DKE's blog

New Ride video

DKE — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 23:04:14 +0000

After many mods and a lot of work the Beast is close to being road worthy.
Still need to finish enclosing it.

Took it out for a test ride last weekend (4-27-15) lots of fun to ride now.

Here is the Video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehtN9yMiWUI.
or Search YouTube for CABIN MOTORCYCLE RIDE and Cabin Motorcycle Test ride.

Doug Koelfgen, Albertville, Minnesota USA

Beast modifications

DKE — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:22:14 +0000

Last night I lowered the seat 3" and adjusted the Trailing Arm (front swingarm) pivot back .700" thinking my low speed handling problems are the result of too much trail.
Also went to Deadwood and got a license plate. Have to correct my earlier Blog, the LT is a year 2000 not 1999, also I have 45 years riding experience not 35. Fuzzy math going on when I wrote that (35 years).
Can't wait to try the new setup.
Doug

First ride

DKE — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:28:51 +0000

I should preface the following with the information that I live out in the country, my driveway is gravel and a 1/2 mile long.

Took the machine out for the first test drive today, kind of exciting.
Must have been in a rush as I had the outrigger air valve plumed backward to the switch and light so instead of down when the red light is on it was the opposite but not noticeable as they were locked down. So after an up and down the driveway run with them locked down (Red light on) it was time to ride free. They have a mechanical lock (toothed Bar) to keep them locked when parked or out of air pressure, I have a hand park brake lever on the right side with cables to the locking bars, when you push the lever down like you would releasing a park brake the mechanical locks are pulled away and disengage. Anyway, going down the driveway I planed to have the air switch in the out riggers down position (Red light on) then just put the P Brake lever down unlocking the mechanical locks but wheels would still be down with air pressure. The Brake lever didn't want to go down like it was loaded or something, I thought perhaps the outriggers were in a lower notch and some of the weight of the machine on the out rigger wheels, So with one hand on the handlebars and the other on the lever I gave it a good push and promptly started heading toward the Barb wire fence along the driveway, to make matters worse the ground drops off quite steep with 7ft. to entanglement and possible death. Out of what must now be instinct (35 years riding) I sharply counter steered back toward the driveway with thoughts of the front wheel skidding on the grass slope and still going in the fence where the sharp barbwire would have surely sawed my bare head off. As you probably know being as how I am writing this that didn't happen, the machine just jumped back up on the gravel driveway and I was riding free.

After some adjustments back at the shop and switching the airlines on the spool valve I went for a few more rides. The Air cylinders are strong enough to hold the machine upright without the mechanical locks, something I wasn't sure about. It does handle kind of odd, doesn't feel like a regular motorcycle, it feels like it is a hammock and when you turn the bars the machine kind of swings underneath you. Steering is easy and takes very little pressure to turn the bars but it reacts very quickly which is odd on a 2 wheeler with a 110" wheelbase.

Could someone inform me as to how their FF bikes feel at lower speeds?
Do you get the feeling that the seat is swinging like a hammock?
Thanks,
Doug

Attachment	Size
First Ride.jpg	1.02 MB

Doug's FF Machine

DKE — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 04:31:35 +0000

Doug writes: "Here are some pictures of my FF project. Have been working on this for a few years (off and on) but more time lately and getting ready for a de-bugging ride. Built from a crashed 1999 K1200LT."
I have created a new folder for Doug's photos, and shrunk them to a suitable size for web use. See the folder for Doug's KLT-engined 'Beast' in the 'OneOffs' section of the image galleries here:
http://www.bikeweb.com/image/tid/123
PNB