Winter Project - My New to Me Sad Neglected LeMans

[Steve Swan]

My next project is coming up with some alternative of mounting the well designed brackets the p.o. had fabricated that attach to the Givi Monokey bracket and the whole mess attaches to the part of the frame the passenger/muffler brackes are held on by 2 Allen screws.  I'll post pics when i am ready to experiment with the 130mm Allens that should be here any day soon.   He had the brackets as close to the frame as he could get them and had installed some HORRIBLE round mufflers that were lower than factory and an extra bracket that looked like s--t, and the mufflers had one of the worst sounds i've ever heard a muffler make and certainly sounds no V11 deserves to have to make.  Sort of a clattering, the first time i rode the bike i thought there was an engine problem or something flapping loose.  Threw them in the metal recycling bin at work.  I'm thinking the longer Allens will get the bags a bit further out so they clear the new satin Mistrals. 

[Steve Swan]

I had to get moved into my new office to be ready for Monday and the high today was a cloudy, moist 61' so i snapped a pic of the old gal in the shop.  Next tiome i go out for ride, will take more pics.  I'm planning a 4 day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, early July. Considering what she was like when i got her, she cleaned up well, but still carries the numerous small scars of neglect.

Edited May 19 by Steve Swan

[gstallons]

On 5/18/2025 at 12:24 AM, Steve Swan said:

Thanks, @gstallons, THAT is a Great Point. I am certain you nailed it.  i used the factory mounting rings and cut 3mm  rubber strips from an MX innertube, but she's really tight in those clamps and i'll bet the 3mm strips simply are not enough cushion so now the pump, when in operation, resonates very nicely...  Wish i could use the rubber cocoon the factory pump fitds so nicely in. There are used factory pumps on ebay, listed by a German salvager, only $175 or $250, as George Patton said, "Nuts." Hmm...  Gonna have to come up with something different. And keep my eyes open for a reasonably priced factory pump.

After adapting a aftermarket pump/filter on my black frame i came upon a OEM pump / filter and other parts from a member in Canada at a bargain price. I am holding on to this for the next time .  If I had it to do again , I'd buy the stock #s and be done w/it. install the isolator , stock clamps , etc. Same thing w/the fuel filter. OEM and it fits !

[Steve Swan]

2 hours ago, gstallons said:

After adapting a aftermarket pump/filter on my black frame i came upon a OEM pump / filter and other parts from a member in Canada at a bargain price. I am holding on to this for the next time .  If I had it to do again , I'd buy the stock #s and be done w/it. install the isolator , stock clamps , etc. Same thing w/the fuel filter. OEM and it fits !

Agreed, @gstallons.  nothing like OEM.  I'll keep an eye open for an OEM and may eventually breakdown and buy one from that German seller if they still have any.  I may have asked this already, is the factory external pum still available or is it nla? And i take it substutute pumps, are not the same diameter?

[gstallons]

You would just have to check w/some MG dealers and ask about availability . And yes, fuel pumps are very seldom the same size as factory units . 

[PJPR01]

12 hours ago, Steve Swan said:

I had to get moved into my new office to be ready for Monday and the high today was a cloudy, moist 61' so i snapped a pic of the old gal in the shop.  Next tiome i go out for ride, will take more pics.  I'm planning a 4 day trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison, early July. Considering what she was like when i got her, she cleaned up well, but still carries the numerous small scars of neglect.

That's a nice area to ride...I'll be riding thru there from Telluride and surrounding areas the 3rd week of June.  Black Canyon is one of my favorite National Parks....great twisty roads on the north side!

[Steve Swan]

The old gal is outfitted.  I did some modifying of the 1/4" alum.plate the po made brackets to fit the Give Wing Racks. The mounting hardware can now be removed as an assembly by removing 3 bolts on each side and now retains the factory rear blinkers. Not sure about that top case, wish it could be moved further ahead instead of being perched in the back 40. Now that i wrote this, i'll take a closer look for that possibility.  Will be interesting to see what this kit feels like on the road loaded.

Edited May 25 by Steve Swan

[Tomchri]

Since you already have some thoughts about it, do the right thing. Turbulence is a nasty ting at speed. 

Cheers Tom.

[Steve Swan]

Happily, i was able to turn the rack around, made some spacers, way better.

[audiomick]

That looks good. Just for the sake of curiosity, can you still get the set off with it like that?

 

I'm thinking ahead to when I, one day in the distant future, get around to mounting my Hepco Becker rack on my V11, and wondering if something similar can be done with that.

[Steve Swan]

@audiomick I'm not sure what you mean by "can you still get the set off with it like that?" i don't have to disassemble each side of the rack assembly to remove it from the bike. i can remove it as an entire unit, remove the 2 Allen's on each side attaching the passenger foot rest hangers and remove the lower bolt attaching the muffler to th hanger and the whole assembly removes as a unit.  This is the Give Monokey Wingrack system; idk if nla.  i can take pics with bags off so you can see, if you think it would give you some ideas.  The one part that was well-fabricated by the p.o. was the two brackets made of 1/4" alum plate; they attach to the subframe and are what the Wingracks attach to.

[Steve Swan]

here's the smaller bags that also came ith the bike. Along with the top case, i think the 3 will give sufficient room for 4 day in-state junkets. I think i'm going to look for a smaller top case, the one on is huge, as are the larger 36 liter bags.  idk what liter size these smaller bags are...

[audiomick]

18 hours ago, Steve Swan said:

@audiomick I'm not sure what you mean by "can you still get the set off with it like that?"

Sorry, mate, that was a typo. I was interested in knowing if you can get the seat off with the rack like that.

[Steve Swan]

@audiomick the short answer is no!  the longer answer is yes.  i was able to move the mounting plate back 4 inches by drilling holes in the plate and the Wingracks.  So, the top case is now 4 inches to the rear and the seat is removable. The case is a bit further back than i would like, but it's not nearly as far back as it was before.

Edited May 28 by Steve Swan