Tales from the Emporium

[NordieBoy]

Man 24L is a small tank
Still, faster than using a saw and sanding block to lower the XLV screen...

[NordieBoy]

In the immortal words of my hero Captain Slow, "Buffeting!!!"

I've lowered the 15cm higher than stock Givi screen about 18cm and it's still bad at 100kph.

Finally found out what's causing it...

The stock bloody mirrors.

Pulled both off and no buffeting.

Stuck the more adjustable Vitaloni mirror from the Nordie that's been on the DR for the last 11 years and will test it tomorrow.

[NordieBoy]

A 4L reserve? Really? Just under a quarter of the tank is reserve?

15.8L went in and that included 53km running on reserve.

It's a 17.5L tank.

That's about 80km of reserve capacity...

[Woodman]

A 4L reserve? Really? Just under a quarter of the tank is reserve?

15.8L went in and that included 53km running on reserve.

It's a 17.5L tank.

That's about 80km of reserve capacity...

Mine has 6 litres reserve with the safari tank.

[NordieBoy]

Just found this in a drawer.
1964 - Ngatira Motor Cycle, Car and Scooter Organisation.

Was given to me by an ex-traffic cop who was given it way back then.

[NordieBoy]

2018 Coppermine Classic Race.
39km in 2:48min

Possible rain was forecast for the race, so I decided that after racing the Unit as a hard tail in 2015, the Diamondback 26" as a hardtail in 2016 and the Unit as a rigid in 2017, that I'd continue the theme and race the 26" Chameleon with some Highroller II's front and rear just to make sure.

140mm of travel and lots of grip should do the job nicely.

Come race morning, I jumped on the bike to ride to the race village and 5min later, noticed that the eccentric bottom bracket was 5mm over to the right. Hmm, I don't remember making THAT much of a mistake.

I didn't.

The pinch bolt for the EBB wedge had broken, again

Zapped back home and quickly put some sealant in the Unit's racey low profile tyres, strapped a spare tube to the frame and the race number to the handlebars. Into the Estima and off (again).

Forgot I'd meant to test the rear brakes as they'd been leaking out of the olive at the lever end...

The climb went well, I felt I was significantly faster than last year, but was actually 6 minutes slower and the descent down Boulder Valley, well, was painful.

Arms, kidneys and hands.

It felt like there was no high speed suppleness at all.

It was only 1 min faster down Boulder Valley than the rigid was. 1 minute over a 24 minute descent...

The rear brakes basically don't get used until 2hours into the race.

They were nice and smooth, just felt like the pads were a little contaminated.

The front however squealed like a sty full of piglets.

The road section was a killer for anyone on a single speed. I was doing 160rpm for a few bits and people were still catching and passing me on the flats, but I'd get them back on the rises.

Overall, a perfect day for a back country race, no wind and an occasional smattering of raindrops.

Everyone got a t-shirt, burger and beer/ginger beer.

Except the single speeders who got 2 beers

2nd in Single Speed out of at least 3.

The forks look like they've only used 50mm or so of the 100mm of travel.

I've switched it back to rigid again until I can get the forks re-furbished.

Both rims are still as straight as when I built them, unlike some who came out onto the Maitai Rd section with knobbly encased pretzels mounted to their bikes. So funny to ride behind them...

[NordieBoy]

Got another chance to help out a DR rider with bits from the Emporium.
2up down the Maungatapu and a stray rock, tucked front wheel and no more oil filter cover or oil filler cap.

[NordieBoy]

Xl700V gearing...
So the stock gearing is 15/47 with a 525 chain.

I'm cruising in 5th gear-4,000rpm at 100kph.
Seems a little low rev-wise.

NordieBro had a ride last night and said "man, you've got to slip the clutch taking off!"
I'd told him that, but he just thought I was being a wimp.

I finally got the front sprocket cover off and counted 16 teeth. That'll make a difference.
Then I counted the rear teeth...

43

Fourty-bloody-three!

It's geared up 15%

I can cruise at 4,300rpm in 4th gear at 100kph at the moment.
With stock gearing it'd be 4,500rpm at 100kph in 5th!

At the moment, 4th gear is higher than the stock 5th and stock 5th is good for 180kph!

It's a wonder it made it through the Maungatapu at all! Man that engine has a good bottom end

[NordieBoy]

Oh, and last night coming back from St Arnaud at about 10pm, the headlight on dip beautifully illuminated a section from the bike to about 20m ahead...
High beam did the same but added a spot of light to about 30m.
That was scary
I had no idea how to adjust the height so just rode home.
It seems there's a knob under the dash you just turn with your fingers
The access seems to be made for small Asian hands, but it works...

[clint640]

Singlespeed Nationals in Waihi 21 April! Can pick you up from Rotorua airport if you like

They are promising plenty of beer shortcuts

Cheers
Clint

[NordieBoy]

Singlespeed Nationals in Waihi 21 April! Can pick you up from Rotorua airport if you like

They are promising plenty of beer shortcuts

Cheers
Clint

Rotorua has an airport?
I'm the only single speeder in the world who doesn't drink

Tempting...

[Muzz67]

is that your cycle helmet you use on the XLV? Sure looks odd.....

[NordieBoy]

Got myself a nice light commuting helmet for the XLV.
LS2 Airflow, 950g, $109
Quite loud, very well vented, not a winter helmet, but for day to day riding, brilliant.

[NordieBoy]

Finally!
Stock chain and sprockets!

I wish I'd got this tool many years ago

Would have saved much heartache...

[NordieBoy]

Givi S180T time too!

Should allow me to smooth out the really turbulent airflow.
Most use it to get extra height on their screen, but I'm using it to direct the air smoothly below the chinbar.

My view...