Milling out the Z plates a tad... (2014)

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Fast Eddie

Fast Eddie

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I like the Z plates as they're part of a Commandos identity, but they are thick, heavy old things.
I was thinking of hacking mine out a bit, as shown below (cutting out the black bits), they still look like they'd be plenty strong enough. Or am I setting myself up for a breakage ?

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Hi Eddie

Club member near Dorking has been milling them out for years just the raised lip remains. He has run them on his road bike all that time. No problems. I think? there was a photo somewhere, possibly in Roadholder.

Chris
 
You can take a lot of material out without any issues.
I have seen them with the entire webbed areas milled out.

If they get messed up, don't worry. Jerry had a milk crate full of them for I believe $5 each.
 
bwolfie said:
You can take a lot of material out without any issues.
I have seen them with the entire webbed areas milled out.

If they get messed up, don't worry. Jerry had a milk crate full of them for I believe $5 each.
Click to expand...

That's all the persuasion I need, they'll be on my mates mill by Tuesday!
 
The "Z" Plate.
How iconic is this thing?
In the worst case senerios, it seems the Z plate is alway salvagable, always available and the used conditions are generally always very exceptable.
It is so central, its function profound and stands the test of times.
Ah yes, the "Z" plate!
Let's all shine them up and wear them like a proud badge.
 
I wonder, has anyone ever done a "before" and "after" weight comparison? That's a real comparison using scales, not a "that looks like about 42 lbs " or similar
cheers
wakeup
 
As a weight saving measure I should think it's a waste of effort, so it's more an aesthetic thing. Personally I haven't seen any that I think improved on the original look. Each to their own though.

Ian
 
Nortoniggy said:
As a weight saving measure I should think it's a waste of effort, so it's more an aesthetic thing. Personally I haven't seen any that I think improved on the original look. Each to their own though.

Ian
Click to expand...

I'm not going to deny it Ian... It is more the aesthetics that's the issues for me!

To my eye at least, there is simply too much material there, so, that makes them look 'wrong'.

To me, it looks like 'lazy' or just 'poor' engineering to have such access material lying around on a motorcycle serving no purpose.

I know what you're thinking... my Mrs thinks the same...! :roll: !
 
They are only there to hang the footrests and exhaust pipes on, but they will take a serious amount of force if you chuck the whole lot down the road. If you are looking for weight saving, a good place to start would be the wheel hubs and brakes IMHO
 
Hi Guys
Question ... why is it when I search back through older posts I cant open any of the photos??

Thanks
 
Cos most of us used photo bucket at the time which has since gone tits up. And I hope goes under altogether...

None of us realised at the time that they were trying to make us so dependent on them that we would pay through the nose to maintain the situation when they decided to ‘change policy’.

Dirty, manipulative, scheming, toe rags.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Cos most of us used photo bucket at the time which has since gone tits up. And I hope goes under altogether...

None of us realised at the time that they were trying to make us so dependent on them that we would pay through the nose to maintain the situation when they decided to ‘change policy’.

Dirty, manipulative, scheming, toe rags.
Click to expand...
Fast Eddie said:
Cos most of us used photo bucket at the time which has since gone tits up. And I hope goes under altogether...

None of us realised at the time that they were trying to make us so dependent on them that we would pay through the nose to maintain the situation when they decided to ‘change policy’.

Dirty, manipulative, scheming, toe rags.
Click to expand...

I wonder if this is what my mom was warning me about when she said "Careful son, the first one's always free". She may have been warning me about Photobucket 50 years in advance. Mom's sure do know a lot.
 
Looking at the "Holey" examples from Hobart I like this option very much and has me thinking....as the z plates have a fairly large cross sectional area, has anyone. Successfully fully machined out the two lower sections on each plate?
 
Not done it but no reason why it can't be done, just make sure the cutter has the same radius as the corners in the smaller sections.
 
Perspective original Z-plates spotted on Holland Norton Works website

Milling out the Z plates a tad... (2014)
 
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