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Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 4:38 pm
by ScottDR
Hi all,

I decided to do something about my old knees not liking being blasted by air at near freezing temps(as I am 6ft tall).

I have seen a picture of black coroplast being used on ecommoder, but thought of a slightly different way. I used 5mm thick Plexiglas I had sitting around. I then made a cardboard pattern and cut the Plexiglas. Next sanded the edges down some and covered them with electrical tape to protect the bike's finish while attached. I purchased some black vinyl from a sign shop to somewhat match the bike's colour. Unfortunately I didn't have time to mix up some soapy water and do the job bubble free. But I applied the vinyl and overlapped it to the back/bike side. Then used wide scraps to attach the new aero bits on the bottom and top edges. Oh, and I used a wax and grease remover on the bike to promote adhesion. It works great on my occasional rides to Hamilton about an hour and a half ride on back roads.

It's still too early to tell about fuel economy changes. But I'll report back when I have confirmed. My first trip back from Hamilton I fought a 60km/hour headwind so not a good indicator.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 5:58 pm
by homie
Ok... I hope I've seen it all now

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:27 pm
by ScottDR
Homie, I'm sure you haven't :) See here http://ecomodder.com/forum/528453-post38.html

And the nice thing is I can very simply remove when the weather gets warmer.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:52 pm
by homie
"Necessity is the mother of invention"..... Plato

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:46 pm
by ScottDR
Agreed, a fine quote. Cheers!

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:50 pm
by BobS
"Necessity is the mother of invention"..... Plato

"Therefore, a loaf of bread is the mother of an airplane" - Lou Costello

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 9:43 pm
by iceman
I found £50 bike pants (armr Moto) kept my whole legs very warm in 0 degree's in winter - the only issue is the knee pads were in the wrong place for me, but the trousers were water-proof and the fixed lining very warm. My hands were freezing before I fitted wind guards, but my legs - always warm. Are you wearing something decent for warmth and protection?

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 10:32 pm
by chicaboo
Wow, 5mm thick. I hope you don't have a down with that plexi coming back at you. :o
Daytona makes those out of thinner smoked plastic for all models, which is pretty cool.
https://japan.webike.net/products/22641463.html

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 10:55 pm
by homie
download.jpg
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OMG! "there is nothing new under the sun".... Ecclesiastes

Ok now help me find this... http://www.hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7556

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 11:16 pm
by ScottDR
Honestly no I haven't been wearing warm/purpose built pants. Plus I have knee problems anyway including having a large amount of meniscus removed in my left 16 months ago. But the little added panels are easily removable when the temperatures stay above 10C. Just thought it'd be a fun little experiment.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 11:19 pm
by ScottDR
Chicaboo, wow those are awesome! Just wish they'd fit with our North American turn signals. Too bad.

Homie, good luck with the app. But I'm sure it is just a matter of time before someone makes it. :D

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 12:22 am
by chicaboo
ScottDR wrote:Chicaboo, wow those are awesome! Just wish they'd fit with our North American turn signals. Too bad.
I didn't link to the older OWL style Daytona side visors, but Webike used to have them under the PCX 125 category.
To make them fit the North American SNAIL, you would just need to trim around the antennae the same way you did.
Depending on how you cut them, it likely wouldn't weaken them, even though they are much thinner material.
I hope the ones you made don't chaff your paintwork over time from wind vibration, etc. :(

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 9:43 am
by Mel46
When I built ours I put duct tape on the body panel before attaching the wind protectors. I put car door edge trim on the outer edges of the wind protectors, and when we had our accident the panels stayed together, though they cracked all over.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 9:50 am
by homie
Duct tape on custom paint, not good bed fellows. Especially these new Gorilla tapes. Next time you see a car who's owner duct taped a tail light or trunk down note the paint damage from residue after a little UV exposure from duct tape.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 9:59 am
by Mel46
I guess that blue painters tape would work better. I just knew that I needed something to protect the paint. I usually took the wind protectors off in the summer, so I had just reinstalled them when we had the accident.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 3:23 am
by u33db
Are those orange indicators something you've added or a USA thing?

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 3:36 am
by kramnala58
u33db wrote:Are those orange indicators something you've added or a USA thing?
They are a US/Canada thing. Federal regulation.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 8:18 am
by Mel46
Those side indicators were required because the bike was just barely under the width required by law for the turn signals. After the 2013 model they went back to the drawing board and solved that problem. In fact, the entire bike was redesigned. I love the look of the new one but the 2013 model, because of the gearing, is the fastest one they built, and THAT is what I love.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 8:40 am
by GeorgeSK
Back to ScottDR's job - wow - very nicely executed. and for considerably less coin than Chicaboo's link.

Re: Knees were too cold...

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 7:47 pm
by ScottDR
Thanks George! Hope you have berm enjoying spring so far. Cheers!