FSSNOC THUMPER GARAGE
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Is this JOHNNY CASH'S SUZUKI S-40 ...
(a piece at a time!)?
Just back from test ride on my new seat. Much better, as it allows me to move around a bit. Of more interest is the gearing change. I went to 36 on rear and 16 up front. Stock is 15/38. This puts a true 60 mph at the torque peak of 4250 rpm.
Had it on I-80 the other day and it runs 70 with ease. On secondary roads, I’m usually at 4000 rpm for a true 56 mph. Also, often at 3500 rpm for a true 50 mph. It’s very smooth and “ comfortable” at those speeds. Gas mileage is 75 mpg plus or minus 2.
Can hardly believe how much I like this bike!!!
Ben #4784
Finally got the seat painted black! Still need to make proper side covers. Winter stuff! Ben #4784
WOW! Just WOW! What a make-over you have done here ... from cruiser to sport-roadster! Well done, Ben, well done! Thank You for sharing this machine with us here on the Thumper Garage! This is amazing!!! - #000.
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MISSING IN ACTION ON FACEBOOK PERSONAL MESSAGE...
I sent you a couple of FB messages wondering how you all were doing and then saw your post that you aren’t using that means of communication.
...Dave and Sharon
HI YOU TWO! Yeah, I've opted-out of Personal Message on Facebook, heard too many horror stories of how much they can do through your phone on that media. Not sure if any of it is true, but nevertheless, I opted-out on PM. Will update you via text, nice to hear from you! ... #000
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Jack,
I wanted to look at your Honda CBR250R to see how you had it set up for touring? Brian Slark, #3853 - Alabama (Barber Motorsports Museum)
Hi Brian ... This photo (shown last week) shows how it all looks going down the road. I use a barrel bag placed atop the seat with two ROK straps that are attached under the removable rear passenger seat on one end and the opposite ends are looped around the hand-holds that are a factory item on the rear of the bike from new. The bag sets across the bike transversely, these two straps run across the bag's mid-section and parallel with the bike frame. When loading, I take the time to run the straps through the bag handles for additional security.
Also for security, I use a bungie net placed under (and held captive by) the seat itself as well as the two attachment bolts that mount the operator seat. For added space and convenience, I use a smaller bag placed on top of the barrel bag for my rain-suit and sandals plus any item I might want to get to on short notice, such as rain! This second bag is held in place by two short bungie straps that encircle the bag down to the two ROK straps.
I then use a long ROK strap going from the center of the rear of the load (tail-light area) to the center of the front of the load, both ends attaching to the bungie net.
Lastly, using another long ROK strap, I attach each end to its respective side of the bungie net, run it up across the barrel bag left to right (end-to-end), snap it together ... and I'm off! All ROK straps stay secured to the bike overnight and may be stowed under the seat for a short day ride.
Sounds kind of confusing, but my theory is that if a bungie net can hold from the top down, why can't it hold from the bottom up? I do use a measure of care as to how all this stuff is arranged under the seat to make sure that nothing interferes with how the seat is secured to the bike.
As for the bike itself, it is stock geared, stock tired, stock everything except for the Delkevic 14" carbon-fibre pipe and Grab-On foam rubber sleeves over the handlebar grips. Add gas and go! 49,000+ travel miles on the bike above and 89,981 miles on my Honda Repsol CBR250R.
So there you go ... a barrel bag, a small additional bag, and a tank bag and I'm ready to ride to the ocean, or both oceans if you like. A shout-out to Rolf-Immo Gabbe, FSSNOC #2497 - Washington who turned me on to these ROK straps many years ago!
So, Brian ... make a point to come visit us at an event one of these days? We'd love to have you! - Jack, #000
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Now taking photos for possible use in our club calendar for 2020! Send one or two favorite shots to:
FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
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Wanna watch a Movie?
Good video. Recognize some of these places? Ken Conrad, FSSNOC #4800 - MT.
http://www.ural.com
There's a '19 Gear Up on Craigslist, very low miles:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/mcy/d/poulsbo-2019-ural-gear-up-2wd-sidecar/6973106857.html
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SOME GOOD ADVISE FROM "QUEASY RIDER"...
TZ (as in Triple Zip or #000),
I went to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion at Rollag, MN. Labor Day weekend, wearing FSSNOC Gear.
A man chased me down from behind yelling, "I know what FSSNOC is!"
He then told me he was not a member but had friends who were. He had twin cylinder Yamahas. I encouraged him to join and to get a Thumper!
An interesting encounter! Wear your gear!
‘Queasy Rider’
Dave Mueller, #2254, Akeley, Minnesota
GOOD JOB, DAVE! Thank You for wearing FSSNOC gear, for encouraging another to join us, and lastly, for sharing your experience with us here on the Thumper Garage!! - #000
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FOUR GB500 HONDAS ATTENDED THE 2019 THUMPERCAFE IN ALABAMA! WE HEAR FROM TWO OF THEM...
Hey Jack!
Carol and I put a bit over 3,000 miles on our two Honda GB500's this trip. (Pic attached of Carol wiping the top layer of grime off of mine. Or maybe she was transferring the grime from hers over to mine?!?! - (So sorry, Joe! Your photo was preempted due to space limitations ).
Besides having at great time at Cheaha State Park's "ThumperCafe'", we also rode a big loop through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and then back to Georgia for the VJMC's Vintage Honda Rally.
