This is my first post in this section, so forgive me if I've got the etiquette of this section wrong. I hope it's not wrong to post this.

Although I'm mostly a train guy I'm also a biker, so I was drawn to the Streetbike set (PN: 42036). However, having read some of the criticisms that this set has drawn I thought I would have a quick look to see what improvements I would like to make before I actually build it. So I fired up LDD and see what I could do.

And here is the result.

In addition to all the well-documented problems, the biggest problem to me is that the model is neither one thing nor another. It is neither race bike (having lights and a kick-stand) nor road bike (lacking indicators and mirrors). As a road rider myself I decided I would follow the road bike route. But to begin with I would add some of the features missing from a real bike.

Brakes, front...

...and rear.

Radiator.

Clutch and front brake levers, rearview mirrors and turn indicators.

Footpegs on both sides with levers for the rear brake and gearchange.

Improved tail light, turn indicators, registration plate bracket, twin exhausts and a proper seat. I've not yet added the tubes connecting the exhausts to the engine because I can't seem to master the Flex tool on LDD, but the idea is that they will go behind the black panel and attach to the engine at a point lower than normal for this model.

The kit of parts necessary for the upgrades.

I hope you like what you see. I shall be ordering up the necessary parts for the upgrades before I build my streetbike model. Some of them may not work as well in practice as they do in the make-believe world of LDD, but we shall see. I would have liked to add brake calipers and mudguards too, but I haven't yet worked out how to model these parts.

Cool mods. Is the part you use as brakehandles this one? I am not sure how you attached it, but it looks like you used a 3/4 pin. That's not going to hold that position.

Edited June 5, 20168 yr by Appie

Hi Appie.

Yes, that's the part. Thanks for the tip. I'll have another look at how the levers are secured so that they stay where I want them.

Pretty nice ideas, and having just rebuilt some motybikes myself recently (8420, 42007, 42036), these features are really conspicuous by their abscence from the latter. Further to what Appie mentioned however, the engine rods would be too floppy to work for the foot controls as they are, but the handlebar levers do actually work, though the method reveals itself as an LDD bug because the peg doesn't "snap" properly and would be in constant compression*. The foot controls can be done with the dark bluish grey axle/peg things in place of the 3M stop axles. They have just enough friction to hold them and allow some posing. Alternatively, take a look at 42007 to see how the handlebar levers and foot controls are done there.

* Definitely worth reporting in the bug thread, that one.

Edited June 6, 20168 yr by Gnac

Oh sorry, didn't know the 3/4 pin wouldn't be fully compressed for the handlebars.

The foot controls as they are do work, just have to press it tightly together to allow posing, but your solution should work better.

Edited June 6, 20168 yr by Appie

I like the brake levers and footpegs, might have to work those into my own modded version.

Thanks for the clarification. I have just had a play with an old Technic set that just happens to have the necessary parts and can confirm that the 3/4 pin will hold the levers tightly enough to be poseable.

The problem might be with the foot controls, though. LDD indicates that there isn't sufficient clearance over the lower panels to permit enough bushes to be slid onto the axle to hold the levers tightly enough. However, there may be sufficient flex on the model to allow for this.

Vectormatic: Be my guest.

**EDIT**

Apologies to Appie. You're kind of right in what you said earlier.

The 3/4 pin will grip the lever but not the cross block once the compression is released. However, the 1/2 pin will work because it would be held in compression inside the cross block.

Edited June 6, 20168 yr by Hod Carrier

Nice ideas. I was thinking of doing some enhancements on my 42036 bike. Thank you for the inspiration.

**Bumped for an update**

After a bit of a wait for a BL order, I have finally brick'd my Streetbike. Here are a few pics.

I hope you like it.

Streetbike Upgrades.lxf

Edited August 4, 20168 yr by Hod Carrier

Cool!