New skid plate arrival

[avc8130]

Wow, that is close - is that with springs out or ??? Just wondering the method of getting to full bump. Does the fender clear or hit prior to the tire making contact?

That's not "CLOSE"...that's a "HIT"!

The tire is smushed into the skid plate, and there is still over 1" of fork travel! This isn't simulating fork bending either (yes, your forks bend). The front fender JUST misses before gliding past and the tire contacting.

I had read that Greg experienced it, then I went to WV and experienced it personally. Now I can make it happen any time I want if I set the front end and brake HARD.

I'd like to note that the plate is NOT spaced forward in the pics. I thought that might be an issue, so I removed my spacing and installed it per the ACD specified hardware dimensions. Clearly this is an issue and it is not acceptable as is.

I used ratchet straps to pull the front end down.

ac

 

[True Grip]

Mines doing it too


You can tell I bottomed out. We had a big rain and I cross a bunch of gulleys some deep.

That's a half worn K60 just imagine when I put on a TKC. So AC any idea for a fix. I'm just barely off the pipe as it is. I can't move it back any. I don't remember Jaumev having this problem and I would guess he had used all his suspension at one time or another.

 

[True Grip]

I remember now Jaumev had a big cut out to accomadate that 21' wheel. Looks like it needs it for a 19' also.

 

[p51super10bombay]

What about removing the spacers?

 

[True Grip]

Spacers barely hold it off the pipe.

 

[avc8130]

Mines doing it too

You can tell I bottomed out. We had a big rain and I cross a bunch of gulleys some deep.

That's a half worn K60 just imagine when I put on a TKC. So AC any idea for a fix. I'm just barely off the pipe as it is. I can't move it back any. I don't remember Jaumev having this problem and I would guess he had used all his suspension at one time or another.

I'm not sure. I sent Cedric an email.

I thought about cutting the area out, but with the 2 triangles and all the holes there wouldn't be much left by the time enough was cut to fully clear the tire.

If you look closely at Jaumev's, you will see they did cut this area out...but the design of the plate is much different. It had supports up the side so the missing material wasn't as critical to structure.

ac

 

[p51super10bombay]

Went back to the beginning - in this photo there does seem to be some rub marks in that area before he fitted the 21" wheel.

 

[True Grip]

Hey good eye! Looks like Jaumev did use all his suspension. Be interesting to see what Cedric says but I'll continue to ride.

 

[OneOff]

I don't have this plate but I'm going off it a bit. Was dead set keen on it, but I don't like all this talk of it connecting with the wheel...

Had a thought... :lamp:

Just going from the photos, although the lower headers are very close to the plate as has been discussed, there seems to be an excess void between the top of the headers and the part of the plate that is giving grief. Would a third bend slightly back toward the motor at the point where the top edge of the side section meets the front plate be a solution? I realise this is a full engineering job, throwing an extra bend in your plate with a vise and a big hammer will result in the holes not lining up any more. Don't do that... ::005::

I don't know; like I said, just what I've observed from the pics posted. I think I'll go back and look at the Altrider again...

Pete.


Only 4 weeks until I pick up my new toy... ::26::

 

[avc8130]

Hey good eye! Looks like Jaumev did use all his suspension. Be interesting to see what Cedric says but I'll continue to ride.

Cedric blamed it on the crash bars.

I sent him this response:

"There is a crash bar in there, AltRider to be exact. I had already thought that might have been the problem so I did some changes:

Your stock spacer: ~12.2mm thick

AltRider crash bar mount: ~4.4mm thick

I replaced the spacer with a nut that is ~9.8mm thick. So I am ~2.2mm too much spaced right now.

However, as you can see from the fork pictures, there is still well more than 25mm of suspension travel left when the wheel contacts the plate. I don't think the 2.2mm is causing the contact."

ac

 

[avc8130]

I don't have this plate but I'm going off it a bit. Was dead set keen on it, but I don't like all this talk of it connecting with the wheel...

Had a thought... :lamp:

Just going from the photos, although the lower headers are very close to the plate as has been discussed, there seems to be an excess void between the top of the headers and the part of the plate that is giving grief. Would a third bend slightly back toward the motor at the point where the top edge of the side section meets the front plate be a solution? I realise this is a full engineering job, throwing an extra bend in your plate with a vise and a big hammer will result in the holes not lining up any more. Don't do that... ::005::

I don't know; like I said, just what I've observed from the pics posted. I think I'll go back and look at the Altrider again...

