60 replies to this topic

[FJRBluesman]

Excellent job!

[kevinw]

You made a really good job of that. I wondered how much it would cost to have someone make something similar for me over here in the UK as I have the mechanical aptitude of an ape...actually, that's an exaggeration, I suspect an ape has more mechanical aptitude. Having just had a quote for just over $1600 incl. tax I think I need a plan 'B'!

Did you consider just slicing the tank in two down near it's widest part and raising it by inserting, say, an inch or so of metal? I suspect that would be considerably cheaper for me to have done but I have no idea how much extra fuel that's likely to get me or if it's a practical idea.

To be honest I'm not after a lot. Solo I'm getting 220+ a little miles per tank. Two-up with luggage, which is how most of our biking is, I'm getting 180'ish. If I can increase the two-up range to the solo range without having to modify my riding that would be better.

Kevin

Edited by kevinw, 10 September 2011 - 03:11 AM.

[MGB]

Great job! Agree on just a little extra gas making a big difference. I'd like to go 300 before needing to stop.

[norcal1]

You have some skills!
excellent job!

[dirttracker30]

You made a really good job of that. I wondered how much it would cost to have someone make something similar for me over here in the UK as I have the mechanical aptitude of an ape...actually, that's an exaggeration, I suspect an ape has more mechanical aptitude. Having just had a quote for just over $1600 incl. tax I think I need a plan 'B'!

Did you consider just slicing the tank in two down near it's widest part and raising it by inserting, say, an inch or so of metal? I suspect that would be considerably cheaper for me to have done but I have no idea how much extra fuel that's likely to get me or if it's a practical idea.

To be honest I'm not after a lot. Solo I'm getting 220+ a little miles per tank. Two-up with luggage, which is how most of our biking is, I'm getting 180'ish. If I can increase the two-up range to the solo range without having to modify my riding that would be better.

Kevin

Hi Kev, Besides the top, I did add some height at the widest point(1/2") On Auburnfjr's tank ,I aded about 3/4" and his tank will hold about a half gallon more than mine (8 1/2 compared to 9 gallons)

[AuburnFJR]

You made a really good job of that. I wondered how much it would cost to have someone make something similar for me over here in the UK as I have the mechanical aptitude of an ape...actually, that's an exaggeration, I suspect an ape has more mechanical aptitude. Having just had a quote for just over $1600 incl. tax I think I need a plan 'B'!

Did you consider just slicing the tank in two down near it's widest part and raising it by inserting, say, an inch or so of metal? I suspect that would be considerably cheaper for me to have done but I have no idea how much extra fuel that's likely to get me or if it's a practical idea.

To be honest I'm not after a lot. Solo I'm getting 220+ a little miles per tank. Two-up with luggage, which is how most of our biking is, I'm getting 180'ish. If I can increase the two-up range to the solo range without having to modify my riding that would be better.

Kevin

Hi Kev, Besides the top, I did add some height at the widest point(1/2") On Auburnfjr's tank ,I aded about 3/4" and his tank will hold about a half gallon more than mine (8 1/2 compared to 9 gallons)

I am getting about 280 miles two up between fillups, towing a trailer through twisties and using a PCV. AT 280 miles I am not quite into the reserve yet. I average 37.5 mpg (calculating - not using the bike computer).

[RadioHowie]

I am getting about 280 miles two up between fillups, towing a trailer through twisties and using a PCV. AT 280 miles I am not quite into the reserve yet. I average 37.5 mpg (calculating - not using the bike computer).

Your calculations don't work. The FJR tank is 6.6 gallons. 6.6 X 37.5 = 247.5 miles per tank. With a gallon reserve, and you getting 280 miles per tank before reserve, you're averaging just under 51 mpg. 280 / 5.5 = 50.9.

[phroenips]

I am getting about 280 miles two up between fillups, towing a trailer through twisties and using a PCV. AT 280 miles I am not quite into the reserve yet. I average 37.5 mpg (calculating - not using the bike computer).

