Scud

Caught some snow on Monday (Memorial Day Weekend) in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. Even managed to catch an 18-inch rainbow trout... and some quality time with my youngest daughter. She and my wife both want to learn to ride now, so I think I might be looking for a small dual sport like a Yamaha TW200 or XT225.

I just organized the garage a bit today... to respond to some of the above questions: Fairing is gone. I still have the forks - will connect via email per above. I suppose I should make a list of what's still in the pile (actually file cabinet at this point). As far a "desirable bits" go... I have a front wheel with new bearings, a swingarm with new bearings, a front fender, rear hugger (no end-caps). I do have the pork-chops and all the other stuff I had powder-coated candy-apple red. I'm sort of thinking to hold on to those for some future project... but would sell all the candy-apple stuff as a set.

Hey, don't give up. Longer bolts and some spacers would make that work over the tank pad. @ Rotbox - Your mix of 3 bikes is very similar to mine. Very different purposes for each. Please "prattle on" about the Africa Twin in the above referenced thread. I've been "prattling on" about my Husqvarna 701 Enduro and my Stelvio for a while.

I would assume you bypass the clutch switch... but pray tell: why were you using a screwdriver to start the bike?

Could be an FAQ: WTF is the deal with Single Plate Clutches? The search functions, with AND (all caps) between words are quite helpful to find old, relevant posts. If I recall correctly, I searched "ram AND weight AND aluminum". I knew I had posted a picture of all three clutch possibilities sitting on a scale.

I would not drill the steel RAM flywheel. I think it behaves basically the same as the aluminum one that I removed from my Scura. While the new RAM unit weighs a bit more, the mass is more centralized as it has three spokes, not a full circle. And it only weighs about 1 pound more (not 1 kilo). Here is a link to a post I made a while back comparing the three clutches: back

The original view of Neanderthals was that they were inferior to homo sapiens, but of course, that idea was created by homo sapiens. Neaderthals actually had larger brains (along with stockier builds) than homo sapiens. The DNA report indicated that my two strongest Neanderthal genetic markers show that I have LESS back hair than most people, and that I am less likely to sneeze after eating dark chocolate. Both true. I am not particularly hirsute, nor I do ever recall sneezing after eating dark chocolate - didn't even know that was a "thing," Despite the research and emerging story that Neanderthals were skilled, social humans who were in many ways the equal of Homo Sapiens, I am still using it as an excuse to go to the snowy mountains as much as possible.

I did the 23andMe DNA test and it mostly confirmed stuff I knew, because my family had kept good records going back to people who came to the US from England in the 1600s. But the big (and fun) surprise was that my quantity of Neanderthal DNA markers is in the top 2% of all people tested. I am totally using this as an excuse to go to the mountains any time I want. It's in my nature... have to get back to my roots... a cave-man has to build a fire... etc. On the intellectual side. I find it fascinating that my body contains evidence of interbreeding of two human species 40,000 years ago - which is one of the more important scientific findings in recent years (at least in the field of human evolution). Have any of you done a DNA test and did you learn anything surprising?

Jaap - how are those low boots for walking/hiking? After my recent trip to Utah, where I wore high motorcycle boots and packed hiking boots, I am seriously thinking about the Forma Adventure Low boots. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DW4SGQK?pf_rd_p=f3acc539-5d5f-49a3-89ea-768a917d5900&pf_rd_r=4QBRYD6EWZ36T7S69RWQ&th=1 One less pair of boots on a trip makes a big difference in the saddlebags...

Vanson leather jacket - with perforations and zip-up windblockers. Vanson leather roadrace pants - typically only for sporting rides, not commuting. I just sent my jacket back to Vanson for a zipper repair, which they did for free. They cleaned it and conditioned it too (also free). What a great company. Dianese - boots and gloves. Arai for helmets - they are usually the best fit for me. Totally different stuff for off-road riding. I wear a full impact rig and just got some Bohn padded pants to go under my Klim Dakar suit.

Great trip Bruce - I've been thinking about a run down to San Felipe on the Stelvio or the Husky 701. I wasn't worried about mirrors in the dirt. I was worried about not having any mirrors on the way home I-15.

