ht paniers

[bobby.mcdaniel@toast.net]

All, I let my son in law (who is in the service and going back to Iraq for his second time in July) ride my new 2006 KLR. I have a little acreage and you guess it, he wreck the bike in the gravel of my driveway. While losing it in the gravel, he argue with a guard rail for the ditch right of way. He came out lucky with only 15 stitches, bruises and a hurt ego. I was lucky that my son who was riding behind him, gave him a full face helmet which was broke in the accident. Now that we know he is going to be alright I'm looking at the bike. It is not leaking any fluids and runs. The radiator, radiator tank bracket, fairing bracket and gas tank were all bent/dented. The fan is pushed into the radiator. I know I will need hand grip guards, radiator bracket, fairing bracket, and turn signal lenses along with some plastic. For the fairing/light bracket and other brackets do I have to get those at a dealer? Or are there some after market internet place? I know some day I'll drop it again so I'm just trying to get it back it to a rideable and reliable condition. Looking for parts...Thanks Bobby Mac

[scarysharkface]

I've got the HT SU rack (that's the expensive one, right?) and it is worth the money (I built several workable prototypes, but none as elegant or confidence-inspiring as the HT SU). Mounted to that I have 30mm ammocans, which are also more than worth the $22 or thereabouts I've got invested in them and they are steel and have saved my leg on a low-speed drop. I spent an additional $10 of so on hasps which have been adhered with bolts and nuts (and locktite) to them so they can be locked with the $8 worth of 4 keyed-alike Master locks from Harbour Freight. Ammocans are cheap and plentiful, and if you mess one up it's pretty easy to find replacements. Also, they come in a variety of standard sizes. I'm thinking about configuring at least a couple different- sized pairs for mounting on the HT rack, depending upon whether I'm riding to work or riding to Newfoundland... The HT boxes are certainly nice, but out of my price range and I would have to kill myself if I shmooshed one out of foolishness. Also, my ammocans are mounted high and rearward, for clearance and to grant access to the passenger pegs when my 8-year-old is along for the ride. They are perhaps nearly (but not quite) twice as heavy as the aluminium HT boxes, but it's not bad and I don't anticipate carrying *much* heavy stuff in them (my tools ride on the bottom of the right side at present). When I fill them in a month or so I won't be carrying a passenger so the C.G. should be okay, especially with the Wolfman Explorer full of stuff and my fat arse over the pegs. I will try to remember to post current pictures when my wife brings the camera home from Alaska next week.. I must say I love this group and appreciate the volume and depth of information you all possess and freely post... John (A18, 1980 Honda CX500)

[Krgrife@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/16/2006 6:28:52 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, bobby.mcdaniel@... writes: Looking for parts...Thanks Bobby Mac Check ebay for the body parts taken off the bikes that are being converted to military use. Kurt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]