wordsmith

A Corgi?Close, joe, but no cigar. It's the nose of my beloved Shetland Sheepdog, Honey. Think of a smaller version of Lassie. Small reward on way - check your PMs.

[strong]Fitted a small handlebar-mounted 'bar-bag'.[/strong] I’ve already fitted a small ~7L rear-mounted top-box for carrying small items such as a mobile phone, camera, etc. when on day-rides, but it has to be removed when I want to install the much larger 28L top-box for longer trips. I do like to have my camera - in particular - within easy reach for when an on-the-road photo opportunity arises, as it’s not always possible or safe to stop and dismount to rummage about on the bike to find it. So I bought, marked–down for $15 in the cycle section of a local sports-goods megastore, an even smaller (at about 4L capacity) hard splash-proof case that can be carried as a handlebar-mounted ‘tank bag’ for the camera, phone, etc., when the full-size top-box is installed. I don’t care for conventional tank-bags, but this suits me very well. It’s right in front of me as I ride, and is a moment’s work to install or remove as needed. This is the third one of these small ZIXTRO bags I’ve bought and fitted, and I was amazed to find a few still left in the store. http://i.imgur.com/aiHnDpP.jpg [em]ps - a small reward for whoever can identify the small object appearing to the lhs of the tank in the bottom left of this pic.[/em]

Working on the bike installing new LED turn signals with the rear light/ number plate assembly off, and thought I may as well do a job I’d been considering for a while, namely tidying-up that weird overhanging rear structure. I didn’t want to go all the way as suggested here by some, notably Ulewz in his helpful and detailed Thread dated January 17th 2015 [em](FJ-09 Tech Tips/ How to’s). [/em] This pretty neat approach entirely removes the protruding strut and relocates the light/plate assembly forwards and tucks it up under the tail, but I wanted to retain full visibility of the turn signals when the hard panniers are mounted, so I went rather less than half-way. Simply, I took off the long OE bracket that runs horizontally and carries the reflectors on each side, and also supports the number plate. It was then cut down at each end so that it now finishes in-line with the outer edges of the number plate: the reflectors are discarded. Happily, I found a couple of small neat metal strips (actually unused from a set of Skene rear flashing hi-viz LEDs). Even more happily one end had a long slot in it, making vertical adjustment of the number plate dead easy. Each strip was bolted vertically to one outer end of the cut-down OE bracket and the number plate was screwed to them, which lifted it 4cm/ 1½” higher than originally, right up to and under the little plate-illuminating light housing. This has now tidied-up the rear, without too much work, surgery, or expense, and I think it look quite neat – more so than the OE complex. [strong]In the pix below[/strong] also note the new LED turn signals, replacing the original slim-line after-market ones I fitted, which proved unsatisfactory. You get what you pay for…http://i.imgur.com/uKGDVWKr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hQg42rqr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/oRte4QMr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tIgygJtr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/joO5jXPr.jpg

Having a few square inches of left-over [em]faux[/em] carbon-look vinyl sheet I cut out two pieces – one for each side of the tank – where my riding pants might rub and in time abrade the paint. Not my neatest or most precise job, but it looks neat enough, I think, and will be worthwhile. http://i.imgur.com/tGiwcrM.jpg

Mate - Where on the stock mirrors did you place the smaller mirrors? Enjoy your winter down under. [strong]Here.[/strong] In conjunction with the mirror risers/ extenders I find I have excellent rearward vision. It is especially useful on multi-lane freeways when I like to know who’s close to me and who may be in a faraway lane but closing up fast. Takes a little getting used-to, having two mirrors to scan. I find the best and now entirely natural way to do it is a quick glance at the main mirror, then another in the spot mirror, rather than trying to take it all in at the one glance. They are fixed with thick-ish double-sided 3M tape, and hold very securely. I've had these on many bikes and recommend them. http://i.imgur.com/lptmGQu.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/dzo8TSX.jpg