Pete.


Only 4 weeks until I pick up my new toy... ::26::

Pete,

That would definitely work. I've never understood why they brought the plate so far forward in this area. I'm just not sure how I could add the bend in nicely, nor am I convinced I should have to on a $400 (yeah, they dropped the price the day after I ordered) plate.

ac

 

[OneOff]

It's definitely do-able.

Any small engineering shop with a decent press could put the bend in; but then everything above that point will need rebuilding.
If I already owned it and it was a bit bashed about, I'd have a go at it. While I was breaking stuff I'd probably also rethink the way it mounts at the front.
I agree, you shouldn't have to fix something you paid good money for; it should be right when you get it.
But I don't even have my Ten yet so I'll just go back to lurking...

 

[avc8130]

It's definitely do-able.

Any small engineering shop with a decent press could put the bend in; but then everything above that point will need rebuilding.
If I already owned it and it was a bit bashed about, I'd have a go at it. While I was breaking stuff I'd probably also rethink the way it mounts at the front.
I agree, you shouldn't have to fix something you paid good money for; it should be right when you get it.
But I don't even have my Ten yet so I'll just go back to lurking...

Sort of.

This plate is made from 5000 series aluminum. 5000 series aluminum is about the only aluminum sheet that TOLERATES bending.

The problem here is that one of the bends would need "re-bending". This doesn't work well. The aluminum is work-hardened from the first bend and most attempts at re-bend result in cracking and tearing at the bend.

I still think cutting is the best option. My only fear with cutting is that the plate will be weakened. If those 2 big triangular holes weren't there I'd already have taken the cut off wheel to it. I sketched out how much would have to get cut to be 100% certain of no interference and there will be ~1" of plate left on each side...not a lot to hold up a 600lb motorcycle...

ac

 

[OneOff]

Perhaps one day Cedric will make a gen 3 plate to address this...

Does he follow these threads?

 

[True Grip]

AC I think cutting would be the best also but have the same fear as you do. I suppose the easiest thing is to live with it as I don't bottom out that often. Like so much about the plate other than tire rub. I don't believe it will be a safety issue but a gen 3 maybe the only way to sell many in the future.

 

[avc8130]

AC I think cutting would be the best also but have the same fear as you do. I suppose the easiest thing is to live with it as I don't bottom out that often. Like so much about the plate other than tire rub. I don't believe it will be a safety issue but a gen 3 maybe the only way to sell many in the future.

Is yours dented? It's tough to tell from the light reflection.

I disagree adamantly about it not being a safety issue.

ac

 

[True Grip]

No dent just finish wore off. I can't even feel it hitting but then again its at the bottom of the stroke right before bottoming out. I've pushed it pretty good on the street drove into the curve deep and grabbed the front brake to shorten the wheelbase then dip in. Not my favorite way to ride but don't think I'm hitting on the street. Maybe I should borrow my sons Go Pro and video it.

 

[avc8130]

No dent just finish wore off. I can't even feel it hitting but then again its at the bottom of the stroke right before bottoming out. I've pushed it pretty good on the street drove into the curve deep and grabbed the front brake to shorten the wheelbase then dip in. Not my favorite way to ride but don't think I'm hitting on the street. Maybe I should borrow my sons Go Pro and video it.

What's wrong with that way to ride? Sounds like my life. LOL

::26::

Cedric agrees that cutting a hole isn't the best idea. He pointed out that if we cut a hole, and the tire were to still catch, it could grab a good hold on the tire and be a lot more troublesome than the tire currently smearing on the plate.

ac

 

[OneOff]

Perhaps it could be viewed as the new "chicken strips"...

the bigger the wear patch, the bigger the bollocks..! Adds to the off-road look.


::008::

 

[Dallara]

What's wrong with that way to ride? Sounds like my life. LOL

::26::

Cedric agrees that cutting a hole isn't the best idea. He pointed out that if we cut a hole, and the tire were to still catch, it could grab a good hold on the tire and be a lot more troublesome than the tire currently smearing on the plate.

ac

Hey, you could always rig a front tire *OILER* to keep that tire all slicked up so it would just slip on the skid plate when it hit the plate... ???

Of course, then it would be hard to brake hard enough to get the forks compressed enough to hit the plate! )

Just trying to help! ::025::

Dallara



~