Chasing Perfect Tail

davamb · Dec 27, 2014

I loved the long-and-lean look of the Dunstall seat and Interstate tank, but apart from having my arse in the next suburb, the seat was a plank and the tank dug into my thighs - it was not very comfortable to ride more than an hour at best.

Not acceptable to me, I like a decent fang, a day in the saddle might not be on the cards as it's still a cafe job, but surely a couple of hours at a stretch should be a goer.

So I blew this year's bonus on a new seat and tank, which I'm happy with (well, I will be once the whole bike's re-painted)

but the rear end looks a bit empty to my eye

now I thought something like this lash-up might help, which would be functional as well (I hate backpacks)

it does so I might re-engineer it into something permanent. I just don't like the rear light cluster though, for one thing, it hangs out too far

I tried this, but the brake light's just too small

Hard to please ain't I, but I'll know when it's right. I'm thinking the OldBritts one might be a go, but by the time it's shipped out to Aussie, there'll be little change out of $250.

Any other ideas?

Fast Eddie · Dec 27, 2014

I share your tail light quandary Dave, I've kept the stock set up on my 74 so far, but my current thinking is to go with the earlier stock beehive set up. All of the custom offerings look, well, too 'custom' for my taste I guess.

The Roadster tank and cafe seat will look cool IMHO.

Gotta as though Dave... a rack... on a cafe racer!?

One or the other dude surely !?!

davamb · Dec 27, 2014

Fast Eddie said:
Gotta as though Dave... a rack... on a cafe racer!?
One or the other dude surely !?!

Aaaargh! Yeah, I hear ya, but I just dunno Eddie, it just needs something to fill that space. Doin' my head in. Should be out seeing what the new seat and riding position's like, instead I'm stuffing around with these details.

kerinorton · Dec 27, 2014

Are you sure you are going to be able to get your ass far enough back on that seat for comfortable riding. That's one of the reasons I kept my original Roadster seat but bought a new cushion for it. My ass doesn't get so sore now on a long run, but still not perfect I think. How comfortable is that seat on an all day run?
Dereck

ashman · Dec 27, 2014

Dave that seat and tank looks a lot better and even better when its painted, a rack on the back is always a good idea and will come in handy, as for the tail light the smaller one is good I have been running one for over 34 years and you can get a LED to fit straight into the small tail light, I have a Triumph Thruxton very nice caferacer style bike and I have a chrome rack on the back, great for long trip or even day trips to carry things, I have even carried a 30 pack of beer on it a few times, a lot better than a back pack any day.

Ashley

Mark · Dec 27, 2014

If you do decide to go with that rack, get yourself one of these and complete the package:

aceaceca · Dec 27, 2014

That seat looks wonderfully inviting. I just wonder if it has a good resiliant foam in it. The type and quality of the foam makes all the difference. If it just bottoms out when you load it up, what the h good is that. I would like to upgrade the foam in mine. The bike looks way better so far. Just off the light for the early one and you get my vote. Please update us on comfort level of the seat/foam. Where is the seat from and how much?

davamb · Dec 27, 2014

kerinorton said:
Are you sure you are going to be able to get your ass far enough back on that seat for comfortable riding.

Hi Dereck, the Dunstall/Inter combo pushed me waaay too far back. I like to be a lot further forward on the bike with knees tight on the tank while cornering. The sharpish edges on the rear of the Inter tank meant you just couldn't do this and ended up with knees way out in the breeze. The standard tank is about 50mm/2" shorter which really suits me - further forward and more upright position.

ashman said:
Dave that seat and tank looks a lot better and even better when its painted, a rack on the back is always a good idea and will come in handy

Cheers Ashley, can you give me a pic of the back end of your bike please?

Mark said:
If you do decide to go with that rack, get yourself one of these and complete the package:

Mark - you're just being silly there. There's no way I could ever adapt a BMW tail-light.

aceaceca said:
That seat looks wonderfully inviting... Where is the seat from and how much?