For anyone who may be interested, here’s a list of what I have added to my new (in April 2016) 2015 Matte Grey Tracer, this being my second such model. There’s no ‘bling’ here, but none of these is absolutely essential, IMHO, except perhaps for the replacement seat. Most of these things I’ve had in one form or another on my first Tracer and on previous bikes, chiefly – in recent years – BMWs, and I had come to appreciate what they brought to the bikes and to me. But by far the best two farkles – seat aside – are invisible and cost nothing. I refer to the DIY tweaking of the suspension, which has resulted in a marked improvement, and the increased (to 25mm) drive-chain slack, which has all but eliminated that dreadful engine whine at freeway speeds. Safety aids: • Stebel Magnum horn • Skene P3 rear light LEDs • M-Store mirror extenders • Cree front hi-viz LED lights mounted on AdvTech bracket • Reflective tape on pannier rear surfaces • 2” diameter ‘dead-spot’ auxiliary mirrors Comfort aids: • FZ6 rubber-topped foot-pegs • Adjustable-span brake and clutch levers • Grip Puppies • Bagster Luxe seat Other: • Amber slim-profile indicator LEDs and fitment spacers • Third Gear 28L top-box and mounting plate • Treka 100 small ~7L top-box for day rides • Side-stand lowering stem extension. I intend to have a smaller rear sprocket fitted some time soon, simply to reduce engine revs at cruising speeds, as the high rpm there does make the bike feel a bit ‘buzzy’ and busy, and I’m often looking for that 7th gear. My two planned ~4500km interstate trips later this year – south to Melbourne, north to Cooktown – almost demand that refinement. I’d thought that might be it, but saw on [em]suncoaster’s[/em] Tracer earlier this week a rather neat rear hugger extender, so I may order one of these when the Oz distributor has more in stock. [em]That’s it![/em] Approximate all-up cost to me for the above list including shipping from the mostly overseas sources has been about AUD$1220 (US$890; Euro788; GBP£608). The new Bagster seat cost almost half of this sum, at AUD$549. I think it’s a small price to pay to get the Tracer to where I wanted it to be, without over-investing in what is after all a budget-priced (and very good value) motorcycle. Now to ride more as winter [em](hah!)[/em] approaches, best time of the year here. [em]Wordsmith (’39 model)[/em]

I needed to make it easier and safer to extend the side-stand after I’d fitted new, longer foot-pegs that on the left-hand side seriously got in the way of the lowering process. Picking-up on suggestions and pix here – [em]thanks, peporter and jsp[/em] – I located a nearby one-man band metal-worker/ machinist. Happily, he works a lot for local bike dealerships so knows whereof he speaks. Equally happily, I found a discarded ‘hero-knob’ that matched exactly the lowering stem on the side-stand – it could have come from the same factory at the same time. It’s 16cm long (2⅜”) with a ball-end matching that on the OE stem. It was moment’s work for the guy to take off the side-stand (lest he fry the bike’s electronics in the welding process); cut off the ball-end of the original stem; cut the threaded-end off its replacement (not strictly necessary, but it looks neater); and weld it onto the remaining stub of the original stem. He did an excellent job for $30, the new weld is all but invisible, and he even painted the parts! This process has lengthened the stem to 10cm (4”) and brought it out at a very slight angle to where I can much more readily locate it with my boot and so easily put down the side-stand. For anyone having tiny feet with ballet-trained ultra-flexible universal-joint ankles this might not be necessary, but for me it was! [em]Wordsmith[/em][em] [/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/Sc8juIt.jpg[/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/ptxy7zK.jpg[/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/sQlgUML.jpg[/em]

