Plug the holes!

[doxbike]

Sitting here with a broken ankle instead of riding, I've been farkling.

Getting real fond of rubber tips available at the Ace Hardware stores. Those open holes in the frame were bugging me so I plugged 'em. Use 5/8" on the left front small hole, 3/4" on the middle size holes (cut at an angle and driven in with a rubber mallet; and 1¼" on the big holes (shortened about ½" so they'd fit) and presto/wammo! all done- about $6 total cost!

 

[DaveM]

Good idea to do that actually stops all the dirt and mud getting into those areas

 

[otherwise]

I always love a $6 fix, well done.

 

[avion]

Hey - just did the same thing two weeks ago, but I went for plastic not rubber. Looks much better than the gaping holes. Mine cost about R60 ZA, but then again I just grabbed a handful of each size. I did make some drainage holes in the swingarm ones, very small. Will post some pics if I can find a camera that works.

...

 

[doxbike]

can't take all the credit-got the idea from the UK Tiger site.

Avion, rationale for the holes? Where does the water get in?

 

[CarlS]

I considered plugging mine; but with the humidity and rain here in Florida and the Southeastern US, I decided to to keep them open so moisture would not be trapped. I would hate for my frame to rust from the inside out.

 

[doxbike]

Carl, it's easy enough to pull them out and check for any moisture. I never looked to see where water could enter. Course it never rains in southern California-yeah, right! I'll take a look this week-end

 

[CarlS]

It is just the general humidity during the summer here. And if you ride in Florida in the summer, you are going to ride in the rain sooner or later.

 

[DaveM]

Rust was something that I did think about here and I suppose if you really had time you could implement a few thing that would stop that. I was reading this article on rust prevention on automobiles and I am sure that it would be equally relevant to motorbikes

View attachment corrosionprotection.pdf

 

[avion]

Yeah I put small drain hole / slit at the bottom of the swingarm ones, being a bearing further back, just so that if water does get in, it can drain / evaporate.

Did a few of the other holes seeing as I had some left over of all sizes.

...

 

[CarlS]

Rust was something that I did think about here and I suppose if you really had time you could implement a few thing that would stop that. I was reading this article on rust prevention on automobiles and I am sure that it would be equally relevant to motorbikes

View attachment 4858

Some good information in that document.

 

[DaveM]

It seems to really finish it off very nicely, wonder why they never did this as stock

 

[doxbike]

LOL, Trumpet Center does offer a swingarm plug for $30+

 

[avion]

$30?!!

Does that include lunch and a pint while a naked Swedish blonde installs it for you?

sheesh.

 

[DaveM]

good one G