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Message started by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 17:48:26

Title: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 17:48:26

This past weekend I rode Thumpy further and longer than ever before. We went out to the mountains of Central Pennsylvania on an overnight ride.
Mind you, I always looked at Thumpy as a local bike. Commutes, backroads and errands. Anything longer distance than that I took my Ducati. But the duck is still under the weather and I wanted to ride my butt off so Thumpy got the job!
And did a great job. Buzzed the hell out of the mountains like nobodies business too. One big mountain, where my ears were popping hard, got Thumpy to spew some oil on the way up but we still passed all the cagers on the way up it. So all in all the trip required a 3rd of a quart of oil and tightening one of the tank bolts that vibrated loose. Besides that no worries. Even got down a couple miles of dirt roads including one washed out rutted mess even the Duck would have had issues with.

The wider bars I put on were a big help. Wouldn't have made with the original narrow bars. But got cramped in the groin after a 4 hour stretch of high mph highway. Might need to look at some extensions for the pegs.

But on those tight twisty little mountain backroads I had a freaking blast grinding metal off them pegs.

Also, once again surprised at my engines performance. A few times had some Harley dudes trying to hang with me and they just couldn't hang. Maybe it was the riders to blame but Thumpy made em look sad. Once that main jet kicks in its all she wrote for those fellas.

An hour straight at 85 mph is punishing. I do that speed commuting to work but is only 9.5 miles away. But for an hour with a heavy backpack on I really started missing my Ducks touring windscreen and longer legs. Them old country highways have seen better days and having to keep that pace up to avoid 18 wheeler turbulence is brutal on this bike.

Sore as I am now it's all worth it!

Picture is Thumpy looking at Bald Eagle Mountain across the lake.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:00:06

Thank God for this state park bathroom. The dirt road shook something loose :D

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:03:02

Beef jerky picnic. :D

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by MMRanch on 09/21/20 at 18:21:13

OK , I'm ready for a PA. ride ! :)

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:41:22

041604161B08070A01490 wrote:

OK , I'm ready for a PA. ride ! :)

It's pretty country. The roads are outstanding in the central part of the state. Very little traffic and there's tons of highways so when you've exhausted all the little mountain roads on one ridgeline you can scoot real quick over to the next and ride the crap out it.
I stayed overnight in Bellefonte which is a darling little town with friendly people and amazing Victorian architecture. There's a Cider House there I recommend. Good stuff!
https://goodintentcider.com/

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:54:43

More pictures

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:55:39

Purdy

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 18:57:34

Across the street from cider house

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/21/20 at 19:02:00

Bridge stop

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/22/20 at 10:38:47

Ive never tried wearin a pack riding. How is that? What kinda compensating and style changes does that require?
In the FWIW department, I had an 05 model, and the seat made me squirm after 30 minutes,, The bike I stuffed into the car was an 02, with the 2 piece seat. Much better ride.
Whats it like without the fender> ? Ive never tried that, and even With it, Ive had annoying bits of sand and stuff in the road find their way up under my chin,, and of course, without a mudflap, the tire is Gonna sling water all up the legs,, so I was wonderin what happens on a wet road, sans fender..

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/22/20 at 14:50:16

607F797E63645565556D7F73380A0 wrote:

The pack is fine for running errands locally and commuting but for a long trip it's gruelling after awhile. My shoulders are still sore from it. When it's wet I have to stop because water sprays off the top of the tire too and blows into your face. Generally I try to avoid riding in the rain (or threat of) because PA cagers all lose what little driving sense they had and become insane kamikaze maniacs and try to kill themselves and everyone else around them too.
I always rode my Duck if weather was iffy because her ABS and TC but now I may have to reevaluate putting the fender on. For some reason the ZL900 fender I bought to match the front end does not fit. Haven't had time to figure out the issue.

I'm really thinking a seat upgrade would be a smart move too. This one is ok for an hour. Afterwards you begin to feel like a prison b1tch :-/

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/22/20 at 15:18:03

Since I Never carry a passenger Im thinkin I want a tractor seat style saddle,,
Paladin had a Great lookin seat on his.
Just dont want it to take up too much room behind me, so I still have room for the milk crate.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by MMRanch on 09/22/20 at 18:43:04

I saw Bad-Wolf's bike with a solo seat and it looked good. The fuel tank is longer so the seat is set back a bit. I should have took a picture .

