Touring on the megamoto

[Bengaz]

Joe,
have you got a link for the airhawk seat cover and the size you are using on the pic. Its my 1st purchase I think

 

[Joe Bar]

Joe,
have you got a link for the airhawk seat cover and the size you are using on the pic. Its my 1st purchase I think

It's the Airhawk 2 medium cheapo version

 

[Bengaz]

How do you find it and would you bu the premium one next time or not?

 

[Joe Bar]

How do you find it and would you bu the premium one next time or not?

I can't say it's the prettiest accessory you'll ever fit to a bike, but it's functional and it definitely works. For the number of times a year I use it, the cheapo version works just fine. I only use it for trips. Tootling round up to say 300 miles in a day I can manage without it. 2 or 3 days of 300 miles on the trot though and it's definitely on the bike.

 

[Eka]

I drove from Finland to Spain couple weeks ago and MM seat is a killer. So i adjusted it a little. The worst pain is like my tailbone would like to come out of there so i took a little off from saddle:

Then i put a tube of flexible silicone in there and smoother with soap water and vinyl gloves:

Next day it was not good enough, so i put other tube of flexible silicone there:

Then it needed something to smooth rest of jeggedness. I found from my garbage some packing material and put three layers of that:

My staple gun was not powerful enough to put cover back, so i glued it with glue pistol:

Costs were like 5€ for that.

I also put that extra 7 liter gas tank under the seat:

I drove 360 km between tank filling last time.

 

[squid]

Good write up Joe, interesting to see what its like doing a trip without all the gear we carry on a GS

Eka,

Like the seat work a lot. I change the foam on all my bikes but I've not tried the silicone idea before. Good thinking, my only thought to anyone doing silimar is make sure its fully cured before re-covering as the fumes could effect the original foam.

I tranformed a Dakar seat from a 200 mile seat to a 700 mile seat for about £2 and the same to a TT seat I have on my GS now.

I use a cable staple gun to re-fix mine but you can get the staple guns that work, just not a Homebase special as the staples fold.


Why dont they just make a good seat in the first place and bigger tanks

 

[Eka]

One idea would work to grind that foam with angle grinder or similar. I didn't had change for that. With sharp knife it will be more rough result.

Anyhow the saddle is now better. I hope those fumes would not melt it. I chose silicone, which had text beside of it how extra flexible it is. At least it feels good now.

 

[Eka]

I was touring yesterday at Sierra Nevada ski resort. Very nice place and fantastic road up there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKfDuzJh4nE

Put HQ on.

 

[Bengaz]

It's the Airhawk 2 medium cheapo version

yours looks like the "medium" cruiser seat. 14"x14".

They do a "small" cruiser/sportsbike seat 18"x11"

Do you reccon the small may be a better fit or does your fit fine? Does it hang over much st the sides? Any chance of another "close up". Thanks Joe.
Ready to order one

 

[Joe Bar]

yours looks like the "medium" cruiser seat. 14"x14".

They do a "small" cruiser/sportsbike seat 18"x11"

Do you reccon the small may be a better fit or does your fit fine? Does it hang over much st the sides? Any chance of another "close up". Thanks Joe.
Ready to order one

I think mine fits fine, there is a little overhang, but not much, and that's probably better than being slightly too small. Whatever size you put on they're not that pretty, but they do work for longer trips.

 

[Bengaz]

Bought one 2nd hand for £50 notes.

Joe,

Can you show pics of the drilled filler neck please.

My warnign light comes onaround 75-80 miles

Fill up at 110 to 120 miles

What difference will it make?

Thanks.

 

[Joe Bar]

Bought one 2nd hand for £50 notes.

Joe,

Can you show pics of the drilled filler neck please.

My warnign light comes onaround 75-80 miles

Fill up at 110 to 120 miles

What difference will it make?

Thanks.

Drilling the filler neck adds about 20 miles to those figures. I've got 4 x 8mm holes, about 10mm down from the opening.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151095

 

[Bengaz]

ANy chance of a pic joe so i dont break something?

 

[Magnum]

I was touring yesterday at Sierra Nevada ski resort. Very nice place and fantastic road up there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKfDuzJh4nE

Put HQ on.

Nice work Eka

Would really like some more details of this excellent recoding please.