The bike's ran great the whole trip---I'll send a write-up in a week or so.
Regarding Brian Slark's (from Barber Motorsports Museum) interest in modifying his Honda CBR250R for traveling (see on Last Weeks posts below):
Carol and I each own a 2013 Honda CBR250R and have made two long trips (7,000+ miles C2CTT and almost 6,000 miles to Wisdom, Montana and back) on them (plus many shorter excursions). Here is how I set them up for our travels.
They both have the following:
(1) GIVI rack (Part # SR1103) and a 50-liter GIVI box. Weatherproof & secure, lockable storage.
(2) Geared 12% higher---1 more tooth on the CS sprockets and down to a 36T on the rear. No need to change chain length. RPM's drop significantly. But you have to mentally re-calculate your speed as you travel---the speedometer and odometer get their instructions from a sending unit in the transmission, not from the front wheel. This also means that you need to get your calculator out when computing the number of miles that you've traveled ... PBI #382-15 steel sprocket, PBI #3135-36 aluminum rear sprocket and 108 link 520 chain. We get about 24,000 miles on this combination.
(3) Taller, tinted/smoked windshields. Zero Gravity Part # 23-443-19 Much better air flow than stock!
(4) Heli-Bar Handlebars Part # HB01075 They are higher & they come back a little further, too. We're both 63---we don't appreciate clip-on bars much anymore! I didn't have to re-route any wiring, cables, hoses etc. to install them, either!
(5) Yoshimura Race Stand Spools (Part # 19-4713). They make life a bit easier. Whoever finally designs & markets a centerstand kit for all of these 250 & 300 Honda Thumpers running around is gonna make a killing!
(6) Anti-vibration bar ends. Even though they're little Thumpers...they're still Thumpers! I'll probably install the heavier ThrottleMeister bar ends/throttle locks in the near future.
(7) Delkevic makes a good-quality and relatively low-priced full exhaust system (with carbon-fiber canisters!) for these bikes. Don't get the 225mm (9") canisters---they are way too loud. Obnoxiously so. Get the longer 350mm (14") canisters---not too loud with better performance and a LOT less weight. We are using the stock exhaust systems as replacement anchors for our ICON 280' luxury yacht.
(8) Small "Spot mirrors" on the stock mirrors are an improvement.
(9) We both use a large magnetic tank bag, too, for the extra carrying capacity.
(10) Corbin seat on mine and a Saddleman seat on Carol's. Both improve comfort on long days. We've done several 600+ and 700+ mile days---without the seats and sheepskins, those days would have crippled us!
Hope this info helps, Brian!
Joe Gilmore #661, Maryland
Thanks, Joe! That's an excellent summary of your traveling system! These machines have the heart of a lion encased in the body of a cub ... truly an amazingly capable cross-country tourer! - #000.
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Be sure to check out the other pages of this site before you thump off into the distance. Sign-up a new member this week, ya' hear? It's how we grow and go, it is up to the current members to make sure we have a future... Thump On! - #000.
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(Website Details and Instructions: )
Hello Thumper Enthusiasts...
I'm Jack Robinson (FSSNOC #000), your club Director. It is an honor to introduce you to THE THUMPER GARAGE. This mini-venue is in addition to our legendary hard copy THUMPER NEWS quarterly magazine. After enjoying this page, please visit our other pages on this site. Go to the masthead above to make it happen...
You are encouraged to thump by the THUMPER GARAGE weekly. This is a FREE site for you and your friends.
Members may contact us anytime 24/7 with comments, conversation, stories, or questions via a mailed letter, a phone call or an e-mail. When you E-mail, please give us your first name, your FSSNOC member number, and your state. You'll receive a courtesy confirmation E-mail back. Our actual response to your E-mail will generally be posted on the following Thursday's THUMPER GARAGE posting so be sure to tune back in then... (Address-phone number-email address is below... **)
We encourage you to join our club: Complete the application found elsewhere on this site (click on "more" above) and mail it to us with $40 dues for a 12 month membership or save a few bucks by sending $75 for a 24 month membership. Include your shirt size so we can gift you a FREE club t-shirt if this is your initial membership.
A subscription to THUMPER NEWS magazine, mailed to your mailbox, is included in your membership as well.
Our U.S. POSTAL address is: FSSNOC P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks 67504-1809.
To call our club, phone 620-663-1869 or you may send an E-mail: FSSNOCTHUMPERS@yahoo.com
NOTICE: Please understand that your E-mail will likely be reproduced on this site. Any/all subject matter and information submitted may be used in-part or edited and will become the property of the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club and FSSNOC,INC. All included content in Thumper News or The Thumper Garage is solely for entertainment, not advise....
THE CLUB STORE ... CLICK ON IT WHEN YOU ARE DONE HERE?
The Autumn season means awesome riding for many areas ... time to get some new club gear, eh? Order yourself a bright new yellow and black club cap, a couple cotton t-shirts, and at least one sweatshirt to wear under your riding gear. Remember, every day is FSSNOC gear day. Tell the world about our club ... Thanks!
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YOU'VE JUST VISITED THE THUMPER GARAGE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE "MORE" ON THE MASTHEAD ABOVE ... AND CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS SITE. PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB (FSSNOC) TODAY ...Thank You! - Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director
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