.

As some of our older members might remember, before the ThunderBastard, there was The Nail.

When I bought the Nail (a 2000 Cagiva Navigator) it was a competent if slightly quirky machine. After making an exhaust system, ruining the fuel injection system, changing the suspension to Wilber's I decided what it really needed was a 17" front wheel with a matching rear.

The bike was transformed, it was all the bike I wanted or needed.

And then I rode a New Africa Twin.

I started looking quite closely at buying an Africa Twin until my attention was grabbed by the KTM 1190 Adventure.

I bought a low mileage example in June 2018 still in warranty. It was wonderful

Apart from the screen. The screen created a load of buffeting and wind noise but I sorted that surprisingly quickly and for a very little outlay.

And the seat. I bought a KTM powerparts seat.

And the exhaust, I bought an Arrow end can.

And the part throttle fueling. I had it remapped, this in turn made the exhaust run hotter so I removed the cat.

All was fine until I realised my legs weren't quite long enough, so I lowered it.

Now it was fine and then I read about a company that made a plug and play cruise control. I fitted a cruise control.

All the way through I realised what I really, really wanted was a 17" front wheel.

For many years I had read threads about the conversion, without exception everyone who had done the deed loved it. We aren't on this planet for ever so I decided that now was the time.
I received a quote to re-lace my front wheel with a 17" rim which was very reasonable. Being a cautious type I much preferred the idea of being able to swap back easily should the need ever arise so I ordered a complete wheel with a tubeless sealing band so I didn't have to fit an inner tube.

Fitting a smaller front wheel also requires a smaller front mudguard, I found a brand new slightly damaged (small scratch) KTM SuperDuke one on eBay for not a lot of money. I painted the front portion (where the scratch was) to match the bike.
Next up were the ABS rings. These perform several functions, they send a message to ecu's that control, the ABS, the traction control, the lean sensitive, traction control, the lean sensitive ABS and the speedometer.
This being quite a common modification a fair amount of knowledge is available, I ordered a pair from Germany.
The last part of the puzzle was the tyre pressure monitoring system, after much reading I decided that again a SuperDuke item should sort the job. ( This didn't go entirely to plan and is now a work in progress).

Worry not, we are nearly there.

Last week (told you, nearly there) I started the assembly, all was going well until I decided that I couldn't wait to match the appearance of the wheels.
(I didn't mention that I had both of the wheels painted orange years ago because I don't like black wheels). As the new wheel is an aluminum rim I decided to remove the orange paint and the black anodising below. The best part of a day and a half later had seen me take a chunk out of my little finger and the skin off an index finger with the most viscous rotary brush ever conceived. All I achieved was several deep gouges in the once pristine aluminum rim and a huge area between the spokes still in their orange glory. Admitting defeat I called my brother in law, his blast cabinet easily took the wheel and tyre. I spent an hour and a half with the media (glass I think) and all was well.

The bike now assembled, was ready for it's inaugural test flight.

Last Saturday morning I set off and was immediately astounded as to how light the steering now was at low speed, it leant over and turned with only the slightest input. On the faster roads it just feels so much more direct, it turns into corners with the minimum of effort and it hold it's line without any hint of running wide.

It was everything I had hoped for. The trip was a mere 35 miles, everything worked as it should, the speedo is now more accurate as a bonus.
The only job I need to do was shorten the side stand.

(And it seems the centre stand)

Great work Jonathon the thunderbastard is a credit to you.
Let’s hope you are soon back on 2 wheels shortly 

[mr_diver]

Yes it's definitely a keeper. There is nothing new that remotely interests me, though I do see something a little lighter and easier to maneuver in several years time.

Me too!
I think it's another Wee or Varadero next - All the electrical gimmicks completely put me off the new bikes- 100bhp with traction control, rider aids and quick-shifters ???  can you not ride? 

Plus engineers have managed to engineer out all the character in new engines - the new DL1050 engine is nice, but it's lost the fire breathing nature of the old TL engine along the way.

I like a bike that rattles door handles at the MOT station 

[Brockett]

My legs are weak. My hips are weak my back is weak and my brain is in tune with my body.
So engine bars are a must for that time it slips over when I am not looking.
Hitchcocks finest Royal Enfield accessory bars. SW-Motech quality they are not.
But they're on now.

[Rixington43]

And they cost less than SW Motechs packaging if they're like the ones I got for the missus' Himmy.
Prep for the drop not the coffee shop....

