Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: DanKearney on March 23, 2014, 09:17:09 pm
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Howdy All,
I am considering purchasing a tool bag that would mount on the front forks just below the headlight. However, it appears the rectifier/voltage regulator is mounted in that spot and has cooling slots in the cover. I am concerned that heat build-up by blocking the wind could cause trouble down the road.
Anyone have any firsthand information about this scenario?
Cheers,
Dan K.
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No experience with it on a UCE, but I don't do it on any bike because of blockage of airflow to the engine. The rectifier too, in cases like this where it is located there.
My personal opinion is that it belongs elsewhere, such as the back of the bike or in one of the toolboxes.
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If you really wish a toolroll on the front, you could do like dirtbikers and wrap it to the fender. That way it wont block airflow to engine or R/R.
But I prefer it too in the back and as low as possible with spares.
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I have a small leather toolbag mounted to the front fork, resting on the front fender. It isn't large enough for a full toolset but it holds emergency supplies (zip ties, fuses, electrical tape, screwdriver). And it could hold more. I've had no trouble with it.
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I have a small leather toolbag mounted to the front fork, resting on the front fender. It isn't large enough for a full toolset but it holds emergency supplies (zip ties, fuses, electrical tape, screwdriver). And it could hold more. I've had no trouble with it.
If you get the opportunity, post a pic. I'd like to see it.
Cheers,
Dan K.
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I don't like strap on tool rolls because they always make wear marks where they are strapped on. I do like sheet metal tool boxes firmly attached to the frame. I have a neat one (off an old bike) to attach crosswise to the lower part of the frames front down tube, below the engine bolt. I just need to make up a mounting bracket for it.
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I'd love to see a good picture of a tool roll (especially one from Nfield Gear's catalog) attached to a bike. I've been toying around with getting one for extra storage... I'm not completely sold because it might disrupt the lines of the bike, but I had never considered that it might disrupt the airflow to the engine.
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I don't like strap on tool rolls because they always make wear marks where they are strapped on.
Everything strapped on leaves wear marks. Conversely...
I strapped my "tool roll" on the back of my luggage rack:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rGol88I9x2s/UmEVWqvpNII/AAAAAAAABds/sLjbmAOY50M/w600-h449-no/DSC03078.jpg)
It ended up resting on the tail light box; the top corner of the metal "faceplate" edge chewed a hole in the bottom of the bag in one long day of riding!
Rich, I think we've got the same front end... the front fender rides up and down between the upper fork covering tubes - how does something on the fender keep from rubbing the covers as the forks compress?
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Pretty limited amount of space between the fender and casquette when the forks are compressed, too. The bag can't can't be very big.
Bare
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Here's my G5 with the toolbag. Yes it did wear the paint off of the front fender and the forks where the straps went around. I no longer use it.
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I hung one of those off the back of my solo seat one time the first summer I had the bike. One trip to town & it had chewed the paint off the rear fender from seat bounce. Pist me off big time. I should have known better.
Anywhere something touches paint expect the clearcoat & the paint to be worn off.
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I live in NYC, ride in winter salt, and park on the street regularly, so on my bike I'm afraid the "wears the paint off" cow is out of the barn...
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The previous owner of my bike had a front fork tool bag. As others have said, the paint rubs off the front forks. You may not mind though, especially if the bag is always going to be there. Personally, I think it looks quite bad.
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I have had several customers crash when a big bump compressed the forks enough to bind on the bag. The limit to suspension travel was the difference between falling, or maintaining control.
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I use one of these:
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/canvas-zipper-bags/canvas-zipper-bag
I secure it crossways in relation to the frame in front of the rear fender below the air box and on top of the gear box. I use a short heavy rubber bungie strap to hold it in place. The weight is low and central and it is easy to access.
The bag holds an amazing number of tools (needed ;D) is very rugged and since it is soft, it is somewhat pliable making it easy to squeeze in to the small space.
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I have a luggage rack, sissy bar, saddlebags, a T bag, a magnetic tank bag, AND a fork mounted tool bag on my Kawasaki. But I don't want to damage the paint or ruin the lines of my RE. I really don't like the looks of the only rack that is available for my model. So for now, I'm carrying everything in a backpack. I'm looking for a "tailpack" that can be attached to the passenger part of the seat with straps, and is quickly removable. The rail where the straps or bungee cords attach can be wrapped in several layers of electrical tape to protect the finish. I don't plan on taking the Enfield on really long trips, I mostly carry small tools, a pump, a spare tube, tire irons, stuff to fix flats. I also carry the spare clutch cable and one of the throttle cables
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Hi Suitcase, Seeing your mention of Carrying Spare Cables, jogged a long forgotten memory circuit: ISDT competition riders would commonly thread a spare clutch cable next to the one in use with wire ties, just waiting to be changed over when the original breaks. You can do this also to carry a spare.
The EFI Enfields & other newer bikes use 2 identical Throttle Cables, in a push - pull configuration. If one breaks it's usually the one to pull the throttle open. The Throttle is spring loaded & would close without the other cable pushing, so you can just substitute the push cable into the pull position to continue riding. DOT might spank though - but it works.
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Suitcase (does our nickname suit you?) -
I'm sure you've considered this, but... get a bag you like, and use a cargo net:
(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_20673.jpg)
I wish our B5's had the G5 dual seat... but it's not bolt-on replacement.
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Here's pictures of my toolbag:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pyn2sd7qdywrtph/EnfieldTankBag1.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s1qqpupf93axkx6/EnfieldTankBag2.jpg
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I have a leather tool bag (not tool roll) I purchased from Hitchcocks. It is big enough to hold a large paperback book. I have it strapped onto one of the side rails of my luggage rack, nowhere near the rear mudguard. I was worried that water and crap off the rear wheel might damage the finish, so I worked some 'dubbin' (leather boot waterproofer) into it. That changed the leather from something akin to hard cardboard into something more pliant - and has taken the newness off the bag.
On my last bike (suzuki vanvan), I had a cylindrical plastic 'cannister' with a screw on lid fixed in the same position. These were originally designed to store the user manual on John Deere tractors, but they work great as a tool holder. They are also big enough to take a 1 litre aluminium fuel bottle - the type designed to safely contain petrol or any other fuel, such as for a camping stove.
The cannister works great, but it doesn't look right on my Electra, hence the tool bag.
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I'd show you MY tool bag Dan, but you've already seen it in person. ;D
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I'd show you MY tool bag Dan, but you've already seen it in person. ;D
I'll show you mine if you show me hers :) ;)(http://) :D
(After I shovel my driveway in a 40mph wind)
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I'll show you mine if you show me hers :) ;)(http://) :D
(After I shovel my driveway in a 40mph wind)
LOL ;D And to hell with shoveling!
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LOL ;D And to hell with shoveling!
I took my little girl dog out for a poop earlier & she's having none of it. She looks at me like it's MY fault ;) Of course, to her, EVerything's my fault. She hates snow & wind.
There's not enough snow for a real blow job this time; a quick hand job will do it.
I'm getting the feeling my Spring Breakout Ride might be in June this year.