ACHTUNG!!!

The 3D printing lark continues to amaze me, as long as the right material is used.
I'm conscious it was originally designed for 'fast prototyping' where it didn't matter if it fell apart, at least it fit and gave some information.

Grimly said:

The 3D printing lark continues to amaze me, as long as the right material is used.
I'm conscious it was originally designed for 'fast prototyping' where it didn't matter if it fell apart, at least it fit and gave some information.

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True, it was not intended that the parts be durable at least initially - but the latest generation of materials and printers can produce remarkably strong parts, accurately and fast.

I am mentoring a young chap who has founded a firm called PEP Corp. (www.pepcorp.ca) and he has built a “fleet” of more than 30 3D printers with which he makes and sells parts to companies all over the world. Last year he made more than 100,000 parts for nearly 20 customers and despite COVID, he’s on-track to blow through those numbers by more than double this year.

Go for 3D metal printing - The future is bright!

…….aaaaannnndddd, here she is with the GL1100 top box mounted.

The mounting is very secure and even the rubber lid seal is good, so it should be dry inside. I think it has a sort of “squarish” Teutonic look to it, despite its Asian origins as a Honda GL1100 part. I really don’t think that one of the giant rounded “flying potato” GIVI top boxes would look good on Gretel at all.

Once I get the emblems sorted out and get a backrest installed, I think that she will look quite good and be well-suited to some long haul trips.

Pete

The harder I work, the luckier I get

Boy you’re right Pete! Looks like they were made for each other! Very nice.

. . . you could just leave the Honda badge and confuse people . . .

... or remove the BMW badges ...

Raymond: interesting idea…..

Paul: ahhhhhhh……no.

MaxPete, the bike does look very nice complete with fairing and panniers. With the back rest fitted it will be super comfortable for those long trips you have planned.

MaxPete that is an awesome fit they were made for each other...Well done sir...

Thanks for the kind words gents - I am really pleased with the installation and overall appearance of the bike. It doesn't look like a shade-tree modification: I think it has a "factory" look to it. I will say that getting the seat on the bike is a very difficult task. The seat mounting system is simple, but access to it is very poor and having a 4-5 lb box wagging the whole assembly around makes it even more challenging. Nonetheless, if I remove the right-hand Krauser case, the seat will still swing open to the right which allows access to the tool box and small compartment in the tailcone.

One other thing will be important going forward: most motorcycle top boxes are mounted on racks that are fixed to the frame of the bike, but this one is attached to a rack that is bolted to the seat pan - which isn't nearly as sturdy. Frankly, the BMW rear rack seems more ornamental than useful as it is so small and not all of the cross bars are even flat so attaching anything very large would require A LOT of bungees.

Anyhow, I will be limiting the amount of weight that I put in the Honda top box so that I don't damage anything (it will hold only clothing, rain gear etc.). I will store my tools and extensive holdings of gold bars and Kruegerands in the Krauser hard cases when I travel.

Despite the demonstrated durability of the BMW Airheads, they are actually very lightly constructed with obvious and careful attention paid to each individual part to make it strong enough, but as light as possible. In that way they are somewhat like an aircraft - juuuussst strong enough, but not too strong. I guess that is how BMW was able to build a comfortable aircooled 1000cc sport touring bike that weighs 503 lbs and can do 125 MPH all day on about 70 HP, while providing remarkably good wind and rain protection. Working on them is definitely not for folks who are ham-fisted with a wrench.

Quite the opposite of the design philosophy of say....Hogly Ferguson which favours road-hugging weight.

As the saying goes, if you look after the ounces and grams, the pounds and kilograms will look after themselves.

Pete

MaxPete said:

As the saying goes, if you look after the ounces and grams, the pounds and kilograms will look after themselves.

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I always liked the weight distribution of the airheads, too. When you look down at it, it's a big lump, but you'd never know it was there otherwise.
That's what really helped me throw the ugly old pig around quite well.

Grimly said:

I always liked the weight distribution of the airheads, too. When you look down at it, it's a big lump, but you'd never know it was there otherwise.
That's what really helped me throw the ugly old pig around quite well.

