Footrests (part 1) - An ode to Mr Smith (metal-head), Barry (the dad-in-law) and paying attention

     Measure, measure again - have a think, then measure and cut. It is testament to machinists everywhere, the old maxim of measure twice and cut once used to work.....
     The having a think precludes making my mistake on mounting of the rear sets and having to artistically un-fuck a perfectly executed piece made for the wrong hole on an assumption. Mr Smith, my old metalworking teacher was right, always check and recheck your work.
     After a taxing week of a daughter's university graduation, which included being rear-ended by a Hyundai something or other, resulting in having to deal with the Fire, Police, ER and GEICO, my week was definitely yin and yang. My gorgeous and foxy wife having a concussion and a few bruises was on binge TV rest for the week to recuperate. Off to the garage I trots, cell in hand - just in case my skills as a reassuring and fine husband were needed to fulfil my baby's needs.

     The rubber bushes I needed to replace were knackered. Two had disintegrated on removal of the rear sets, the other two looked like a T-REX chew toy:

     So I luckily find a piece of polymer (no - NOT her rolling pin), a silent yelp of joy and a quick measure resulted in a perfect piece to mount the foot rests to the rear sets. At this point I should state the piece I was trying to make was the bushings to mount the rear sets to the frame....DOH! I could hear Mr Smith chuckling in my head and asking how I was going to rescue the only piece of polymer i had for the task it was intended. HaHa! After a night of thought and beer the ghost of engineering past paid me a visit. What I had made is bushing for the aluminum bushing for the rear sets. All I needed to make as the aluminium pieces. So I measured, thunk a bit, re measured and then produced my inside bushes:

     As you can see, the improved 2 piece bushes replace the Kawasaki originals, should be harder wearing and isolate any vibration still from the engine, and giving better feed back from the bike when riding. Everything is an interference fit (everything had 2 thou of an inch oversize), a little percussion help in the fitting of the bushings, they went in well.

     The completed pieces - seen to the left - look so good when in place. These hangers will house the very nice aluminum RGV race pegs Barry gave me on my last visit home to Scotland.
     All in all, a good way to un-fuck a stupid moment and actually improve on my original idea, and machine some easy pieces.
     Yes I know a lathe is essential, I have one, so I can produce a lot of stuff and save a lot of money to boot. I heartily recommend the acquiring of such an item. eBay, craigslist and FB Market place has a wide choice at reasonable prices.
     The old heavy rubber foot rests will be gone, a saving of about a pound in weight as well as the new shiny pieces looking a whole lot better:

     An old rest is to the top right of the picture for reference. The shiny aluminium piece will be fitted soon. Now all I need to do is make the external bushes to finish the mounts. They will probably include a thread to the external bush is also the securing nut to fix the rear sets to the frame. Oh and make a sleeve for the ends of the rests so they fit into the rear sets. But enough for  today. Beer-o-clock.