Maybe BadWolf will post a picture. It looked really comfee :)

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by badwolf on 09/22/20 at 19:06:16

I caught this just before I leave for N. Fla. in the morning for a couple of days.
I built the seat from foam kneeling pads from Home Depot garden dept. A alum. seat pan on 4 inch springs mounted over the shocks. With the stock shocks AND the seat springs the ride is wayyy better.
Tough to see the seat springs in the photo cause they are black.
With the box on the back as a backrest I can carry enough krap to travel and get back support. It is basicly a small bagger, a far cry from a bobber, but to each his own.
I know the box would be out of place on a bobber, but you could make a removable mount for trips. Once you ride with a backrest you will always want one!
( god, I hope I'm not starting a backrest war! )

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/23/20 at 06:25:49

Nice luggage setup.
Can't see it too good, what rear wheel are you running?

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/23/20 at 09:43:08

Yeahh,, Im not seein a fella stop in anywhere and buy those saddlebags.
What ya got there?

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by badwolf on 09/26/20 at 06:45:14

Got back last night, in the rain.
The bags are 50cal ammo cans stood on end so they open to the rear (box on top is in the way for top openers) cut the bottom out and extended them with fiberglass. Have NEVER had anything get wet inside them! I'll post a picture of them and the seat spring mount this afternoon.
The rear wheel is off a 02' Suzuki Marauder V800. It's NOT a bolt-on, the brake is 180mm not 160mm, and needs a torque arm, and the drive hub needs to be modded to fit the S-40 pulley. It's a 15 x 3.50 and takes a 140 or 150 tire fine,TUBELESS. I have the mate for it for the front, 16 x 3.00 that will go on eventually. ( it's a long story )
I am currently running a alum spoked wheel on the rear to match the front it's 16 x 2.50 with a Shinko 240 - MT90 16. The 240 is a old school tire with straight sawtooth tread and seems to roll great at about 38 psi., only thing I don't like about it is it needs a tube.

https://shinkotireusa.com/product/classic-240-tire/211907

Rolled over 111,00 miles this week on my way to 200,000?

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/26/20 at 08:13:21

Yeah, that would be good,, some close up picture,

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by springman on 09/26/20 at 11:41:05

That is a great looking bike. Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by badwolf on 09/26/20 at 13:28:47

This is a closer look at the bags and spring mount.
You can see the bag opening to the rear, and the spring mount, just a piece of angle iron mounted on the shock bolt.
The bags and box mount is a piece of 1/2'' black PVC I scrounged from behind a sign shop. Bolted to the chrome side rails and across the top. The box sits on top, and the bags bolt to the sides.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by badwolf on 09/26/20 at 13:34:30

This is another set of bags I am building made out of ''Fat 50'' ammo cans. 1 3/4'' wider and 1'' higher, and I am making them 1'' longer. Will have 25 - 30% more room.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 09/30/20 at 19:19:40

Thats very interesting about the Marauder wheel. Thanks for the explanation.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 10/10/20 at 09:33:23

Since my 500 mile mountain ride all I've done is ride my usual errands until today I made time to hit my usual stomping grounds on Creek Rd., Route 82 and the other random B-Roads in between. Something is different today. I can ride all of these local roads 10 mph faster than before.
I think it's finally set in just how much more aggressively I can ride Thumpy now that there's kick-ass braking power.
Somewhere along my mountain ride this sunk in.

Whatever, I'm not trying to break any records I'm just out to have fun.
And today was a fun ride! Even if it was on familiar roads I know like the back of my hand. Though repaving on Creek Road seems done so that probably made a difference. No more slippery chewed up parts.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by BobH on 10/11/20 at 09:53:57

In Bucks County, PA, lots of riders go here: http://www.vansantairport.com/

Fun destination on a nice Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Always lots of activity and food is available.

Straight up 611 from the Phil area.

Title: Re: Big Mountain Thumper
Post by philthymike on 10/11/20 at 10:30:33

Bucks County has lots of good riding roads. I lived up there a long time ago. When I was getting powder coating done for Thumpy I had to ride up there several times dropping off and picking up parts.
It's kind of a pregnant dog to get there from where I am unless I pay the toll for the Turnpike.
But next time I'm in that area I'll check that place out. Looks interesting.