Featured Project Payday: Customizing My Street Twin

Discussion in 'Builds & Projects' started by TheBeardedPunk, Oct 11, 2021.

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  1. TheBeardedPunk

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    Alright, now that the holiday season is over I thought it might be time to write up a more comprehensive update on the project.

    Let met start with the next parts to be fitted, like the Christmas present. I'm planning on fitting them somewhere next weekend. The ACG plate is a two minute job, but my January project will be a little more than that. I have a DNA air filter lying around since October, so that will be fitted as well. The reason for not fitting it earlier is two fold.

    In the past for my previous bikes I never had a trickle charger or battery optimizer. Heck, I didn't even have a power outlet in my garage back then (I moved last year fyi). I never had a problem after the winter when starting my bikes and never had to change one of the batteries. Maybe I got lucky, who knows. When I finally got the Street Twin I asked my dealer what precautions I needed to take for winter, specially for the battery. Maybe he just wants to sell me a new battery soon, but they advised against using a trickle charger. They did however advise to let the bike run stationary for a while "half way" the none riding season.

    That brings me back to the air filter. As after installation, it is advised to let the bike go through one heat cycle for the ecu to adapt, I thought one stone, two birds...

    On to the future of the payday project. I have a part on order at my dealer, it should be there any day now. Besides that I also have an other online part order under way. After these arrive, only the sump guard left and the front, side and bottom of the project is done. Well, you know, for part one, these things are never actually done ;).

    For the top and back of the bike, I'm still pondering on some stuff. I know I will change the seat, but I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm still going back and forth between the oem quilted bench seat in brown or the Motone Viper skinny seat. I'm also still on the fence about installing a Motone tailtidy or not. I like how they look, but I also actually like the stock rear fender and stop light.

    When I started this project I was only intending on doing some cosmetic updates. But while browsing for parts my mind eventually strayed towards performance updates as well. And it is with these updates that I hit the biggest bump in the road.

    As I have a brand new 2021 Euro 5 model, a booster plug is not an option anymore, alas. They won't make one for the euro 5 model as the ecu will have the check engine light on all the time.

    Next on the list, an x-pipe. Again euro 5 kicked me in the nuts here. The exit exhaust is now actually welded to the catalytic converter. Meaning I would also have to replace part of the pipes. Motone doesn't have an update in place for there x-pipe to accommodate this yet. Free spirits do have one already, but the price goes up from about to 300 € to about 600 €. All because off course they need to provide the pipes that attach to the muffler. I might still get one in the future, but as it stands I think I might abandon it entirely.

    As for suspension upgrades, I'm still looking into it. Not yet sure if I will actually upgrade or not.

    Well, update comprehensive enough? Bring on the next weekend, so I can finally install that air filter!
     
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  2. DCS900

    DCS900 Careful, man! There’s a beverage here!

    Sep 11, 2021
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    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.
     
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  3. Notso

    Notso Senior Member

    Dec 17, 2018
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    #63 Notso, Jan 10, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
    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.
     
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  4. Hubaxe

    Hubaxe Good moaning! aka Mr Wordsalad :)

    Mar 25, 2020
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    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.
     
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  5. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    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.
     
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  6. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    I've heard good things about them as well.
     
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  7. TheBeardedPunk

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    Thanks for the insights. I actually can fit an x-pipe, but it would about double up the price. Link for reference only ;) https://www.freespiritsparts.com/en/xl-pipe-de-cat-for-triumph-street-twin-euro-5.html
    As you can see, there are more parts involved so it costs more. I'm not sure if it will be worth that amount of money
     
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  8. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    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.
     
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  9. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    I guess you could use the original ST end cans, although I've always thought they look too long.
     
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  10. Notso

    Notso Senior Member

    Dec 17, 2018
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    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.
     
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  11. TheBeardedPunk

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    As far I saw the original cans can be used indeed. I had look at the TEC parts rebel, but I'm not sure of like the single can. I find the dual exhausts to be one off the look defining features of the bike, I like it to much.

    Pricewise I agree that it's a lot of money for the x-pipe. For now, I'm crossing it of my list.
     
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  12. TheBeardedPunk

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    #72 TheBeardedPunk, Jan 10, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
    The dealer said "No need to use one, it will just make your battery lazy". I will follow their advice for now, if I run into problems with the battery, I will make sure to get a new one for free from them ;).

    May I ad, that I have never had any issues with none of my motorcycle dealers in the past. I also have friends who go to the same Triumph dealer (I chose this dealer based on friend reviews) and who are very happy with the service. Maybe I just got lucky, or the way dealerships are run over here is different from in the UK. But the "horror" stories on dealerships I see online I have never witnessed here yet.
     
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  13. Octoberon

    Octoberon Crème de la Crème

    Jul 2, 2020
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    "Yeah, we found your electical problem, mate. You've got a lazy battery. That'll be a hundred-and-fifty quid."

    ;)
     
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  14. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    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.
     
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  15. TheBeardedPunk

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    if it fails, I will change to an optimizer. No doubt in my mind about it
     
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  16. Octoberon

    Octoberon Crème de la Crème

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    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.
     
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  17. beerkat

    beerkat Senior Member

    Aug 14, 2019
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    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!
     
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  18. Octoberon

    Octoberon Crème de la Crème

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

    TheBeardedPunk Senior Member

    Oct 7, 2021
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    The lift I ordered arrived today. I have some time planned on Sunday to do the air filter. Will have a go at it with the lift

    D8B6DBF1-268E-40F0-83B9-78065C54435E.jpeg
     
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  20. Octoberon

    Octoberon Crème de la Crème

    Jul 2, 2020
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    More pics when you do, please! I'm interested to see how the lift looks in action.
     
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