Continuing - So what did you do to your bike today...?

[KiwiCol]

Changed the headlight assembly back to standard the other day, took off the wee fairing. Easy enough, had all the bits to put back to factory (more later).  The wiring was a bit of a mission, different colours, going from 4 to 6 wires & then the headlight had different colours again. Finally got it sorted though & made myself a diagram of how it all goes (and works).

Get to the bit of fitting the headlight, the one that came with it from the P.O. All looks familiar, but can't get the bottom adjuster to line up??  Have a look at the black sitting beside it, wrong bloody shell! The light isn't for a 14 at all. Poo.  Right, whip off the light from the black & install it on the blue. Yep all good.

Test ride a couple of times, much quieter & way less buffeting on the helmet. All good??   It was until I saw the pic Mr Nitrous put up of a 1600 drag bike.  It's got the same wee fairing on as I've got, BUT, they've cut down the Perspex! 
Figure I can do that too, so get some stiff paper, make a template of the screen & draw the shape of how I'd like it cut down to. Cut out the new shape & transfer the outline to the old screen off the black. Handy having the left over bits off the black.   I'll use that as the experimental version until I'm happy with the cut out, then once good, draw the final shape onto the screen of the blue & cut out.

I used a Dremel with a cutting disc to cut the new shape. Worked ok, bit 'melty' but cleaned up fine. Will have to steady the hand a bit as it's a freehand cut & the first one is a bit wobbly but not too bad.

So, swapped all the bits back again tonight & the blue is looking like it always has, albeit with a cut down screen off the black - which is scratched n 'orrible looking. This should stop directing all the air flow directly at my head & hit lower down around chest height. (hopefully)  If it's not successful I'll keep modifying the screen height & profile (on the old sacrificial one) till I get something I'm happy with or it's cut down to nothing!  I won't cut into the good one until I'm happy with the outcome.


Lot's of you would say, just take it off & leave it naked & I have that option, but I've got a mission to see if I can improve what's been on it since day 1 & I'm used to the look now & it hides the wiring for the radar detector warning lamp.


So, trial runs tomorrow to assess the success or otherwise of my endevours. (It's a public holiday in NZ tomorrow)

[seth]

@KiwiCol

[grog]

Col, you have more sticking patience than me. Great effort. I gave up on screens, seemed a good idea at time but now in garage. Having said that, Diavel has tiny little screen, so tiny. Guess what, its amazing, just works perfectly. Maybe Ducati have a better wind tunnel than me. Quite unreal how a factory can deliver what us poor old bastards think we can. 

[KiwiCol]

 Ok, Here ya go Seth, I didn't take any during the process, but here's what it's like now, 1st one is the cut down version (Mk1)



This one has the original screen overlaid on the cut version - held on with a bit of tape, so you can see what it was like before



Side view (with 2 screens)



Side view with the cut one.





I have the edge strip to go over the cut, which tidys it up heaps, but I'm not heating that to fit until I'm happy with the final shape.

[seth]

Looks very good
Nice bit of work done there.
It's always surprising how much difference a screen and the shape of it makes when riding a bike .

[KiwiCol]

Did a wee bit more modding to the one from last night, rounded off the tops, looks better.



Went for a decent run, it's better, but I reckon it could be lower still, so back to the garage & mark up again.



I draw the line on the masking tape, so I can see where to cut.  Cut has been made, cleans up ok.



Version 3 fitted on the bike with the original overlaid for comparison



Final version (maybe . . .)



My view of it



Front on



It's working as I'd hoped, the wind is hitting my chest more & there's no increase in wind noise or buffeting on the helmet. So, guess that's a success then.  I'll not cut down the original just yet, I'll wait & get used to this first as there's no going back once I cut the last one.

[VladTepes]

I temporarily moved my bike from my place to mum and dad's.

Getting concreting done at my place, so didn't want bike in garage unable to be accessed.

Naturally, after months of no rain, it pissed down last might and the 'where the driveway was' is an absolute quagmire.
At least if it's dry on the weekend I'll have the option to go on a ride.

[Sweaty]

Nice work Col & glad it has worked out for ya 

[Mick_J]

I cut down my Tiger Sport screen, it made such a big difference to the bike, less noise less buffeting and looked better to boot.

[Kiwifruit]

Today changed the oil and filter. 

[froudy]

MOT done and passed.
Front brake pads arrived in the post just now..A job for when it stops bloody raining

[Mick_J]

Did you get your money back from Tesco's Froudy?

[Rh4000]

Pondered over what will be my next purchase

[KiwiCol]

Kaikoura Sky

One for our UK members, just so you can appreciate what we're having to contend with down here!   Dave, bring your sunscreen!

[gsxbarmy]

Kaikoura Sky

One for our UK members, just so you can appreciate what we're having to contend with down here!   Dave, bring your sunscreen!

Mate sunscreen and sunnies already packed - will be the first things out of the backpack!!!!