Don't know my own strength

[Falcon 269]

Undoing suspension linkage bolts today to grease the bearings and swap out the shock for an R6 one (Ohlins needs a service) and I managed to wrench the bike off the centrestand.  :o

Heave-ho with a 17mm spanner on one of the dogbone bolts and before I knew it, bike had rotated over the fulcrum and down she went on the right side.  Good job in a way 'cos I was lying on the left ... mind you, I'd have taking a few bruises to save the Akra can.  Crash bungs prevented any damage to bodywork or tank but the can fell onto the shaft of a hammer.  Doh!  :\

I think I'll be able to do a cut 'n' shut job to take out the damaged section.  Hope so.  Meanwhile, I'm feeling mighty clumsy and dumb ... note to self, R1 forks shift the balance point of the centrestand and make it easier to throw the bike over.




Mike

[ghostbiker]

DOH! but hey at least it will make a nice stubby

[devilsyam]

tbh mike akro are not the best looking when cut down




email sent

[Falcon 269]

:lol 

There's cut-down and there's just plain stunted, mate.  That one is definitely proof that size does matter. 

I'm hoping that I will get away with shortening mine by just a couple of inches at most.  If not, ebay here I come ...  :'(

[bludclot]

replacement sleeve? the raplcement rivets and bands are cheap enough (or were when i bought them a few years ago)

alternatively if the can was disassembled (which it would have to be to be cut down) it looks like the type of dent that will push out and then the inlet cap could be turned 180 degrees... i don't think it's quite the disaster it might appear at first...

i forgot to put the side stnd down once and rolled my rear paddock stand out from under my r6. i dived under the bike and took it upon myself to cushion it from the wall and garage floor. the next few moments didn't see me thanking myself for my decision but once missus had somewhat rescued me (after some shouting for help) and healing started i was pleased that i had done it. the bike was unmarked, i hurt in a few places. i'm not sure i should have shared that story....

[GrahamB]

that will look perfect with a few inches chopped off it.. .  preferably the dented inches.  8)

[BMCfaz]

Oops!! But it's a good excuse to cut down the can; it'll look excellent as a stubby!

[Falcon 269]

Yup, accentuate the positive ... it's the only way.

I was toying with the idea of polishing it earlier this month.  I guess fate has tipped my hand ... well, tipped something at least. 

[karlo]

Drill the rivets, knock the dent out best you can and turn the sleeve so the damage faces inwards Mike. 

[bludclot]

there's a weld line as long as the sleeve on the inside - hence turning the sleeve doesn't have the desired effect.

there's a replacement carbon sleeve from the states for £60...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Car...35b7b01bef

[Falcon 269]

Thanks for the link, Bludclot.   I'd prefer titanium still and I could get a repair kit from Akra for £180 (eek!) or an unmarked used Akra for around the same amount off ebay.  I'll be getting the tools out later this morning to see what's possible repair-wise first.

[ZiggyCol]

Undoing suspension linkage bolts today to grease the bearings and swap out the shock for an R6 one (Ohlins needs a service) and I managed to wrench the bike off the centrestand.  :o

I've come close to doing this before and now always 'tie' a strap between the centre stand and front wheel to prevent this when performing such work.

[Falcon 269]

I've come close to doing this before and now always 'tie' a strap between the centre stand and front wheel to prevent this when performing such work.

Exactly what I'd decided to do after the event. 

Like the man said "Experience is what you get just after you needed it."

[cable tie]

you silly old foccer  :'(  



ONLY JESTIN .

[Falcon 269]

Actually, Dave, exactly the same thoughts crossed my mind as I was lying with my right arm pinned under the rear wheel. :lol

[Capt]

Similar thing happened to me, well I tripped over me feckin dog who was sleeping by the back door step & the Fazer broke my fall.  The rear of the exhaust just gouged the swing arm, new end can required, rear footrest hanger & sold the feckin mutt to pay for it.  Didn’t half pi55 me off & still does.

[Falcon 269]

Whew, I think I got off lightly ... trimmed 4cms off the sleeve today, cut back the baffle tube and wadding and hey-ho, slightly shorter but good as before.  Doesn't titanium make lovely white sparks!  :lol



Managed to polish out the marks from where strap was previously and I'm just waiting on some genuine Akra stainless rivets before refitting the titanium strap around the end.

Lucky escape, methinks.

[mickdel]

Crikey Mike,  that is still a seriously ugleee exhaust!  Get it changed old man.    S'almost as bad as Luke's cuttofuck one.  I see he advertised it as an "Akra Stubby",  and didn't mention it'd bin damaged and he'd wielded the inch removal device.  :pokefun

[devilsyam]

wot you on about mick ??

think your on about someone else  i also dont like the tone wadda i do to you in a passed life

here's my advert

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,954.0.html

i dont see akro anyware

[Falcon 269]

Hi Mick

Luke's cutdown Arrow looked pretty good on the bike and sounded right rorty.  Considering he was on a 'make & mend' budget at the time, I thought it worked out really well.  And polishing titanium to a mirror finish ain't no cakewalk.

As for mine, I think the traditional oval-shaped can works best on the Gen 1.  I've had the Blueflame Tri-Oval and a round, stubby Mivv GP and neither went as well with the lines of the bike, IMHO.  Perhaps you'll see it differently when the Akra is back on the bike.  It's gone from being 470mm to 430mm and it could well be an improvement being that little bit shorter.

At least my wallet hasn't be shortened by my mistake. :lol

Cheers!

Mike