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Farkling up our new 21

salishmoto

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The great farkling has begun! I love this stage of new bike ownership. Making it yours. Making it suited.

All on the way after being ordered:
  • Oxford heated grips-Adventure-Life and riding year round in the PNW
  • R-Gaza crash bars-the only lower, basic versions-wife's bike and will be doing some gravel roads
  • LED aux lights and the necessary wiring and mounting hardware. Chelhead random Amazon models with Cree bulbs. I've used this sort successfully on many bikes, never a problem.
Sooner or later or likely:
  • Larger and perhaps adjustable windscreen
  • Soft side bags
  • Sump guard
  • Radiator guard
  • Nitrous tank
  • Side mounted lasers-for cage destruction after being cut off
So much fun!
 
Nitrous and lasers are totally the way to go. Death Star takes too long to boot up.

Which sump/skid plate you thinking about? I’m contemplating SWMotech or Gaza for my DCT, just need to figure out which allows somewhat easy access to Oil filter or is not too much of a bear to remove for service.
 
Nitrous and lasers are totally the way to go. Death Star takes too long to boot up.

Which sump/skid plate you thinking about? I’m contemplating SWMotech or Gaza for my DCT, just need to figure out which allows somewhat easy access to Oil filter or is not too much of a bear to remove for service.
What kind of laser? Helium, Neon, CO2? Inquiring minds want to know.
 
Nitrous and lasers are totally the way to go. Death Star takes too long to boot up.

Which sump/skid plate you thinking about? I’m contemplating SWMotech or Gaza for my DCT, just need to figure out which allows somewhat easy access to Oil filter or is not too much of a bear to remove for service.
I'm still looking. I've always like SWMotech stuff. Don't like the Trex look of stuff. I'm less concerned about the oil filter access since that's a problem I've always had with other skid plates. I'm more concerned with appearance and robustness. The NC750X stuff guy on ustube has a nice video on his home made skid plate and talks about how easy it is to bash it up. He builds one with 4mm to better withstand the abuse, so I want one with 4mm.
 
I'm still looking. I've always like SWMotech stuff. Don't like the Trex look of stuff. I'm less concerned about the oil filter access since that's a problem I've always had with other skid plates. I'm more concerned with appearance and robustness. The NC750X stuff guy on ustube has a nice video on his home made skid plate and talks about how easy it is to bash it up. He builds one with 4mm to better withstand the abuse, so I want one with 4mm.
If you want robustness, the king of NC skidplates was made by HondaBikePro, aka Dale at a Honda dealer in the Seattle area. I had one on each of my 2 NCs at one time, but my skid plates have since been sold. The aluminum was 5 mm thick and the skidplate weighed about 10 pounds. The fit was pefect. The skid plate extends back far enough to protect the lower shock mount, and is compatible with the Honda center stand. I don’t think Dale builds them anymore, so one would need to be sourced on the used market.
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If you want robustness, the king of NC skidplates was made by HondaBikePro, aka Dale at a Honda dealer in the Seattle area. I had one on each of my 2 NCs at one time, but my skid plates have since been sold. The aluminum was 5 mm thick and the skidplate weighed about 10 pounds. The fit was pefect. The skid plate extends back far enough to protect the lower shock mount, and is compatible with the Honda center stand. I don’t think Dale builds them anymore, so one would need to be sourced on the used market.
I've sent him a message asking if he knows of any. Those are awesome looking. Thanks, but now I may just be disappointed I can't get one! Doh.
 
I'm not adverse to adding weight of accessories if they make the bike more useful to me but a bash plate worthy of a US Navy icebreaker seems pretty useless when the most my NCs have have seen and will see are gravel and dirt roads suitable for 17" cast wheels. Just my opinion of course.
 
Agreed Dave, for me anyway I’m looking for something a tad tougher and covering larger area than the plastic. I take it on packed sand and packed dirt/gravel and want it _in case_ I hit something on the small size. Not taking it on trails as I would my CRF250l for example…
 
I'm not adverse to adding weight of accessories if they make the bike more useful to me but a bash plate worthy of a US Navy icebreaker seems pretty useless when the most my NCs have have seen and will see are gravel and dirt roads suitable for 17" cast wheels. Just my opinion of course.
It's understood that our NC's aren't doing 250 stuff, and it's also the case that the 21 has less clearance than prior years. Given these things, it is inevitable that you are going to hit deep potholes and edges around the roads here in the Pacific Northwest, and therefore certain that the bottom of the bike is going to be impacted. I don't give half a crap for what the public thinks about how my bash plate looks! I care about being able to ride the bike home and do it again.

It reminds me of a saying among sailors. There are two types: Those who have run aground, and those who will.

Riding off tarmac and on gravel roads invites the possibility of a bang, bang. Certainly you can ride many years on nice dirt roads and never have trouble. Around here, and for what we will be doing on even 2WD accessible roads, it is highly likely some deep pot holes will be encountered and we want what protection can be offered. To each their own...And besides, in our view we bought the NC for practical reasons, and though it looks fine, it's not a stylish Ducati or MV Agusta!
 
I'm not adverse to adding weight of accessories if they make the bike more useful to me but a bash plate worthy of a US Navy icebreaker seems pretty useless when the most my NCs have have seen and will see are gravel and dirt roads suitable for 17" cast wheels. Just my opinion of course.
I see your point of view, and would agree that the heavy skid plate is overkill for my current usage of the NC. I have shifted rides on unimproved roads over to my dual sport. However, when I first got the desire to install a skid plate on the NC, I was riding in a old asphalt parking lot. Parts of the pavement were beginning to crumble. I rode over a large, loose piece of pavement and it flipped up and put a dent in my NC's oil filter. So, even gravel, dirt, and cast wheels had nothing to do with the inflicted damage in my example. There is a very remote chance that common road debris, bumps, or potholes could damage an underside component.

