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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 16 Feb 2011 - 13:37 Post title : The Contraband has Landed | | | Ok guys, if you absolutely HATE batwing fairings in general, this Corbin Contraband fairing in particular, and don't necessarily care for Corbin as a company, then this thread may not be for you! 
But... my Contraband DID arrive via UPS yesterday, so I thought I'd take a few photos as I un-boxed and made sure everything I paid for was there.
A little history: As some of you may or may not know, Teebird ordered his Contraband this past October (in custom, reversed color for his silver Thunderbird). Not only did it take a LONG time in production, when he got it, he found the mounting hardware didn't properly-fit his bike. Rather than wait for them to respond and make it right (he discovered the bad hardware while he was doing the install over the Christmas holiday and Corbin was mostly shut down), he went out to the hardware store for some new stuff and used his trusty drill press to "correct" the wrongly-sized spacers. He documented this experience in a detailed email to Corbin (and also posted it here). Being the nice guy he is, he didn't really push on Corbin to do something for him. I, on the other hand, wasn't willing to order mine without making some calls, sending some emails, and generally rattling some cages over at Corbin! After I did a bit of that, they ASSURED me that they were "aware of the issues Mr. Sturgess had with the hardware and were hard at work on correcting it."
I don't know if my cage-rattling had anything to do with it, but my fairing came at least 2 - 3 weeks ahead of schedule and my sales rep kept me informed of its status almost weekly.
I've got to get some "real" work done this morning, but plan on starting the install later this afternoon, so will post back with more photos and comments as I progress.
     
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 00:19 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Alrighty-then... I managed to get out and do the install this afternoon. The whole process (not including a trip to Ace Hardware... more below on THAT!) took about an hour. The only bitch was that those stock Thunderbird handlebars are HEAVY! Whew!
There was one minor issue and one major issue... unfortunately the major issue was a major issue for Teebird, as well. Looks like somebody tossed in the SAME WRONG-SIZED SPACERS! My sales rep is gonna get an ear-full tomorrow when he gets in!
The minor issue is that I didn't much care for the 2 - 2 1/2" long 1/4-20 bolts Corbin gives you to mount the bottom bracket, so I went to Ace to get some stainless steel metric bolts instead of using the included black ones.
It DOES look like Corbin re-designed the bottom bracket as I didn't have any of the issues that Teebird had. Fitment was just about perfect and they slotted 2 of the holes to allow for headlight adjustment.
Mounting the top bracket is really a 2 man job... as I said above, the handlebars are heavy and awkward to deal with while you're trying to hold the top bracket, riser bolts, bushings, and caps in place while you re-thread the bars. I ended up taping the top bracket and bolts in place (GOOD OLD DUCT TAPE TO THE RESCUE  ) while I muscled the bars back into position.
I DID end up with a helper (my neighbor wandered over to see what all the swearing was about  ) to hold the fairing in place as I bolted it up.
So... is it worth $1600 bucks? I guess that's a matter of perspective and budget, but...
WOW, what a difference while riding!  I was able to get her out on the highway and some various other roads at various speeds. We had a pretty blustery day with some pretty good wind gusts, but the fairing dealt with those VERY well. ZERO buffeting on my chest at speeds over 75 mph (Does 100 mph indicated on my GPS count?) and only minor helmet/head buffeting. I mostly rode with my full face helmet's windscreen open and was pretty amazed at the mild breeze I got.
Of course, a decent, LONG ride is in order to see how it performs... I'll post back as the weather improves and Spring gets nearer. I'm hoping to get a "work-out" ride in... maybe head from Denver down to Santa Fe, but that probably won't be until the end of March/beginning of May.
Here's more photos for your enjoyment (or mockery! )
 
And, yes... my brother is already working on the "chequers" vinyl for it.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| coneye | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 420 | | Location | : | adelaide, Australia |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 00:51 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Looks Goood ,, Jeez i wish Triumph would make a factory tourer out of the T bird , with fairing , hard bags cd the whole lot a T bird version of the street glide.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 08:29 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: coneye) | | | Looking good . I'm sort of warming to it but would never have one. But I would probs be glad of one in driving rain with head wind.
You can cram a bit more in that cubby hole up front now
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 08:35 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: mat1600) | | | I would be interested in seeing a pic of you sat on the bike to see how high it is in relation to rider.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| mito3dc | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 81 | | Location | : | Adligenswil, Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 11:07 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | looks futuristic...
checkering the white line is necessary, already in work. cool.
What about a white seat? but, on this bike not old school type as thatch...
We may have the same weather. still some snow but quiet sunny.
| mito3dc...
...back in Stormy Black!
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...click for details
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 12:58 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: mat1600) | | | mat1600 wrote:
You can cram a bit more in that cubby hole up front now
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Yep... it' not huge, but around the size of a small tank bag (around 7 liters) and it locks.
mat1600 wrote:
I would be interested in seeing a pic of you sat on the bike to see how high it is in relation to rider.
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I'll see what I can do about your request later today. We've got another warm day forecast, so I may have to cram a bunch of work in this morning so I can sneak out this afternoon and ride some more!
mito3dc wrote:
looks futuristic...
checkering the white line is necessary, already in work. cool.
What about a white seat? but, on this bike not old school type as thatch...
