THE THUMPERGARAGE PAGE OF THE FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB WEBSITE - visit all the other pages before you head for the house! This site is updated for the world of motorcycling on each Thursday evening, don't miss out, visit us weekly and tell your friends, no password, no secret code word, just come, pull up a chair and see what's happenin'... if you'd enjoy belonging to this national organization, see the membership application page. Thank You and Keep On Thumpin', it's what we do! - #000
P.S. If you are a FSSNOC member and have some input, email us here at the ThumperGarage with your comments. Note that if we have a response to your email, it will be posted here the following Thursday evening during our weekly update, so please note that you will NOT receive a response by email, only here on the glowing rectangle. FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
TRIUMPH SPEED 400 - 600 MILE SERVICE:
#4543, and Little Speedy (WEBSITE UPDATE for 04-25-24)
Thu, Apr 25 at 9:25 AM
Well, did the 600-mile first service on the Triumph Speed 400. What a PITB! Definitely could not have done it without the owner's manual.
The oil filter is hidden behind a cover. And that cover has a cover. So, two bolts to get the "cover finisher" off and then 5 bolts (one of which is hidden by the cover finisher) to get the "cover" off. All of that gets you to the oil filter cover. So, 9 bolts before you see the oil filter. Then two drain plugs, each with a screen that needs to be cleaned off. One of the oil drain plugs I wouldn't have noticed without the manual. Bother.
And 10W-50 oil, yet another weight of oil to stock. Supposedly don't need to change the oil again for 10,000 miles! That's not happening. Think I'll stick to 3000 mile intervals.
Also, the dealer doesn't have all the o-rings one is supposed to change out upon doing the oil change. Didn't have filters, either. Luckily, it's the same filter used by the KTM 390. Joys of a first year bike, something I don't usually purchase. Sigh.
But then there's the bike itself. Which I really like. Now that we're past 600 miles, gonna start opening it up. Only been using 6000 rpm, gonna see what that 9500 rpm redline feels like pretty soon! Gotta say, it's really smooth up to 6000 rpm, which is right at 65 mph indicated in 6th.
Interestingly the gas mileage for the first three tanks has been: 54.6 (the dealer may not have completely filled the tank), 67.2 and 80.9! Does require premium gas.
And yes, tubeless tires. The tires on the Speed are Metzeler Sportec M9 RRs. 110/70 R17 front and 150/60 R17 rear.
That's all for now! Kerry #4543, AZ
(REPLY TO KERRY and CLUB MEMBERS)
WOW! NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! THANK YOU, KERRY!!
The conversation here on our club website is meant to go both ways, the club talks to the members, the members talk to the club ... Viola! Great stuff, Kerry! Very helpful, very interesting...
TO PARTICIPATE: E-mail the ThumperGarage at: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
(photo above on 04-25-24 update)
A FEW THUMPER RIDERS OUT - BRIDGE HOPPIN' ......
Built back in the late 1800s to early 1900s, the bridges are literally "solid as a rock", still usable in 2024! Hand built in an arch, which is self-supporting, of native limestone, they are a thing of beauty to behold and a testament to how things were done in the old days ... built to last the rigors of use and time.
This is one of two that we stopped to check out. We'd just enjoyed lunch in tiny Latham, Kansas and this photo (taken by Ron, #4570 - thank you!) shows a few of the group as we were doing some smiles in the Flint Hills.
Collectively, our group of eight Thumperists rode 1838 miles that day. This group is just a fraction of a local bunch of entertaining riders who participate, usually weekly or so, as their own schedules allow, in a MOTO-COFFEE lunch, you know, ride to eat, eat to ride, right?
Point of order, we do not group ride down the highway to a destination. We gather at the destination, and the more remote, the more off the beaten path, the more fun the we have ... each rider coming from his own start point (home) by his own route to arrive at a predesignated by text dining point ... after our dining is done, we split off in various directions, some on dirt, some on macadam, some headed to the house, some not, and some like me that have to be home by Tuesday, it just doesn't matter what Tuesday...
Each week, to add to the fun, upon each attendee arriving back at the house, we report our collective miles, then we add that number to all the miles we've ridden since April 1, 2024, all to and from these Moto-Coffee lunches ... then we calculate where those miles would take us on a hypothetical "Ride Around the World" journey ... our own version of "Twitchy Coots", eh (grin - it's a joke!)? Last week we were about a days ride short of London, England. Mileage reports are still pending on yesterday's lunch at Latham ... anybody got a spare globe?
Did you ride this week? Did you spot a Thumper and take a photo? Did you attend a Motorcycle Show? Share your hey/your day/your play with other FSSNOC members?
We invite FSSNOC members to E-mail photos and comments to: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
NOTE: Any photos and/or comments submitted to FSSNOC, INC. become the property of FSSNOC,INC. and may or may not be utilized in original or edited form in our club newsletter/magazine Thumper News, the club website ThumperGarage, and/or any related material published and/or presented by the club. - #000
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
#5449 (below) ... RESERVES A FSSNOC THUMPERCAFE DECAL for Mitchell, South Dakota! Remember, as per the Event Page, only 30 decals available, going to the first 30 members who speak up ... IF they attend ...
List to date: #370 #4543 #3780 #4479 #5418 #5475 #4557 #000 #5420 #1230 #5449
If you are a FSSNOC member and you want a decal and you plan to attend the June 12th gathering (come have your lunch with the club), see the numbers posted above, should your club number NOT be on this list, contact FSSNOC by phone, e-mail, USPS, or ?
