What accessories do you guys want to see?

[MadAss John]

That's a nice box! It looks like it would fit the MA's 'minimalist' design

[jim8o]

I hope you guys know how ewen and charlie are

I wonder if there's a DVD for Long Way Down (down through the EU and Africa to Cape Town), that would be cool.

I have a copy of the DVD here in Aus, so im sure it may have got released in the states (considering the sales would be much larger id imagine), a quick search on US ebay shows theres a few available

[fotoguzzi]

I just put both Long Way Around and Long Way Down in my queue on Netflix. I'd never heard of them before.

Howdy! first post here... if you like the round the world video don't miss this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SldSSPxWMfk

and how about these two norwegians going the long way around. kccd.no . they stopped over at my home for two days in december and I video'ed it,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDChHCMQxEQ


I'm thinking of trading off my KLR for a Madass!

[MilwaukeeMadass]

Welcome to the group Fotoguzzi! Thanks for the links. Very cool.

[ShebMadass]

Would definitely like to see:
- Gas gauge!
- Chrome levers
- Steering damper mount for old style steering dampers
- Steering damper mount for rotary steering dampers
- Axle spool kits (especially for the front)
- Some sort of flat skid plate for making lifting the center of the bike up easier
- The Euro LED taillight
- A shorter front fender that only sticks out as far as the bottom headlight (in all five MadAss colors). This sportier version wouldn't need the three holes in the back for the little black flap.
- The brake components currently come in red and black. I'd like to see gold as well.
- A low profile fly screen designed with the headlights of the MadAss in mind; something minimalistic yet functional
- Handlebar brace for the stock handlebars, black, chrome, and gold
- Touch up paint for all 5 MadAss colors
- Gold adjustment and locking nuts for the stock rear shock, and maybe red and blue as well to suit other people's tastes

Probably be cool to:
- Rearsets and a conversion kit
- Alternative swing arms
- Different seat styles to choose from, like a single person cafe racer style with the seat cowl coming in all 5 bike colors
- Curved vertical side mount license plate bracket, left and right side versions in black or silver

What I would like to see redesigned or added to future models:
- Use Loctite rather than J-B Weld on the bolts!
- Gas gauge and tachometer
- Either use a higher quality clutch perch switch or remove that feature entirely from the bike. Half the time I have to push on the connectors at the clutch perch to get my bike to start.
- Make the neutral light more accurate. It doesn't always come on when you are in neutral.
- Rethink rear wiring so that you don't have to cut any wires or pull wires through an impossibly narrow metal tube to install new rear turn signals
- Add another inch to most of the wires on the bike
- An easy way to grab accessory power up at the front of the bike without modifying anything
- Make the battery and everything in the battery compartment more accessible and easier to work on
- Make the ignition coil easier to get to and replace
- Redesign the exhaust and rear bracket(for lights and license plate) so the two are not directly connected to each other
- Come stock with a 428 chain
- Brake and clutch levers that are compatible with some other bike or popular brand
- Slightly stiffer front shocks
- Bolt holes for spools on the front shocks and rear swing arm
- Come stock with a Mikuni carb rather than the TK carb that they switched to
- Maybe I and several others on this forum simply don't know how to use it correctly, but the reserve tank does not seem to function. At best one person has reported being able to go half a block on it.
- This last one may be over the top, but would be cool, a plugged bung for installing an 02 sensor in the exhaust pipe

In general, wiring/electrical is probably the weakest link on the bike right now, with the excessively strong "Loctite" on some of the bolts being my second biggest gripe.

"YES ! WHAT HE SAID!!!!

[ShebMadass]

What would you like to see for your MadAss?

Bill

Rocket Launchers!! : )

[Blue Ridge Rider]

Lower profile, but still bright and noticeable as can be, turn signals

[dave]

dealers in canada,so we can get parts without the internet,that would be nice since the aholes at amg went down and not suppling parts to the ones that bought there bikes,im pretty sure there are laws on this aswell,but what can i do,

[Greg]

Add round sport bike style foot pegs in silver to my wish list.

[Sir_Jaon]

How about some oem bolts, nuts and screws? Once something rattles loose it's a pain to find a replacement. HID lighting kit would be awsome.

[ShebMadass]

How about some oem bolts, nuts and screws? Once something rattles loose it's a pain to find a replacement. HID lighting kit would be awsome.

HID?
I just installed a set on my madass.
About $135.00 delivered and not so bad to install.
Shebmadass

[Sir_Jaon]

what was involved? do the stock switches still work?

[moebobbie]

How about a forward cargo rack like they have over the pond that will work with moto-scoots rear cargo rack.

