Help & advice prepping an X Challenge for almost RTW trip

i tried to fit the TT radiator hard part - impossible - especially with the large TT bash plate on

Hi, its not impossible - just a pain to get the clamps for the "hard part" to fit around the frame where the welds are. I used a longer bolt than those supplied by TT to "draw" the clamp close and then replaced it when the other one of the pair was tightened. Does that make sense??
 
Hi Guys,

any advice on heated grips? I know the XC is challenged in the power dept.

Is there a more efficient product when it comes to performance versus power draw?

thx,

Clayton
 
Hi Clayton

Don't know about power but I would probably go for the under grip variety rather than the grips with the heaters built in. This allows you to use your choice of soft, grippy grips. The oxford grips work well but are better for road use as they are made from harder rubber, no good with mucky gloves. They do have a textured version now which might be worth a look.
 
What Rossi said. Heating elements mean no trailing wires too. When you see an Oxford setup you will know what I mean. That always worried me. Not so much snagging but I can't help feeling that heavy wire is going to slow down the throttle reaction.
 
The prep has begun!

Hi All,

Just an update, spent a day over at Hyperpro this week, unfortunately TT had not delivered the parts, (hey I only ordered the "in stock" parts 6 weeks ago from TT Holland) so I could not fit the sub frame.

New forks and hub are in, new rear shock ready to build, X tank with 35mm extra, bash plate from Scheffelmeier Metall. triple clamps have been delayed but Bas is going to adapt another set.

Thankfully there is another XC in the shop when I attempt to put it back together, the bike is a lot simpler than I thought and less daunting to work on once I had stripped a few things off it.

Having every tool at your fingertips is awesome. (i know you only really need a few). Extremely great day!

Big thanks to Bas at Hyperpro and Eric over at Hotrod for there help and advice.

stay tuned.

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Update! Almost done

Just spent a few days in Holland, almost there with my bike.

Big thanks to Bas @ Hyperpro, Eric @ Hot Rod Welding and Walter for ferrying my bike around Holland and his help with "how does this go back together" questions every other minute.

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Pannier racks and electrics to come

The pivot pegs are weird not sure if I like them or not.
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Not too loud, i like the satin finish.

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Erik at Hot Rod weldings master piece, light, incredibly rigid, it is a work of art.
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Awesome :clap.... is that the first of the fairing supports that erik was working on? looks like a whole front end replacement. dare i ask how much the forks and fairing set you back (if its not a trade secret :p) The pivot pegs i find are fabulous, i've dropped mine to the lower setting which suits my leg length and height better:thumb
 
Front End

Awesome :clap.... is that the first of the fairing supports that erik was working on? looks like a whole front end replacement. dare i ask how much the forks and fairing set you back (if its not a trade secret :p) The pivot pegs i find are fabulous, i've dropped mine to the lower setting which suits my leg length and height better:thumb

Hey Frosty, I believe this is the prototype, the MKI. I need to check the price for the fairing mount, whatever it is, it is way, way lighter than the TT one (walters is in the shop) and rock solid.

I did not know you could modify the height of the pivot pegs, I am back in london today, will collect the bike in a week or so.
 
Hey Frosty, I believe this is the prototype, the MKI. I need to check the price for the fairing mount, whatever it is, it is way, way lighter than the TT one (walters is in the shop) and rock solid.

I did not know you could modify the height of the pivot pegs, I am back in london today, will collect the bike in a week or so.

Clayton, let me know when you are coming over to pick up your bike. Will try and get up as would like to meet up to put a face to the name.....I know your bike much better than you :nenau

I am off to the Pyrenees on 26th for a week or so to put my conversion through its paces, do you have time ?

Mike
 
....the prototype, the MKI.

Can I ask, what is the arrangement now for the lock stops, ie, when the steering can turn no more?
I have 48mm WP front end on my XC, using 450EXC triple clamps, and at present have no fixed lock stop.
My aim is to obtain a set of 690eR triple clamps and these should mate against standard XC frame lock stops..... hopefully!:confused:


The mods so far look good.:thumb2

I'm a little puzzled about battery relocation, and where it has been located to.
And, have you plan to investigate power generator upgrade using 650 Dakar winding, flywheel and rectifier, etc?
:popcorn
 
Pyrenees

Clayton, let me know when you are coming over to pick up your bike. Will try and get up as would like to meet up to put a face to the name.....I know your bike much better than you :nenau

I am off to the Pyrenees on 26th for a week or so to put my conversion through its paces, do you have time ?

