2002 X9 500SL new to me.

[Mr.Chips]

Quite a few of us bought and fitted the X9-specific LaminarLip.
It worked well for me.
I don't know if they are still available but if I recall correctly, they were made to order,

 

[Dave Milnes]

Try a little cheapo clamp on deflector on the top of the screen. Fitting hard wind deflectors to the bars is a bit more awkward due to the existing shrouding.
I have these on my Forza but they don't make much difference to wet gloves as it's rain running off my jacket sleeves that does most of the wetting.

[Mike H]

Currently got these on the Moto Guzzi, also had them on the Ural (I think I may have originally got them for the X10 but never put them on)

Your gloves won't be 100% dry but much better than otherwise. Also keep the cold wind off to a large degree, which is also helpful.

1 Pair 22MM 7/8'' Universal Motorbike Motorcycle Handlebar Hand Guards Protector - eBay

H'bars must have threaded hole or similar for Allen screw e.g. for bar end weights. For the Ural I also bought and installed heavy metal bar end weights that fitted into the tube using an expanding grommet kind of thing, rather than use the rahter cheap plastic things that come with the guards. The Moto Guzzi already has bar end weights as standard so just needed longer Allen screws to fit the guards.

The other end bracket might be fiddly as well, I end up using the lever pivot screws to fix them. HTH

 

[Dave Milnes]

Those on Mikes link are what I have on the Forza now and alo had on the Enfield and Sym. Cheap as chips but does the job. They won't offer any impact protection as they are only plastic but work well to keep hands warmer.
The little screen lip is from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YLWZFBW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
I would doubt the bespoke X9 item is still available even if you could find the supplier.
I think some owners put a spacer behind the top two mountings to push the screen more vertical as well.

[Mr.Chips]

I have discovered that LaminarLip are no longer in business.
Pity.

 

[Mike H]

Might be possible to make something? I can remember making an extender using an old helmet visor - had to be 'bendy' though, so it could be almost flat, those for the new helmets I've got now are stiff and permanently curved for the shape of the helmet, trying to stretch it out would probably break it.

Or some transparent sheet of something off eBay and cut to shape?

[Mr.Chips]

The thing about the Laminar Lip was that it had what might be described as an aerofoil shape.
Of course, it was curved end to end to fit the screen but was curved top to bottom.
This meant that the air hitting the screen below it was accelerated upwards between screen and lip so went over the helmet.


 

[Mike H]

So, no then. 

[macplaxton]

With regards to the universal hand guards, I may well just get a pair and work out the mounting of them.

The objective is really to deflect wind and driving spray away from the backs of my hands without having to resort to muffs.

I got the ruler out as the heavy bar end weights are quite long.


From the innermost edge of the heated handlebar grip flange, comes in at 190mm / 7½".





From the plastic shroud, 197mm / 7¾"





I'm leaving the heated handlebar grips as they are for now as they are still working. The rubber has gone a bit mushy. They were wrapped in some sort of tape which made them quite fat and I didn't like that, so I took the the wrapping off and maybe in hindsight should have left that very last turn on as a barrier to the the mush underneath.

[Dave Milnes]

Personally I like fatter grips and on all my bikes I have used 'grip puppies' a sort of foam sleeve that fits over the standard grips. You can get replica versions on Ebay for less than £10 which have variable quality but if you can fit them without them ripping they seem OK.
They probably slightly reduce the heat from the grips or at least make them take longer to feel the warmth.
The hand guards fit using the bolt through the bar ends and a flat bar attached to the inner top of the shroud that usually fits to the mirror mounts on the brake fluid reservoirs. I suppose you could bend them and simply attach them to the shrouds.

[Mike H]

I've also started using grip puppies on the Moto Guzzi – for two reasons – the palm of my left hand has a small area that frequently gets dermatitis, and which is placed exactly where a h'bar grip tends to be – yes I've tried changing the position of my hand, none of which other attitudes feel natural, and there's only one that works for pulling the clutch lever. It's further aggravated by that, because of the sidecar, I am often required to push quite hard on the grip(s) for steering. The right hand can suddenly get cramp without warning because the grip is 'too thin', so the fingers are too 'curled up'. If that makes sense. This frequently occurs after pulling the brake lever.

 

[Mr.Chips]

I 'discovered' Grip Puppies soon after I bought my first Silverwing.
I've fitted them on all my maxis since then, certain they ease the discomfort of increasing arthritis in my hands.

 

[macplaxton]

Yesterday, I took a look at the air filter.

First, a quick glance at the manual, seems straightforward enough.





Took out the two screws to expose and remove the third, followed by sliding the nearside lower panel rearwards to release.






