Let them eat cake.

Hey Paul,

Thank you for the write up!! Tons of great information in there! In particular, I liked your thoughts on the weight being over the axle...and of course the sag!
 
Paul said:
Excell cycle werkes makes an exhaust extension for the factory exhaust. Unfortunately not for Akropovic. I did some redneck engineering on the road and was able to make it work. It's ugly but it works. Pic is the Excell
Click to expand...
Well, looks like Excell is kaput - Home

Due to medical issues​

the shop will be closed​

until further notice.​

If you have placed an order,​

or tried to contact me​

in the last two weeks,​

please consider the order​

cancelled, sorry. Tom​


I guess I should have ordered a couple of months ago.
 
When I ordered mine he sounded as if he was ready to retire. I was hoping Pasq would reach out to them and try to get the design.
 
Hey all,

I fell way behind on the forum while we were building trailers and then catching up with the rest of my work and personal life after that.

I've reached out to Thomas. We'll see if I get an answer.

Thank you!
Rod
 
Paul said:
Excell cycle werkes makes an exhaust extension for the factory exhaust. Unfortunately not for Akropovic. I did some redneck engineering on the road and was able to make it work. It's ugly but it works. Pic is the Excell
Click to expand...
Hi, Paul!

Given that Mr. Dowell of Excel Moto Works is incommunicado and my bobbin is exposed to exhaust heat, could you remove your exhaust extension and provide a bunch of pics & measurements so I and a welder buddy could try to replicate?

I'd love to buy one of Mr. Dowell's creations but he's not responding to emails. Many thanks in advance!
 
Sadly, Mr. Dowell passed away 9/11/2025.
They have a brief statement on the website.

Fine man, great engineer, excellent products.

Rod, maybe you could talk to them (after an appropriate amount of time) about his kickstand and muffler extender designs.
It would be a shame for them to be lost.
 
My condolences to the family.

Excellent idea.

Don't take too long, my bobbin cover has melted.

If there's a point of contact, I'd like to use it and get the set that Mr. Dowell had presumably set aside for me.
 

Tom Dowell 6/4/43 - 9/11/25​



Sadly, our father went to be with the Lord after suffering insurmountable injuries sustained when he crashed his motorcycle on 9/2/25. We will never know what happened, but we assume he experienced a "medical event." We want to thank all of you who have purchased something from him over the years. He was a special human being. Those of you who had the pleasure of meeting or talking to him surely know this.​



Tom's wife, Sandy & daughters, Shelby, Jody and Carrie​



"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Numbers 6:24–26"​

 
I just got a phone message from Raymond Lott, a friend & customer of Tom Dowell.

He wanted to know that he can look for & hopefully find & let me purchase the exhaust extension for my bike in about a week, given access to the shop.

He's a rider with a bunch of bikes, BMWs, HDs, etc., and I "just happened" to mention you & the trailer, and the very tentative opportunity that you may be interested in taking on Tom's work.

I told him you're up in Chicago and make motorcycle trailers, etc.. The worst thing that could happen is adding another employee to make Mr. Dowell's extensions, right? Luke would have another set of hands to assist... ;-)

Mr. Lott's contact number is 309-472-4837 and I can text him your email address and website, with your permission, or you can handle it from here.

As a side note, my printed bobbin cover is almost completely slagged and I'd like a replacement for when the extension arrives, no point in putting it on when the heat will slag it again.

Also, I've got a machinist/fabricator friend who's bending a little aluminum for me to attach to the bobbin-arm spindle in the meantime.
 
Let us know if you hear from Mr. Lott.

I'll make sure Luke sees your comment on the bobbin cover.
 
New process for obtaining Mr. Dowell's items - work with Ms Shelby LaMothe, daughter of Mr. Dowell -

1) Contact Mr. Raymond Lott - ryltt03@gmail.com (that's Romeo-Yankee-Lima-Tango-Tango-Zero-Three) to determine what you need, he'll figure out if it's in stock or needs to be made, he'll use Mr. Dowell's price list and determine the S&H. My exhaust extension was the H20, cost of $120, S&H 11.70, total $131.70.

2) Send the amount for your item to Ms. Shelby LaMothe, 4 Pine Hurst Ct, Pekin, IL, 61554

3) Wait for Mr. Postman to deliver.

4) Be grateful that Mr. Dowell's family is so cooperative and they didn't close up shop completely. ;-)
 
I probably overstepped here, but this is the text of the letter that accompanied the check:

Dear Ms. LaMothe,

I and many others in the motorcycling community extend our deepest sympathies and condolences on the passing of your father, Mr. Dowell.

My association with him was limited to a couple of telephone calls regarding his exhaust extensions and even then he was kind, thoughtful, and helpful, traits that he evidently demonstrated to hundreds. He is missed and many of us are grateful that you and your son are working to assist others.

I have just recently purchased a Pasq ADV1 trailer designed specifically to be towed by a motorcycle and the H20 exhaust extension is very necessary to guide the exhaust away from a critical part of the trailer. The designer of the Pasq trailer is Rod Holmes, a Chicago resident and former design engineer for Cannondale bicycles. I’m not sure if he knew or worked with your father but I’m sure they would have enjoyed each other’s company. He has expressed an interest in working with you in keeping your father’s work going.

If that is of interest to you, his contact information is:

Rod Holmes
Pasq
4809 N. Ravenswood Ave. Suite 112
Chicago, IL 60640
773.598.7460
Pasq: Single-Wheel Motorcycle Trailers
www.pasqadventure.com

Pasq: Single-Wheel Motorcycle Trailers

Carry unlimited options and explore more with the the world’s first single-wheel motorcycle trailer for ADV bikes. Reserve an ADV1 today.
www.pasqadventure.com www.pasqadventure.com

Again, my deepest condolences to you and your family.

Best wishes,

Peter Krarup
San Leandro, CA
 
I got a text from Ray Lott, my exhaust extension has been shipped as of this morning, anticipate arrival by Friday. I asked what else Mr. Dowell had in inventory and Ray said that there were quite a few extensions for older bikes, if that's of interest.

Can you send a replacement bobbin cover when you have some time? I'll need to Dremel the old one off and hope the screws haven't bent/melted. Or send replacement screws?? :D

I'm in the midst of installing the Mosko back plates and the BuiltRight molle plate on the top, their screws are soft and the locknuts are a PITA to use, the heads strip if you put too much elbow grease into them. And I got the California title yesterday, nice & official. Happy daze!! :D
 
The bobbin comes completely apart. I used a wire wheel to remove the melted plastic. Got some new spacers from Pasq. After cleaning everything up. Use high temp grease and reassemble.
 
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