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I'm considering a leather saddle... but probably not "Thatch White". I'm thinking more along the lines of a VERY dark, brown... sort of like the mock-up below:
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| FTL40 | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 13/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,122 | | Location | : | massachusetts, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 17:13 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | the look is realy growing on me, i think triumph should give a factory option, and maybe even something like dare i say it, the street glide.
| 2010 tbird 1700 silver (fastest color) BC exhaust, BC airbox removal
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| zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 19:53 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: FTL40) | | | bit more below would stop it looking top heavy.
if it floats your boat sail it and enjoy
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Feb 2011 - 21:33 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: mat1600) | | | mat1600 wrote:
I would be interested in seeing a pic of you sat on the bike to see how high it is in relation to rider.
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Here ya go, Matt...
zolti wrote:
bit more below would stop it looking top heavy.
if it floats your boat sail it and enjoy |
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Well, it does a bit more than float my boat... it helps my boat move down the road at speeds nearing 100 mph BUFFET-FREE! I took her on another highway test ride today... full face open, GPS indicating 96 mph and NO wind pressure on the chest: zip, nada, nothing. Only a minor breeze coming in the helmet... AT 96 MPH! This is EXACTLY the kind of performance I was hoping for... and with performance as good as this: LOOKS BE DAMNED. Still, I personally do not find it ugly... sure, it's a big hunk o' fiberglass on the front of my bike. But, it's a big hunk 'o fiberglass... DOING ITS JOB!
If my torso was any bigger, I might need the taller windscreen on it, but as it stands now, it's just about a perfect fit for me. To be honest, this might be a big waste of money for you bigger guys, but talk to Teebird/Silverbird/Jamie about his experience... he's a big guy and made it work for him, too.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 18 Feb 2011 - 08:01 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Cheers mate. It actually looks better with a rider on - evens things up a bit. Glad it works for you.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| Buzzo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 20/01/2010 | | Posts | : | 110 | | Location | : | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 18 Feb 2011 - 09:03 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: mat1600) | | | You don't do things by halves that's for sure. Good on ya.
Plus another excellent write up.
Thanks.
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| Druid | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 18 Feb 2011 - 11:51 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: Buzzo) | | | Its very individual ...nice work. Good write up too. Still think you should have made it like the Alien queen head though. Same shape, cant look at it without thinking is the alien queen lol. It does the job that you want and thats good.
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 18 Feb 2011 - 14:02 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: Druid) | | |
Druid wrote:
Its very individual ...nice work. Good write up too. Still think you should have made it like the Alien queen head though. Same shape, cant look at it without thinking is the alien queen lol. It does the job that you want and thats good.
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Yeah, my friend who rides and owns a few bikes never saw this fairing before and when I rolled up to ride with him yesterday, the very first thing he commented on was that it reminded him of the Alien Queen! He's a HUGE SciFi and comic book fan, so to him, that was a compliment!
Hmmmm... maybe I'll embrace it and get my brother to make me a couple of Alien Queen "tattoo" decals (same color blue, so she's just barely visible) for each side of the fairing.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 18 Feb 2011 - 19:26 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | elevation wise it looks smooth and it should be good at protecting the hands in cold weather, just a bit too alien queen for me. but then not every one like the hps screen i have
just wish our weather was improving
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| MickeyBoy | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 553 | | Location | : | WiNe CoUnTrY TeMeCuLa, Socialist State of Kalifornia, United States |
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| | Posted : 19 Feb 2011 - 02:30 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Something about it doesn't look right. It would probably make highway lights stand out too far. It looks like it needs to be fatter through the midsection. That being said, can you modify it for a radio?
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| EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 19 Feb 2011 - 13:26 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | narsisco - it looks better in your pictures than I thought it would. It's a more sleek design that your typical batwing
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| teebird | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 293 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 19 Feb 2011 - 14:01 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: EnGage) | | | Narc:
You got it! looks like its made to ride.
still a bit snotty looking.
Your creativity can find a way to make the perfect decals for the sides to reduce snot/alien queen, and increase the proper aero-flow look.
too bad Corbin can not accept workable input from a dissatisfied customer. they have still not contacted me again....
they owe me a new rear and front bracket set, in my opinion.
Jamie
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 19 Feb 2011 - 14:26 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: teebird) | | | MickeyBoy wrote:
That being said, can you modify it for a radio?
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Nope... any room that might have been available was used for the 7 liter storage trunk up front. I'm not one for radios/external speakers, so it's no big deal for me.
teebird wrote:
Narc:
You got it! looks like its made to ride.
still a bit snotty looking.
Your creativity can find a way to make the perfect decals for the sides to reduce snot/alien queen, and increase the proper aero-flow look.
too bad Corbin can not accept workable input from a dissatisfied customer. they have still not contacted me again....
they owe me a new rear and front bracket set, in my opinion.
Jamie |
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Sounds like you've gotta rattle their cages, brother! You're WAY too nice... just waiting for them to call. Pick up the phone and give 'em some what for! |IMG Src='http://www.thunderbird1600.com/csp/thunderbird/Images/Emoticons/More/040.gif'>
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 22 Feb 2011 - 00:24 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | I installed the 12V assy. port today... JUST about ready to take that big 10K mile trip. Damn, it's still SO long till June! 
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 17 Mar 2011 - 22:02 Post title : Re: The Contraband has Landed (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | Well, it took awhile, but I finally got my brother to print out and come over and install the "chequers" on the fairing...
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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