Triumphrat

Jimbonnie · 02-09-2007, 04:17 PM

I was thinking those airbox removal kits are an attractive way to add some horsepower but there are a couple of ways they can be improved, and by which one manufacturer can distinguish their product from those of their competitors.

My suggestions are:

1) Provide at least the same protection (or better yet more) for the rear of the bike as the stock airbox. The stock airbox is part of the rear fender and because it is wider helps keep road debris, not to mention rain fall thrown by the tire, from the center of bike. This becomes even more important with the exposed filters of the replacement kits, which probably become contaminated more from water thrown off of the back tire than from rain falling in front of the moving bike.

2) Provide a place to store tools. It doesn't have to be fancy, or even have a door, but a decent sized roll should fit and stay in place. To seal the box how about a suitably sized and shaped piece of foam which attaches at the appropriate place on the inside of the side cover with double sided tape. When the cover is installed on the bike the foam blocks and seals the tool box entrance - and everyone is happy.

Manufactures and suppliers, potential customers: any comments?

[ This message was edited by: Jimbonnie on 2007-02-09 21:30 ]

keef · 02-09-2007, 09:27 PM

It might be worth your while checking out one or two airbox and tool carrier links in the "Suck" and "Brass" sections of theTriumph Twin Mod Links page.
Good luck.

Jimbonnie · 02-09-2007, 11:40 PM

Thanks Keef; those are good solutions.

Only I was thinking if you were going to make an airbox elimination kit from scratch, and with everything you wanted integrated into a purpose built unit, what would you include. From were I sit it looks like a bit more sheet metal or aluminum bent and welded a bit differently and without a lot of extra trouble you've solved two additional problems.

Right now it seems there's not that much to distinguish one airbox eliminate kit from another. It's not that there aren't differences, its just that fundamentally they're the same design with minor differences. Better debris protection and an integrated toolbox would make someone's product stand out.

ramblinfool · 02-09-2007, 11:40 PM

A couple of us in Greenville, SC are gonna make our own. None of us want to chop the stock box, or any stock part for that matter, in case we want to put it back one day. 20 bucks will get you a small sheet metal break. With a small welding machine, a lot of measuring and a little patience I think we will have a nice finished product.

sweatmachine · 02-10-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

On 2007-02-09 21:40, ramblinfool wrote:
A couple of us in Greenville, SC are gonna make our own. None of us want to chop the stock box, or any stock part for that matter, in case we want to put it back one day. 20 bucks will get you a small sheet metal break. With a small welding machine, a lot of measuring and a little patience I think we will have a nice finished product.

Sounds like you have mentioned everything except 'swearing', gonna need lots of that. I always make sure to stock up on it before starting a project.

d2mini · 02-10-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Sounds like you have mentioned everything except 'swearing', gonna need lots of that. I always make sure to stock up on it before starting a project.

Great advice.
I went to Costco years ago and got me a lifetime supply. :razz:

Jimbonnie · 02-10-2007, 01:19 AM

Of course we'll all want to see photos of the completed parts.

Spyder94 · 02-10-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

On 2007-02-09 22:54, sweatmachine wrote:

Quote:

On 2007-02-09 21:40, ramblinfool wrote:
A couple of us in Greenville, SC are gonna make our own. None of us want to chop the stock box, or any stock part for that matter, in case we want to put it back one day. 20 bucks will get you a small sheet metal break. With a small welding machine, a lot of measuring and a little patience I think we will have a nice finished product.

Sounds like you have mentioned everything except 'swearing', gonna need lots of that. I always make sure to stock up on it before starting a project.

I was issued a case of the A$$ when I went into the Army.

The one other thing you are going to need is :-g and lots of it. Keep us posted with photographs.

Steve, Gears :yayyy: :chug: :yayyy:

Jimbonnie · 05-01-2007, 07:33 PM

From Peter at Jenks Bolts:

"It is finally here: the "Jenks Bolts" European Air Box Eliminator!

Eliminating the airbox is the only way to wrest those last few bhp from the Bonnie, Thruxton or Scrambler. There are Air Box Eliminator kits, but developed in the USA they overlooked one essential component of European weather - RAIN.

We have developed a European Version: it features:

* Large mudguard section, copied from the stock part, to keep the water off the engine and more importantly the electrics!
* Somewhere to put those over trousers, or disk lock and tools...storage at last!
* Less weight, the stock part is 2.4kg, ours is 1.3kg!

The photos show the engineering prototype: Box 1 shows it with the locker door closed, Box 2 with the door open and Box 3 shows the mudguard sections.

It will be in my bike at the weekend for a test run and to make sure everything fits and the luggage space is as large as it can be. Then it is off to production! I'll take some more photos showing it installed.

If all goes well it should be ready and on the website in June! Price? Competitive, but not yet calculated.

Comments, suggestions?"

Here's the link on the New Triumph Bonneville forum:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/New_B...s/?msg=18475.1

Tabletop · 05-01-2007, 08:40 PM

Jenks has a decent looking prototype, and the extended fender is a nice feature.
Although it somehow looks a bit larger than needed, unless some the electrics are tucked away inside the box, as there's an extra fold of metal in front of the battery compartment: