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V85TT Mods Thread
- Thread starterFaisal
- Start date
Please tell us how well it works in the rain after you have some experience with it.
Will do! 
I am disappointed with the Hi beam of my TT, especially with the time change and early commute. On other bikes and assorted cages I have installed auxiliary hi beam actuated lighting. Traditionally I pull power off of the hi beam to trigger relay for power to aux lights.
Any reason the TT's system wouldn't like this arrangement?
Any reason the TT's system wouldn't like this arrangement?
I suggest that you check/adjust headlight vertical aim—the stock LED headlights provide good light patterns on both low and high beams if aimed correctly. The low beams actually stay on when high beam is used to give both near and far illumination.
Thank you, I've been through available adjustments shy of lamps placement in bucket. . There is a gap in the horizontal beams. The bottom of the hi beam doesn't join the top of the low beam. I've been spoiled by V Strom and FJR13 with Auxito lamps behind clear lenses. A distinct horizontal line on top of low, with full fill front wheel to top of power poles on hi.
I have a skene controller set up on my bike, fancy relay, that triggers off the high beam, white wire behind the headlight connector. Allows for aux lights to stay on when the bike is powered, in increments of 10%, and full power with high beam.
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There are tons of posts on this. I suggest you SEARCH and read.
There have been some wiring disasters experienced by people so I strongly recommend that you read a bit and make some notes on the ones who provided great information and their solution.
Please do not just go chopping into your wiring.
I am afraid that you may end up being very sorry about it.
I tell people all the time, “Never carve into a factory wiring loom”. Never.
I make $$$$ off of customers all the time who violate this rule.
That why I asked here first. I have a 15 Transit van full of "Can Busses", if you look at a wire component it throws a code.
Will look into a Skene type controller
Thank You
GuzzleGuzzy
Just got it firing!
Sweet setup! I almost have all the parts for replicating this setup. I was pleased to see how tiny the skene controller is, it should fit nicely in the small fog light wiring well under the tank. Question, would you happen to have any tips or cheat-sheets on identifying the high-beam wire? TIA
Pleased to report that the Pyramid splash guard works a treat. Picture taken after a very wet 235 mile ride on tarmac. Prior to fitting the guard, the rack/top box, number plate and rear lights would be completely covered in dirt and grit.
mkc1962
Just got it firing!
I must admit with many…..the rear splash/spray design of these bikes is ridiculous. For the most part I have my TT for running the back roads of the smoky mountains, but also on occasion back country hard packed type roads. Just in the rain alone makes a total mess. I’m pretty anal about the condition of all I own, this was a topic I had to come up with a solution for…..at least for me
Ive seen the Pyramid plastics, Splash guard, and Hugger. They look good, but to me still if even together wont take care of it all….Not that I have seen anyone do both anyway. However Pyramid is incredibly proud of their plastic and in some cases takes a long time to obtain. So I started searching other options. I ran across a post somewhere of an individual using a splash guard designed for a Honda NC750D. Ebay around $50, but coming from China took about 2 weeks. In Appearance near identical to the Pyramid product, but one does have to modify the mounting bracket that comes with it to mate up to the OE holes in the rear drive. After install did seem to help with most of the road spray during rain conditions, but did basically nothing at all for swingarm, bags, rear shock protection when in any sort of offroad condition. Still grit, mud etc., everywhere.
Where I went next was to create an entire cover for the rear wheel all the way to the swing arm. I used a molded in black ABS universal dirt bike front fender. Acerbis brand. Amazon $25. Yes I had to use a heat gun to reshape it to better mate to the situation. I also created a mounting bracket for the swingarm end using ¼” lexan sheet. Nothing attached permanently, no holes drilled etc. The 2 vertical mold tabs on the top of the swingarm act as positioning guides to hold my bracket in a solid place. I made brackets that go around the swing arm for attaching. I also have a large worm gear strap coming for lower profile bracket mounting. But really don’t think it is needed.
My prototype mount, which would move a little side to side is what I road trialed. I went for a 100 mile ride. 20 of it on back country, southern red mud logging roads, some very sloppy with a few water/mud holes that were pan deep. Almost a mistake considering the tires they stuck on my TT from the factory. After the dirt section, I stopped and took a few pictures which show basically nothing at all mud or otherwise on anything in the rear swingarm,shock,bags. I was serious impressed with the lack of filth considering all I had just gone through. The rest of the ride got into some light rain, which for the most part only washed off what little I did get on the bike. To add to this I was also wanting to make sure my mod also had good clearance for suspension movement. I did hit a few pretty large woops/dips and potholes. I saw no sign of any sort of my mod hitting the bottom of the supposed stock fender area. But considering the fact I plan to ride 99% of pavement and nowhere near the type of what I just trialed on, I have no concerns at all…..If a readers plans are to use your TT as a serious off road dirt bike, you would have to assess the situation for yourself.
To me part of owning a new bike is doing mods and making it your own. Sadly sometimes we have to fab up things to overcome poor OE designs. My mod is not this picture perfect factory OE or aftermarket look. But to me it surely does the job, and with the bags on it, you don’t even see it. It takes about 5 minutes to remove the entire Splash/fender addition. And other than my design time, was incredibly cheap. I hope others find this of value.
