Black7

Many Thanks, Red.

Anyone know what the output voltage of the reg / rec should be with engine running at about 2000rpm? Seems to be putting out in the order of 15 volts. Is that normal? Do you get any warning, e.g. with the voltage rising, before they go or do they just expire? :icon_think:

Thanks Man. Just wish I could get out for a ride.... Snow and ice everywhere! Dave.

Hi, New Image of all the current carbon bits now on my bird. Only a few left now. Dave.

Now had all the brand new carbon goodies back from the Workshop. All hand made in England from Fish Scale Weave Carbon Fiber Carbon Dash Surround £32.50 Plus Postage ($50) Fits Analogue pre 2001 Birds only Carbon Yoke Protector £14.99 Plus Postage ($25) Fits All Carbon Reservoir Caps £13.50 Plus Postage (each) ($22) Fits All Postage Costs are minimal - £ 2.75 for up to 3 items in the UK, and $14.99 to the US without Insurance or $20 with. Pay by PayPal only. If the shipping turns out any cheaper I'll refund the difference. :icon_thumbsup: This is a limited production run only. Cheers Dave :icon_wave:

'fraid not. I'm only an ordinary Blackbird Owner (if there is such a thing) ... just trying to do what little I can to improve the range. The company I use to make the parts is unwilling to invest a lot of time and money in making complex moulded bits - they prefer to cut out from sheet carbon, or sculpt out from very thick sheet (meaning parts with some curve can be accommodated, but not if the curve is in more than one plane at once). The set up cost is relatively high, so it needs a good sales system to sell enough units to recover the costs. I do understand what you are saying though - there is a demand for good quality, well engineered carbon bits.. a lot of fake carbon stuff is rubbish to look at (but cheap to make)... Sorry I can't help. However I should be able to post pics within a few days now of the initial range I've got: 1. Clock Surround 2. Reservoir Covers (replace existing lid unit completely - machined to fit perfectly) about 6mm thick 3. Yoke Cover The weave is very good, and I hope to be able to expand this to include heel guards soon. Cheers Dave

Yeah XXTC, I already thought of that. Unfortunately the shape is very complex and the time taken would push each piece up into the hundreds of dollars.... There is a guy in Hong Kong that makes the piece your refer to, but that too is expensive.... I haven't given up on the idea, but need to find a partner company willing to share the development costs...# Dave. PS. I am planning a few more bits including heel guards....

Just heard from the workshop that the full set of genuine carbon cockpit stuff for the Blackbird will be with me next week. Pics hopefully by end of week. There has been a short delay due to having to make special thicker sheet to machine some parts from and to get the weave the same across the whole range. Parts (with prices) that will be available will be: Dash surround (Pre 2001 only): £34.95 Free UK shipping Carbon Yoke Cover (All Years): £16.95 Free UK Shipping Carbon Reservoir Covers (All Years): £16.00 each, £28 Pair Free UK Shipping US Prices: Dash surround (Pre 2001 only): $ 48.95 Carbon Yoke Cover (All Years): $ 24.95 Carbon Reservoir Covers (All Years): $ 24.95 each, $ 47.95 Pair Shipping $15.99 Per Order (Up to 5 items) Cheers Black7

Thanks. I've been adding quite a few bits, so haven't got any up to date pics as am waiting for some sunshine... Hopefully will be able to take and post some tomorrow.. In meantime... here is the front end lighting... Yet to add HID!! Might look like Blackpool Illuminations but it does seem to stop people pulling out at junctions (I've also noticed that some drivers slow down or pull over.... Dave.

[Hi, Interesting idea re lights...however, I'm quite happy with how they look. I set out to make the 'ultimate' (!) tourer, or at least one to my own satisfaction, rather than a pretty sports type bike. There are also LEDS picking out the further points of the fairing. Sadly, in the UK we have high traffic levelness and collisions are all too common. A friend had both legs broken last year, and I don;t want to go the same way. So far the effect is amazing. everyone gets out of the way..... (Could it be I wonder because one central pair of LEDs are blue?!).... The orange thing is just a manufacturers logo. There are few other bits: - indicator bleeper, stainless steel Yoke nut (with CBR insert), chrome fork caps, Temp / ice warning / clock / voltmeter, gear indicator and of course heated grips. Steel brake lines also fitted, plus overhaul of callipers, new discs and pads, longer front fork springs, re-built rear shock with oil over oil, scottolier, gel seat, Gilles vario-bars with 60mm risers, stubby alloy levers (ML), frame plugs, carbon hugger, carbon dash, carbon res covers, carbon tank protector and fuel filler, fake carbon yoke protector (soon to go when my own real carbon one is ready), front light protector, Kappa full luggage with high level brake light and rubber seat back for pillion, lowered pillion pegs, additional side grab handles , R and G bar ends, Shrooms, Gold rad and oil cooler guards, gold fairing vent mesh, new radiator, new tyres, new chain and sprockets and half a hundred other things. Nearly ready to tour now. Improvement over stock in terms of ride and braking is impressive. Just going to uprate power output of generator and capacity of battery and fit HID. I used to have an FJR, but, although comfy it was just not quick enough and was a bit top heavy. Bird now does it all, and I wish I'd had one earlier.. To Ireland next year.. Love to try it on American roads though...

Dear Enquiring Minds, 1. Front LED driving light (not hanging off, Pair properly fitted!) 2. Carbon Dave

Some good news. The guys making the parts have re-calculated and it seems we can do the dash for quite a lot less (they were pricing for the wrong carbon sheet) I have also now had more accurate shipping costs. Overall a significant reduction in price. Dash Costs will now therefore be: £29.99 in UK plus £ 3.99 Shipping. $45 dollars US plus $14.99 shipping. Cheers Dave

No Problem Tox. Here's another pic of the dash too. The res. covers and yoke thingy will be in this weave pattern, not the one's shown in the the other pictures posted earlier - these were early versions. In the end all I'm trying to do is to get some bits for myself, and if it helps further the cause of keeping the Blackbird looking young and interesting, sharing a few around. Just want to cover costs really, rather than embark on some grand business enterprise. I just enjoy tinkering, is the truth. Ride safe Dave

Just a quick update. It is, it turns out, indeed possible to produce all items in the same (glorious) weave style as the dash (see photos above in earlier post). So I will soon (about a week) be able to offer reservoir covers, yoke covers and the dash all matching. Could do a good deal for anyone wanting the set. Will have a price in a day or two. I can't emphasise enough that this is real carbon and a very attractive weave - quite thick with good depth of reflectiveness - looks almost bluish at certain angles. Sooo different from plastic; miles better. Will be looking at parts from the rest of the bike soon, including heel plates and frame plugs. The Bird is a great bike, but as mine has got older (10 years young now) the plastic inevitably looks old and a bit tired. Cheers :icon_thumbsup: Dave

Hi Guys, The Bars are by Gilles (trade name over here is Gilles Vario Bars). Multi-adjustable in several planes and with risers ranging from 50-100 mm. Perfect for the Bird, because you can get them just as you like them, and the action brings them back as well as up. No need for new lines until over 50mm. Pricey though - about £325 - I guess that must be in the $500 dollar range... It would be nice to mould carbon, but its not an easy or cheap process with complex items (even Honda use plastic, not real carbon, as you know). For items like the dash, reservoir covers and yoke, moulded parts are not that important though, IMHO, for the following reason. With the heavily raked back screen, the cockpit of the Blackbird is fairly cramped and a two-dimensional carbon cover looks just fine. If the clocks were more exposed it would be a different story, but as it is, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it looks at what is a relatively low price. Will let everyone know when the other bits are ready. Dave