Then I worked by way around the casing removing the screws. I had a stubby screwdriver and started at the rear. 1,2,3,4,5,6. Ok, I'm going to need something else for the one nearest the "cleaner cap". So I found a ¼" drive screwdriver bit and grabbed it with a pair mole grips as there was no clearance to get my small ¼" drive ratchet on it. Then I was greeted by mayo oozing from removal of that screw, so took the cleaner cap off.









That was 7 out and there's supposed to be 8. Where's this knob?


Well, there is an 8th, but it's a screw in the hole. Grrr. I'm going to have to pull some more bodywork off, remove the entire housing and deal with the final screw that way.


In the meantime I looked up the parts views.

500



500 EVO




Riiiiight. So the only difference between the two air boxes (and part numbers) is the extra thumbscrew to make it less of a hassle to get the air filter out?


827390-X9-500



840172-X9-500-EVO

[unchained]

I've never even contemplated changing the air filter without removing the box first. I can strip off the panels and access it in less than 20 minutes and with my big hands it's a lot quicker than trying to do the job in situ. 

Bob

[macplaxton]

I've got small hands Bob, but not that small!

It does beggar belief that they felt the need to have 8 screws to hold it together, considering some maintenance-friendly airboxes manage with two clips. And I thought the French were jokers for this sort of carry on (Citroen especially)

[Mike H]

One of those 'five minute jobs' that takes up a whole day.

[macplaxton]

Exactly, I carried the job over to the next day as I had a rear tyre to deal with.

Back panel off, a couple of bumper screws out and I could access all four fasteners that hold the left rear upper side panel on (well actually three, as one of the grab handle pair was missing).

Then I took the three screws that hold the box onto the frame, but I didn't remove it, opting to rotate it a bit to get the screwdriver at the bottom....and I found that thumbscrew...it was in a different (wrong) hole!

This one:





Cleaned the mayo out and the filter looked fairly clean.





.
But I changed it anyway as I've a load of them and they were only £4 a piece.


Now confession time. I've taken my eye off the ball completely here and I have absolutely zero excuse for this shocker.





Now that was just half the circumference, the other half was different, but not better.





Odd, but I can only guess it's tyre balance or suspension. It is now remedied with a new Michelin and 25g of balance weights.





Whilst the wheel was out, I spied a brake disc that's a bit gouged. New one on the shopping list.





Also noticed the right rear shock has a flat side to the adjustment collar.





It looks like an Evo silencer with a strip welded to it, to make it fit, as some of the mate bolts were Japanese as they had 12mm hex heads. There was a spacer on the top bolt, but it wasn't doing any spacing as it was on the wrong side of the bracket. I've now moved this so the exhaust isn't scuffing the shock.

Also noted was the right shock was on the second preload position, but the left on minium preload. I'll have to find a C spanner that fits.






Took it to work today, and it goes quite well round corners. (relative to where I started with it). Still a few more crinkles to iron out though.

[Mike H]

Wow! 

Just to mention, a defective tyre might get you £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence (for each bad tyre!), note including, tyre(s) at wrong pressure. (Info source: RAC)

Mind you someone has to actually stop you and check, I think the last time I was stopped at a police checkpoint was about 30 years ago. Still a possibility tho I suppose.

HTH

[macplaxton]

Wow! 

Just to mention, a defective tyre might get you £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence (for each bad tyre!), note including, tyre(s) at wrong pressure. (Info source: RAC)

Mind you someone has to actually stop you and check, I think the last time I was stopped at a police checkpoint was about 30 years ago. Still a possibility tho I suppose.

HTH

As a construction and use offence, £2,500 / 3pts is the max at court and is subject to income. It is more likely to be dealt with by way of Fixed Penalty Notice which is currently £100 / 3pts I think.

Fun fact: Back in 1997 I received a FPN for an underinflated rear tyre by the Met Police. I was a courier at the time and the old bill didn't like the fact I went the wrong side of a keep left on a zebra crossing on Chelsea Embankment. After being pulled over and ranted at over that, he switched his attention to the brake discs and tyres. After finding that the tyre had a slow-puncture and about 15psi in it, he proceeded to ask me where I was going, etc. and what I was going to do about it. As I was riding a BMW R100RS at the time, I advised him that these have hand pumps fitted to the frame and he said "you better get pumping then". I was subsequently issued with a £40 FPN for said uninflated rear tyre.

I didn't pay the ticket, but requested a court appearance. This I never got, merely receiving my paper licence back in the post with the FPN number pencilled on it and no covering letter. No further action was taken. I don't know why he didn't just issue a 28 day VDRS scheme ticket and get me to re-MOT it.


As I'm in Ireland, I'll add: "using a vehicle with defective or worn tyres" carries 2 penalty points and a €80 fine (if paid within 28 days) and €120 fine if paid in the subsequent 28 days. (And that the chances of getting stopped here are even slimmer than yours).

But again, no defence for being sloppy.