NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Well, the last minute decision to make it to the Chicago event has taken a toll. We had a nice ride (both Spyders) to the AHRMA vintage motorcycle races Sunday. It was then that I decided to go to Chicago...and talked Nancy into it that evening. Talk about last minute plans! I also decided we needed to do some things to get the RTS ready for the journey. Uh-oh, looks like time for a garage session! :yikes:
I have had some mods here, but with the Spyder in the shop for so many weeks, no opportunity to install them. I have also held off on buying some other mods, pending whether or not this Spyder became history. Yesterday, the rush began to catch up.
First order of business was an Eastern Beaver 3-circuit fuse switched block. I did not see a need for the PC-8, as I have few accessories to add to the well equipped RTS. Time to take off my panels again. They should have made these things with zippers!
Fusebox in place, I installed two Powerlets in the glove box Y-panel. I needed a place to plug in my GPS There are very few places where Powerlets will fit on the RT, and space is very tight in those locations.. I was going to power these with the front unswitched accessory plug, but when the dealer moved it from inside the shock, where it was improperly tied from the factory, he made it inaccessible without removing the trunk, and I didn't have time to take off the frunk. I made up a wiring harness, ran some split loom, and went to the new fuse block...for now. The switched power will work fine for my GPS.
Next, I swiped the Starcom1 off my BMW (temporarily) and the power harness off Nancy's Spyder. That also runs to the new power block. I tucked the Starcom1 under the frame just behind the glove box. I did not have time for permanent wiring, so the audio plug to the rrunk is jury rigged for now. I'll add a bulkhead connector when I have time to pull apart the rear bodywork and do it right. Up front, for the GPS, I can use a simple coiled cord, running under the seat. Not elegant, but effective. A permanent bulkhead connector could be added to the switch panel...maybe later. Now I have tunes in my helmet, and a way to talk to my wife, as well as directions (from the GPS, not her). :thumbup: With the iPod connected to both the RTS and the Starcom1, I also have sound at the speakers and handlebar control of the iPod.
The next problem to solve was a way to protect the windshield when the Spyder is covered. The Outdoor Cover that comes with the RTS has a protective surface inside, but the smaller Travel Cover does not. The two of us will have no room for the larger cover without a trailer for this journey, so we bought some sweatshirt material and Nancy sewed an envelope to cover the windshield. Now the cover can't cause scratches. A yard of material was plenty.
The final need was a rain cover for the seat. Seat stiching leaks in the rain, and the foam gets soaked, making for a miserable ride for several days. The embroidered PE seat is worse. We found some waterproof jacket material (light packcloth) at the local fabric store...just enough for two covers. We traced out the shape of the seat on the material in chalk, and Nancy sewed a cover. We'll put the elastic cord in the hem tomorrow, and that will be complete. Nancy will use the remaining cloth for a seat rain cover for her RS. No more plastic trash bags!
It had been an intense two days. Sorry, no pictures, as yet. Besides needing time, I want to clean some things up and test them out before I post these things. Remember, I said some were temporary. If you want to see how things came out, look me up in Chicago.
I have had some mods here, but with the Spyder in the shop for so many weeks, no opportunity to install them. I have also held off on buying some other mods, pending whether or not this Spyder became history. Yesterday, the rush began to catch up.
First order of business was an Eastern Beaver 3-circuit fuse switched block. I did not see a need for the PC-8, as I have few accessories to add to the well equipped RTS. Time to take off my panels again. They should have made these things with zippers!
Fusebox in place, I installed two Powerlets in the glove box Y-panel. I needed a place to plug in my GPS There are very few places where Powerlets will fit on the RT, and space is very tight in those locations.. I was going to power these with the front unswitched accessory plug, but when the dealer moved it from inside the shock, where it was improperly tied from the factory, he made it inaccessible without removing the trunk, and I didn't have time to take off the frunk. I made up a wiring harness, ran some split loom, and went to the new fuse block...for now. The switched power will work fine for my GPS.
Next, I swiped the Starcom1 off my BMW (temporarily) and the power harness off Nancy's Spyder. That also runs to the new power block. I tucked the Starcom1 under the frame just behind the glove box. I did not have time for permanent wiring, so the audio plug to the rrunk is jury rigged for now. I'll add a bulkhead connector when I have time to pull apart the rear bodywork and do it right. Up front, for the GPS, I can use a simple coiled cord, running under the seat. Not elegant, but effective. A permanent bulkhead connector could be added to the switch panel...maybe later. Now I have tunes in my helmet, and a way to talk to my wife, as well as directions (from the GPS, not her). :thumbup: With the iPod connected to both the RTS and the Starcom1, I also have sound at the speakers and handlebar control of the iPod.
The next problem to solve was a way to protect the windshield when the Spyder is covered. The Outdoor Cover that comes with the RTS has a protective surface inside, but the smaller Travel Cover does not. The two of us will have no room for the larger cover without a trailer for this journey, so we bought some sweatshirt material and Nancy sewed an envelope to cover the windshield. Now the cover can't cause scratches. A yard of material was plenty.
The final need was a rain cover for the seat. Seat stiching leaks in the rain, and the foam gets soaked, making for a miserable ride for several days. The embroidered PE seat is worse. We found some waterproof jacket material (light packcloth) at the local fabric store...just enough for two covers. We traced out the shape of the seat on the material in chalk, and Nancy sewed a cover. We'll put the elastic cord in the hem tomorrow, and that will be complete. Nancy will use the remaining cloth for a seat rain cover for her RS. No more plastic trash bags!
It had been an intense two days. Sorry, no pictures, as yet. Besides needing time, I want to clean some things up and test them out before I post these things. Remember, I said some were temporary. If you want to see how things came out, look me up in Chicago.
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