Note: Should a FSSNOC member who reserved a decal NOT attend, that decal will be passed on to another attendee ... Ya' gotta be there!
"Going to Mitchell SD ... And I want a sticker!", Dan #5449
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"TOP HAMPER"
... a term coined a number of years ago in an article I read about the possibility of putting too much weight on the luggage rack of a motorcycle ... #000.
Mark, FSSNOC #4625 ...
FYI ... I think I may have been close to the weight limit in my top case on my Kawasaki.
On Monday, I rode to a town about 65 miles away. I was carrying a pile of paper files in the top case as they were too large to fit in the side-cases. On the return trip, I packed those same files into the top case with some additional files as well.
A short distance down the road, I was transversing some rough spots in the pavement and the bike wanted to wander off to the right, catching me off guard.
I did make it home ... but I began to look for other solutions.
I figured out that I can use my old KLR (soft) top case, easily attaching it to the pillion area of the saddle. I can fill this with files and it will still weigh considerably less than a buddy rider so I don't think it should effect the handling of the bike.
This was definitely an eye-opener. You, Jack, had brought up the subject of top hamper numerous times in earlier conversations. My Yamaha and my Kawasaki both have ample room on the passenger seat for the heavy stuff...
(REPLY) I agree, Mark ... I've noted that most motorcycle brand factory luggage racks are factory weight rated for a fraction of what most of us tend to pack atop them ... and loading a motorcycle improperly can definitely have an adverse effect on the handling.
Case in point, I recall the first time I loaded my Royal Enfield Himilayan up for a long ride. Once loaded, I pushed it outside my shed to take a pre-trip photo. I was immediately amazed to find that I could hardly roll it forward without almost dropping it on my driveway. After the photo, I laboriously rolled it back into the shed and totally rearranged my load, even eliminating some items. So, Mark, I can relate...
"Travel light, load it right..." Thank You, Mark! - #000.
<:::::::::::::::::::::::: below this line are updates from earlier dates :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>
NEW TRIUMPH SINGLES ...
THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE!
HELLO, THUMPER FANS! WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE THUMPERGARAGE ... this page known as the ThumperGarage Page, oddly enough (grin). I'm Jack, FSSNOC #000, nice to have you with us!
F S S N O C Four-Stroke Single National Owners Club. We are about Single cylinder motorcycles that are propelled by a four cycle engine ... that's our setting and what a "one"derful setting it is ...
It's Springtime where I am; trees are leafing out, the natural grasses are in various stages of coming to life, and, of course, here in Kansas, we are having our Spring winds. Yesterday, it blew out of the South, today it is out of the North. South wind, higher temps (80s) yesterday. North wind, lower temps (49 degrees as I write). One day, vented gear over a FSSNOC t-shirt. The next day, particularly if on an early morning ride, a heavy multi-layer coat over a FSSNOC sweatshirt with an electric vest sandwiched in there somewhere, maybe electric gloves as well ... still we ride ... and still we smile. "Wait not on the perfect day, lest the perfect day escape you...", comes to mind here.
The photo above for today (04-18-24) is of a brand new TRIUMPH 400 SCRAMBLER. A couple of weeks ago we featured here on the ThumperGarage page, a newly purchased TRIUMPH 400 SPEED which is the street going model. This week's bike was ridden to a local weekly Tuesday morning coffee stop by fellow FSSNOCer, #5403. I rode over on my Royal Enfield 350 Deluxe Classic and parked alongside, making for an attention getting visual, for sure.
I'll mention some things here that I noticed to be different between the two versions, this based on my recall, not a spec sheet so some error may occur, okay?
First thing, an obviously higher stance for the SCRAMBLER, maybe a couple of inches. A 19" front wheel as opposed to the 17" on the SPEED, both of cast design and likely tubeless but I'm speculating there.
The SCRAMBLER sports a rather intricate headlight screen of sorts, a small bash-plate under the motor, wide handlebars with the iconic "scrambler" crossbar, the unique "dual port" exhaust as in the photo, rubber knee-pads on the gastank, and gnarlier tires by Metzler, did I read "Karoo" maybe on the sidewall? Both bikes use the upside-down gold-colored front forks, though there may be a difference in travel? Oh, yeah, the Scrambler had plastic hand covers (guards) on the bars as well. I was allowed to swing onto the Scrambler; it felt very "homey" right away, and as I recall, I could touch both feet comfortably, and by the way, my inseam is 34" ... and decreasing (grin).
Fit and finish? They look superb, very tidy, which kinda means that most things are sorta hidden. This is typical of modern motorcycles. The companies go to great lengths to make the bikes look simple and sanitary to the viewer, but unlike the bikes of old, getting to even the most common of things like sparkplugs or carburetors (oops - throttle bodies now for FI) can be a real struggle. We'll learn more about this sort of thing on the new Triumphs as time goes by and owners report their experiences (hint-hint) ... email your comments: FSSNOCthumpers@yahoo.com
Well, there ya' go ... don't miss the other pages on this site. There's no fluff in FSSNOC, it's all meat and potatoes! I'm gonna step next door to the History Page (one of my favorites here on the ThumperGarage!). See YOU there:
Lovely motorbike, #5403, lovely motorbike! - #000
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________