Picking-up on some very recent comments/ suggestions about ways to reduce that dreaded [strong]engine ‘whine’[/strong], I took the bike into the local dealer today, with a wish to have chain slack increased from near zero to 30mm, as suggested. The pleasant young mech there raised his eyebrows at that figure, and suggested that at most 25mm, or one inch, should be aimed for. Since he was the one wielding the big spanner – and with an even bigger fellow-mech alongside to help him – I agreed. A few minutes later the job was done, with 25mm play in the chain with the bike on its main stand. No charge. The brief 12km or so ride home in traffic was not helpful in determining the degree of improvement, but I can objectively say that the annoying, distracting, intrusive whine was reduced quite drastically. Certainly, if it stays at this level, I’ll be very happy, but a final determination must await a longer more varied outing at differing speeds. The mech also gave me a contact locally who can re-jig the side-stand lowering peg, to accommodate the longer foot-pegs I recently installed. I’ll see him next week. And the dealer is also going to quote me for supplying and fitting a smaller 43T rear sprocket to bring cruising revs down somewhat – like so many here I find myself at freeway speeds looking for that seventh gear! [em]Wordsmith (’39 model)[/em]

Final words about my new [strong]Bagster seat[/strong]. Well, my bum thinks it has died and gone to heaven! The new seat is sheer bliss. It is beautifully-crafted as only the French can (think Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Hermes - well, maybe Italians as well, and hand-bag knock-off artists in Hong Kong). It arrived at my front door a little over four weeks after ordering. I was given a lead-time of five to six weeks, taken with a grain of salt, as one does, but the Australian distributor was spot-on. And meticulous in his communication with me from my initial enquiries, to progress, right through to e.t.a. and mode of delivery. Both parts slotted readily and easily onto the bike in the higher position, the under-seat spaces – such as they are – being uncompromised, with only the relocation of the tools from clips underneath the OE pillion seat needing a move to the tool roll. The appearance and quality of make and finish is first-class, but more importantly it has transformed the comfort of the bike, and therefore my enjoyment of the machine, previously seriously compromised because of the rock-like OE seat. Working in conjunction with my heavily-tweaked suspension the Tracer now gives me an excellent ride, suiting its touring pretensions. The overall ride comfort - combining suspension improvements and new seat - appeared even better with the ~4kg of clothing that I carried on this trip, in two x 5kg hard panniers, a total of about 14kg added weight. I must say that I hadn't expected this and it was a surprise, so in future for the ultimate ride quality I may fit the panniers all the time and carry a 2kg bag of sugar in each one! When the suspension [em]is[/em] a bit overworked – hitting some road corrugations or overly rough patches for example – I can feel myself sinking momentarily into the seat, where on the hard and unforgiving OE perch I’d have been hurled into the air. My normal location on the OE seat was always with about two fingers’ width between my lower back and the front of the pillion seat: I followed this automatically on the Bagster seat and it seems ideal: moving around a bit I didn’t find any better spot to park myself. By happenstance I was due to make two back-to-back medium-length rides, departing just four days after the seat arrived, with the return leg the following day. Two balmy 26ºC (79ºF) days in late autumn – [em]lovely![/em] For locals – Bayside Brisbane to Yamba in the northern rivers region of NSW, and back. [em] Day 1[/em] – home to Yamba via the inland Summerland Way route, via Beaudesert, Kyogle, Casino – quick coffee-stop there – then taking the cable-operated ferry across the Clarence River at Lawrence to Maclean [em](see pic),[/em] then to Yamba, for a very varied 380km (226 miles). At Yamba I styed in a beautiful riverside spot, in a small but well-equipped cabin - [em]see pic[/em]. I shall return - with wife and dog! [em]Day 2[/em] - return leg straight up the boring but mainly well-surfaced Pacific Hwy for 271km/ 163 miles to home. This diversity of roads on this 650km/ 390 miles round trip was the ideal way to check-out the new seat, and it did not disappoint in any way. The route covered third-world goat-track [em](sorry, goats!),[/em] mostly-smooth interstate freeway, well-surfaced country roads, choppy outer-suburban streets, and everything in between. (The goat-track – deliberately chosen - will be known to locals, being the stretch of the Mt Lindesay Hwy [em](huh?)[/em] as it twists and turns around Mt Barney in the Border Ranges, between Rathdowney and Woodenbong. A truly disgraceful piece of tarmac…) Back to the seat – I imagine that some settling-in will take place as my backside and the seat become better acquainted, but as of right now I could not be more pleased. The dreadful digging-in to my upper/ inner thighs has completely gone, and it feels supportive without being too soft. It’s everything I’d hoped for. To be as objective as possible, I feel that my seat comfort level now approaches say 85 to 90% of that of my BMW Roadster with its plush optional [em]‘komfortsitz’[/em], and it’s somewhat better than with the Seat Concepts kit on my previous Tracer. I cannot ask for more, and will now leave these things well alone... Well done Bagster. [em]Wordsmith ('39 model) [/em] [em]http://i.imgur.com/HkDfgMF.jpg[/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/rbHVlf5.jpg [/em]

