2012 Vetter Challenger Build ( 1981 Yamaha SR185 streamliner)

[bschloop]

I have considered side covers, but would have to test them for their effect in side winds. I also think that the pressure differential caused by open sides may be helping me with cooling, I will have to consider this also. I would probably just hinge the doors at the front, and hold them shut with bungees at this point, as there is not much fabrication time left before the challenge.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Cd

How hard would it be to create a sliding door that could be pulled back once you are on the bike ? Imagine some thin sheet plastic that you can push forward to exit the bike.
This sheet of plastic could be hinged, which would allow your push it out when you need to put your feet down.

Some rare earth magnets could keep it in place during riding, and allow brainless operation - just push or pull, nothing to lock or unlock..

Generously rounding off the bottom edge would mean you could retract your feet without getting stuck on the hatch.

[bschloop]

I took a bit of a joyride today to test the bike's freeway handling and to get a mpg number, I had started riding it to work, but it has been raining the past few days, and I didn't want to arrive with a wet backside. so, rode to work twice @ 15mi each way, and rode around a bit, totaling 91mi and using 1.02gal. That's 89.2 mpg!! looks like with a little tuning and polishing, I should be able to break 100mpg, especially if it's all one ride with no cold starts. as for freeway, I may need to play around with some weights at the front end. it was just a little squirrely at 70mph, and a little scary at 80. if previous challenges are a good marker, I will need every last ounce of speed that the sr185 possesses to keep up with the pack, so I want to make sure I can safely manage the bike at WFOT. maybe I can add some battery capacity to the front fairing??

[renault_megane_dci]

Some tires are known for being unstable at certain speeds.
Mine for example, lean on at 75 mph even gently and the wobble starts.

And it is from a rear tire only, the front one being a newer design.

[bschloop]

I have older tires front and rear, although the rear was "new" read not used, last year. I had been planning on new tires, brakes and wheel bearings before the challenge. Now I have more reason to buy them sooner.

[offalot]

I would think it would be more of an aerodynamic issue causing your front end to get squirrely Maybe look at your design and see if there is any risk of lifting My KLR did about the same thing, I changed out a few things on the front (fender, jheadlight fairing) and it steadied it out a bit. Would be a shame to have to add more weight to such a small bike.
I did some more work to my bike this weekend so i think I can take some pictures without it looking too crappy or undone. Maybe tonight.

[renault_megane_dci]

I didn't look back at your aero setup but obviously you don't want to create lift on the back.
Lift on the back is gonna lift your front wheel.

The (maybe) 4 pounds of your bike battery is not gonna do much.

Maybe you can try to sit further front ?

Those bikes (SR or GN) have a custom style geometry with a rather short wheel to wheel distance making them not very stable to start with, even more so if one drop the fork in the clamp making it a little shorter and a little less stable.
I am planning on swapping my rear swing arm for a longer one just to cure this issue.
Check out my build thread, there is a picture of the bike with a longer swing arm (not too easy to fit thought)

[bschloop]

I'll start by removing the windshield, and sitting more in a tuck today on my ride to work, see if that has any effect. Might have to go early so I can jump on the freeway for a test though, as I don't actually need to take the freeway on my rout to work.

[offalot]

OK got a couple pics of my SR185 project.
A couple months ago:


Crappy cell phone pic from this morning:


I'm probably ready to get a weight as I don't have a whole lot to do to it now, maybe tonight.
These things are light enough to weigh on a bathroom scale, I would think a scrap yard scale that could weigh hundreds of tons wouldn't be accurate down to ~200 lbs.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by offalot

These things are light enough to weigh on a bathroom scale, I would think a scrap yard scale that could weigh hundreds of tons wouldn't be accurate down to ~200 lbs.

Good point. The scales at the two scrap yards I'm familiar with weigh in 20 lb increments.