As I said, I have since removed the heavy skid plate from my NC, and decided to take my chances on any further underside damage, given that the likelihood is slim.
 
...and decided to take my chances on any further underside damage, given that the likelihood is slim.
And that's what is true for all of us. We do what what wish to run the risks we choose. Carpe Diem! It's a subtlety on forums to discern between a statement and a question...The difference between when someone says they are doing something, and asking if they should do something. I've been on countless bike and boat forums and there is a commonality of etiquette on most of them, including this one. My wife likes to say in such situations: "That's why there are many flavors of ice cream!". It's a kind and gentle way of saying, to each their own.

I never put bash plates on my Concours 14! Or my FJR! But I damn sure have them on my Moto Guzzi Stelvio. There are definitely bikes where they would look absurd. To my eye a robust bash plate on an NC750 is a bit off, but not truly out of place. Especially if you are riding TKC80's in the summer for a lot of time on old fire roads.
 
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Got the Bark Busters yesterday and installed them. It was challenging to get the internal bar weights out and the videos of older NC bikes have a different system than my 21. The Bark Buster directions have it correct that you have to roll or push back the grips to access little slots about 1cm back from the edge, push in with a small screwdriver, and then you can pull them out with the external weights. A bit of a pain. The Bark Busters fit great and are a bit finicky to fit, as they must not bang on the dashboard or scrape on the plastic, which is a hard balance to achieve. Total installation time took me a good hour. Once on, they are great. The heated grips come soon to finish the hand comfort part of farkling.
 
Bark Busters can be mounted using the stock Honda counterweights left in the bars. I’m not sure why the instructions replace them. I do like the BBs sturdy aluminum frame.
 
Bark Busters can be mounted using the stock Honda counterweights left in the bars. I’m not sure why the instructions replace them. I do like the BBs sturdy aluminum frame.
Agree. I would keep the stock weights when possible. I have ridden an NC with aftermarket handguards and no weights, and the vibration difference was noticable. When the bars vibrate you get the impression the whole engine/bike is less refined.
 
Bark Busters can be mounted using the stock Honda counterweights left in the bars. I’m not sure why the instructions replace them. I do like the BBs sturdy aluminum frame.
At least on my 21 I attempted this and it is not possible. The bolt on the 21 is small in diameter and does not fit securely in the BB hole that is shaped and meant for the larger allen bolt that comes with the BB for this purpose. They are different sized bolts. I went with the BB bolt for the added security of the good fit. I finished the install tonight and it worked great. I rode today without the OEM bar weights installed and didn't notice it, though I am used to bigger bikes and a Guzzi so my hands may be numb by now! By the way, that strap you see is for our Helite Turtle Airbag vests. IMG_3932.jpeg
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At least on my 21 I attempted this and it is not possible. The bolt on the 21 is small in diameter and does not fit securely in the BB hole that is shaped and meant for the larger allen bolt that comes with the BB for this purpose. They are different sized bolts. I went with the BB bolt for the added security of the good fit. I finished the install tonight and it worked great. I rode today without the OEM bar weights installed and didn't notice it, though I am used to bigger bikes and a Guzzi so my hands may be numb by now! By the way, that strap you see is for our Helite Turtle Airbag vests. View attachment 48146
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That's odd you found it was not possible but just another way of doing things. The bar end parts involved on the 2021 and all preceding model years are exactly the same according to Honda part schematics. As you say the BB bolt comes with a slightly different countersunk oval head and is black instead of silver. The BB bolts are purpose made and were impossible to find at fastener supply houses when I installed the first set of Bark Busters. I wanted longer bolts because I did not want to remove the bar end weights but the odd oval countersunk head is not standard. I think you will miss the bar end weights due to the vibrations peculiar to this engine. The stock 6mm x 65mm bolt does not thread as far into the handlebars as the BB does but it's plenty secure. Unfortunately I've tested it a few times by dropping the bike on the left side. Not this one but my 2015.

Oxford sure cuts the heated grip wire harness short. Another owner posted a similar install with the same strain on the wires exiting the controller. Can you pull up some slack and give the wires some strain relief at the awkward bend?


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Lots of ways to slice the bread! I had plenty of slack in all the provided wiring, and my bigger challenge on the 4 Oxford grip installs I've done is the abundance of too much slack. I end up having to bundle and cable tie the slack together somewhere. On this NC750 install I electrical taped the three way junction together and cable tied it down below the ignition. It goes away down in the darkness down there. Having done this before I knew to check for plenty of slack going lock to lock with the bars. The bigger issue is the darn BB settings! I discovered there is a little plastic tab on the underside of my bars almost exactly where the bracket for the BB wants to sit. It prevents the bracket from sliding further out on the bar if the bracket isn't very loose. I beat my head against this wall for too long before investigating.

I'll also note that I'd read something about needing to change the throttle tube, but didn't find that necessary. I fitted the Adventure style and they slid right onto the same spot as the OEM grips, and the way I mounted the end required me to trim the outer most lip off the Oxford grips so it didn't rub on the BB aluminum bracket. Everything works peachy. These bikes have what feels like an especially strong return spring on the throttle.
 
Great exchange and write up. I have the BBs for my ‘22 and hope to install soon when it gets above 18F here . . . And I have a little time and will try to keep the weights.
 
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