Author Topic: What is everyone stripping off to save weight? (Read 44711 times)

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #75 on:** April 12, 2011, 04:37:00 PM »

Yawn........I think "tunnel vision" would also be thinking that everyone that lightens their bike is going to be blown off the road......

Poor example using the centre stand , it scrapes the road easily and doesn't take much of a lean angle to unload the rear suspension and throw the unsuspecting rider down the road.......Is that an example of "good engineering" some would say not....
Its also interesting to know that you think "all" engineers are as you say, my experiences tell me that some guys just don't see things the way they should because they have bugger all natural problem solving skills, too much education and not enough skill. I have met several musicians like this, they play wonderfully off sheet but can't play a bloody thing if it has to be created, especially on the spot, all the theory in the world can't give you practical skill, some have it and some don't.
I completely understand what an engineer should be but looking at the history of anything mechanical shows that there have been some terrible examples of engineering even getting through to production.

754 · « **Reply #76 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:24:35 PM »

Seems we have a missionary from the "Church of Anti-Pods & Stockers"..in our midst.
I thought this thread was about, what do you strip off to save weight..?.. not try your best to talk people out of it..

I am not getting that we are building a replacement for modern bike.. more of a.. I build it the way I like it..or I like the way they react after them changes, so I do it to some of my bikes..

scottly · « **Reply #77 on:** April 12, 2011, 07:28:10 PM »

This thread is about how to save weight, not about if it can improve performance; it doesn't take take an engineering degree to figure out that less weight=better performance. Hell, I had figured that out when I was 15 years old.

I do sacrifice weight savings for performance: in braking, with the dual front discs, and superior carburation, with the Webers.

xedge4lifex · « **Reply #78 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:17:35 PM »

who has a reputable calculator via 10lbs=1hp or 10lbs=1mph

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #79 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:52:08 PM »

In automobile 1/4 mile drag racing, guys estimate one tenth of a second for every hundred lbs...maybe somebody could mathematically derive something useful for this for our 500lb'ers

333 · « **Reply #80 on:** April 12, 2011, 08:54:14 PM »

Quote from: xedge4lifex on April 12, 2011, 08:17:35 PM

who has a reputable calculator via 10lbs=1hp or 10lbs=1mph

Now, you're just makin' stuff up.

And obviously I don't know this as a fact, but it is a sure bet that an engineer wasn't responsible for the decision to remove center stands or kick starters from modern bikes. More likely, it was bean counters that told decision makers "We could save money if these things were gone", and engineers were told to make the changes.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #81 on:** April 12, 2011, 09:10:58 PM »

Taking weight off will increase speed, Take a ride 2 up then loose the passenger and your bike will be faster, pick up quicker and handle better, That is fact. Why do you think kick starters were a cost cutting exercise.? Charging systems are far more reliable that days of old and therefore there is no need to try and kick start a more modern bike, CDI or ignition failures are about all that goes wrong now and no kick starter will help that.....Also, unless its structural you don't need an engineer to remove any part from a plan, that would be done in the drawing stage. I don't get the whining about removing the centre stand, they are dangerous as far as i am concerned {on the old Honda's}, if you don't lean far enough to scrape it {and thats not too far} then leave it alone, if it hinders your riding, then remove it, that added bonus is that it is bloody heavy. For those that don't know, less weight means a better power to weight ratio, yes your bike will get there faster.....

bwaller · « **Reply #82 on:** April 12, 2011, 09:16:54 PM »

Man oh man things can derail quickly. This is what I expect in November when guys first put their bikes away and are miserable about it, not at the start of ridng season for most.

Go for a ride guys, and don't forget to add the weight for safety.

excellrec · « **Reply #83 on:** April 13, 2011, 07:41:13 AM »

My girlfriend tries to be understanding when I tell her I need to use her as a "safety weight" on those extra windy days.

SanDogDewey · « **Reply #84 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:17:45 PM »

I'm taking off dirt and corrosion, does that count?

Roach Carver · « **Reply #85 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:56:52 PM »

I changed from boxers to a thong. It is uncomfortable so I may wear it backwards.

dave500 · « **Reply #86 on:** April 14, 2011, 12:07:39 AM »

i finished early today so went for a ride,just out of interest i rode over to a recycle yard we use and parked my bike on the weighbridge,a 500 with a 550 motor/4-1 and alloy rims,200 kilos! i thought it would have been less,the guy on the bridge says its not real accurate at low weights as itll go up to 60,000 kilos,for example im 80 kilos and itll show 8 as the only digit,i might be 77 kilos?the same bike with chrome rims/500 engine two years ago on a different bridge was 180 kilos!my wifes gonna get upset if i tamper with her good bathroom scales!

vames · « **Reply #87 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:49:40 AM »

I find it ironic that the "what are you stripping to save weight" thread and the "can I change my fork seals with no center stand" thread have been neck-and-neck for a couple of days. Then there's the guy who's gonna dremel cut off part of his head gasket -- yet another place where you can save 5-10 grams of weight.