Ive seen the Pyramid plastics, Splash guard, and Hugger. They look good, but to me still if even together wont take care of it all….Not that I have seen anyone do both anyway. However Pyramid is incredibly proud of their plastic and in some cases takes a long time to obtain. So I started searching other options. I ran across a post somewhere of an individual using a splash guard designed for a Honda NC750D. Ebay around $50, but coming from China took about 2 weeks. In Appearance near identical to the Pyramid product, but one does have to modify the mounting bracket that comes with it to mate up to the OE holes in the rear drive. After install did seem to help with most of the road spray during rain conditions, but did basically nothing at all for swingarm, bags, rear shock protection when in any sort of offroad condition. Still grit, mud etc., everywhere.
Where I went next was to create an entire cover for the rear wheel all the way to the swing arm. I used a molded in black ABS universal dirt bike front fender. Acerbis brand. Amazon $25. Yes I had to use a heat gun to reshape it to better mate to the situation. I also created a mounting bracket for the swingarm end using ¼” lexan sheet. Nothing attached permanently, no holes drilled etc. The 2 vertical mold tabs on the top of the swingarm act as positioning guides to hold my bracket in a solid place. I made brackets that go around the swing arm for attaching. I also have a large worm gear strap coming for lower profile bracket mounting. But really don’t think it is needed.
My prototype mount, which would move a little side to side is what I road trialed. I went for a 100 mile ride. 20 of it on back country, southern red mud logging roads, some very sloppy with a few water/mud holes that were pan deep. Almost a mistake considering the tires they stuck on my TT from the factory. After the dirt section, I stopped and took a few pictures which show basically nothing at all mud or otherwise on anything in the rear swingarm,shock,bags. I was serious impressed with the lack of filth considering all I had just gone through. The rest of the ride got into some light rain, which for the most part only washed off what little I did get on the bike. To add to this I was also wanting to make sure my mod also had good clearance for suspension movement. I did hit a few pretty large woops/dips and potholes. I saw no sign of any sort of my mod hitting the bottom of the supposed stock fender area. But considering the fact I plan to ride 99% of pavement and nowhere near the type of what I just trialed on, I have no concerns at all…..If a readers plans are to use your TT as a serious off road dirt bike, you would have to assess the situation for yourself.
To me part of owning a new bike is doing mods and making it your own. Sadly sometimes we have to fab up things to overcome poor OE designs. My mod is not this picture perfect factory OE or aftermarket look. But to me it surely does the job, and with the bags on it, you don’t even see it. It takes about 5 minutes to remove the entire Splash/fender addition. And other than my design time, was incredibly cheap. I hope others find this of value.
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I love the engineering and sheer determination of accomplishing this task... I hear you frustration with pyramid plastics cost and availability. Nice work sir
mkc1962
Just got it firing!
Thank you sir for the compliment.
the thing that gets me is you have a company like Pyramid, willing to sort of try to solve a problem, but either one end of the spray or the other. Which to me is not at all a solution to the OE design flaw. Hence, I notice not many that are willing to pursue the pricey options. They could have easily professionally engineered and molded something like I have created. THAT the masses would probably embrace. Oh well, mine is solved and such challenges are always enjoyed!!
the thing that gets me is you have a company like Pyramid, willing to sort of try to solve a problem, but either one end of the spray or the other. Which to me is not at all a solution to the OE design flaw. Hence, I notice not many that are willing to pursue the pricey options. They could have easily professionally engineered and molded something like I have created. THAT the masses would probably embrace. Oh well, mine is solved and such challenges are always enjoyed!!
Some time back in the late 80s the "industry" decided to stop using real fenders. Apparently they were paying too much attention to the fringe public that Bobbed or chopped their bikes up for fashion. Ignoring the riders who actually ride year round everywhere. A few Retro "UJMs" turn up now and again. One has to go back in time to find a good affordable Utilitarian bike.
mkc1962
Just got it firing!
Very true.......with more than just fenders at times.
Clifton
Cruisin' Guzzisti
The industry stylists believe fashion sells and I imagine they are right to some extent. If they wished to cater to those who really ride and clean their bikes, as well as hipsters, they could mould a "cut here line" across the undersides of full size, functional, front and rear fenders. Two other examples of the current "style does not follow function" are oversize TW200 style tires on retro bikes and angling mufflers up 45* which compromises fitting panniers.
fastlaners
Tuned and Synch'ed
Thanks for the post Chris; it will make it easier for myself and others that may follow your lead on this rear fender; so removing the rear wheel and brake assembly weren’t a real tedious task? Thanks; John
John, thanks for your feedback.
Fitting this hugger this was the first time I'd removed the rear wheel on the V85TT and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. Compared to our Breva 750 and V7, there's plenty of room inside the swing arm and the cush drive rubbers are a breeze to locate on the hub during reassembly.
Fitting this hugger this was the first time I'd removed the rear wheel on the V85TT and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. Compared to our Breva 750 and V7, there's plenty of room inside the swing arm and the cush drive rubbers are a breeze to locate on the hub during reassembly.