Raptor Chapter

Oh boy, an off-road Raptor!

Andy,

Congrats on the retirement. Now you can really get busy!

Re colour schemes for your trusty steed; I though you'd called it/him Reggie? Surely something dignified is needed to go with that title? Roxie sounds more appropriate for what you have in mind!

No problem on the shock Phil, it's nice to shift some of the accumulated bits in my shed. I like the see-thru headlamp rim for added bulb cooling but you'd do better to fit a cool-running LED H4!

Hi Norrie, Are your discs actually warped or is it more a case of sticky bobbins? On the Ducati ST forum, we often spoke of how it was important to have free bobbins (no jokes, please!) to cure brake judder. Sometimes, we even had to take the springiness out of the tensioning washers using a screwdr...

Well cheers, I think.

Eeeek! I'm not sure whether to praise you or keep my innocent s/h shock safe here! Only kidding...

Hi Monkeyman, I've sorted-out a couple of shocks for you, one being from the 1000 and one from a higher-mileage but newer 650. They appear identical to me, the ?650 one having more important-looking Sachs decals. The springs are exactly the same thickness, as are the lengths and eyes. Make your choi...

I think they are the same. I certainly swapped springs from my 1000 (after fitting cartidges) into my 650 because they were a lighter gauge, better suited to the lighter bike. The internals looked identical.

I must check in my store that I still have it and/or the one off the 650, but you can have it for a fiver plus the cost of postage. We are away for a week tomorrow so I hope you can wait!

I've got one, possibly two, Aprilia shocks lying around that I bought for the Raptor but now don't need as I went for a Matris unit. The problem with fitting them is that the damping valve at the base may not clear the linkage or swingarm but you'd be welcome to try one. I've probably a 10K miles or...

Thanks for that! I've barely woken from the Winter sleep and have only been out once (on the Gran Canyon), so the Raptors are still warm, dry and clean, and waiting for their turn.

Nick

Thanks Trevor! Great job!

I'm hoping for some decent weather, though probably not for 2-3 months, to re-acquaint myself with the Raptors that live with me. Yes, I charge the batteries and sit on them occasionally, but nothing more. Miserable, eh?

Nick

Thanks for sharing that, Sheebs. No news for ages then bad news, but such is life. Not being the sociable type, I never met Snapdragon but she was obviously a memorable lady.
Best wishes to everyone, and here's hoping for a New Year without floods and mud on the roads.
Nick

Welcome to the fancy! These bikes go very well and are reliable when sorted.
You may want to get the footrest hangers blasted and powder-coated, becuse removing the remains of the paint and smoothing them off is a difficult job!
I'm pretty sure there are other Scottish owners...

Nick, in Norfolk

Interesting. Where did the plates come from? With that degree of raise, which is actually dropping of the swingarm and wheel relative to the chassis, it looks as though the chain will rub pretty hard on the swingarm protector (if you still have one!) and the chain tension will vary a great deal, pos...