ST2 Chapter 2
Could this be the easiest conversion and a natural upgrade for all tired elefants?
The standard elefant air-box fitted quite easily, onto the ST2 injectors…
….amazing, bearing in mind that the air-box for the 888 fant took over 3 months to fabricate and caused all types of skinned knuckles
……I was astounded that this 944 ST2 engine elefant conversion was going so easily……..started at Xmas 2005 finished by tea-time!
The air temp and pressure sensors, on the standard ST2 wiring loom, had to be extended to other areas of the elefant air-box…these were mounted onto 3mm thick, white foamex and glued to the standard airbox.
and some internet trawling identified that K&N Filters DO make a filter for the standard air-box…
Although NOT listed as an "elefant" component, the part number GC9002 fits the elefant box.
As well as those fitted to the Grand Canyon and the Cagiva Navigator…the words "Job-lot …Cagiva…and typical"… all spring to mind!!
So here we are........at the end of January 06 and all is basically done....I should COCO!!
The "blocked" water outlet turned easily on its axis and the sensor cables connected back on...the standard issue rubber water hose from the 888 model can now be used and it all fits back together.......
There were MAJOR electrical/wiring issues to be resolved…..primarily the actual mounting position of the 16M ecu…in fact at one point ...it looked as if the ecu was going to be mounted on top of the battery!!"
But other than that and some glass fibred sections of the original under seat plastics….
and the actual mounting of the radiator…
and…..the fuel pump/filter/regulator thingy has to be dismantled
and located outside of the fuel tank
and …….the bike is…… just about there.
I also have to figure out the "American… lights on all day"…. “let’s use all of the Worlds energy in 2 generations” wiring spec
and the “will not run with the side stand down…Matey!!” ......thingy bob.
So, in the time honoured tradition of not leaving things alone….…I decided to modify a few of the previously fitted and standard components, whilst the radiator was being made and the panels being glassed.
First up… the exhaust………the standard issue Lazer, end can had always been okay, but the ST2 engine is more prone to exhaust changes than the old elefant …and the length of the Lazer end can, seemed too short…..and I had always admired the reverse cone mega of the original 851/888 racers…
…I probably would have left it at just that…admiring…..but…whilst at Gibson Race Exhausts in Romford, Essex, getting another baffle inserted into the 888 exhaust…the original one, made a dash for freedom whilst blasting through the Essex countryside…one minute.. loud, but not an, offensive exhaust noise …the next, more popping and banging than Harley “Biker Build Off” drive by….
Anyway…the price they quoted, for a long reverse cone, end can, in stainless steel, meant that an order was left.
This when added to the much modified, extra bend, equal length exhaust system should ....."do what it says on the tin!"
Next up…….the lighting………a single light aperture elefant nose cone was sourced via eBay......Jesus...what have I become.....before the 888 project...I hadn't even heard of eBay!
........and the ST2 head lamp unit was stripped to reveal the high beam projector…
.........otherwise identified as.... a Taxi drivers’ neck warmer..…this was then, coerced into the space normally housing the twin 35 amp headlamps of the standard bike
So……in theory, we should be able to toast marshmallows by the headlight.........which reminds me of a play, that I once, saw...
called "Fanny by Gaslight".......
and watch the fireworks being launched from the exhaust….I guess that this makes the bike an a entertainment centre!
A batch of 14 tooth sprockets were being made by a contact "Up North" and this seemed like an ideal time to ditch the thin section ST2 520 chain and replace with the standard 530 of the elefant.
The battery and the 16M ecu positioning was REALLY causing a problem. I did NOT want to extend 20 or 30 very thin ECU wires to a new point....and the actual location was an issue....
However .........this problem was solved by fellow EAB list member.... Alex Fischer, who introduced me to a German company which sold the very latest in battery gel technology units.......MOTOGADGET. de
This then meant.... that the new smaller gel filled battery could be mounted in the tail section under the seat. These "new batteries" can be mounted at any angle and almost in any location.....also if you do not have the space in ONE area the the battery can be split into TWO and joined via the cables back into the loom .......fitting almost anywhere!
The original battery position, behind the shock could now be solely used for the storage of the 16M ECU and some egg and cress sandwiches!
CREDITS GO TO:
BIG BIG thankyou's to.......... ALEX FISCHER for his input and sourcing knowledge....a star among men!!
Mitch from TEC MOTO a Romford (ESSEX) based Ducati technician who does what he says and no messing.....look them up on the tin tin net....
Chapter 3 ......sometime after the Marsielle meeting (MARCH)and before the Holland meet!.(JUNE 06)........
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Chapter Index
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