My mother died (still living in the UK) almost a year ago, aged 101 and nudging 102. But my children have a mother...! [em]W[/em]

This Mother's Day weekend won't allow me to get out for a decent ride to start the evaluation process, but I did manage a very early 110km/ hour-and-a-half short circuit today, broken half-way by a brief coffee stop. First impressions - very good, and there definitely seems to be more of my buttocks in contact with the new Bagster seat than on the OE torture device, and no pressure-points. No slipping around, and no early indications of sliding forwards, as commented on by another here. Pic below shows first outing of the new seat. But the seat will have to await a much longer - ~600km - two-day ride mid next week, which should give ample opportunity to get to know it. Stay tuned. [em]Wordsmith[/em][em] [/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/JgbVys6.jpg[/em]

My new Bagster seat arrived today, a little earlier than expected. I have posted my early pre-ride comments in the BAGSTER SEAT Thread. I'll also report later on initial performance and early impressions. [em]Wordsmith[/em]

Deeply wounded by jimf’s cavalier dismissal of my $10 plastic tool-box that I put to use as an ersatz mini top-box – he used terms such as ‘ghetto’, ‘workmanlike’, even ‘truckish’ [em](sob)[/em] – I decided to lift my game. Recalling that I’d used an alternative ‘general purpose’ plastic case on a previous GS, which was well-suited to the style [em](right word?)[/em] of a GS, being rugged and industrial–looking, as well as cheap-ish [em](definitely non-GS),[/em] I looked into smaller versions of it for the Tracer. I quickly found a small TREKA100 case that’s primarily designed, I suspect, for photographers to carry their somewhat tender gear in, having ‘pluck and pick’ removable/ customisable foam inserts that can be tailored to house and protect any combination of camera, lens, and other gear. I didn’t need all of this, so I just kept the honeycombed lid section. This case is a handy 280mm x 246mm x 106mm, or 11” x 9.5” x 4”, with a guesstimated capacity of around seven litres (7L), about double that of my tool-box, not that I need such an amount of space. But it’s plenty for things I take on my day-rides – camera; mobile phone; puncture repair kit; notebook and pen; small spray bottle of Windex/ paper towel; and so on. The case fits exactly between the two uprights of the pillion grab-handle, and is secured with the two bolts that fasten the handles. . It’s very rugged, with solid-looking metal hinges, good snap-locking mechanism, and apparently it’s strongly water-resistant. Numerous other sizes are also available, and I have seen larger versions mounted on frames as panniers/ side bags – a very cheap alternative to OE hard panniers. So now I have number of options for luggage – two hard OE panniers each of 20L; a ‘proper’ though small 28L top-box; and now this smaller 7L case, which will probably be fitted 95% of the time – or various permutations of these. Unlike the tool-box so despised by jimf [em](whimper),[/em] this TREKA100 case has a very slim profile in being only 4” deep, and it almost disappears into the bike, being again well-suited to the slightly industrial in-yer-face styling of the Tracer. AUD$45 post-free in Oz from a local vendor (cases.com.au), and I have seen very similar cases in auto accessory and spare parts stores, keenly-priced. PS – jimf was right! PPS – FS, one lightly-used small tool-box with only two (2) holes in the bottom. Best offer… https://i.imgur.com/Gf6mtk3r.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9g5fOKk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/RZWQQ8W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/shf7MvIr.jpg Also today the dealer completed the first 1000km (600 mile) service, a month to the day since I took delivery of the bike. He also fitted the very tasty new levers bought on-line. At $72 they are not the cheapest available, but these six-position adjustable levers are beautifully-made and anodized in a complementary grey colour, they are extendable by up to 2” and will fold if the bike is dropped. All farkles now finished until the Bagster seat arrives… http://i.imgur.com/9g5fOKk.jpg [em]Wordsmith ('39 model) - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em]

