I took this shot mainly as a reminder that I've got to pull my finger out of my ass and get it completed sooner rather than later!
Friday, 26 October 2012
Just because
Heading out to work the other day, I just couldn't resist taking a pic with the morning sun peaking through the window.
I took this shot mainly as a reminder that I've got to pull my finger out of my ass and get it completed sooner rather than later!
I took this shot mainly as a reminder that I've got to pull my finger out of my ass and get it completed sooner rather than later!
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Heading in the right direction!
After a couple of emails checking on some measurements, Scott at Gordon Scott Engineering has already completed my custom headers!
He sent through some teaser pics prior to shipping. So far they certainly look the goods!
Hopefully they'll fit right up without too much fiddling around.
He sent through some teaser pics prior to shipping. So far they certainly look the goods!
Hopefully they'll fit right up without too much fiddling around.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Clean sweep!
After having to put the build on hold for way too long, I finally had the opportunity to order some engine parts from MikesXS and made some inquiries into purchasing some headers.
With all of the positive talk about Gordon Scott Engineering on the XS650 boards that I visit, the choice was obvious. I wanted to deal with a professional outfit that were XS650 friendly, as well as eliminate the need to disassemble and re-assemble the bike to get it in and out of the second story apartment to get pipes made by a local shop. My time and effort would have been much more than the great deal I received.
As it turned out Scott actually already had a product that was close to what I required.I did however feel that they were not going to be a straight fitment, which lead me to take some shots and measurements which I sent with a quote request.
As it turned out Scott was very quick to respond to my inquiry, and very helpful when it came to pricing up my custom headers.
Here's some pics of my measurement technique, which called for the nearest broom handle to be shoved into the muffler. I chose this novel approach as I suspected it would be the best way to visualize what I required with my header design.
With all of the positive talk about Gordon Scott Engineering on the XS650 boards that I visit, the choice was obvious. I wanted to deal with a professional outfit that were XS650 friendly, as well as eliminate the need to disassemble and re-assemble the bike to get it in and out of the second story apartment to get pipes made by a local shop. My time and effort would have been much more than the great deal I received.
As it turned out Scott actually already had a product that was close to what I required.I did however feel that they were not going to be a straight fitment, which lead me to take some shots and measurements which I sent with a quote request.
As it turned out Scott was very quick to respond to my inquiry, and very helpful when it came to pricing up my custom headers.
Here's some pics of my measurement technique, which called for the nearest broom handle to be shoved into the muffler. I chose this novel approach as I suspected it would be the best way to visualize what I required with my header design.
Thursday, 19 July 2012
RIP - Pirate
Yesterday I lost my best mate Pirate after having to make one of the toughest calls in my life. Unfortunately over the last year he developed renal failure which progressively become more aggressive.
Below are some shots of us together moments before he had to leave in peace.
I miss you my boy.
Here's some shots of Pirate over the last 10 years or so. My mate was always there with me through thick and thin.
Below are some shots of us together moments before he had to leave in peace.
I miss you my boy.
Here's some shots of Pirate over the last 10 years or so. My mate was always there with me through thick and thin.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Piccies
With the build slowing down a little whilst awaiting my next injection of funds, for shits and giggles I thought I'd kill a bit of time taking a few shots as it currently stands.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
The system lives!
Here's a video showing the system in action, utilising my home built lipo battery pack located within the milk urn.
It should have enough juice to not only run all of the accessories, yet be powerful enough to run the starter as well.
The bike will be using a Pamco electronic ignition and Hugh's Handbuilt PMA charging system.
It should have enough juice to not only run all of the accessories, yet be powerful enough to run the starter as well.
The bike will be using a Pamco electronic ignition and Hugh's Handbuilt PMA charging system.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
The world's most complicated "simplified wiring" system!
After way too much time away from the build, I finally got my ass into gear and knocked up my wiring harness.
As this build is absolutely from scratch, I had any number of options available for the wiring diagram.
I took it upon myself to knock out my wiring own design in CAD, prior to ordering my extensive list of parts. As usual, the devil is in the detail with plenty of forward thinking required.
My system contains seven fused relays that are operated by closing an earthed circuit via the switch assemblies. The only switch that is passing any voltage at all is the indicator. It really was my intention to minimise the risk of having any potential shorts within the system by switching the relays via an earthed signal.
I did face a particularly big challenge with where to mount the seven fused and indicator relay upon the bike. It had to be relatively easy to access the fuses, whilst being in a discreet location. After much though I decided to relocate the coil upon the forward chassis down-tubes, as shown upon the mock up pics. This left an appropriate, if not tight location for the wiring harness within the gas tank tunnel. I am hoping that I'm not asking for a bucket load of potential problems in the pursuit of outsmarting myself.
