OP
nampus
top rider
Well the weather was very nice today, 15°C, dry, even a bit of sunshine! Roads were 99% dry too.
So my dad and I went for a ride, 196km
So my dad and I went for a ride, 196km
Dutch Vitpilen 701
- Thread starter nampus
- Start date
MoeZambeek
fast rider
Nature break in the background there? 
OP
nampus
top rider
Well spotted 
BISavage
champion rider
Typical Dad move. 
OP
nampus
top rider
Took the rear shock out of the Husky today. Plan was to fit the original shockspring to the Duke R shock. But unfortunately the inner diameter of the original spring is 2mm smaller compared to the Duke R spring.
Shock will be going to a suspension shop for a service and a heavier spring.
While the shock was out I cleaned and regreased the shock linkages.
I'll take the forks out tomorrow. They will be going to the shop as well for some adjustments and a service.
While the fork is out I'll check and regrease the head bearings.
Shock will be going to a suspension shop for a service and a heavier spring.
While the shock was out I cleaned and regreased the shock linkages.
I'll take the forks out tomorrow. They will be going to the shop as well for some adjustments and a service.
While the fork is out I'll check and regrease the head bearings.
Max Kool
pro rider
“Good busy” 
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
Wow, clean work! Does it not fit because it is 2mm smaller? That seems pretty close and might fit anyway?
OP
nampus
top rider
I could get it to fit if I had the preload collar machined down 2mm. But I'm not going to bother with that and I'll just get a spring that fits.
I don't want a white spring anyway. And getting the collar machined and the spring powder coated would probably cost the same as a new spring.
I think I'm going for a black spring.
The yellow spring is nice, but to much of a pita to keep clean
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
I wouldn't change the collar either. Is this just a color change or where you trying a new rate?I could get it to fit if I had the preload collar machined down 2mm. But I'm not going to bother with that and I'll just get a spring that fits.
I don't want a white spring anyway. And getting the collar machined and the spring powder coated would probably cost the same as a new spring.
I think I'm going for a black spring.
The yellow spring is nice, but to much of a pita to keep clean
OP
nampus
top rider
I need a heavier spring rate. If it was just for the color I'd get the yellow one powder coated.
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
You probably already have a good source. But if your desired spring is a 60mm inside diameter, I was able to buy a car spring for mine. See here:
rear spring swap
In a separate thread I brought up the idea of swapping out the rear spring on my 2020 Svartpilen 401. Today, I swapped out the rear spring. I had purchased an H&R HRF 180 60 130 (180mm free length, 60mm ID, 130 N/mm). This spring rate was recommended by some experts for my weight, 165 pounds...
hqvadventure.com
OP
nampus
top rider
Today it was time to tackle the front.
Front wheel out, fender removed
Did a bit of cleaning, took the legs out
Removed the headlight and removed the bottom yoke.
Bottom bearing was quite dry
Top bearing was full of grease.
Cleaned and inspected both bearings. Both were good as new.
Repacked with grease and reinstalled the bottom yoke.
After the holidays I'll contact the suspension shop and drop the forks and shock with them.
Happy holidays everyone!
Front wheel out, fender removed
Did a bit of cleaning, took the legs out
Removed the headlight and removed the bottom yoke.
Bottom bearing was quite dry
Top bearing was full of grease.
Cleaned and inspected both bearings. Both were good as new.
Repacked with grease and reinstalled the bottom yoke.
After the holidays I'll contact the suspension shop and drop the forks and shock with them.
Happy holidays everyone!
OP
nampus
top rider
While the suspension is at the shop I've fitted a longer hugger today
Details here:
hqvadventure.com
Details here:
Longer rear hugger
One of the flaws of the Vitpilen 701 is the very short rear hugger. Apart from powerbronze there is no option Vitpilen specific option to extend the rear hugger. The powerbronze is quite expensive, and before I knew about it, I already found an alternative hugger. I learned from some guys...
hqvadventure.com
OP
nampus
top rider
Suspension components came back yesterday.
The suspension shop machined the collar on the shock so I could use the original Vitpilen spring. (The 690 shock uses a conical spring with different diameters top and bottom) That spring is at the powdercoaters now.
Forks got a service, new springs and a revalve to match the springs.
Rear shock had the collar machined to accept the Vitpilen spring as mentioned above plus new bushings, seals and a revalve to match the Vitpilen spring.
Forks are now back in the bike:
I also ordered a 2020 top yoke nut (black instead of clear anodized on the earlier bikes) a while ago, so installed that as well
Now I'm waiting on a call from the powdercoaters so I can pick up my spring and get the shock installed. (currently I have the stock shock with Duke spring installed to make working on the bike easier.)
The suspension shop machined the collar on the shock so I could use the original Vitpilen spring. (The 690 shock uses a conical spring with different diameters top and bottom) That spring is at the powdercoaters now.
Forks got a service, new springs and a revalve to match the springs.
Rear shock had the collar machined to accept the Vitpilen spring as mentioned above plus new bushings, seals and a revalve to match the Vitpilen spring.
Forks are now back in the bike:
I also ordered a 2020 top yoke nut (black instead of clear anodized on the earlier bikes) a while ago, so installed that as well
Now I'm waiting on a call from the powdercoaters so I can pick up my spring and get the shock installed. (currently I have the stock shock with Duke spring installed to make working on the bike easier.)