A rainy day, so I spent some time happily measuring, cutting, filing, drilling, and bending some aluminium strip to make a pair of new brackets to relocate the front [strong]CREE LEDs[/strong] recently installed - I flagged in an earlier post that I might do this. I bolted the new brackets to the outboard ends of the AdvTech light-bar, and secured each LED so that its small OE stainless steel bracket is now [em]below[/em] the light. This moved each of the LEDs [em]upwards[/em] by about 15cm (6”) and [em]outwards[/em] by about 8cm (3”). I’m sure that this is an improvement as it’s my view that within sensible limits higher = better. I gave the new brackets a squirt of semi-gloss black auto paint, and I’m happy with the outcome (which is a matter of taste, of course). Although it still doesn’t give the optimum triangle of light, there is now a greater ‘mass’ of lights from the grouping of the headlights and the LEDs, which I’m sure makes me even more highly visible to other traffic. [em]Wordsmith (‘39 model) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em] http://i.imgur.com/jpfX7l1.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fwqk6m3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SUzQMiBr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vilK075r.jpg

Allow me to add to whatever suncoaster says here - installation of the Stebel Magnum is a straight plug into the two existing spade terminals - no need for additional wiring or whatever. Bolts straight into the existing bracket too. Just need to ensure the 'horn' points downwards to some extent to minimise entry of water - I accidentally drowned a previous one once when being too liberal with the hose! To my ears it seems to have a two-tone note, deep and penetrating and loud but not offensively so. I refer to it as a mini Mack-truck horn... Definitely cuts through to texting mums on the school-run or harassed business types chatting to their secretaries. A great buy - only $28 here, much cheaper elsewhere I'm sure. Whenever I buy a new bike it's the first item I'll install. Added later - I have the AdvTech's light-bar installed to carry my two front LED Crees. I've thought briefly about bringing the horn further out to the front of the bike, mounted underneath the light-bar. Would possibly increase effectiveness even more by being more out in the open instead of buried just in front of the radiator... [em]hmmmmm.[/em] [em][/em][em] [/em][em]Wordsmith ('39 model) - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em][em] [/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/OSD69rv.jpg[/em]

[strong]bvebrad[/strong] - see my comments in my latest post. [em]W[/em]