Despite my build intending to be a fair weather daily rider, an obvious problem did present itself in the form of the potential dramas I might face with keeping the relays dry and safe in the event of a sudden downpour. My solution was to insert a rubber umbrella of sorts around the electronics. Fingers crossed that this rubber cover combined with the tank above and engine just beneath will provide satisfactory protection against the elements.
Servicing any blown fuses is also a piece of pie even with the tank and engine in place. I really hated the thought of trying to get access to them should they be squirreled away in an electronics box that was secured too well.
Hopefully engine heat and vibrations won't be my downfall, with using the bike once complete being a trial by fire!
I also made my own miniature battery to fit into my milk jug with A123 cells. I used these two links to help with the making of the battery which were very helpful.
http://www.scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html and http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599316
Right now the battery looks as ugly as all hell, however, once I get my hands on some heat-shrink that's large enough I should be able to sex it up a touch.
Here's a short clip of a guy that had built one with exactly the same setup as my battery.
The great news with my battery and wiring system, is that my first trial test of the setup went absolutely perfectly! Everything is spot on so far in operation.
As this build is absolutely from scratch, I had any number of options available for the wiring diagram.
I took it upon myself to knock out my wiring own design in CAD, prior to ordering my extensive list of parts. As usual, the devil is in the detail with plenty of forward thinking required.
My system contains seven fused relays that are operated by closing an earthed circuit via the switch assemblies. The only switch that is passing any voltage at all is the indicator. It really was my intention to minimise the risk of having any potential shorts within the system by switching the relays via an earthed signal.
I did face a particularly big challenge with where to mount the seven fused and indicator relay upon the bike. It had to be relatively easy to access the fuses, whilst being in a discreet location. After much though I decided to relocate the coil upon the forward chassis down-tubes, as shown upon the mock up pics. This left an appropriate, if not tight location for the wiring harness within the gas tank tunnel. I am hoping that I'm not asking for a bucket load of potential problems in the pursuit of outsmarting myself.
Despite my build intending to be a fair weather daily rider, an obvious problem did present itself in the form of the potential dramas I might face with keeping the relays dry and safe in the event of a sudden downpour. My solution was to insert a rubber umbrella of sorts around the electronics. Fingers crossed that this rubber cover combined with the tank above and engine just beneath will provide satisfactory protection against the elements.
Servicing any blown fuses is also a piece of pie even with the tank and engine in place. I really hated the thought of trying to get access to them should they be squirreled away in an electronics box that was secured too well.
Hopefully engine heat and vibrations won't be my downfall, with using the bike once complete being a trial by fire!
I also made my own miniature battery to fit into my milk jug with A123 cells. I used these two links to help with the making of the battery which were very helpful.
http://www.scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html and http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599316
Right now the battery looks as ugly as all hell, however, once I get my hands on some heat-shrink that's large enough I should be able to sex it up a touch.
Here's a short clip of a guy that had built one with exactly the same setup as my battery.
The great news with my battery and wiring system, is that my first trial test of the setup went absolutely perfectly! Everything is spot on so far in operation.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Kick it, kick it good!
Well it's been sometime since my latest update. Things are slowing down due to funds and electrical parts taking their time to arrive.
A concern that I had whilst most of the bike was together during the New Year period, was the fact that my beautiful brand new Mikes XS kicker smacked the Dunstall exhaust at the bottom of the stroke. For obvious reasons a solution needed to be found.
With my powers of research at full strength I managed to discover that the RD400E kicker had the same splined shaft mount. The most appealing aspect is that it has two bends that ensure the pedal pushes outwards during a downward kick. It should also blend in better than the straight XS650 kicker whilst in the "at rest" position. It seems to be of lighter construction yet am hopeful that it will be strong enough anyhow.
I picked RD400E kicker from Yambits.
Below are some comparison shots I'd taken this evening.
A concern that I had whilst most of the bike was together during the New Year period, was the fact that my beautiful brand new Mikes XS kicker smacked the Dunstall exhaust at the bottom of the stroke. For obvious reasons a solution needed to be found.
With my powers of research at full strength I managed to discover that the RD400E kicker had the same splined shaft mount. The most appealing aspect is that it has two bends that ensure the pedal pushes outwards during a downward kick. It should also blend in better than the straight XS650 kicker whilst in the "at rest" position. It seems to be of lighter construction yet am hopeful that it will be strong enough anyhow.
I picked RD400E kicker from Yambits.
Below are some comparison shots I'd taken this evening.
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