Featured Project Payday: Customizing My Street Twin

It’s often wise to ensure the “handling and stopping” are sorted before you add more power to the mix. It may not always feel like a performance upgrade but it will bring your A to B times down and give you the best platform for more ponies.
Cheers for the update.

 

If you were interested in removing the fork reflectors then 3M make black reflective stickers. Often the regulations like the French helmet reflectors requirement, only specify size and reflected colour. Depending on the Luxembourg requirements the black reflectors could be an option. I have used it, once on it isn't coming off easily, so I wouldn't put it on painted parts directly.

 

For your suspension do not hesitate to enquire litte cies able to make custom orders. I've used shock factory (Mike Cappon an englishman established in France) and I'm more than happy about the product. There are probably other makers.

 

Just a few comments on your latest update, which may (or may not) be helpful.
I fitted a booster plug. I am not convinced it made much, if any, difference. If you've read about them on this forum you'll see they get very mixed reviews. The mechanic (sorry, technician) at the Triumph shop, who last worked on my bike, reckoned they weren't worth the money. So I wouldn't be disappointed that you can't fit one. Mine is now disconnected because it buggered up the running once I'd had the TEC camshaft fitted.
I'd like to know exactly why you were advised against using a trickle charger. They're designed to keep the battery in good nick, especially when left for long periods. I've used them for donkey's years, as have many others on the forum. No problems.
The Motone tail tidy looks good in my opinion and much better than the cumbersome original, which is why I have one. However, one drawback is the reduced protection on wet and mucky roads. The back end of the bike can get a bit messy, so it's form over function. Incidentally, the Motone billet indicators are aesthetically a big improvement but not as bright as the originals.
A suspension upgrade makes sense. The original shocks are horrible. Just don't waste your money on something like Ohlins. Hagon, YSS or even TEC Parts are easily good enough.
You say you can't fit an X-pipe because Triumph, in their wisdom, have welded the exhaust system. Now why have they done that I wonder?
Your only option is to change the whole system. This sounds pricey but have you checked out TEC Parts replacement system for the ST? I think it's called the Rebel. Obviously it loses the cat and no X-pipe required. If you haven't used their stuff it's not up there with Motone but still well made and very good value. I've got their end cans and would recommend them, especially as they're half the price of Motone's equivalent.
Hope some of that's useful.

 

I've heard good things about them as well.

 

Haha, it didn't take long for someone to invent a system to overcome Triumph's attempt to stop cat removal. Bloody expensive though. It looks like you'll need end cans as well..am I right? Personally that would be too much money for me to justify the purchase. If you haven't checked out the TEC system take a look. It's very light, no cat, sounds good and a hell of a lot cheaper. It's a 2 into 1 system though, so you may not like the look.

 

I guess you could use the original ST end cans, although I've always thought they look too long.

 

Beerkat "I'd like to know exactly why you were advised against using a trickle charger. They're designed to keep the battery in good nick, especially when left for long periods. I've used them for donkey's years, as have many others on the forum. No problems."

I wondered the same, could it be the difference between a dumb constant low charge and a smart charger like an Optimate that tests periodically and adjusts what, if anything, it does next.

 

"Yeah, we found your electical problem, mate. You've got a lazy battery. That'll be a hundred-and-fifty quid."

 

Wow, I've just checked out 'lazy battery' effect and it actually exists! Who'd have Adam'n'Eved it?
However it seems to apply only to nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries (nope, never heard of that either). Apparently they can lose their maximum energy capacity if repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. To avoid it, the battery has be allowed to completely discharge before being recharged.
So it looks like this doesn't include the lead acid battery in bikes (and cars), which is continually being recharged when the bike is used anyway. And you don't deliberately let your battery completely discharge either..that can completely bugger it up. If there was even a vague possibility of there being an issue with a trickle charger I think we'd know after all these years. But you make your own choice of course.

 

That makes sense. NiCads and NiMH batteries have a 'memory' effect. We've all forgotten about that since lithium-iron bateries arrived. Good riddance to it as well. As you say, car/bike batteries are different so shouldn't have the recharge issue. Although I have killed two for the Triumph by letting them stay discharged for too long. These days there's an Optimate Dual in the garage.

 

Each of my bikes has it's own private Optimate, they're fixed in a line across the garage wall, with their umbilical cords running along the roof beams and down to each bike. No expense spared here!

 

My bikes have to share. Except for MV-no-mates, which has a different connector and comes with its own charger. Bloody prima-donna.

 

More pics when you do, please! I'm interested to see how the lift looks in action.