Didn’t actually [em]do[/em] anything to the bike today, more an opportunity on a brisk 200km outer-urban/ country circuit to evaluate a few recent additions and tweaks. The [strong]Grip Puppies[/strong] have increased throttle-grip diameter, and are very comfy for my small-ish hands. As I felt next to no vibration before, the lack of vibes could not be commented on. Equally with the rubber-topped, longer and wider [strong]foot-pegs[/strong] (FZ6 style). Again, not seeking vibe-reduction since at reasonable cruising speed there's only the tiniest ‘tingle’ (also felt through the OE seat) that's only detectable if seeking it. Not unpleasant. The new ‘pegs made me feel quite a bit more confident in my footing on them, and I feel they’ll be a good buy. The [strong]mirror risers/ extenders[/strong] – once attended-to on the road as one wanted to move a bit – are excellent, and my rearward vision is about as good as it gets. They are set-up so that there’s the merest sliver of the upper sleeve of my riding jacket showing on the inside edge of each mirror – the rest shows clear road behind. Zero vibes at up to 80kph, minimal vibes between 80 and about 110kph, above that back to very clear and blur-free. The [strong]Cree front LEDs[/strong] were working, to judge from the tiny red LED switch glowing just in front of me, and I was confident in being highly conspicuous to other road users. I assume that the rear [strong]Skene hi-viz LED[/strong] lights were also working. The slimline [strong]LED turn-signals[/strong] seem to flicker more rapidly than the OE ‘pumpkins', and I’m not sure about their brightness and visibility in comparison, as they are pretty small. I’ll evaluate them further over time and may switch back. Looks aren’t everything! Finally, the [strong]DIY suspension tweaks[/strong] seem to have been effective over all but the worst stretch of broken country bitumen that I struck today. A great improvement over the factory settings, and for the time being at least I’m going to leave well alone. But even with whatever other comfort gains the new yet-to-arrive Bagster seat brings I doubt I’ll be doing any more 1000+km days! Looking forward to the first 1000km service next week. [em]Added later - have to comment on the [strong]rear [/strong]brake on the Tracer. Unlike on almost every other bike I have owned - including some top-spec BMWs, on which I almost felt I had to stomp up and down on the brake pedal to get any reaction - the Tracer has a pretty good rear brake, I believe. Plenty of 'bite', progressive, and good feedback, it's excellent. Well done Yamaha[/em]. [em]Wordsmith (’39 model) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em]

Very interested in this comment/ experience, johan, as my Bagster seat is currently winging its way to me. Care to elaborate? Just eyeballing my OE seat (set at the low level, but really either does, at only 15mm difference) the seat - from side on - doesn't appear to slope downwards/ forward much at all, and I'm certainly not unhappy at that part of its design. Does the Bagster have a much more pronounced downwards/ forwards slope? Do you find yourself sliding forwards under braking, etc? Also - is the Bagster seat able to be set into the alternative low/ high positions, as the OE? Will appreciate any other thoughts on it. [em]Wordsmith[/em]

Took a brisk 190km ride today to test a few things. At up to 80kph mirror vision was rock-steady. Between 80 and about 110kph or so, some [em]slight [/em]blurring, then back to quite steady. Much better than I'd experienced on other bikes, especially my BMW twins, where at almost any speed it was hard to tell if a vehicle some way behind was a small car or large truck! These are perfectly acceptable to me. An FZ may have different harmonics, hence your experience with blurring. Your buddy is right - the aluminium is pretty soft and I learned from an earlier installation that the best way to avoid stripping the thread is to gently screw the extender into the mirror stem, while holding that bulky and unbalanced part nice and tight, rather than vv. You have much better control (and vision) over thread insertion if doing it this way and the stem threads move gently into the riser. But either way, a heavy-handed impatience will strip the riser threads! [em]Wordsmith[/em]

Fitted the just-arrived [strong]mirror risers/ extenders[/strong], which I had on my previous Tracer – and very useful indeed. Took exactly a month to arrive after the vendor notified me they had been shipped – I blame the postal services in Hong Kong (origin), Taiwan and Singapore (in transit), Australia. This is the longest I’ve ever waited for an international purchase to arrive. They were packed in a small matchbox-sized acetate box with a piece of foam separating the two risers to stop them knocking against each other in transit – a nice touch. Beautifully-finished in glossy black, with good large chunky bolts, and very easy installation once the trick of dealing with both left-hand and right-hand threads is mastered. They are a bit different to the type that inserts an extension piece into the OE stems, as they each comprise a ‘foot’ that moves the stems both upwards and outwards. Whether better or not, I don’t know – but the lhs foot has to be angled forwards a little instead of aligning transversely across the bike, in order to clear the 'select' switch on top of the lhs switchgear. Not a problem on my previous Tracer, and still allows plenty of adjustment. Now to join the refrain of [em]“I can see clearly now the road behind instead of my elbows/ shoulders/ etc”. [/em] From E Bay vendor M-Store Factory – AUD$32. [strong] Highly recommended. [/strong] I have yet to install a pair of adjustable-span/ extendable levers, and will get the dealer to do that at first service shortly, but that apart the only important outstanding enhancement now is probably – [em]no[/em] – [strong]definitely[/strong] the most important one, the new Bagster seat. I ordered it from the Australian distributor three weeks ago with a lead-time of five to six weeks advised from France. Heard just yesterday that it has been shipped, and may be only seven to ten days from arrival in Oz, subject to Customs clearance, so fingers crossed it should be with me within the estimated time-frame. [em]Wordsmith (’39 model) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em] http://i.imgur.com/GftFCII.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aTcwcMn.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yPKYN66.jpg