The seat's great Ace, I've sat on it for quite a while on the stand and no sign of it collapsing, remains resilient, but there's no substitute for road testing - will let you know how it goes then. It wasn't cheap, especially to ship from USA to Aussie, but will be a lot cheaper for you. I'll dig out who I bought it from and let you know the details.

Transcon · Dec 27, 2014

New seat looks great Dave, really enjoying my solo version of the same design (pardon the crap shop pic)

dave M · Dec 27, 2014

The mid to late 60s BSA alloy tail light holder with the cuttaway for the rear loop is a good looking unit. It has the beehive lense which may also not be bright enough for your requirements, although I recall someone making LED replacement panels for these which were reputed to be many times brighter than the standard bulb.

Hobot · Dec 27, 2014

The Old British seats allow me all day comfort but especially getting to pavement. They come single or dual seat length as seen. I definitely like the finished look of rack filling in and also the trailer hitch I want too but had thought through Best wishes on the tail light refining. My buddy Wes has a 'donkey dick' kind with a tiny but eye catching pin point of sharp redness and looks right to me. Peel get LED 3 function light strips and LED flowers on tag bolts and flips horizontal after ticketing speeds.

smaller-taillight-t15059.html
http://www.cb750cafe.com/products-page/ ... ail-light/

Nater_Potater · Dec 27, 2014

davamb said:
now I thought something like this lash-up might help, which would be functional as well (I hate backpacks)

Why not go the tank bag route? (Ignore the back pack resting on the seat)

davamb said:
I tried this, but the brake light's just too small

I like this lamp, but I think it's getting overshadowed by the stock turn signals. How about some nice, aftermarket LED units? http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-Universal-Mo ... 59&vxp=mtr

Nathan

Hobot · Dec 28, 2014

Hump back fake cafe over stuffed seat like mine don't allow effecient packing behind you unless, ya install a real functional sissy bar like the HiRider. Only mounting a rack by clamps on the loop will damage loop if much more than a 6 pack and shoe carried on it. Assume mock up only. Real Nortoneers with real sense of blending into same cafe style - sport back packs.

Dkt26 · Dec 28, 2014

ashman said:
Dave that seat and tank looks a lot better and even better when its painted, a rack on the back is always a good idea and will come in handy, as for the tail light the smaller one is good I have been running one for over 34 years and you can get a LED to fit straight into the small tail light, I have a Triumph Thruxton very nice caferacer style bike and I have a chrome rack on the back, great for long trip or even day trips to carry things, I have even carried a 30 pack of beer on it a few times, a lot better than a back pack any day.

Ashley

I just throw the carton on the tank ash.
I have also had a 20kg bag of dog biscuits for the 80kg mutt with a carton on tha top.
That was a bit tricky.
I've always wanted a roadster tank with the old triumph rack mounted on the tank but need a spare steel tank to experiment with.

olChris · Dec 28, 2014

Im not sure what the "packer" is your using.. The indicators below are from OlBritt's and same on the front!11

Better picture

Snorton74 · Dec 28, 2014

I like where your going with your bike...

Anonymous · Dec 28, 2014

Anonymous · Dec 28, 2014

850commando · Dec 28, 2014

i'm assuming you never had the dunstall tank. it makes a world of a difference, regarding your knees. when i was younger, i did ride 6 and 8 hour stretchs using the dunstall combo. can't do it now because of the wrists.

Snorton74 · Dec 28, 2014

ludwig said:
Cut 5 or 6 cm out of the frame loop and lift it 2 cm when rewelding .
Shorter rear fender , move tail light 10 cm forward ..
Nothing should stick out past rear tire .
Whatever you do , get rid of those HORRIBLE plastic direction indicators ..

Typical example of tail clutter :

I'll get right on that... Anything else?

Chasing Perfect Tail

davamb

Fast Eddie

davamb

kerinorton

ashman

Mark

aceaceca

davamb

Transcon

dave M

Hobot

Nater_Potater

Hobot

Dkt26

olChris

Snorton74

Anonymous

Guest

Anonymous

Guest

850commando

Snorton74

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