Mike

Hey Mike,

Unfortunately I will be away for september, I am hoping to collect the bike next week friday although I am not 100%.

Will message closer to the time.

best,

Clayton
 
Hey Mike,

Unfortunately I will be away for september, I am hoping to collect the bike next week friday although I am not 100%.

Will message closer to the time.

best,

Clayton

Ok....and if you need a place to stay...I'm 20 mins from Bas and on route to Hoek van Holland. Ask Walter about the steaks at Los Argentinos :rob
 
Triple Clamped

Can I ask, what is the arrangement now for the lock stops, ie, when the steering can turn no more?
I have 48mm WP front end on my XC, using 450EXC triple clamps, and at present have no fixed lock stop.
My aim is to obtain a set of 690eR triple clamps and these should mate against standard XC frame lock stops..... hopefully!:confused:

The Kite triple clamps when fitted greatly reduced the turning circle as there were lugs on either side about 10mm each. They stopped on the frame. (I am not sure if it is the same point that the originals did, I am not with the bike when I collect it I will check it against an original bike).

Bas ground down the lugs which has greatly improved the turning circle. They stop on the frame still. (not sure if it on the lock stop)


The mods so far look good.:thumb2

I'm a little puzzled about battery relocation, and where it has been located to.
And, have you plan to investigate power generator upgrade using 650 Dakar winding, flywheel and rectifier, etc?
:popcorn

I have not moved the battery down to the baseplate, I am in two minds. I spoke to walter re the generator it seems to be a bit of a job, it is not in my plans to do.
 
Hey Frosty, I believe this is the prototype, the MKI. I need to check the price for the fairing mount, whatever it is, it is way, way lighter than the TT one (walters is in the shop) and rock solid.

Erik kinda hand makes a prototype, then makes a pre-production model and if then if thats cool he makes the production version. Clearandlocks was the prototype. Erik is working on the pre-production "fitting" now in Holland (below) ... So I guess that means he can finalise the drawings for the production version once he sees how this fitting goes.

6030066359_cfe12e7e6f_b.jpg


Ironically, its on the same X-Challenge that got his pre-production fitting of the X-Tank about 3 years back.

And yes, the X-Fairing and mount is a fraction of the weight of the Touratech unit and about 5 times as stiff. The strength to weight ratio of the thing is incredible.
 
Can I ask, what is the arrangement now for the lock stops, ie, when the steering can turn no more?
I have 48mm WP front end on my XC, using 450EXC triple clamps, and at present have no fixed lock stop.
My aim is to obtain a set of 690eR triple clamps and these should mate against standard XC frame lock stops..... hopefully!:confused:

Timpo, I will try to remember to take a pic of the custom made steering stop on my bike. I have standard EXC triples and WP 48mms. I will trace it out and send it to you via Adventue Spec if you like.

Clearandlocks bike has fancy CNC machined triples for a CRF that came with built in steering stops machined into it. They had to be machined down to the right point to do the job on his XC. Everything is different with his set up.

As for anyone contacting Bas, you will have to wait 2 more weeks as he is on holidays in South Africa at the moment :cool:
 
I have to say I think you're barking up the wrong tree. You don't need any of that to do what you're planning. I mean new forks, why do you need them? Do you know what the benefits of that are?

I think he does know what the benefits are to be fair. The guy does a series of "stoppies", on gravel roads, in his first ride of the bike. I think when you are at that level you can appreciate better forks than the stock forks on the X-Challenge? At that level you have no choice but to change the forks.

Ar you skilled enough to need a reworked front end?

I love the way you condescendingly question a guys skill level when you know nothing about him or his riding background.

Figure out your skill level too ....

I think he figured it out - thats why he went for significantly better forks than the poor stock XC forks.

You spend a lot of time defending stock X-challenge and X-country forks on various forums and trying to talk people out of changing them ... have you ever wondered why of all the bikes featured in the thumpers section on ADVrider, the X-Challenge is about the only one to get a whole thread (of over 15 pages) dedicated exclusively to addressing and replacing the stock forks? Did you ever notice that? 15 pages of X-Challenge owners changing their forks. Its not just some renegade fork lunatic called "Cole" as you seem to believe.

While we are at it, why do you have such a beef with my modifications to the bike that you go slagging them off across 3 different forums? Its like you have an obsession with hating my mods and trying to get other people to agree with you on that.

Do you even know what the bike is like with different forks? Have you ridden a X-bike with WP forks? or the proper marzocchi shivers?

Its pretty heavily implied from other posts on other forums that you have never ridden on good forks, so how can you be in a position to judge them when you dont even know what they do?
 


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