More often than not on a short day-ride I don’t need a large top-box, and even my 28L scooter-intended box looks a bit overwhelming at times, though it’s perfect for a weekend away when the hard panniers would be too much. Looking for something much smaller, I found and quickly bought – for $10 – a small plastic tool box. I’ve discarded the interior upper tray, and secured the box to the bike’s rear rack (for the 28L top-box) where it fits perfectly between the upper parts of the pillion handles. Installing was done by simply putting two short bolts (head down) upwards through the rack and securing them to it with a Nyloc nut each to stop them dropping off under vibration [em](been there, done that!) [/em] The bolts then pass through the bottom of the box and are each secured internally by two decent-sized wing/ butterfly nuts on a flat washer and a spring-washer. Hand-tight is tight enough to firmly hold the tool-box in place, but no tools are required to remove it quickly in under thirty seconds when I'll need to replace it with the larger top-box. Capacity is (guesstimate) close to 4L. It comfortably carries all I need for a day’s outing – cell phone; camera (I dislike carrying these in my pockets in case of an 'off'); a small note book and pen; a pair of thin summer-weight gloves in the lid; and importantly a puncture-repair kit with several CO2 cylinders. There’s no room under the seat for this, of course, and I like to carry it at all times even though I have Roadside Assist cover. In its small nylon case this repair kit takes up about 20% of the box leaving still plenty of room for the other items noted, and still abit to spare. Not the prettiest piece of luggage, though it looks better and smaller in scale and in the flesh than in the pix at only 12" x 6" x 6" (30cm x 15cm x 15cm), but it will be very useful. [em]Wordsmith (’39 model) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia[/em] http://i.imgur.com/jSuYnFi.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Luybi8I.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/vdhsCeX.jpg

Made up and installed a better, neater bracket holding the LED switch for my new Crees. Covered it with genuine imitation carbon (vinyl sheet), not that I want anybody to think it's real, just that I had some left over. I've covered everything suitable in the house with this [em]faux[/em] carbon sheet, including the dog! [em]Wordsmith[/em] [em]http://i.imgur.com/n63JTvn.jpg[/em][em]http://i.imgur.com/Q9eODHe.jpg[/em]

I believe these are the same Cree LEDs that I'm using. I've been pretty pleased by them, even independent of the very low cost, but one thing to be aware of is that there have been failures where the mounting bracket attaches to the main light. It uses a tab/slot arrangement with a small bolt that holds it together and the manufacturing tolerances are pretty poor. One one of mine (but not the others) it wasn't possible to get a snug fit, which can lead to early fatigue failure. Thank for this caution, jimf. I noticed that the fine gauge screw going into the body of the LED was not overly long, so like you I added a dash of epoxy - as indeed I had done earlier on my BMW, which used the identical lights without problems. Those screws could/ should be a couple of mm longer. Added later. I recall that I also drilled out a little more depth under the head of the screw (in the 'tab' part), no more than about 5mm, to allow the tiny screw to bed further into its thread. Done carefully, there's plenty of 'meat' there, and the metal is soft enough. Then some Araldite on the screw threads. [em]W[/em]