What camera did you use?

Where/how was it mounted?

Was it played at actual speed?

What music did you use?

EDIT: just watched your video again. Music is Angel Tears: Mystic Desire and Vasilisa: Oblak/Cloud.

Thanks

 

[Eka]

Camera is GoPro Hero. I can't recomment it. It stretches picture in every direction due vibration. It was connected in front fairing with sticker mount, which come with it. I will buy better camera some day...

 

[Joe Bar]

ANy chance of a pic joe so i dont break something?

I haven't got one, as there's nothing to see down the filler neck, just 4 holes, the thing you need to take care with is removing the filler neck out of the tank as the fuel level sensor is attached. Nothing difficult, just need to take a little care and not force anything that doesn't want to be forced.

 

[Douglas Murphy]

Thanks Joe

Hi Joe

Thanks for your great update on your holiday - it looks like a fantastic trip and the photos are superb giving a great visual image of events and places, well done !

I am "bonding" with my Megamoto and working round its few odd issues, your idea of drilling the fuel neck is brilliant and I will do mine soon ! I ride mine hard over small Jock backroads and to be honest my GS would probably be ahead of it on most occassions due to the slight instability and subsequent loss of confidence that this brings. I have played with my suspension, and yesterday tried your suspension settings, there is a trade off between suspension complaince and control and so far I have not quite got this right. (however Fred Lejune won the Dark Dog tour on his Megamoto so I know that the bike is fundamentaly fine and that it it just a matter of getting a feel and settings to suit me )

If I was more adept with computers I would have started a new post on the site about tyres, but if you dont mind I will run this past you first as you seem to be well up the road in getting the best from these bikes. Have you tried anything other than Michelins on your bike ? For fast road and track I favour Pirellis, and over the last 2 years have used Avon Storms on my GS & RT with great success. Talking with the knowlegable folk at Sharples tyres they feel that the most stable tyre anyone offers is the Avon Storm so it is my intention to try a set of these on the Megamoto and see how it fares - but as always your thoughts or commnets would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time & input

Douglas

 

[Joe Bar]

Thanks for the kind words Douglas. To be honest I don't think on a fast run across country there'd be much in it between a GS and the Megamoto, add in the extra fuel stops, and the GS would probably be in front.

But, I love the lightness of the MM, love the looks and the way it rides and feels alive. I also like that it's not a GS

Drilling the filler neck was not my idea, I picked it up of Adv Rider to be honest , but glad I did so, as I've now done my Rockster as well and really needed those few extra miles last week in the Pyrenees, when I was running on vapour trying to get from France (closed for the weekend ) to a fuel station in Spain.

Tyres? What a can of worms , I've just swapped the rear on the MM, and stayed with Michein to match the front, but gone with the 2CT, to try and get a few extra miles without the dreaded flat spot. Not really had a problem with the Michelins, but I put Pirelli Diablo Strada's on the Rockster for the Pyrenees trip (replacing Metzler Z3's). Got to say I've been really impressed with the Diablo's, they seem to do everything well. Great feel, very neutral, stable, loads of grip, very surefooted in the wet, can't fault them really.

I know they've just been updated, but I'd be very tempted to try some on the MM when I'm ready for the next pair. Can't really comment on the Avons as the last bike I had them on was almost 20 years ago now

Cheers.

 

[Douglas Murphy]

Thanks Joe

I agree 100% - the Megamoto is unique and great fun, and I am very aware that I dont want to end up converting it into a GS !

On the tyre front I agree with everything you say about the Diablos they are a great tyre and it will be interesting to hear your thoughts once you stick a set on your Megamoto. I will have a "punt" with the Avons and report back to you on these - they are not a make that immediately spring to mind, but since they dumped the old square section "safety mileage" (the most inappropraite name ever !) and dragged themselves into the 21st century their tyres really are quite good for road use.

I am keen to get the stability and feel from the bike as I would like without resorting to a steering damper, as in my opinion these always "poison" the feel at the bars.

Thanks again

Douglas

 

[Joe Bar]

I am keen to get the stability and feel from the bike as I would like without resorting to a steering damper, as in my opinion these always "poison" the feel at the bars.

Thanks again

Douglas

My thoughts exactly, I'd sooner cure the problem than just hide it with a damper.