Project TTR

I have posted about working on my 2016 Thruxton R and getting it right. The last job I did was doing the forks, While I had the front wheel off I tried to remove the rust on the spokes and give them a polish. That was a no-go, the rust wouldn't come off and I noticed the pitting was pretty deep. So onto the internet I go looking for spoke sets. Neat thing about the internet, it'll pop up suppliers regardless of distance. Discovered however there were no 'sets' available on planet Earth so had to look to buy individual spokes. I could get them for about $5.00 per and that would replace like for like. Not ideal as I wanted stainless spokes. That's when I found Buchannan's in AzuzA California. They make spokes, all kinds (Buchanan's Spoke & Rim, Inc). So after a number of emails I put in an order for a custom set and they arrived yesterday. I went out to the garage, put my TTR on the lift and pulled both wheels off, took about 30 minutes. It got me to thinking while I was removing the brake rotors and rear sprocket maybe I should upgrade those, so I ordered me some EMI stainless wave rotors for the front and a Vortex 43T rear sprocket. While I was in the ordering mood I went ahead and splurged on a set of short bar levers (I have them on my Bobber and T-120 and really like them).

Today I'm taking the wheels to Metric Motorsports in Lewisville to get spokes swapped out. Once everything is back and installed on the bike I'll post up a photo or two.

This is why the wife doesn't send you to the grocery store to pick up one item.

Mighty Mouse said:

This is why the wife doesn't send you to the grocery store to pick up one item.

Click to expand...

Yup, and why Wal-Mart order on-line and pick-up at store is sooooo dangerous........

UPdate: Got the wheels back from Metric Motorsports in Lewisville. They completed the job in about a week, so pretty fast turnaround this time of year. Here are the updated photos of the completed project.
Picture of what it looked like when I picked it up in Florida. The fork seals were leaking, the spokes were rusted and pitted, brake pads were noisy and grabby.


Here is photo today (7/15/2023)


New Rotors and wheel spokes

Adjustable short levers


New rear 44T sprocket and 525 D.I.D X-ring Gold chain (new front 17 tooth primary gear) Those are both up one tooth from OEM. New SS spokes.


Right side view


New fork seals and fork stanchions, new brake pads front and rear, new chain, rear sprocket and primary gear, new handlebar levers, new mirrors, stainless steel spokes. So everything that wasn't right has been addressed and now the bike is a real hoot to ride.

UPdate: Took my TTR on a shakedown ride after completing all the upgrades and it went well until a bunch of idiot lights came on. The check engine, ABS and traction control lights lit up. I rode home with no problems other than those lights and decided it was time to use my new bluetooth diagnostic reader to read and reset the problem. That is when I discovered my rearder will read the problem but not reset the error codes. Ergo, semi-useful. I then got on Ebay and ordered up an interface that was supposed to (according to the description) run on Windows 10 and was compatible with TuneECU. So after I got it and tried every combination available to get it to communicate with the TTR I had to break down and contact tech support. They offered up a lot of questions to my questions. That prompted me to break down and buy an android tablet, OBDLink LX and buy TuneECU. After diagnosing the problem with my tablet hooked up to the OBDLink LX and it was communicating withh the ECU the problem was the front wheel speed sensor. So I put it up on the lift this morning and was certain I would find too much gap between the speed ring and the sensor because I had put on wave rotors. With the bike at a convenient working height I looked at the gap between the ring and pickup and instead of too big an air gap it was no gap at all. The pickup coil was rubbing the speed ring. I slipped a couple thin washers between the mounting bracket and fork stanchion and checked the gap and it was too big, so pulled one washer and viola a small air gap. I then used the TuneECU to clear the ABS DCT code and then reset the error codes and when I fired the bike up all the lights were out except the ABS (normal until you get over 6 mph). The shakedown ride noise was different this time and the lights stayed out (progress) but it also now had a rattle. I asked Tom to take it around the block and he came back with the correct diagnosis, the left caliper retaining spring was not seated. The spring was rattling in the caliper carrier so that's an easy fix.

Simply remove the caliper, compress the pistons, slide the pads out and reseat the spring. Easy-peazy. Until the pistons won't collapse far enough to clear the pads from the retaining slots and the spring won't fit between the pistons, and when you get the spring situated the brake pads won't go back in. Other then that it was a cake walk. Finally got it all sorted and the last test ride was brilliant. No drama, no excess rattles, no idiot lights, just pure riding pleasure.