Your calculations don't work. The FJR tank is 6.6 gallons. 6.6 X 37.5 = 247.5 miles per tank. With a gallon reserve, and you getting 280 miles per tank before reserve, you're averaging just under 51 mpg. 280 / 5.5 = 50.9.

yeah, but isn't he referring to his oversized Frankentank?

[RadioHowie]

I am getting about 280 miles two up between fillups, towing a trailer through twisties and using a PCV. AT 280 miles I am not quite into the reserve yet. I average 37.5 mpg (calculating - not using the bike computer).

Your calculations don't work. The FJR tank is 6.6 gallons. 6.6 X 37.5 = 247.5 miles per tank. With a gallon reserve, and you getting 280 miles per tank before reserve, you're averaging just under 51 mpg. 280 / 5.5 = 50.9.

yeah, but isn't he referring to his oversized Frankentank?

Ohhhh....I wasn't aware AuburnFJR had a Frankentank too. That would make a more sense...

37.5 mpg @ 280 miles per fill-up before reserve = 7.46 gallons. A LOT more sense!

[AuburnFJR]

I am getting about 280 miles two up between fillups, towing a trailer through twisties and using a PCV. AT 280 miles I am not quite into the reserve yet. I average 37.5 mpg (calculating - not using the bike computer).

Your calculations don't work. The FJR tank is 6.6 gallons. 6.6 X 37.5 = 247.5 miles per tank. With a gallon reserve, and you getting 280 miles per tank before reserve, you're averaging just under 51 mpg. 280 / 5.5 = 50.9.

yeah, but isn't he referring to his oversized Frankentank?

Ohhhh....I wasn't aware AuburnFJR had a Frankentank too. That would make a more sense...

37.5 mpg @ 280 miles per fill-up before reserve = 7.46 gallons. A LOT more sense!

yep, I think my tank is about 9.5 gallons, haven't filled it up from empty yet. I did fill it once about 10 miles into the reserve and put 9 gallons in it. I don't remember how many miles I had on that tank.

[kevinw]

You made a really good job of that. I wondered how much it would cost to have someone make something similar for me over here in the UK as I have the mechanical aptitude of an ape...actually, that's an exaggeration, I suspect an ape has more mechanical aptitude. Having just had a quote for just over $1600 incl. tax I think I need a plan 'B'!

Did you consider just slicing the tank in two down near it's widest part and raising it by inserting, say, an inch or so of metal? I suspect that would be considerably cheaper for me to have done but I have no idea how much extra fuel that's likely to get me or if it's a practical idea.

To be honest I'm not after a lot. Solo I'm getting 220+ a little miles per tank. Two-up with luggage, which is how most of our biking is, I'm getting 180'ish. If I can increase the two-up range to the solo range without having to modify my riding that would be better.

Kevin

Hi Kev, Besides the top, I did add some height at the widest point(1/2") On Auburnfjr's tank ,I aded about 3/4" and his tank will hold about a half gallon more than mine (8 1/2 compared to 9 gallons)

Thanks. I've just started discussing this with a different welder in the hope it's somewhat cheaper and a friend has offered to spray it so that'll save some money.

Kevin

[kevinw]

(Yes I know this is an old thread).

I ended up buying Jim's original Frankentank and he asked me to post a picture when I had it fitted; here it is.





I've only had a chance to run a couple of tank fulls through it so far but two-up I was 26 miles into reserve at 252 miles on the first and 22 miles into reserve at 258 miles for the second.

Kevin

[AlleyCat]

That looks really nice... also like the darker shade of grey of your bike (I have only seen the silver shade).

[AlleyCat]

I really like the rear tire fender that your have (color matched to the bike). Where did you get a rear fender for the FJR and was it an easy install ? I like the look it gives to the bike without the side cases on.

[kevinw]

I bought it from an eBay vendor located in Greece - Hugger. They arrive black but I had it painted at the same time as the tank.

