Mods to my scoot

[Gregg_VA]

Well, I said a while ago that I would post pics when I can my mods done to the 250 to turn it into more of a sport/touring bike. Here is some of them to get the conversation started.

First pic: AdvMonster 60 LEDs hooked up to an on/off switch and triggered by the high beams when the high beam is turned on. The regular bulbs were removed and replaced with HIDs.

Second pic: GIVI saddlebags, Cortech tail bag and a Pelican like waterproof case. Tank bag is off my FJR and is a Rapid Transit 19. Tank bag has a SPOT GPS tracker (orange) hanging on the side. Rider's seat was redone by Russell Day Long but I posted pics of that "tractor seat" before and you were all laughing at Sir Mix-A-Lot....

Third pic: Side view. Tires are Michelin Pilot Road 3s so an upgrade from bias ply to radial. The front is a 120 and the rear is a 150. Front fit just fine. The rear is fine on the right side and just barely rubs on the chain guard... and I mean just barely.

Fourth pic: Left side is a Garmin 665 with XM. Right side is a Garmin 1490 in a Ram Mount Aqua Box. On the top of the dash is a waterproof voltmeter with blue light.

Fifth pic: Windshield is a Zero Gravity is the touring model.

Sixth pic: A happy rider in Chicago after riding 1050+ miles in less than 24 hours for the IBA Meat Lover's Ride To Eat. Rode the same route on the return to home.

Bike actually rides very well. It is very smooth on the highways. The sprockets have been changed to one tooth up in the front and one down in the back so it has a nice top end running about 1,000 RPM less but doesn't have a lot of climbing torque in the mountains of WV on I-64.

I am going to run it in the Mason Dixon 20/20 rally. An aux gas tank would be nice but I will do my best on the stock tank.

[sonny4472]

Wow, high tech. You thinking of some iron butt stuff?

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by sonny4472

Wow, high tech. You thinking of some iron butt stuff?

Well, I have done three Saddlesores now on it but nothing multi-day. The MD 20/20 will be 29 or 30 hours in length so just barely more than a day. I am thinking about some multi-day IBA rides. Maybe a coast-to-coast-to-coast or something similar to that. Maybe someday I will enter it into the Iron Butt Rally (thinking about 2017).

[sonny4472]

I'd be fascinated to hear how all that goes on your 250.

[Gregg_VA]

For some reason I forgot to take a pic of the 6 outlet FuzeBlock that sits under the Pillon seat (where the tool pack goes).

http://www.fuzeblocks.com/ (RIP Curt)

I also have two waterproof USB connectors mounted on each side of the handlebar cable and zip tied to the cables running down.

The Fuzeblock is wired for the USB connectors (accessory power), SAE connector in the tank bag (trickle charger and USB charging stuff in the tank bag) - constant power Aux LED lights (accessory power) and a few other things.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by sonny4472

I'd be fascinated to hear how all that goes on your 250.

Well the Saddlesores went great, especially the round trip to Chicago. The Russell seat really helps. It may look like a tractor seat but you butt will thank you. I guess the trick will be how I will feel doing it day after day. Should be interesting.

[sonny4472]

Have you re geared it to lower the rpm in 6th?
I was asked today if a guy could ride a 250r cross country and I couldn't give him a satisfactory answer. Now I'm curious about long range on a 250 also.
Thanks for your impressions.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by sonny4472

Have you re geared it to lower the rpm in 6th?
I was asked today if a guy could ride a 250r cross country and I couldn't give him a satisfactory answer. Now I'm curious about long range on a 250 also.
Thanks for your impressions.

Yeah, exactly. At around 70 the RPMs are around 8k. At 80, they are around 9K maybe a bit higher. When the bike was stock, my RPMs at those same speeds were 1K higher.

There have been 250 ridden across the US. Some have even competed in the Iron Butt Rally for 11 days.

[Desmoluci]

Can the charging system handle it?
Nice setup you have there.

[Kscreations08]

Originally Posted by Gregg_VA

Yeah, exactly. At around 70 the RPMs are around 8k. At 80, they are around 9K maybe a bit higher. When the bike was stock, my RPMs at those same speeds were 1K higher.