Thanks,
Moe

[MadAssGuerrillia]

ill *try* to keep this brief. if asked what time it is, some guys would tell you how a watch is built;

Stock parts,
108 crank kit with both the cover gasket and crank case gasket.
real selection of tires
chopper kit
better seat for 2006/50
forward mounted controls
old style brake lights
i like the lic plate relocation
bars
CDI
stock 50/88 engine cover KITs of all colors
ols school spedo

[Ruin]

This is my first bike (actually my second, but I never rode my first bike for the 3 years I had it) and I am crazy in love with it! So, I don't have anything for comparison. But, I would like:
1) a different seat. No matter what I do, I can't find the "right" spot, and I tend to slide forward all the time.
2) an analog speedometer. The digital is hard to read in the bright light. Plus, I just like old school--it seems like it would go better with the look and concept of the bike.

Also, I have a question. What is the max speed in each gear? My dealer (Philadelphia Scooter--they've been great) tells me to go by the sound, but since I'm a newbie, that doesn't mean much to me yet.

Thanks to all. This forum is great!

[Greg]

Also, I have a question. What is the max speed in each gear? My dealer (Philadelphia Scooter--they've been great) tells me to go by the sound, but since I'm a newbie, that doesn't mean much to me yet.

Yeah, you definitely, even when just learning, want to go by sound. You don't want to be looking down at your speedo, particularly as a beginner. It's just not safe, and also, it's not really an accurate indicator. The speed you should shift at is going to differ depending on if you are going on a level surface, up hill, down hill, and how much weight you have on the bike on that particular outing.

I tend shift when the engine starts to sound like it's struggling. At this point the engine also begins to vibrate noticeably more than at lower rpms. You can tell if you are shifting too early, because you won't have any punch in the next gear, but instead you will have to get up some speed first and the engine will sound likes it's struggling, though in a different way than when it is time to shift up. When you are in the right gear the engine basically feels and sounds smooth. If you are in too high of a gear it will feel and sound like it wants to stall, and if you are in too low of a gear it will feel and sound like it wants to explode. Haha.

Once I stop accelerating, I adjust the throttle so that the engine is very quietly humming. I find the engine's happy, peaceful place.

Occasionally you will find yourself in a situation where you are in traffic, and so cannot really adjust your speed too much, and neither the gear you are in or the next one up feel quite right. You just have to use your best judgment on which gear to be in.

[Greg]

I should also mention there are different riding styles. I ride like a bat out of hell. You can change gears at slightly lower rpms than I do, which would be just before the engine begins to rattle, and that's probably better for when you are breaking the engine in as well.

Downshifting to an intersection with the clutch pulled in is more intuitive guesswork since you don't have the sound of the engine to go by. You pull in the clutch, begin braking, and then shift down to the appropriate gear for the speed you are going and the incline of the road. You don't need to think about this too much. It will become natural. The idea is, that if while slowing down to an intersection, if suddenly you need to do some evasive maneuvering you will be in the correct gear. You don't want to be in 4th gear still. A few feet before you come to a stop you should already be in first gear. At first gear I generally tap down twice just to make sure I counted right and that I didn't accidentally tap into neutral. This will avoid embarrassment when leaving the intersection.

I enjoy engine braking because it sounds so damn cool with my aftermarket exhaust, but it's not particularly good on the engine, and so I don't do it very much.

[Ruin]

THANKS GHOUSTON for the advice (and super quick reply)!!

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. Each time I ride, things do fall into place a little more. My embarrassing moments at intersections are way less often than they used to be . I am proud to be a soldier in the MadAss Army!

[MilwaukeeMadass]

Welcome to the group Ruin - glad you found us.

I'd second what Greg said - riding a bike seems to be about feel more than anything and you pick things up as you ride and get more familiar with your bike. Have you thought about taking a MSF basic riders course? I a big believer in it.

[Ruin]

Welcome to the group Ruin - glad you found us.

I'd second what Greg said - riding a bike seems to be about feel more than anything and you pick things up as you ride and get more familiar with your bike. Have you thought about taking a MSF basic riders course? I a big believer in it.

Thank You! I did the MSF basic riders course and thought it was excellent. But it seems like so long ago, so I'm signed up again for June and really looking forward to it. I'm lucky that in PA the course is free--best deal around!

[Greg]

I'm lucky that in PA the course is free--best deal around!

Wow. That is awesome. Bravo to Pennsylvania.

[MilwaukeeMadass]

No doubt. You can't do better then that price. It's a shame more states don't follow PA's idea.