[saf]

Ok people , My SP-2 arrives this week , and just before it does get here , i need some input into a mild issue thats racking my brain . I know it would be better if i had my bike infront of me , but please be patient with me for a few more days

As some may know from a earlier post , i had a racing incident years ago that left me with a broken back .... long story short , i cant move anything or feel anything from the knees down . I will need to setup a shifter on the bike , and here lies the issue . I worked with a tech at the Perth branch of Norgren pneumatics , to develop a twin ram back to back air shifter for my race ATV , and it works better than perfect . I can shift from 1st to 5th in under a second , allways selecting gear , allways spot on without fail in wet , dry , mud , sand etc .

Hence this is one system im very keen to throw straight back onto my new SP-2 . The rear compartment can easily hold a high output compressor i run on the race bike , the solenoids can easily be run to the headset area for easy filter maintinance , and the rams can be mounted up to the frame no probs . Here is were the problem lies ....

On the EX-400 i have a reserve tank (gutted 1kg fire extinguisher) sitting behind the airbox off the back of the subframe next to the Yoshi .... and this is not possible without hardcore thought on the SP-2 . Im a performance fabricator by trade , and if need be ill make a tank up to suit , but why make a simple job difficult . And here is where the next Q lies ..... the people who are fammiliar with the SP-2 frame and swing arm .... are they sealed units ? . I am thinking about using say the swing arm as a reserve tank ... it would hold a large volume of air , and would make a great reserve tank . Any opinions ?

On a side note , are there any "reliable" electronic shifters that go up and down the gear set ? . Im only keeping that avenue open .... i know air is great , but im not limiting myself .

Thanks in advance ...

[Rigor]

the rear swingarm on the SP2 isn't "completely" sealed. there are threaded "inserts" in the unit for rear brake hose mount and for the chainguard mounts. i'm unsure about the end of the swingarm, (without looking) where the adjusters are mounted, for the rear wheel. although, any decent fabricator could weld the insert holes closed and make an external mount for those items. it sounds possible.....

as for electronic shifting methods, i'm not versed on that. anyone with a robotics background could help, i'm sure. electronic actuators would be simpler than air or hydraulic, and no reservoir would be needed. as long as the ram was dual action, and its throw/return was long enough, if not adjustable, it may be better.

good luck with this!! hope you're enjoying your RC51 in no time!!

if all else fails.....paint your gutted fire extinguisher medium blue, slap a NOS sticker on it and mount it on the side of the tail piece to scare the local kiddies................!!

[SilverBullet]

The airshifters I am accustomed too dont do both, up and down, its either or. Here is a website you can check and call though....its what I use for my airshifter. http://www.mpsracing.com/ Give them a call and see if they can help you or guide you in the right direction.

[saf]

Rigor : I just found out a issue that kinda stops the swingarm idea . The swingarm apparently is filled with a closed cell foam type substance , im thinking its the same stuff that we use in circuit race cars in sub frame and chassis rails to stiffen the whole setup with and cancel out harmonic resonance . If Honda sprayed it into it , i dont really want to melt it out . The blue extinguisher idea is a good one ... cops here would have a field day with me tho . Im thinking possibly one or two res tanks in a couple different spots that i can tap into each other via a 6mm teflon line , that works .

SilverBullet : I had to make up my shifter from the satrt solely for that reason , that you dont get dual action . I solved that minor problem with a pair of air rams (20mm / 0.78" bore X 60mm / 2.36" throw) back to back , where one is compressed and one is extended in the neutral position . As you select a down gear , the one that is compressed , extends and pushes down a gear . Going up , the one the is extended , now compresses and pulls the shifter up . Amazingly fast and accurate . Thanks for the link ill have a long look thru that site and see if they have something of interest .

[CBR929RE]

yes I didn't think of the foam in there when I read your first post earlier. yes its filled with foam.