I think this might be possible. It's not just grinding though. There is a raised rim on the front side of the single plate hub. I don't know if that is needed for proper function - but it might be for added strength. Here is a picture of a new hub for single-plate, along with a used hub for dual plate. Sorry the pic doesn't show the raised rim very well. I'll dig them out of the box again for another pic if somebody is serious about trying this - and I would loan my new single plate hub during the process.

Here's a few pics from my almost 2,000 mile trip. I tried to avoid freeways as much as possible. I went through Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Bryce Canyon National Park, Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Great Basin National Park. Sea level to 10,000 feet. Over 100 degrees through Las Vegas on the way home - but started the day with snow in the 8,000 foot campsite at Great Basin. I didn't do nearly as much dirt as I wanted because my LH mirror broke on the second day - just from vibrations I guess. The RH mirror gave up the ghost on the way home. Otherwise, the Stelvio did great - super comfortable. And she's like a camel crossing the desert with that 8.5 gallon gas tank.

I do have a spare new single plate hub (not for sale). But if one of you machinist-types wants to borrow it so you could copy it I would gladly loan it out. Paradiso's pics will clearly show the differences between the two hubs.

Those new 1400s look great... but if you want to expand your options... the California Vintage seems to have quite the cult-following. Over on WildGuzzi, that seems to be one of bikes that most people regret selling. The CalVin has a more classic style. But then those 1400s are comfy too, I sat on one when I got my Stelvio. If I ever get a cruiser-styled bike, these would be on the top of the list.

Highway 1 from Morro Bay to Monterey has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I've done a bit of Utah's 12 many years ago in a truck, and am looking forward to going all the way to Capitol Reef this time on the bike. Here's my plan. Want to come along? Roll out 5:30am Saturday - or meet for breakfast in 29 Palms. The 8 gallon tank on the Stelvio - and 40+ MPG on open roads - is perfect for these long desert crossings. Each page above is a bit less than 200 miles. The plan is to camp near Zion on Saturday night, but sadly, the road through Zion is closed for the whole month and I have to go around it. I plan to visit Great Basin National Park and Death Valley on the way home. Never crossed the middle of Nevada before. 12,000 foot tall mountains in Great Basin... some roads closed November to June.

I went up to Carizzo Plain National Monument for the superbloom. After heavy rains, this valley is carpeted in flowers. Pictures can't do it justice... this goes on for about 50 miles by 30 miles wide. Now I am planning a ride to Utah on Stelvio, with as little freeway as possible. I have work there next Monday, so will take next weekend to go via Joshua Tree, Mojave National Preserve, Lake Mead, and few other minor roads into Southern Utah. The plan is to camp somewhere in Southern Utah, then take the amazing route 12 to Capitol Reef National Park. I'm having fun getting the Stelvio set up for solo-camping.

I bought and resold about 50 plates from Pete. But I do not have any more available. I have also wondered about the thickness. A thinner plate would be easier to install, since it would require less modification to the sidestand bracket, which needs a hole to be enlarged for proper alignment.

That shipping sounds about right. Andy - I'll send you a message.

I like the way you kept everything so low around the bars - such as where you positioned the hydraulic fluid cups. I like that big tach too - in one picture it looks kind of like it is built into the headlight housing. How do you decide how much material you can remove from the top triple clamp? That would make me nervous.

Great work Phil. The prep and paint work is exemplary. The crinkle finish transmission will be relatively easy after that - it's only 4 pieces. I assume you will take the same paint through to the final drive as well? I may have missed something, but what bike is this going in? Your Greenie? or do you have another frame for this project?

For entertainment and research purposes, perhaps you could post a pic of the broken spring, so we can see where it broke. Nice that it happened so close to home.

^ the opposite at my local mega dealer, North County House of Motorcycles. But that may be a function of how much dirt riding is available in AZ vs CA. As for the show, I think the hand crafted bikes are cool to look at and I can appreciate the effort and many of the designs, but the there aren't many that I'd want to own or ride.

I stripped the bike yesterday, so things will be easier to sell now. I'm not going to list every part with a price, so if you want something let me know and we can work out a good deal. Here are a few "highlights" Complete Twin Plate Clutch - with trans input spline - good for converting from a single plate Roper Plate Hyperpro shock - barely used. Comes with transferrable free rebuild coupon Complete LeMans fairing with all brackets and most hardware Swingarm with new bearings installed (and sticker for California emissions) Rear drive and drive shaft Seat and pillion cover etc....