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Indeed Grimly - they really are pretty cool bikes.

I just looked at the photos again and it really is quite jarring to see the big HONDA badge on the back of my bimmer though.....

Oh - one more thing: I went for a short ride yesterday and the box seems rock solid with no rattling or tendency to make the bike sway. It really seems to be a successful addition to the motorcycle.

Pete,
I trust your judgment on this mod. I’m sure it will work fine. OTOH, a friend of mine put a 1200 GoldWing tour pack on a Buell sport bike. The frame under the seat broke. He isn’t a mechanic or engineer. One should know his limitations.

Your bike looks great. I love it. I should get another Guzzi!

jetmechmarty said:

Pete,
I trust your judgment on this mod. I’m sure it will work fine. OTOH, a friend of mine put a 1200 GoldWing tour pack on a Buell sport bike. The frame under the seat broke. He isn’t a mechanic or engineer. One should know his limitations.

Your bike looks great. I love it. I should get another Guzzi!

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YUP - I have similar concerns Marty - as outlined above.

I will be keeping the loads light in that Honda box. One thing for which that it will be used is to store my jacket etc. when I am on a trip and NOT riding (such as when I go into a museum or restaurant for example). It would be nice to have a place to stuff my jacket and not have to carry it around when the bike is parked.

I am simply not brave enough to ride without a jacket - but I am happy to walk around without one.

MaxPete said:

YUP - I have similar concerns Marty - as outlined above.

I will be keeping the loads light in that Honda box. One thing for which that it will be used is to store my jacket etc. when I am on a trip and NOT riding (such as when I go into a museum or restaurant for example). It would be nice to have a place to stuff my jacket and not have to carry it around when the bike is parked.

I am simply not brave enough to ride without a jacket - but I am happy to walk around without one.

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That trunk will be perfect for your intended use. The camping gear gets strapped to the seat!

jetmechmarty said:

That trunk will be perfect for your intended use. The camping gear gets strapped to the seat!

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Oh yes - for sure!

As a side note for those following. On the way to an XS1100 rally, I connected with riders up in Pennsylvania as I recall. One on an XS11 standard was having a hell of a time with his bike on the interstate. He was headed for a death wobble. I waved him to the shoulder as I remember it, or somebody did. We took the load of crap off the luggage rack and moved it up to the pillion. All was right with the world after that. There are more ways to kill yourself on a motorcycle than we can imagine.

jetmechmarty said:

As a side note for those following. On the way to an XS1100 rally, I connected with riders up in Pennsylvania as I recall. One on an XS11 standard was having a hell of a time with his bike on the interstate. He was headed for a death wobble. I waved him to the shoulder as I remember it, or somebody did. We took the load of crap off the luggage rack and moved it up to the pillion. All was right with the world after that. There are more ways to kill yourself on a motorcycle than we can imagine.

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Oh yes - bikes are sort of like helicopters which have been described as:

• an accident looking for a place to happen;
• an oil leak combined with a metal fatigue test;
• 20,000 parts usually flying in close formation;
• a mechanical version of a bumblebee - it shouldn't fly but it sort of does....much of the time;
• as safe an an airplane except that it requires full power at all times and is normally close to being out of fuel, along with being inherently unstable.

I have often said that riding a motorcycle is lot more like flying an aircraft than it is like driving a car. It requires deep knowledge of rules and procedures, keen observation of the weather, being conscious of the state of traffic around you and of the condition and operation of the machine you are riding along with physical coordination, alertness, judgement and common sense - plus no small amount of good luck.

On the last one, I've tried being lucky and I've tried being unlucky.

Lucky is better.

MaxPete said:

like helicopters which have been described as:

• an accident looking for a place to happen;
• an oil leak combined with a metal fatigue test;
• 20,000 parts usually flying in close formation;
• a mechanical version of a bumblebee - it shouldn't fly but it sort of does....much of the time;
• as safe an an airplane except that it requires full power at all times and is normally close to being out of fuel, along with being inherently unstable.

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Proof that engineers shouldn't be let loose with a clean sheet of paper
Proof that it is possible to take the silk purse of flying and turn it into a pig's ear.