[Brockett]

Out today on the Trident to clock up some miles towards the first service due next Tuesday. I filled up and stood in the shop to pay. Due to my earplugs I can't hear the card machine beep so after offering the card I ask "did that work"?  "No" I touch the card again "Okay"? "No" I look at him. He looks at me. We both look at the card. He says You can't pay with a Morrisons card. I shuffle the cards in my wallet and find the Debit card which works just fine. ' Old people' eh? 

Before I went out I installed a satnav mount and wired it up to the Thunderbox that someone on here mentioned. What a nice bit of kit that is. So thanks to whoever it was that suggested it. I bought two and other one is fitted in the Guerrilla.

[Asmith61]

Not today but yesterday.
Rode out through Chelmsford, Great Dunmow, Thaxted, Safron Walden, Newmarket, stopped off at Newmarket Harley Davidson for a free coffee 
I always find the blokes there very helpful and even though it was a Saturday and very busy they are always happy to talk and help out, one of the tech blokes came out and soften up my rear shock for me
I then left and carried on my Ride through to Soham, Mildenhall stopped of at the Speedway stadium ( don’t think they are running in 2025 ) rode past RAF mildenhall then on to the viewing area at RAF Lakenheath (not much going on there )  carried on to Brandon before making my way back as I was meeting my wife and her friends ( they had done an escape room in the afternoon) at the pub for a meal at 6.30.
Great afternoons riding left at midday got to the pub at 6.45 
Some pictures not very good ones.

[Barbel Mick]

Brocket quote ... "We both look at the card. He says You can't pay with a Morrisons card."
"Old people eh?"

On a Friday afternoon myself & a few old mates catch a bus to the next village to quench our thirst in our chosen pub.
Being one of those 'old' people I have a free bus pass & it's great.
However, occasionally (read, too often) I climb aboard the bus, opening my wallet, grab a card & present it to the reader, only to find out when putting it back into my wallet it was my debit card!! 
It's only a £2 fare, but still, poor pensioners & all that.
Not sure why, but it happens more often on the return journey!

[Asmith61]

I took off the screen on my bike last night, to see how much difference the screen actually makes. (Having been asked on a Harley forum if the screen made a difference)   So rode to work this morning but couldn’t really tell any difference. So obviously I had to go for a longer ride out from work just to try it out 
So a round trip of 50 ish miles and the answer is just riding through the villages sticking to the speed limits I can not tell any difference at all. maybe on faster roads it might make a difference. I took some pictures while I was out.   Bradwell marina

[Asmith61]

The Harley screen is very quick release just these 2 levers each side.
I can soon fit the screen when I want it on again.

[2112]

Nice pic's 

The American's are good with the Q/D screens, my Victory screen is off in around a minuet (if I'm on the ball, of course...)

[nigel s]

Aftermarket risers I spy there Asmith61 or a Harley extra?
Yours needs a dusting too by the looks of it , though it's not as bad as my Strom after last weekends off road foray..

Ho Hum

[Brockett]

A screen's true value can be seen splattered all over it and or when it's raining.

[Brockett]

The Trident's first service yesterday. The next is due in 12 months or 9,999 miles. A filter and oil change requires 2.8 litres which means 300cc of oil is trapped in the engine after it has been drained. The book says " 10W40 OR 10W50 of semi or fully synthetic oil (so that's 4 variables) and then the book goes on to say 'Triumph Performance'  fully synthetic is recommended.  I think that 2.8 litres of oil has to work quite hard in an engine that revs to 11,000. 3 cylinder 80BHP.  I doubt I'll do more than 3000 miles per year anyway.
The Guerrilla is in for it's first service tomorrow (Thursday) and replacement filter and oil change requires 2.1 litres with 300cc remaining in the engine after being drained. 10W40 semi synthetic oil requires changing at 6200miles- single cylinder 39BHP.

[cooltshirt]

Modern oils will last fine even in a busy engine ....... in a motorcycle it's the gearbox the damages the oil with the cogs shearing the long chain molecules. I suspect the latest oils cope with that much better than they used to though.
Most motorcycles are serviced on the calendar as few do the necessary mileage. I suspect my oil will be 1000 miles / 2 years old when I change it.

[Asmith61]

Aftermarket risers I spy there Asmith61 or a Harley extra?
Yours needs a dusting too by the looks of it , though it's not as bad as my Strom after last weekends off road foray..

Ho Hum

Good spot there  nigel s everything was on there when I bought the bike, and I must say all the extras the  previous owner fitted are top notch 
And yes as it’s been so dry lately even though I put it in the wharehouse when I ride to work it still get so dusty 
I thought of you the other day nigel s when I was getting my car MOT this was waiting to be tested.