cmbthumper
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Everything posted by cmbthumper
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YES!! the title is fake...Well Kinda I bought a 21' Yamaha TW200 in February of 2023. After the first ride I knew it was the perfect bike for some local relaxed style of riding. It is so fun that I can say without a doubt I will only sell it when I can no longer ride. With that said my poor 2007 KTM 450 EXC has like 5hrs of ride time this year. I also have a Supermoto setup with 17” wheels and in that form, it is ridiculously fun. Two bikes in one. I thought of selling my 2007 KTM 450 EXC but the market is so bad right now I would be giving away a nearly new motorcycle that flat out works and keeps up with any of the newer bikes I ride with. I really like my KTM 450 EXC so I thought, what can I do to keep it in the rotation of TW200 one week, KTM 450 EXC the next week, rinse, and repeat. One of the big positives of the TW is the seat height. I am 6’-1” and at 31” it is like a minibike. The KTM you need a ladder to get on the thing in the stock 21/18” wheel setup. The KTM in Supermoto setup with just the 17” wheels is a lot easier to get on and got me thinking. I made a phone call to Suspension 101 who have done all my motorcycles. After telling him what i was trying to build, George and i agreed to lower the KTM 450 EXC approximately 1 inch. We discussed 2” but that was overkill for my style of riding. A stock KTM 450 EXC with a 21/18” wheel setup has roughly a 37.5” seat height. With a 1:3 suspension ratio, lowering the KTM 450 EXC 1” would yield roughly a 35” seat height. I had Dubya USA build a custom 18” front wheel consisting of a Excel Takasago, Haan Front hub and custom spoke lengths cut to match. I called Buchanan to make me spokes but with a Sun Rim it was north of $1k. I also called Woody's and of course even greater cost as they would only use a Excel Takasago A60. I like the Fat Tire idea but not that much. With the 18" wheel and a Shinko 244 Trials tire It made the seat height 34.75”. More than reasonable and close enough to a TW200 with far better suspension and a much bigger motor. The overall "Feel" of how the KTM is on the dirt and street is very very close to the TW200. I really really liked my KTM 450 before but now it is just unreal how fun it is to ride. For me i achieved my goal of making my KTM something like a TW200 and like my TW200 this KTM TW450 is definitely NOT going anywhere.
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I know right. Thank you. IMO It looked good before the Fat Tire and gets a few more points now. While i haven't had the TW in Glamis sand I've had it in deep enough to say "i really don't hate this sh*t". That is until it runs out of motor. I'll report back once i do a Ocotillo desert trip with it.
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I was out of breath already but the forks and shock were lowered internally 1". I've only messed with raising the forks in the triples on one bike (DRZ400) and saw no real difference but i get the concept. I have not tried it in the sand yet but will be bring it to the desert during Christmas (Yes i said it). Only sand was the edges of the road and what was washed into the turns. Not much but enough to get an idea / feel. George did a few WTF facial expressions and in the end said it will be a fun project so he was all in. The only thing i can say is the handling and front end feel is 95% the same as the TW200 and that was my only goal. I accomplished it and will play with tire pressures to get even more "TW feel."
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Can i get one of those PM's?
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Voyager Pro GPS unit, 40% off this Friday the 13th
cmbthumper replied to Pokey151's topic in GPS Stuff
Have any pics of it mounted to the 500? Where did you tap into the power? Key or Direct? -
Updated: Two-Fer Tuesday "Romantic" Black Mountain Night ride August 9th
cmbthumper replied to Bub_Hannah's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
Unfortunately i can't but definitely next Tuesday. I don't edit my videos so they are long but this will give you an idea of the road. Last time i went up the last mile of the road was blown out with rocks and ruts everywhere. Worse i have seen it in years. Nothing difficult just need to pay attention to your lines more. -
Rode street only yesterday and it was literally the loudest ride i have ever had. I have used the below but thinking of trying out those custom ear plugs from Big Ear. Who uses what? Or should i repeat that again cause you didn't hear me. Who uses what? My Helmet: AGV K6 Arai Defiant-Regent X ** Retired this one a few years ago Ear Plugs i have used: Ear Peace NoNoise Radian DIY molded Generic High Fidelity type
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^^ Agreed and I did as well.
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^^^^ Thanks for the replies. Hate foamies but haven't used them in years so i will give them another go.
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525 Seat - Asking the 525 gurus
cmbthumper replied to bboyle9's topic in Equipment & Technical Forum
Stock EXC and Seat Concepts EXC with the Valdez. Stock with the MXC. As mentioned it is just a gap thing. I hated the Fugly gap so i shelved the MXC tank for a Clarke. -
Ramona 8/14/23
cmbthumper replied to cmbthumper's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
I'll gladly join in. On Lusardi i got to the transition from pavement to dirt and took a water break or so I thought. I already went through 3L of water and learned the hard way long ago that even on a traveled road to turn around. I simply do not go anywhere without water, the ability to make found water drinkable or the ability to make fire. Probably more.fun story than Jeeps or Tesla's. Ha Ha -
Went up to the pines for a quick morning ride to beat the heat and bunch of riders already at the top.
