New Accessories

[\\Mike_Lea//]

After this years trip through Europe I've been thinking about a few accessories; Screen and rear hugger...

Having looked around the web I've decided to opt for the offering from Ztecnik



Not the most esthetically pleasing thing I've seen but should certainly improve long-haul sections of motorway etc. It's not cheap at £178.95!! Has anyone else seen, used, fitted one of these things? Any advice or comments welcome...

The hugger from Sandbarcomposites

http://www.sandbarcomposites.co.uk

Which is carbon fibre is also not cheap at £169.99, but I'm sure it'll be invaluable at keepin' all the crud off the shock / engine. I'm sure it the same as the offering Ilmberger; certainly the picture on their website are the same. Again, anyone else had experience of these? Any problems fitting etc. The piccie looks remarkable like a Roadster rather than a Rockster!!

Comments welcome.

Cheers,
M

[Boxerpunk]

I have the Ilmberger (from Wünderlich) rearhugger fitted.
Very easy; just two bolts.

[riceburner]

Can't speak for the screen.

But I've had the Ilmburger hugger on one of my bike (I think it was Rock 2) and it made the bike look dirtier than it does without!!

Mine was an older 2nd hand one though, from an R1100S and it cracked and fell off at Hyde Park Corner! I think the new ones are stronger now though. Sandbar did promise me a replacement but I never got around to sending it back to him - that was 3 years ago!!

[\\Mike_Lea//]

Hey Rice,

So 2nd hand and mod'ed to fit your bike? There is an offering specifically for the R1150R. The guy from Ilmberger seemed to imply this was the one, albeit that it's designed to fit a slightly narrower tyre...

Cheers,
M

[riceburner]

Hey Rice,

So 2nd hand and mod'ed to fit your bike? There is an offering specifically for the R1150R. The guy from Ilmberger seemed to imply this was the one, albeit that it's designed to fit a slightly narrower tyre...

Cheers,
M

Not modded - the fit is the same on the R11S as it is in the R1150R (or close enough it makes no difference).

[riceburner]

Hey Rice,

So 2nd hand and mod'ed to fit your bike? There is an offering specifically for the R1150R. The guy from Ilmberger seemed to imply this was the one, albeit that it's designed to fit a slightly narrower tyre...

Cheers,
M

Not modded - the fit is the same on the R11S as it is in the R1150R (or close enough it makes no difference).

[johnnyjs1]

I have the touring screen on my Rock. Air flow depends greatly on how tall you are. I'm 6' and the wind gets me right in the forehead, if i lean down about an inch or so, there is no wind whatsoever, I can light up a cigarette on the highway doing 70mph

[\\Mike_Lea//]

The screen is probably higher on my wish list out of the two; so you reckon' the hugger causes more problems that it alleviates Rice?

I don't fancy shelling out £170 or whatever it is for something that doesn't do what it's supposed to!! I've also found on longer journeys that the seat becomes pretty damn uncomfortable. In fact after approx 100miles I start shifting around and pretty soon after that it becomes unbearable and stopping is imperative. Maybe I'm getting old

I might give the Airhawk option a go as it's more favorable to the cost of a Sargent, Baglux etc. aftermarket seat / seat upgrade.

M

[riceburner]

The screen is probably higher on my wish list out of the two; so you reckon' the hugger causes more problems that it alleviates Rice?

that's my experience yes - the swingarm catches all the crud thrown out by the hugger so it looks atrocious.

I don't fancy shelling out £170 or whatever it is for something that doesn't do what it's supposed to!! I've also found on longer journeys that the seat becomes pretty damn uncomfortable. In fact after approx 100miles I start shifting around and pretty soon after that it becomes unbearable and stopping is imperative. Maybe I'm getting old

I might give the Airhawk option a go as it's more favorable to the cost of a Sargent, Baglux etc. aftermarket seat / seat upgrade.

M

[lionlady]

If the Airhawk doesn't make you happy, you can send it back to THEM (within 60 days) and they'll refund your money.

They can take a bit of fussing with to get the inflation right. You want enough air that you don't bottom out any of the cells as you shift around, but not so much that the air can't shift from cell to cell.

