Mon, 4 May 1998 18:27:23 +0100 - Message No. 2800
From: VIPER-1@universal.nl (Fels R. Th.B.)

Subject: AW: fracture due to vibration


Hello everyone,

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Van: 	H.G.Pagendarm
Verzonden: 	maandag 4 mei 1998 7:45
Aan: 	xrv@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de
Onderwerp: 	(XRV) fracture due to vibration


Guys!

Yesterday I finally made up my mind to change oil in my RD04. I should
have done it earlier, but that's another story.

I had FIVE STARS crash bars mounted. In order to remove the engine
protector I had to remove the crash bars as well. They are fixed by
the two bolts which also hold the engine protector at the front part of 
the frame. These bolts go into nuts firmly attached to the frame.
I discovered one of these nuts fallen of the frame due to vibration
fracture and the second almost off.

I'd like to get you opinion on:
1. The best method for repair? Is there a risk to weaken the frame due to
   the high temperature when I try to attach new nuts to the frame?
2. Has anybody encountered similar fracture.
3. How to avoid the problem in the future.

I guess the problem is resulting from the crash bars. I rode the AT with
crashbars in place for less then 10 000 miles. When I first mounted the
crash bars I didn't notice any fractures. The AT had 10 000 miles on the
clock those days.
Interesting: I threw the bike once on her left side. So the left crash bar 
was slightly kinked. However, it was the right crash bar which had more 
severe vibrational damage.


Hans-Georg Pagendarm, Göttingen, Germany


I had mounted a set of Desert-bars crashbows. These are made of thin stainless steel pipes.
The first time I mounted these, the mounting bolts broke and the nuts where ripped of the frame several times. just like Achim told, it's impossible to weld them on in a way that will last longer.
I removed the bars and when I bought my last Twin, I made a plate of stainless steel with two bolts welded on it.
I placed it behind the front frametube.
At the front I mounted another plate with four holes in it. Two for the welded bolts and two on the same location as the normal fixing point of the engine protection.
Now there is a stainless steel mounting point that will never brake and is fitted tight on the frame.
The upper mounting points of the bars are bended in a way that they are contiguous (adjacent, angle) to the little pipes with the thread in it.
This is also done with the mountingpoint at the rear (near the footpegs).
This way, the bars cannot fall of anymore.
In case of a crash, nearly nothing can happen, because the bars are that tight connected to the frame that there is no harm to the bodywork.

It's a bit of work, but it pays of.....

Hopefully you can use this info.


Well, I'm writing now, so I can also add a little to the Wish-list for a new Twin.
I do know that it doesn't have any affect at all if there is gonna come a new Twin in the future, because if there is gonna come one, it is already finished.
And writting E-mails to Japan does in my opinion have less affect as sending mail to Honda Europe in England....
But neverteless here are some points:

Put bush-guards on the bike.	Like the Acerbis ones, but with Honda written on it of course.
Keep the sizes of the wheels	21" frontwheel and 19" rearwheel
Keep the adjustable springs.	
Make the tank more suitable for standing on the footsteps.
Remove the rubbers from the footsteps, the only tear and without them you have much more grip.
Reduce weight a little more, but don't lett it be at the expence of the stabilaty.
Put brake-protectors on the frontbrakes, but beware of good ventilation of the discs.
Don't replace the carburators for fuel-injection.
Don't put a cat. on the bike. Honda can make clean engines without it.
Put more power in the bike. Particular more torque and some more horsepower. 'Squeeze' it out of e smaller engine instead of using a bigger and thus heavier one.
Make it possible to change the two person seat for a 1 person seat so you can put more luggage on the bike.
Change the optic more rally like.
Make it possible to order whatever color you want in every country. Don't lett the importer decide what colors are available in that country.
Make it possible to buy accesoires directly at Honda. Why don't they sell stuff like bigger tanks etc......??
If Honda sells that stuff, you are sure that it will fitt and doesn't destroy the bike.
Change the bearings in the ball-head from ballbearings to 'taper-rollerbearings'. (hope that I say that right)
Don't use unprotected aluminium on the bike anymore. It corrodes to fast.
Take back the 'yellow' rims. The new rims do look awfull.
Replace the plastic carrier for a metal one.

All these things have to bring back a Twin that looks like it comes straight out af a rally and can be used realy off-road.
If someone doesn't like these uncomfortable things on a bike, they should buy another bike.
If you want a high top speed, buy a racer,
If you want a comfortable seat, buy a Pan,
If you want a big tank, try a Leopard II,
If you want heated grips, buy gloves,
etc....


Greetings from The Netherlands,
Raymond Fels. 











dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de