Rockster mods.

[(RIP) trickytree]

Can't seem to leave 'owt alone and I've been playing again....decided to fit spoked wheels to the Rockster. Already got GS pegs and bars with risers to make life easier on the old joints. The 1200 screen and headlight came about as the bike came with a aftermarket half fairing that broke clean in half on one side. Apart from the radiator covers the bike didn't come with any of the original headlight/screen parts. A look around the web found most of the bits but at a eye watering £600 and there were still 3 Rockster specific parts I couldn't find. A quick solution was needed and a weekends work had the 1200 stuff mounted up front.
So, onto the wheels.
Trying to use just stock parts so if anything needs replacing Its just a bolt on job. Photo below of the front end is using GS fork sliders. As the Ohlins allows for some adjustment to length I've set that at its shortest, this makes the forks about 15mm longer than the stock Rockster set up. Larger tyre diameter adds about 30mm to the hight of the front end so it's sitting up about 40mm.
Rear is a stock length Ohlins, unfortunately no length adjustment on that so the shorter torque arm gives me an extra 20mm ride hight and the 150 rear tyre adds another 5mm.
Upshot is the front is hight than the rear by about 15mm. I'm going to soften the preload a bit on the front as a cable tie on the stanchion shows I'm only using half travel despite sag being set as recommended. Fronts a bit harsh so I'll give it a try and take it from there.
Other option is to try the Rockster sliders with the GS bottom yoke.....that will even things up nicely but I'll have to check mudguard clearance. Might have to stick with the GS lowers for the time being as my Rockster discs are all but worn out where as the discs that came with the front wheel look almost new.
Got to turn up a front wheel spacer tomorrow then I can sit and have a bounce.

 

[Puffin]

Nice

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Made up a spacer because I don't need the mechanical speedo drive and bolted the front end together and had a bounce....feels OK, can still touch the ground with both feet although the centre and side stands are now to short.
Got a feeling it's gonna work out fine, rear had already been raised so this balances things out again. Never did get on with the steeper steering head angle although I know the shorter GS torque arm is a common mod for 1100S riders.
Started to clean up the Tokico calipers, pad pins were sized solid so had to drill a 3mm hole in the opposite end and tap them out. Got half the pistons moving but the rest are pretty stiff so tomorrow I'll blow all the pistons out, give everything a proper clean and see what we've got.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Was half intent on getting this finished this weekend, the gloomy weather wasn't giving me much encouragement but the ltr. of fork oil I was certain was in the garage isn't...so that's that sorted. Suppose it would give me the time to repaint the fork sliders and lower clamp Ferro Blue but I was putting that of for a bit of a spruce up next winter. S'pose a flash over with some Hammerite smooth wouldn't go amiss but don't hold your breath.

So, ignoring the disappearing fork oil all the bits I ordered during the week are here. 63mm rear wheel bolts as the alloys use 55mm bolts. I reused the original cones.
I already had a new Grimeca rear disk so that went on with new shorter disc bolts (15.5 as opposed to 20mm long). Even popped a new centre cap in the rear wheel....this is turning into a love in.
Interestingly the Rocksters original wheels came with the thin washers between the disc and wheel so I reused those and fitted the 320mm discs. Bobbins and wave washers were all in good condition, original bolts are too long (25 as opposed to 20mm) so have a new set.
The Tokicos were in pretty bad shape, managed to free up 6 of the pistons but on a couple the dust seal had popped out of the groove jamming the piston.....the seal was so swollen I couldn't manage to get it back in. I managed to find 32mm seals sold seperartly but Sod's law said that I needed 36mm seals and those I couldn't find. So I just bought a used pair of Brembos from a 1150RT...there in great condition and fit perfectly.
I'd already bought a couple of banjos and a three way splitter from Venhills so as I could fit them and accurately measure the hose length I needed. It's then that I decided to ditch the GS fork sliders I took all the measurements with and refit the Rockster/1100S sliders so I ideally need slightly shorter ones . Too late now, this afternoon will determine whether I've royally cocked up when I come to fit them.

So, a quick photo of how it will look. Anyhow, coffees finished so back out into the garage.....and the heaters broken.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Hurray!

Boooo!

The crossover/left hose is perfect, the right hose is an inch too long. I'll order a 125mm hose online, should be with me by the middle of the week.
I've gone for a single hose to the master cylinder, no problems there although it will need a couple of guides fitting to keep it in the right place.
The mudguard mounting is a bit of a pain, it's about half an inch to far back to line up with the upper caliper bolt. If it did line up I could use a hex head bolt and drill and tap a hole in the end and then use the stock stepped washer......but it isn't, and if I push it forwards to line up the rear of the mudguard hits the tyre.
I could modify the mudguard slightly and make a ally bracket to bolt onto the lower caliper mounting lug but I want to keep the 'guard standard if possible.....and I think that option would look a little 'messy'. I'll have to give this a good dose of looking at.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Even by my low standards the fork bottoms and lower yoke were pretty bad so an hour with wire brush in the leccy drill had them looking quite spiffy. Went on the RS Paints website and they wanted a eye watering £46 for a rattle can of Ferro Blue and satin lacquer, they can feck off at those prices so a hunt around the garage turned up a new can of gloss black one coat epoxy and a smidgeon of satin in another tin. I'll build up with the gloss and with a huge slice of luck I'll have enough satin left for a final coat. We all know I won't have enough don't we.
First I need to pop out and buy a new fan heater for the garage then I'll let loose my legendary painting skills....or lack of.

 

[Kenny]

When I bought my Rockster, previous owner gave me an aerosol of Dark Ferro-met ( BMW code M944 709648) made by Alan Ward of Automotive & Industrial Coatings. It is just the coloured paint so I would need a can of silk clear to finish.
Maybe worth a try.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Some black paint on the forks....for now. Hopefull it will last the year out until a winter spruce up.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Getting close now, hopefully tomorrow will be ride time.
Re greased the pins on the rear calliper and new pads fitted.
The replacement hose for the front arrived so fitted that and bled the front brakes. Tried something that I've heard mentioned many times and that is to seal the threads on the bleed nipple with PTFE tape. Wow! What a difference it makes! Took me well under half an hour to fill and bleed the system from dry, and with no mess.
Tonight I need to finish mounting the front mudguard and extend the side stand and it's job done.
Both wheels just skim a level floor when on the centre stand so I'll leave that for now but ideally it could do with extending a tad.

 

[barak666]

Nice job, buddy...bike certainly looks a lot better now than when I saw it at the 6 Hills cafe meet in November. Hope you get a good ride out on it this weekend...

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Done. Ride. Big grin.