The Future

[mark]

Good morning, everyone.

I wanted to take a moment to discuss the future of this site and of the Bash. First and foremost, I'd like to assure everyone that this site isn't going away. It's taken off more than I ever would have expected, and I really like the personality it's taken on.

Furthermore, with the continued changes to RatNet, I think this site offers a good alternative. I see no reason that we can't continue to build this site's membership, and add additional forums as necessary (ie, a technical forum, classifieds, whatever). And because we don't offer image hosting, private messaging, etc, our bandwidth needs are relatively low, so we can operate on an ad-free basis for the foreseeable future.

Please feel free to invite members of other sites to join this forum.

As for the Bennington Triumph Bash, I think it's a given that we're going to do it again next year. We'll have a separate thread to discuss potential locations. Personally, I think it might be worthwhile to expand the idea to additional Triumph Bashes (especially now that there are no more official RAT Raids). Maybe we'll continue the Bennington Triumph Bash (in Bennington) as the original event, and do a Dragon Triumph Bash in the Deals Gap area, and a Taos Triumph Bash in New Mexico that Hidesert can head up... If we space them out throughout the riding season, then some of us might even attend multiple Bashes.

There are already other grassroots Triumph events being put together around the country; maybe we could combine efforts and offer this forum as a central discussion board for all the Bashes.

Thoughts/ideas?

--mark

[bennybmn]

Great ideas Mark! I think you are right, as it expands it will need more sections. I can only imagine the confusion if people were trying to plan a ride to the dragon mixed in with all the Bennington stuff. Some sites get too big for their own good (ratnet?), and some aren't big enough so they get WAY too congested. At BA.com, people keep suggesting "hey how bout a _____ section?" and I always fight it cause I think it is dub-divided enough, but maybe take a look over there for ideas. Works pretty well...

I would also love to see all the other grassroots stuff take off!! I think there is a much higher level of satisfaction after attending an event where you feel like you had a part in planning it or helping it run!

[Hedge]

I think your 100% spot on Mark. I like the idea of expanding this site a tad and also having another Bash. I suggested on another thread here that perhaps we can have an End of the Summer Bash. Here is another great idea - how about a Fall Leaf Bash? I would be hard pressed to think of anywhere in the entire world that has a better foliage than New England!

[Speedblastr]

Far out ! I think that was one of my biggest worries that the forum would dissolve after Bennington. I'm so glad to hear the great news and keep in touch with my favorite people on the face of the earth ! Speed.

[M ES]

I to would like to see this forum expanded to a more general 'triumph twin" scope.
Multiple "bashes" are a good thing. I would cosider attendeing a New Mexico "bash"

I'm happy to hear that Bennington was a big success. hopefully it will lead to more.

[bennybmn]

I would be hard pressed to think of anywhere in the entire world that has a better foliage than New England!

You and everyone else... the population of VT in foliage goes up by like 10 fold or something. Literally.

Edit: but you're right!

[davidc]

Mark,

I thoroughly agree that this site is a viable alternative to RatNet and the BA site. It is, in a word, humble. I have no idea what is involved in maintaining a web site or enhancing it, but I do believe sufficient interest will surface to keep it afloat.

David

[hidesert]

I like the idea of multiple Bashes spaced around the calendar and the country. Would Bennington stay in May/June? This time of year would be great for New Mexico too. Much earlier, and you can get snow in the mountains. July and August would involve serious endurance riding in the lowlands to reach the sweet comfort of high altitude. September is really good too. If Bennington stuck to May/June, I'd probably say September would be best for New Mexico.

[TonUp]

Bennington, last weekend in May is a great time, folks can go to AMERICADE after the BASH.

Tito



Ton Up!

[b_mason]

I would be hard pressed to think of anywhere in the entire world that has a better foliage than New England!

You and everyone else... the population of VT in foliage goes up by like 10 fold or something. Literally.

Edit: but you're right!

The leaf peepers is what kills the sunday hunting every year. They out number hunters 10 to 1. I hate riding the roads that time of the year. Too many lookie-loos to enjoy the ride. It sure is pretty while I'm camping and setting in my tree stand.

[mark]

I hate riding the roads that time of the year. Too many lookie-loos to enjoy the ride.

That's why we avoid places like Smugglers Notch and instead go ride the minor roads that the leaf peepers overlook.

--mark

[modre]

[quote="mark"]It's taken off more than I ever would have expected, and I really like the personality it's taken on.

I see no reason that we can't continue to build this site's membership, and add additional forums as necessary (ie, a technical forum, classifieds, whatever).

Mark...you got it...I'll add what I can.
Put it where you want it.