Wanderer
expert rider
Hi nampus, Your clutch fluid looks white and low, is that a problem .?
Interested in which tank bag your using, and how you find it.?
And what you mount on your RAM ball.? I am looking for a workable setup to use my Tom Tom Rider sat nav on my new Vitpilen...
Cheers Jeremy
Interested in which tank bag your using, and how you find it.?
And what you mount on your RAM ball.? I am looking for a workable setup to use my Tom Tom Rider sat nav on my new Vitpilen...
Cheers Jeremy
MoeZambeek
fast rider
My bike originally had quite a dark yellow clutch fluid. After the clutch failed and I had an Oberon installed, the clutch fluid was much lighter and paler. I guess maybe it comes down to what the dealer uses versus what the factory does?
The black anodised stem nut looks much better...
The black anodised stem nut looks much better...
Wanderer
expert rider
The 2020 Vitpilen comes with the black stem nut, something I picked up on when looking at and trying to decide between a 2019 or 2020 myear.
Also like the black one.
Also like the black one.
OP
nampus
top rider
As moezambeek said, I think that's just a case of dealers using a different brand of fluid. My clutch slave was replaced under warranty this summer. The level hasn't changed since, so I'm not worried.
I'm using a sw-motech Daypack, it's mounted on an Evo tankring.
Due to the design of the filler on the Husky (it's raised) you need to do some grinding to the top part of the mounting system to attach the bag.
Below is the bagpart of the mounting system with the tankring inserted. You can see the center section is raised. This will interfere with the raised tank cap.
After some grinding it looks like this:
The bag mounted looks like this:
Size can be increased from 5 liters to 9 liters by a zip at the bottom of the bag:
I really like the bag, it's small enough to not get in the way while riding, but big enough to take quite a bit of stuff for long days riding.
I usually put a bottle of water and my lunch in there. Together with my wallet, a powerbank etc
The bag is the same as the ion one, but just a bit fancier, the zipper pullers are rubberized instead of a piece of cotton, etc. But the bag is basically the same. I got this cheap second hand. But if this hadn't come up, I would have bought an ion one.
The ion one comes with the 1st Gen mounting system, which also means you don't have to do any grinding.
And the tankring is cheaper.
The Evo ring does look a bit better though.
The partnumber for the tankring that fits the Vitpilen is TRT.00.475.16000/B (this is for the 1st Gen ring, not the Evo) it's listed as a triumph tiger model.
The ram mount is used for my satnav, I've got a Chinese rugged phone for navigating duties.
It's a Ulefone Armor 5, waterproof, shockproof, big battery etc.
I used a Garmin Zumo for about 8 years, but this is so much nicer, faster and easier to work with.
I had a ram mount on the stem nut first, but I prefer the mount next to the headlight so I can use the phone in portrait mode without it blocking my view of the dash. With the phone on the stem nut I had it landscape to keep clear of the dash.
I just drilled a hole in the stem nut and put a bolt trough.
If I had stayed with the stemmount setup I would have bought this cause it just looks alot neater than my diy mount:
Wanderer
expert rider
nampus, thank you very much for your very detailed reply and pics.
I am familiar with the SW Motech stuff, and already have a couple first gen rings I used on other bikes, interestingly when they went to the new evo ring the bags moved from gen one to, and the Ion came in, I have two bigger bags used on my BMW R1100S, K1300S, and S1000R, but there to big for the Vitpilen, and I looked at the Micro recently, but decided that was to small, so I will have a look at the Ion one, see what I think...
The MNNTHBX stem ball Is the one I have been thinking of getting, but I sorta like my black nut as it is, and was looking for options, so good to see your other Idea, my Tom Tom mount is set up on my Africa Twin, and to swap over I need a matching setup, I have fitted up a phone mount using the Australian Quad lock stuff, very impressed with that, so can use my phone also for now, but its all options, and the one advantage of the sat nav is it also gives speed, but maybe I can learn to not need... Interestingly, last week I rigged up a temp mount off the gas cap, and had a ride with my Tom Tom, speed difference with the Huskvarna speedo vers sat nav was 5KPH SLOWER at 100Kph, so not much difference...
Good luck with your suspension upgrades, hope it all works out for you...
Cheers Jeremy
I am familiar with the SW Motech stuff, and already have a couple first gen rings I used on other bikes, interestingly when they went to the new evo ring the bags moved from gen one to, and the Ion came in, I have two bigger bags used on my BMW R1100S, K1300S, and S1000R, but there to big for the Vitpilen, and I looked at the Micro recently, but decided that was to small, so I will have a look at the Ion one, see what I think...
The MNNTHBX stem ball Is the one I have been thinking of getting, but I sorta like my black nut as it is, and was looking for options, so good to see your other Idea, my Tom Tom mount is set up on my Africa Twin, and to swap over I need a matching setup, I have fitted up a phone mount using the Australian Quad lock stuff, very impressed with that, so can use my phone also for now, but its all options, and the one advantage of the sat nav is it also gives speed, but maybe I can learn to not need... Interestingly, last week I rigged up a temp mount off the gas cap, and had a ride with my Tom Tom, speed difference with the Huskvarna speedo vers sat nav was 5KPH SLOWER at 100Kph, so not much difference...
Good luck with your suspension upgrades, hope it all works out for you...
Cheers Jeremy