Skunk Stripe · « **Reply #88 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:21:01 AM »

Certain things just draw the attention. I merely wanted to point out a good thing about the center stand and that people can't just worry about weight alone but cg and unsprung weight. It is a trifecta. My only concern is that people do not get over zealous and weaken their bike.

c(b)hris · « **Reply #89 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:30:34 AM »

i always try to drop a deuce before i go for a ride. that seems to help.

i've started referring to it as "removing the center stand" but i don't think anyone gets it.

bikerbart · « **Reply #90 on:** April 14, 2011, 12:36:02 PM »

socalenduro · « **Reply #91 on:** April 14, 2011, 01:36:36 PM »

Quote from: vames on April 10, 2011, 12:24:04 PM

Quote from: paulages on April 10, 2011, 11:29:29 AM
Have the weight-saving naysayers really never ridden a light bike? It's not necessarily a matter of going faster in terms of the power to weight ratio, it's about how much easier it is to handle a light bike.

Just saying that SOHCs are by definition not light bikes. Even if the poster earlier saves the 10% he's talking about -- 50 lbs -- it's still a heavy bike.

Then again, I ride a 400f which is the lightest of them. For exactly that reason.

Isnt my 350f lighter than yours? (i really have no idea)
where can you go to actually weigh a bike?

Skunk Stripe · « **Reply #92 on:** April 14, 2011, 01:55:38 PM »

Do you have a local junk yard? Sometimes they can do it or your local landfill. Give them a call and just ask. I suppose you might get laughed at but you never know.
Otherwise, you can weigh whatever you take off and if you put something in its place, find out the difference in weight than just add the savings up and you at least know how much weight you dropped.

excellrec · « **Reply #93 on:** April 14, 2011, 02:50:53 PM »

If someone is inclined we could do a good analysis of the whole weight thing by adding weight. You could take some weights and toss them under the seat or somewhere reasonably in the middle of the weight distribution area of the bike as to not offset the total distribution characteristics too much and start doing runs on a set distance to get an idea of what the added weight is doing in say 10lb increments.. multiple runs (say 5) interspersed (1 run with 10, next with 20, next with 30.. etc, repeat that order 5 times) and then calculate the means for each weight and see if we can get a rough estimate of performance difference in a straight line.

Looking at handling objectively would be a whole nother thing unfortunately. Although you could take her to a track and let people ride a bike with the amount or presence of added weight be unbeknown to them or the observer... but I doubt anyone would follow through with that complicated procedure.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #94 on:** April 14, 2011, 05:21:40 PM »

Nothing. Even at my puny 160 lbs the bike has never been a problem to handle in any conditions. The cost to benefit ratio is not worth it for the way I use the bike. Often two up around town and single on longer trips. I have taken enough long road trips to understand the value of a centerstand when I have to service or repair the bike 50 miles from the next town. If you never leave town or want a clean cafe look then it's fine I am sure to go without. The idea that I could make the bike marginally faster so I could beat the next guy doesn't mean anything to me. I am riding for myself. I don't give a sh!t about the other guy or what he's riding . I am kind of like a HD rider in that way. If you are not on a vintage bike (any make I don't care) you don't really exist in my mind. Squids on sportbikes? Didn't even know they existed until someone pointed one out to me once.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #95 on:** April 14, 2011, 05:30:33 PM »

Quote from: srust58 on April 14, 2011, 05:21:40 PM

I am kind of like a HD rider in that way. If you are not on a vintage bike (any make I don't care) you don't really exist in my mind.

Great. Just when I was getting used to the Harley types, we have a new type of moto-socio snobbery to deal with.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #96 on:** April 14, 2011, 05:36:27 PM »

Quote from: FunJimmy on April 14, 2011, 05:30:33 PM

Quote from: srust58 on April 14, 2011, 05:21:40 PM
I am kind of like a HD rider in that way. If you are not on a vintage bike (any make I don't care) you don't really exist in my mind.

Great. Just when I was getting used to the Harley types, we have a new type of moto-socio snobbery to deal with.

Being a old fart on an old bike has to have some perks.

333 · « **Reply #97 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:42:19 PM »

So, if I use a lighter weight oil, will that save me some lbs?

754 · « **Reply #98 on:** April 14, 2011, 07:05:57 PM »

Wow, this thread sure brings out the low performance crowd.I dod not realize there was that many that feel that way..
Myself if I dont need it, take it off.. you can always put it back on..
I hate make-work parts.. stock pipes, airbox, bags.. stuff like that.. I like it simple... does not have to be like a car..
C-stand is not the only way to change tire on the roadside.. there is other ways..

You can get more that 50 lbs off a 750.. but after 50 it starts costing more. Scottly's bike has over 25% of its weight off.. that is like about 25 % more hp than a stock engine has..

Skunk Stripe · « **Reply #99 on:** April 14, 2011, 07:07:04 PM »

I thought of tying helium filled balloons to my bike but figured there might be too much drag!

What ways on the side of the road to change without a stand though? Keep in mind you may have nothing at hand to use.

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Author Topic: What is everyone stripping off to save weight? (Read 44711 times)