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Ramona 8/14/23
cmbthumper replied to cmbthumper's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
I barely do web forums. No Social Media for me. Very cool "Conversations" when i pulled up. I'll be more nosey next time. No shame in admitting even if i didn't pull over to take a wiss you would have passed me regardless. I am no longer that type of rider. Getting roosted is part of the fun. -
Updated: Two-Fer Tuesday "Romantic" Black Mountain Night ride August 9th
cmbthumper replied to Bub_Hannah's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
3 or 4 -
Updated: Two-Fer Tuesday "Romantic" Black Mountain Night ride August 9th
cmbthumper replied to Bub_Hannah's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
Ill.take the Trail 125 THAT day so you don't feel so bad. -
Updated: Two-Fer Tuesday "Romantic" Black Mountain Night ride August 9th
cmbthumper replied to Bub_Hannah's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
I'm a total wuss or way to smart to ride even in the evening heat. I'll admit the Wuss part. When it cools down a little bit more my TW200 loves that road and will be chasing the sunset. Enzo at Suspension 101 is doing some suspension work on my TW Killer project that will make an appearance likely at the end of summer. That will be in rotation for chasing the sunsets. -
Not really a build but i will be doing some modifications from time to time. I don't have cold weather gear so i piled on what i had and probably looked like the kid from Christmas Story but finally the weather kinda broke so i had to give my TW it's first ride to see what is what. Of course, the 3 local riding area gates were closed so no dirt just street. I was able to take it on Black Canyon Road which is a maintained dirt road but it is normally like riding on marbles. I knew it would be badly damaged from the storms so i took it anyway. Only 34miles but i got the idea. All i can say is Wow i haven't had this kinda fun under 55mph on two wheels in forever. She is definitely a keeper. Mods Done So Far: Ricochet Skid Plate Tusk Rack Pelican 1450 Case i had lying around Parts Ordered after the ride: Progressive Fork Springs 11-1120 Race Tech Gold Valve Fork Cartridge Emulator #FEGV 3301 Maxima Fork Oil 15W 16 oz. Baron Performance Springs - BA-8523RD I took a video that i am editing now but will post it up on YouTube once i am done. Bad thing is that i grabbed the wrong battery so it will be a shorter one with very little of the Dirt section.
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Damn small cc bikes are addicting. Will be doing the suspension and luggage but that is about it. Sooooo fun though.
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I rode one a few years ago. What a freakin blast. Peppy motor and handled surprisingly well. Depends on what $$ your looking for cause id take a look for sure.
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Welcome. Love mine https://youtu.be/ko5keIHX5Ec
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Correct from what i found so far. Yamaha Banshee Rear Shock - Direct Bolt On. Spring rate is a guess. Haven't found a good example yet but on the lookout for one. Yamaha R6 - Needs 3/4" plates welded as it is too short. The 03' is a remote reservoir and eliminates the headache of mounting a shock upside-down Yamaha V-Star - Direct Bolt On if you want a lower TW. Marvin Shaw has an option but it uses HP Nitrogen 260psi+ as it's rebound and dampening. If it needs some tweaks you need to send it back to them. but it is like $300 Most other mfg quad shocks and newer models are too long (Yamaha Raptor, Honda 450 etc). Even a good used Yamaha Banshee shock will need to be serviced due to the age. With a spring your into it for about $350-400. For now all i will do is the spring on the shock as a Cogent shock is like $800.
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Thank you. Had to look it up of course. Cool looking shield but for a bike that goes 55mph I'll put it on the bottom of the list of upgrades.
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That is why i bought it even though i have fun on anything with 2 wheels. Something to just fart around on locally and a fun errand bike. Thank you. For the $$ i really like it so far. I have nothing to compare it to though. Some QC issues like weld splatter and square edges that needed a little file work but again for the $$ i couldn't replicate it. The directions are good but being a copy of a copy the pictures sucked. The rack is designed to have the passenger pegs but I deleted mine so i made up some Aluminum spacers to take up the space. The hardware is what it is and i usually change it out but i used what came with it for now. The exhaust bolt was too short for my liking so i changed that out from a 35mm to a 40mm. All the OEM bolts i took off that weren't used i put in a plastic storage bin for spares.
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Bike Swap Sunday....11/20
cmbthumper replied to moto_rph's topic in Informal Local Rides & Who's Going Riding!
Yes sir. 2021. Same old story. Bought for the wife, she crashed it and said make it go away.