Spokes:
there's been gripes about spokes breaking...always the rear...after much hoopla and study I'm of the simple opinion it's because the old technology standards have been replaced with fool-proof alloy wheels...now everyone's dumbed down to expect no issues...all well and good...but spokes need set up, trued, and attended to until they seat and stay put...mine now has 6K and after a dozen spoke set-ups, now it's starting to stay put...never broke a spoke, and never an issue.

the reason the spokes break is some wear loose and over-stress the others...the drive torque twisting plus the road bumps is what over stresses them and why the rears are always the complaints...the answer is to have each spoke carry it's designed load...when they're each doing their expected job, the wheel is plenty strong and spokes don't break when the load is evenly distributed and none are overstressed.

spokes don't get set to a preset torque number...the main priority is having the wheel true both run-out (round) as well as side to side (wobble) true. when that's right, you tune the spokes by "plunking them with a small mallet, rod, wrench or similar...like a guitar string, and that pitch equates to tension thus strength....you don't want any high pitched bird chirp frequencies...that's too tight...while you're snugging up the duds, you're also looking for dangerously tight ones that may need a bit of relief.

the relative pitch you're after is a 4th musical interval...the first 2 notes in "here comes the bride"...if the wheel is true, and all spokes sing within that interval it's doing what it's supposed to...the trick (more picky than tedious) is to keep the true and bring the relative tension up to equal until the true suffers...it takes repeated attempts. a dial indicator is the right way, but you can set up a pointer and eyeball it...as long as you're within .020" it's good...the closer the better...a wheel trued within .005" is damn near perfect.

rightfully, you should let the air out before turning the nuts on the spokes...reason: the 30psi is friction against the flange, and if it's dry and been there a while it starts rubbing thru the inner tube, and if you get into that habit, eventually the tube gets a weak spot coupled to age and dry rot. you can spry WD40 and get away with a quicky fix, but the right way is to deflate and relieve the friction.

alloy wheel folk see this as tedious chore/task...I see it as love, involvement, and visceral...when it's set up right, there's not a damn thing wrong with spokes.


setting the track:

the rear wheel adjusting marks are not always accurate...set wrong, the rear of the bike will crab walk throwing the steering geometry slightly off center and you get the front shimmy when you want to show off with "look Ma, no hands". One reason the marks can be off is after welding cools it draws crooked...these are made at a quick assembly line pace...the final set-up is you. put the bike on the center stand or block it up vertical and secure.

get a 15' long piece of string and wrap the center point once around the rearmost of the rear tire so the long ends run up either side of the bike past the front tire...make sure the rear is even over the ends of the tread (don't have one in a groove...even side to side and even height from the ground/table surface)...depending on the tire width difference between front and back, with the front dead straight, space the front strings equi-distance to match the rear width dimension and take some time to set it all dead center and straight...when all's well, you can see where the parellel strings compare to the rear wheel angle...and if it differs from the adjustment marks...ignore the marks and follow the strings...specifically, you want to bring the front of the rear tire dead center within the parallel set up between the rear of the rear tire and the measured distance off the straight front tire.

the front has to be dead straight ahead, the strings have to be parallel and match the rear tire width with no interferrence, then the rear wheel gets adjusted as to chain tension as well as tracking...the sides of the front part of the rear tire get set to the strings...then the motorcycle runs straight down the road and the R and L curves are consistant.

chain tension:
on the center stand, drop the rear shocks off so you can raise the rear wheel to the apex of it's arc (chain at the tightest possible spot in the arc) then adjust the chain at the extreme limits needed...you should have about 3/8*-1/2" deflection so there's no possible way it can bind and become a stressed member...put the shocks back on and see why it has to be set looking somewhat loose...back together and at rest you should have 1-1/4 to 1-1/2" deflection...that seems loose to any experienced eye, but because of the requirements at the apex of the arc...it's right.

Lube:
lots of chain lube products available,..and I've tried lots of uninspiring pricey products over the years that make a mess and never saved or prolonged a chain beyond expected life, but I've been using plain old 80-90 gear lube with good results...cheap and effective...every couple hundred miles.

[mark]

Great post, Modre.

--mark

[Hedge]

I use the Bel-Ray lube wax and I am very very hapy with it!

[bennybmn]

I would be hard pressed to think of anywhere in the entire world that has a better foliage than New England!

You and everyone else... the population of VT in foliage goes up by like 10 fold or something. Literally.

Edit: but you're right!

The leaf peepers is what kills the sunday hunting every year. They out number hunters 10 to 1. I hate riding the roads that time of the year. Too many lookie-loos to enjoy the ride. It sure is pretty while I'm camping and setting in my tree stand.

I bet the average age goes up considerably too...