New member intro

[willb]

Welcome to the site Ladder.

[Sharribee]

Welcome to the site

[Jenna]

Maverick i think the mods that modrover did were actually worked out and origionally done by Geoff Stoess who used to run the Quad shop in Krestwood Kentucky and is a friend of modrover.

if you want the link to original build its...
http://www.transalp.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=52

if you havent read this article before its fasinating reading as the guy is a master in doing upgrades!... the bike in the article was sold soon after it was done to fund a new CRM (i think) as Geoff is a keen motorcrosser, if you want more info he can be contacted via SRC racing or the 'tyre balls' website.

[Dilbert]

Modrover, bought probably the only RD03 in California as a Swiss spec' (square headlamp) and converted it to the twin round with a fairing I sent him and some other bits from a German guy, it was totally original and very clean, he was trying to sell it earlier in the year and we haven't heard from him since.
He also heavilly modified a Transalp, which I believe he kept, this was done in black with aluminium panels that he cut himself, Mod is a Land Rover mechanic by trade so well used to working with Aloo-min-um (UK/USA Joke).
Mod also hosts the US Transalp site, check out his profile for details (it's a yahoo site).
I think he did have some help from Geoff Stoess but with Geoff being in Kentucky and Mod being in Washington State, they couldn't be much further apart.
Geoff is also a good contact, he runs an ATV shop (Jenna has this shut down now?) and does a lot of off-road and Honda mod's.
GPSD750 is a regular contributer here and another knowledgeable guy from your side of the pond (Calgary).

[Dilbert]

Come to think of it Modrover did do the exact conversion you are talking about to a Transalp, but I think he swapped it back and sold it as standard before he got his RD03.

[Jenna]

Geoff never has actually said in so many words that the Quad shop is no more but he hasnt posted anything about it on transalp.org or other US motocross forums he posts too. I know he was working for SRC and its sister company TyreBalls as he always posted them as his work emails.

only reason i thought Geoff did the conversion first was that Modrover used edits from Geoffs posts on Adventure Rider to explain what he wanted to do (this was the black tank build, which i thought was his first?)...

jen.

[Dilbert]

You could well be right Jenna, I know they are friends so an amount of collaboration will have gone on I'm sure.

"originality is not saying where you got your ideas from" and I'm not saying where that quote came from

[ladder106]

Thanks for the welcome guys (or should I say "mates")

I've been in contact with both Jeff and Micheal (modrover) on the advrider.com forums and have saved many of Jeffs photos on his TA to AT mod.

The body work is exactly what I'd like to do with my TA (pending finding the correct parts) but the suspension mods I'm looking for involve a bit less wheel travel, and also a bit less ride height. I find the TA tippy enough in the technical stuff. I'm looking for about 10 in. of travel front and rear. I think this will have to involve an AT swingarm and a bit longer shock. My rear damper is on it's last legs anyway and Wilbers can build me a longer with with a bit more travel.

You guys are correct about shipping AT's here. One could most likely make a tidy profit from sales. The last AT I saw in California sold to an aquaintance with a TA. It was a RD04 model with 40,000 mi on the clock and sold for about $7500 US. I've just heard a rumor of an AT in Seattle Washinton with about 40,000 that's being listed for $5,000 US but the word is that it's in rough shape.

As always the largest hurdle is getting the beast registered in California. This would be the most problem for anyone thinking about shipping the bikes over...well maybe not...since the bikes were never DOT (Dept. of Transportation) approved the good ole US government may have some "issues" with someone bringing in a large number for resale. Things like lighting may have to change.....gad....this is getting to be a large headache. Which is why I'm just going to modify my TA.

So....If anyone has or discovers a RD04 that is being salvaged (broken for spares is, I believe the correct term) please let me know. I'm looking for the tanks, front plastics, headlight and associated brackets for the front mounts. The clocks would be nice but not essential. Matching colors/graphics would be great but if I get a "mutt" I can have it all painted.

Also, my compliments to you folks for putting the big rugby tackle on the terrorist nutters. I'm just glad they didn't get caught here where we take better care of our prisoners than we do of our poor. Hopefully you can find some nice damp drafty belowground cell for them up in the north country.

All the Best,
Ray

[ladder106]

A bit of a post script.

I feel a bit odd talking about someone else without their permission but this has all pretty much been posted by Michael (modrover) on other forums and it doesn't seem like you guys know yet so......

After an epic ride of 1000 plus miles in less than 24 hours to get the bike home, fairly extensive improvements and repairs, Michael decided to sell it for personal reasons. We tried to reason with him but the man was committed to his decision and you've gotta respect that. He is also limiting his time on the net so one doesn't hear from him much. I should let him speak to that. He does show his face on the advrider forum about once a week.


The AT he had was sold to a fellow in Alaska. Michael said he was happy with the sale and Alaska is a great place for the bike. He still has the "superenduro" TA.

Look him up at advrider.com in the "Show us your Transalp Modifications" thread under the "Beasts" forum. You can PM him from there to get news straight from him.

Apologies if I'm lacking tact in posting this

[Dilbert]

Ray
Thanks for the update about Michael and no it's not out of order, he made several (virtual) friends when he was posting here, your post reminds me that I really should get in touch, so thanks for the prompt
I'm glad he kept the SETA that was a really nice job.