There have been 250 ridden across the US. Some have even competed in the Iron Butt Rally for 11 days.

Whats your sprocket tooth count for that gearing?

[NevadaWolf]

Whoo hoo! Hot looking little Ninjette there Gregg! Go go little bike amid all them bigger boys behind you!

Absolutely digging the LEDs! What's their wattage? Since replacing with the HIDs I presume you are gaining a bit of power to run those. How close are you to maxed out with everything running?

More I look at that touring screen the more it seems a worthwhile investment. Still trying to decide what I want to do next. Maybe after running this years planned cert rides I'll have a solid list of what needs work and what i can live with.

Awesome job there! I hope maybe to run across your path out on the road one day!

[Sirref]

does the bike feel bogged down a bit by all the extra weight? Everything combined probably weighs about as much as a pillion rider.


also, how do the pilot road 3s feel? I like my street radials but the N300 fits 150 sized rears just fine and they could be an improvement.

[psych0hans]

Major props! Good luck on your endeavours...

[Alex]

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by Desmoluci

Can the charging system handle it?
Nice setup you have there.

Charging system appears strong. Low beam HIDs run 13.9V and the high beams run 14.1V. Turning on the LEDs has no impact at all and with the HIDs and LEDs running I am putting out some light.... An incredible amount.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by Kscreations08

Whats your sprocket tooth count for that gearing?

Good question. The one up, one down was based on stock so if I remember correctly 15 in the front and 43 in the rear.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Absolutely digging the LEDs! What's their wattage? Since replacing with the HIDs I presume you are gaining a bit of power to run those. How close are you to maxed out with everything running?

Teri: The AdvMonster 60s are 28 watts and 3600 lumens per light. See here: http://stores.advmonster.com/model-6...d-flood-light/

So removing 55 watt bulbs and replacing them with 35 watt HIDs I gained 20 and then lose 8 when each LED is running. 16 watts for both, so just barely over one amp plus up over stock. The charging system is not impacted as far as I can tell.

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by Sirref

does the bike feel bogged down a bit by all the extra weight? Everything combined probably weighs about as much as a pillion rider.


also, how do the pilot road 3s feel? I like my street radials but the N300 fits 150 sized rears just fine and they could be an improvement.

Ben, I believe the saddlebags, pelican case and tail pack would be about 50 pounds or at least that is about what I was carrying. The saddlebags do provide drag because they are angled out. If I didn't weigh so much the bogging down affect would be much less. Yes I do look like a monkey humping a football on that bike but that is the appeal. My weight and age don't match the demographic typically found riding small bikes like this. That is why I do it.

The PR3 radials ride and feel awesome but then again I am looking for touring not canyon carving. I find the wider size both front and back do squirm MUCH less than the stock sizes when on twisty roads. Overall I am impressed with the tires but I pretty much knew I would be because that is what I run on my FJR.

[beniblanco]

Good job on the bike. It really shows how versatile the 250 is. Oh man, does that seat looks very very comfortable compared to the stock one.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg_VA

Teri: The AdvMonster 60s are 28 watts and 3600 lumens per light. See here: http://stores.advmonster.com/model-6...d-flood-light/

So removing 55 watt bulbs and replacing them with 35 watt HIDs I gained 20 and then lose 8 when each LED is running. 16 watts for both, so just barely over one amp plus up over stock. The charging system is not impacted as far as I can tell.

I think mine is suffering because of the 77w jacket I tend to run on high as often as possible.

Though, I am inspired! Thinking of a way to install these or similar lights, then wire up a rocker switch that would enable me to choose either the headlight hi beam or the LED off road lights. Same electrical cost while increasing my light output for those really dark roads.

THANKS!

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by beniblanco

Good job on the bike. It really shows how versatile the 250 is. Oh man, does that seat looks very very comfortable compared to the stock one.

Very, very comfortable indeed.

[spooph]

These are awesome! Any pics of the bike without all the luggage on? Just trying to get an idea of how much bigger that seat is from stock.