P

[\\Mike_Lea//]

If the Airhawk doesn't make you happy, you can send it back to THEM (within 60 days) and they'll refund your money.

They can take a bit of fussing with to get the inflation right. You want enough air that you don't bottom out any of the cells as you shift around, but not so much that the air can't shift from cell to cell.

That's pretty cool; try before you buy!! I take it you've got one?? How do you find, good, bad, indifferent

Reading a site in the UK, it seems to imply you have to buy the securing straps separately, is that the case?

Thanks,
Mike

[NoRRmad]

Securing straps came with mine... (They're a little flimsy.)

I agree with Lionlady's advice; it takes very little air to make a big difference in comfort. If you overinflate the Airhawk, you tend to float over the seat and shift around a bit too much.

[lionlady]

That's pretty cool; try before you buy!! I take it you've got one?? How do you find, good, bad, indifferent

I needed the Airhawk on my f650CS - wanted a bit more leg room AND comfort. It made all day rides a piece of cake. I've offered it on long term loan to a friend who got a "Ninjette" (Ninja 250).

Securing straps came with mine... (They're a little flimsy.)

Being handy with a sewing machine, I made securing straps myself with bra hooks and black elastic (had the bits in my sewing supplies). The underside of the Airhawk is sticky/grippy rubber so it won't slide around, and will stay in place quite well (it does have some heft to it). But, if you're a rider who will stand up on the pegs while going down the road, you'd need the straps so it won't blow off.

I agree with Lionlady's advice; it takes very little air to make a big difference in comfort. If you overinflate the Airhawk, you tend to float over the seat and shift around a bit too much.

Some folks HATE the Airhawk because they feel disconnected from the bike (could be they didn't fiddle enough with inflation). Others, like me, LOVE it. Sure beats spending $300 on a custom seat that will only fit one model of machine.

P

[Trapper]

Hi Mike

I got one of these to ease the discomfort on longer rides: http://www.sheepyhollow.com/main/frontg ... toured.htm

It cost less than £30 - delivered to my door from Australia in less than 2 weeks. And it really works. I've had it for the last year, and I wouldn't go for a long ride without it.

If I remember rightly you live in Cheshire, (I'm near Warrington), and if you fancy it, you're more than welcome to borrow it for a day or two and give it a real test. Just send me a PM to get in touch.

Cheers

[Biff's R]

I got a sheep skin buttpad from

http://www.alaskaleather.com/index.html

I have used it on 700+ mile days, and it seems to help all year long.

RBrider as a shielld that is smaller than the z-teknic shield. His is more like the size of the R1150R sport shield. For me the mid to small shields did better than the big touring shield.

[marc.wolters]

Hi Mike,

I Installed a little fly-sceen from Wunderlich on my Rockster.
Specially made for Rockster, the line/curve of the screen is in line with the little dashboard cover

http://www.wunderlich.de/shopart/8110350.htm

My own bike:
http://picasaweb.google.com/weekend.mot ... 4037353794

Cheerz, Marc

[jfslater98]

Ah the Trimm, an excellent choice, I have one as well. Thanks for sharing the pictures. How did you manage to get everyone to wear shirts that matched your Rockster?

[marc.wolters]

Fist of all: HAPPY NEW YEAR to overybody !!!

The T-shirts: I let my friends pick the text to put on the T-shirts, and I picked the T-shirt colours.
And as dutchies, we all love the colour ORANGE, so everybody turned out "riding happily ever after into the setting sun, wearing their orange and black Tees" (new years always does this to me...)

Greetz, Marc

[marc.wolters]

Talking about the HUGGER, I have the one from Wunderlich.
It is the same as the one to be fitted on a R1100S, because the Rockster shares the same, broader rear wheel and tyre (180 mm instead of the standard 170 mm as for the R1150R).

It is mounted easily with two bolts on the duolever arm on the right hand side, and regarding "keepin' all the crud off the shock / engine": it helps.

Check http://picasaweb.google.com/weekend.mot ... 6542585618

[jfslater98]

Your group looks like it's having a lot of fun! I did not know about the Dutch preference for orange, maybe I'm part Dutch

That hugger looks great! And it keeps some of the gunk off the shock to, eh? Looks like my farkle list is getting longer.