I found it very easy to fit. I said to the bloke who was getting the tank sprayed then fitting it - "Here's a hugger, please spray it the same colour and put it on when that's done.". When I went to pick the bike up it was on there! More helpfully, there's a thread on the UK FJOC forum where someone put pictures up as they were fitting one. You probably know this already but the MK1 Tim is talking about in that thread pre-dates your gen 1 but is very similar to it and the MK111 is your gen 2. The person who fitted mine said it was very easy.

Kevin

Edited by kevinw, 18 March 2012 - 10:00 AM.

[AlleyCat]

Thanks Kevin for the quick reply... and I was doing some research, I saw that it was called a hugger and not a fender . I will be shopping around for one. Appreciate the info.

[CheesyRider]

More helpfully, there's a thread on the UK FJOC forum where someone put pictures up as they were fitting one.

Unfortunately, that thread isn't viewable unless you're a forum member. And, they make you wait while an admin approves your membership. Would someone who is already a member be so kind as to post the photos here?

[kevinw]

More helpfully, there's a thread on the UK FJOC forum where someone put pictures up as they were fitting one.

Unfortunately, that thread isn't viewable unless you're a forum member. And, they make you wait while an admin approves your membership. Would someone who is already a member be so kind as to post the photos here?

Sorry, I missed this. Have you now been granted access (I didn't know threads on that forum weren't viewable by non-members)?

Kevin

[fudgejerkin1188]

More helpfully, there's a thread on the UK FJOC forum where someone put pictures up as they were fitting one.

Unfortunately, that thread isn't viewable unless you're a forum member. And, they make you wait while an admin approves your membership. Would someone who is already a member be so kind as to post the photos here?

Here you go, not sure why the photos don't show unless you click on the link


Very happy with the Hugger now its fitted. Instructions are poor but its easy to work out how to fit. Its marketed for all marks of FJR as a straight bolt on accessory but I had to do a little filing to get it to fit my MK1.


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger012.jpg[/img]


It comes with a couple  stainless brackets  which its mounts to

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger009.jpg[/img]


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger010.jpg[/img]

First  thing I did was remove the rubber mud flap to give room for the rear of the hugger to sit on the swing arm.

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger013.jpg[/img]


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger014.jpg[/img]


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger015.jpg[/img]



Then I had to remove the brake line bracket (probably won’t need to do this on the MK111  but you will also have to remove the brake line bracket on the MK11 as it will get in the way)

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger002.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger004.jpg[/img]

I wasn’t subtle I just cut the bracket so that the brake line could be freed without unbolting it from the calliper and having to re bleed

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger007.jpg[/img]

MK11

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger005.jpg[/img]


Mount the first smaller  bracket to the torque arm


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger017.jpg[/img]



Then mount the  larger bracket to the hub


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger018.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger020.jpg[/img]



Then sit the hugger on the swing arm. I had to file a little of the hugger away on the front right leading edge so it would sit properly (you may not need to do this on the MK111) as there a small bit of swing arm casting which won’t let it sit flush.

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger022.jpg[/img]

Once done everything lines up correctly . I then tightened up the four mounting bolts (I added stainless washers which didn’t come with the kit) after putting some thread lock on the bolts.  

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger033.jpg[/img]


Once done I then removed the protective film from the hugger. It sits well, is nice quality , and is secure but it could possibly do with a couple of  Velcro type fasteners at the front  (only time will tell).  

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger029.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger031.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger032.jpg[/img]


Finished product

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger034.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger035.jpg[/img]


[img width=800 height=600]http://i628.photobuc...s/hugger036.jpg[/img]

All I have to do now is touch up the swings arm. (not caused during the fitting of the hugger)  

Edited by fudgejerkin1188, 26 March 2012 - 01:20 PM.

[Breathless]

That is one fine piece of work! Will you be posting a similar report on installation of the frankenbladder you now need? If so, you can omit the photos please.