TR1X (off mcmod)

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:35:27 +1100

Heated grips and panniers are standard on the GT which is the model most
people get. Extra on the T povertypack version.

The GTL fancypants with the electric screen and the satnav has a
topbox as standard as well as panniers.

I got a Breva topbox with my GT as it was more roomy inside than the
GTL version. The rack costs a bomb, I think there's a cheaper
aftermarket one about, otherwise if you have a fabricating mate borrow
my rack to copy. It's not fancy, just expensive.

T - no fairing lowers, no side panels behind the rider, no luggage, no
heated grips. Manual screen adjustment. I think it has ABS.

GT - fairing lowers, panniers, side panels, heated grips, ABS, manual
screen adjustment.

GTL - same as GT plus colour-matched topbox, and satnav, plus
electric adjustment for the fairing screen.

I don't think the T is even available anymore. Might be a couple of
elderly demo models on the floor somewhere, beat them down down down
if you are thinking of buying one.

Add another couple of hundred for the sensible dipstick from Teo
Lamers, else make an unscrewer from a bit of wood or pipe, or cut a
hole in the fairing. Whoever designed a bike where you have to remove
the entire lower fairing to check the oil was smoking something I
don't want to ever try....

Zebee

 

Lotsa bikes come with all that stuff standard nowadays.. The US version
of the Buell Ulysses XB12XT comes with heated grips and hard panniers as
standard equipment. They dropped the luggage from the Aus delivery model.

Nev..
'07 XB12X

 

Yes indeed, but we have wandered far (as we often do on here). Theo was
implying (if not directly stating) that there was never a need to
modify. Hence I threw up three things I could see him adding to the
Norge (let alone any of his previous Guzzis which were less likely to
have them).

The fact that SOME manufacturers have wised up in the last couple of
years (and it really has only been recently) and made the bleeding
obvious mods either optional or standard, doesn't remove the point that
I've personally never bought a bike that didn't need something changed
and I can't imagine why others dont. Even the examples you give - I'll
bet there's something people change (windscreen because they're taller
/shorter than the design brief for example).

JL

 

Heated grips and luggage were standard. Define cruise control, no
wait, better not start that again.

Yup, the last time I changed the radio in a car was to replace the
broken AM radio with an FM one.
I think were talking at tangents here. Cutting the rail out of my ute,
fitting throttle locks, and replacing a broken radio are functional
mods. Trying to make a TRX look pretty is admittedly a challenging
project.

Theo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:20:20 +1100

Proper cruise control would be nice! There is someone who is supposed
to be building an electronic one for the NOrge, but they've been in
the build stage for years...

There are some mods people do such as fit a hugger or towbar or larger
screen.

For most people the only mod the Norge needs is a heavier spring.
Later models have said spring though.

Zebee

 

I'd suggest that some people would want an aftermarket top box/rack for
the Norge GT


G-S

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:49:28 +1100

true - or at least a topbox and rack, Guzzi or aftermarket.

I have pondered trying panniers only for a bit, as they don't stick
out enough to make lanesplitting difficult. And the bike looks better
that way....

Zebee

 

Yebbut, what you're talking about isn't "modifying" it's "accessorising".

Moike

 

Mmm I'd exclude a broken radio replacement, that's just fixing things.

Pulling out a working AM radion and replacing it with a CD&Radio is a
mod in my book (pretty minor though). As for "functional mods" (ie
throttle locks) vs cosmetic mods I wouldn't have differentiated
personally - simply because they're both driven by the desire to make
the machine exactly the way you want it rather than the way it came out
of the factory.

Nasty Nasty ! Pot Kettle etc.

Besides he's doing a shit load more than cosmetic mods. In fact the vast
majority are functional mods(in the sense they improve the basic
functionality)
- replacing preload only forks with fully adjustable (R1) forks
- overbored to 900cc as well as lightened crank and pistons
- replacing carbs and cdi with fully programmable EFI and ecu controlled
ignition
- rear shock for a fully adjustable one
- stiffer swingarm
- even the dash change is a functional mod - incorporating a wider range
of data feeds (that aren't available on the stock bike) and GPS

JL

 

<snicker>

JL

 

If it isn't a factory option then it isn't an accessory.

If what one is adding isn't an accessory then it can't be "accessorising".


G-S

 

You think so?

That seems to be a pretty narrow definition of accessory, and one not
used in any other context.

Call me old fashioned, but in my book, "modifying" a bike involves some
substantial change to one or more of it's essential parts. Such as
swapping wheels, suspension bits, brakes etc or changing the frame.

Putting on colour coded anodised fasteners, or heated grips is
accessorising, regardless of whether the accessories were provided by
the factory.

YMMV
Moike

,

 

<shrug> To butt in, but to me that's just two shades of the same
flavour. Bottom line you're changing it from the way the factory built it.

JL

 

Certainly I'm happy to change things I'm not happy with, or things I
feel will add "for me" functionallity to the bike. But the place we
wandered far from was several K's worth of fibreglass, paint and
Chrome, which did not add any functionality and just made the bike
uglier (IMHO).

Theo

 

Hmmm ? That's not what he did - you're confusing him with a Hogly
customiser somewhere.

The R1 nose cone and tail is hardly several K's worth of fibreglass
paint and chrome. To be honest I would consider it a fairly incidental
cosmetic mod, and hardly the main thing on the site.

The important (and expensive in time and money) were the suspension mods
- he's spent hours getting that swingarm right alone - and the engine
and ecu/computer mods.

JL

 

OK, OK, I lost interest before I read all of that on the site. Does he
actually ride the thing on the street (as in to work and back) or does
he just wank over it in the shed.

Hint: I consider changes for riding to work and back as mostly
functional, changes that make you afraid to leave it in a shopping
centre carpark in daylight, as wank.

YMMV.

Theo

 

What sort of wanker rides to work and back ? That's not riding that's
drudgery !!

JL
(unless you live in Tassie)

 

Well there ya go, if you'd read it you'd know that a) yes and b) it
was built with track in mind not riding to work.

And I have to say you have the most boring criteria I've ever heard to
measure the usefulness of a modification. Riding in traffic is a
tedious necessity and the least interesting riding you can possibly
do, something to be avoided in preference to going for a hugely more
interesting ride (that is anything other riding to work). How beige.

It does explain your contempt for the concept of mods though - I doubt
there is ANY useful mod you can do to make a first gear crawl exciting

JL

 

I manage to cover the 55 kms in 40 minutes most days. I also often
take Chittering Road. We get all the Sunday cowboys on there every
weekend. It's actually much nicer on a weekday morning.

Theo
Who does most of his travelling to work and back (and to PI and back)
Beer?

 

;-) I already knew that - you've mentioned it several times before.
But I had to bite ... ;-P

Sure why not.