A few more bike mods..

A few mods..

Since getting the ims tank, i've been tinkering with a few other mods, getting ready for next weeks ride in Utah.  Here's a few of them.

Radiator guard.  Flatlands.






LED tail light, brake light, turn signal combo.

I added this to the existing brake & tail light, but removed the stock blinkers.  I might add a couple more led blinkers later.

I re worked the light housing & plate holder & added a pipe standoff for my saddlebags.








Open up airbox more..

I don't know if it helps much, but i decided to open up the air box some more.. it didn't seem like the basic flapper mod gives more air flow, & i didn't see any reason to keep the whole top of the air box, if i was going to hack it up, anyway.  I would gain maybe an inch if i get underwater.. an event i seldom encounter, so i just took off the top.

I used a small drill bit to take out the plastic rivets.. i didn't drill them all the way down, just the tops.



Then i popped off the top with a small screwdriver.. no problems.



Pull it off.. no snorkel, but no restrictions, either.




I was able to put my alloy tire iron/wrench combos, a spark plug wrench, Tow strap, & a small bicycle pump with CO2 filler under the seat.  it doesn't block the air flow, & gives some useful storage.

Stebel Nautilus horn.
I loved my *loud* horn on my drz, so i kept it when i switched to the yamaha.  I had to split it.. the pump from the horn, but i was able to put it under the shroud.  I rewired, remounted it a couple of times, then ended up with the pump beside the radiator overflow, & the horn where the old horn was.  You can see it in the pics below.

Left side protection.

Since i decided to leave off the scoops & shrouds for a bit, i thought some better protection for the stuff on the left side would be in order.

I put in a couple of box aluminum struts from the frame to the bracket that supports everything on this side.



Then i made up a screen, & put an angle aluminum brace between the struts.  This attaches to the steel brace.







New tank panniers.. Kolpins.
I raised them up so my knees could slide under them when i slid forward on my bizarre but practical seat.



It's rough. it's rustic.  It looks like something out of Mad Max.  But it works & it's ready for next week's adventure!



scotty

IMS 3.1 gallon natural tank

9/7/10

Well, today the delivery person brought this:



It came with the instructions, cap & hose, the tank, & the scoop clips.  I read the instructions carefully.. in a nutshell, it says,

Step 1.
"Remove old tank".
Step 2.
"Install new tank".




I had to ride over to Cottonwood before the MVD closed for my son's truck, but it was open another 2 hours so i surely had time to put the tank on.

I pulled the seat, all the tank bolts, unclipped the wire connection (that was the hardest), & pulled off the fuel line.

The electrical clip has a snap that holds it connected on one end of the connector.  You have to pry up that snap then it pops off.

The fuel line has an orange slider thingy that slides to one side, exposing some blue tabs.  Push those tabs & the hose pops off.

Naturally, i had a full tank.  I poured it into a gas can.. got most of it in.  Then i took off all the parts on the old tank, put them on the new tank, & put it on.  It took me about an hour, but i didn't get the plastic on.. i had to ride!














I roared off to Cottonwood.. about 25 miles away, & barely made it to the mvd before they locked the doors.

I haven't filled it, yet, & unfortunately i put some gas in, so i won't know the total from empty.  But the reserve light came on when i got home.. probably still about 1 gal. in there, still.  I'll fill it up & see how much it holds from the reserve coming on.

Anyway, it took me about an hour.  Everything fit fine.. no fitment issues at all.  I got a little gas on me when transferring from the old tank.. run yours as dry as you can before swapping it out.  It will not drain out the bottom fuel pump assembly.  I had to pour it out the filler hole.

But i can see the fuel line on the tank.. it says it is '3.1' gal.  So this looks like a keeper.  I might eventually fabricate some other trim pieces.. i don't think we really need the wide scoops.  But without them, hot air blows right on your knee from the radiator.  Otherwise, i might stay with the 'mad max' look for a bit.