The Story Of The Resurrection of Blitsie….

[ClimbingTurtle]

Might be a tad easier to have that plate waterjet or laser cut than to machine?

Probably - but HalfDaft has a small CNC mill at home.....

[ClimbingTurtle]

So the next step was to remove/install/remove/install the top triple-clamp and get the dampener mounted, dully completed as so





And then onto the the pin that supplies the pressure for the dampener to work - there is no off-the-shelf solution for this, and I was not in favour of welding a bracket to the frame, so I saw another thread where the protagonist built a bracket over the top of the centre support frame,so I went with that option....

First step, as always, is to make a template, and test-fit it....





Next, was to cut some 3mm steel plate into the correct shape, trim some folding channels, and cold-bend it in the vice - it came out a bit skew, but nothing that some abuse with a 4lb hammer couldn't rectify....
Grabbed an extended 8mm cap-screw, cut it off, ground the correct (eyeballed) angle onto it and welded it in place, having removed the battery and ECU, and trimmed the end flat....



A little touch-up paint, and leave it to dry....



Next day - installed...





Covers fitted - looks great!!



Then on Sunday, off for a test ride, with some fella's from the South, had a great ride nothing broke..... No pics as I left my water reservoir at home, with everything in it....

And the @Halfdaft sent me pics of the new top-bracket he has finished machining - this is purrdy!!!





He also had a couple of flat plates laser-cut, to support the tail section, which is cracked, and has a load of flex, so we designed these shiny bits behind the indicators....





Next Time......
The fuel cell brackets I think?
And maybe some ride pics.....

[noble steed]

My tail section was just strengthened with some flat steel plate, a hacksaw and black spray paint. Not as pretty, but does the job!

I've never had any problems with the front end twitching, so never felt the need for a damper. Does it make a big difference? (In the limited amount of riding you've done on the X)
Maybe I just don't ride fast enough...

[ClimbingTurtle]

My tail section was just strengthened with some flat steel plate, a hacksaw and black spray paint. Not as pretty, but does the job!

I've never had any problems with the front end twitching, so never felt the need for a damper. Does it make a big difference? (In the limited amount of riding you've done on the X)
Maybe I just don't ride fast enough...

Saved my arse twice on Sunday - once on a fairly steep off-camber downhill, long right, was probably going faster than normal, but probably no more than about 50kmh, so not that quick or anything, we were a IT490, XR650L with a load of suspension bits, CRF450, KLR650 - I was behind the IT490, clipped a rock on the left which threw the bike right, when the front bounced again, it held the line, rather than throwing me off...
Second incident was on a rocky section, about tenni-ball size, about 250m through the bush, certainly helped me there as it stopped the steering bouncing to the side... Also on the fast tracks with lots of marbles, it just helps tracking
Necessary? Probably not....
Nice to have? Hell yeah!!
And I had it at home anyway, it is interchangeable with my GSA - 2 cap screws, 20-seconds.

[ClimbingTurtle]

Next was additional Fuel - I looked around and had some luck with a Long range tank, but unfortunately the funds are low until I can get the R1200GSA sold, so we must make a plane!!

First, @Halfdaft made me the hoop, with the plate welded accross the middle, with a M10 nut welded on the back. I positioned the hoop using scrap wood i had in the wood pile, held together creatively with masking tape....



Checked for clearance and welded up some brackets, and bits & bobs... and...



Works alright I think!





And finished product



Went for a 333.5km blast down to Villiers & back on some lekker dirt roads on Monday...