Re: Performance Can, Throw-over Panniers, ZG screen

["Mark Hanke" <mahanke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

GG,
    I look forward to seeing you and "Dirty" in Colorado. Mike "Odd Dawg"
and I plan on arriving at Christie Lodge on sunday mid afternoon, let's get
together for a cold one.
Mark
Big Dawg



- -----Original Message-----
From: Greg Gagliano <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: st@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <st@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, June 16, 2000 4:32 PM
Subject: Performance Can, Throw-over Panniers, ZG screen


>Today, I had the Triumph Performance Silencer (stainless) installed and
>the new EFI tune uploaded on my Sprint ST.  I really like the sound...
>more growl, but not obnoxiously loud.  There's more "rumble" on trailing
>throttle which is very "twin-like".  While cruising at 5K RPM, there's
>only a bit more noise and it's very much like an in-line four.  But
>accelerating briskly from 3K to 6K the new silencer emits out a unique
>wail that only a triple can produce (and that's a sound that makes
>accelerating briskly even more fun!).
>
>The bike responds much better from very low RPMs (1500 - 3000).  Since I
>had a new rear tire installed and the roads were wet, I did not take any
>chances to see how the bike performs above 6000 RPM.  From 3K to 6K, the
>bike pulls a bit stronger than with the stock can, but it's not a big
>difference.
>
>I also detected a bit more vibration at around 5K... could just be my
>imagination due to poor road surfaces.  Regardless, the soulful sound of
>the new silencer is worth the price of admission, especially since it's
>a mechanical baffle design which does not require repacking.
>
>Interestingly, the Performance Silencer I purchased has a Triumph badge
>riveted on the side just as depicted in the '99 Accessory catalog (see a
>photo on Eric's webpage at
>http://www.triumphnet.com/st/acc/trican/index.htm).  The only other
>Performance Silencer I've seen was on Paul and Dee's ST and that unit
>did not have the badge.
>
>My 12-year-old Chase-Harper ET-4000 soft bags are getting a little long
>in the tooth so I opted to replace them with the Triumph Sport
>Throw-Over Panniers.  When fully expanded (yes, they are expandable!),
>the Triumph bags have almost the same capacity as the C-H panniers, but
>are a custom fit to the RS/ST models.  They easily clear the silencer
>when it's in the "upswept" position (the C-H bags come very close to
>hitting the muffler).  The cordura nylon is coated with polyurethane on
>the interior surfaces.  The plastic body panel protectors are really
>nice and the mounting brackets can be installed in well under an hour.
>The brackets are very inconspicuous... nearly invisible.   Nits to pick
>- I'm not crazy about the seat pad that needs to be attached to the
>saddle and the stay straps could be simplified/easier to use by using
>Fastex type buckles instead of loop buckles.  I can mount the C-H bags
>much more quickly thanks to their true "throw over" design and simple
>strap system (Fastex).
>
>There are integral rain covers sewn into little accessory pockets on the
>side of each bag.  Having rain covers is great.  Having them sewn into
>the bag is good and bad -- good because you can't lose them should they
>fly off the pannier (looking like dragster parachutes), but bad because
>they take up precious space in the pannier.  That's just personal
>preference, though.  Installed, the bags don't look as good in person as
>they do in Accessory Catalog (or website), but to be fair, I've never
>seen any soft luggage look as good in person as they do in brochure
>photos.  The panniers in the catalog photo don't have the plastic
>protectors mounted or the pannier stay straps mounted making for a much
>cleaner look.  Regardless, the bags are still very nice.  I'll find out
>how well they perform when Dirty Dawg and I head out to Colorado next
>week.
>
>I also installed a Zero Gravity Double Bubble windscreen.  This is a
>very nice design.  I am 5' 10" (178 cm) tall and at 70 mph (113 kph) the
>wind blast now hits me at about nose level compared to the stock screen
>which directed the wind to just below my chin.  The wind blast is
>"softer" compared to the stock screen reducing the strain on my neck
>muscles.  The airflow is very smooth and the sound level is the same as
>with the stock screen (I use earplugs so it's a wash anyway).  At the
>same time, there's still plenty of wind hitting my shoulders to support
>my upper body keeping some weight off of my wrists and hands.  At lower
>speeds (about 40 mph/ 64 kph) there is larger pocket of still air
>created.  The Double Bubble is a good choice for "softening" the wind
>flow rather than increasing wind/weather protection.
>
>The much taller ZG Sport Touring screen wasn't an option for me as it
>would likely take all the wind off my upper body leaving the full weight
>of my upper body on my hand and wrists.  However, for anyone using
>handlebar risers, I think the Sport Touring windscreen would be well
>worth considering.
>
>That's my accessory report for today.
>
>GG
>aka "Wiener Dawg"
>
>
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