Author Topic: to brat or not to brat (Read 10056 times)

jvandyke · « **Reply #50 on:** April 05, 2015, 04:56:40 PM »

yep, that's the "inspiration bike" or one of them anyway, I'm just a layman of course but it sure seems like that stock hump is intended purely as a fender mount, it's thin and so tall it seems ill suited as a torsional brace, not saying it doesn't provide some but it would seem, to me, as untrained and inexperienced as I am, that ditching it wouldn't make much difference, especially on a bike designed to carry two, now only ever carrying one, of course I could be (and often am) dead wrong.
Track? Yeah right. Cruising to the bar with the boys once a week in nice weather, that's it. Some "hot laps' through the countryside once in a while.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #51 on:** April 05, 2015, 05:02:09 PM »

Quote from: jvandyke on April 05, 2015, 04:56:40 PM

I'm just a layman of course but it sure seems like that stock hump is intended purely as a fender mount, it's thin and so tall it seems ill suited as a torsional brace, not saying it doesn't provide some but it would seem, to me, as untrained and inexperienced as I am, that ditching it wouldn't make much difference, especially on a bike designed to carry two, now only ever carrying one, of course I could be (and often am) dead wrong.
Track? Yeah right. Cruising to the bar with the boys once a week in nice weather, that's it. Some "hot laps' through the countryside once in a while.

Yeah, really, you should be fine if its a bar hopper type bike, it won't ever see the stress some of us inflict on our old machines

I will correct you on the brace though, its a lot stronger than you think, look at its design, rolled edges and raised sections , width and so on, its dual purpose, support and box in the rear frame around the shock mounts and hold the fender, when you remove it, try and twist it, you'll be surprised..

....

calj737 · « **Reply #52 on:** April 05, 2015, 05:09:12 PM »

Another great example of "stringer than you think" design, is the skid plate under your vehicle. Typical road going units are solid plate. Pretty weak if they hit something solid. But, off road units have holes in them. Why? Not for weight savings, but it actually adds strength. The holes are punched and not drilled. Punching a hole in plate steel increases the strength of it immensely.

To Retro's point, the beads rolled in the stamped fender brace make the thin stamped steel heaps stronger and more resistant.

To your point, sure, you can lop it off. Will you die a fiery death because of it; not because you lopped it off. But if you can devised means of tying the two rails back together your bike will rise much better.

As I said in an earlier, post- your bike, your choices on design and alterations. Ride long and safely!

FunJimmy · « **Reply #53 on:** April 05, 2015, 07:32:29 PM »

Not the front end or tank that your other inspirations reflect but I love how tidy the rear is.

jvandyke · « **Reply #54 on:** April 05, 2015, 08:12:45 PM »

outstanding stuff, thanks for all the input, will devise a cross brace, can't hurt, only help, something else fun to do!
on vacation now, can't wait to get back and get the thing road worthy and start tweaking, this is my first foray into "customization", till now it's always been maintain
I've never enjoyed a project more and am already scheming on more bikes. (moving into a new place with a shop next fall).

WnRn · « **Reply #55 on:** April 06, 2015, 01:51:33 AM »

Can't wait to see the end product mate.

jvandyke · « **Reply #56 on:** June 05, 2015, 05:50:57 AM »

Sorta done. No seat cover yet, waiting to get a few more rides to be sure the seat design is okay.
Really like it.

Since put side covers on.
Made cell phone holder on 3-D printer to use as speedo. Lots of tweaks to do and seat cover to make but I really like it. Clip ons and rock hard grips are brutal on the hands but that's expected.

calj737 · « **Reply #57 on:** June 05, 2015, 05:57:39 AM »

hope you wear asbestos lined socks and shoes while riding. Your feet will get cooked by those pipes.

jvandyke · « **Reply #58 on:** June 05, 2015, 05:58:47 AM »

Quote from: calj737 on June 05, 2015, 05:57:39 AM

hope you wear asbestos lined socks and shoes while riding. Your feet will get cooked by those pipes.

Yep, designed in feet warmers. All part of the master plan.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #59 on:** June 05, 2015, 06:53:12 AM »

Yeah, Those grips do suck. I'd recommend something with a little more comfort. It will provide a better riding experience.

jvandyke · « **Reply #60 on:** June 05, 2015, 06:55:47 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on June 05, 2015, 06:53:12 AM

Yeah, Those grips do suck. I'd recommend something with a little more comfort. It will provide a better riding experience.

Yep, been researching alternatives, foamies or pro grip 699/714 were recommended. I thought these were the "balloon" style ones when I ordered them, nope. Which is okay since bar end mirrors are in the future and you can't cut the ends on the balloons anyway I'm told (obviously).

future work will be to ditch the stock idiot lights in favor of LEDs in the bar mount bolt holes, waiting to be sure I can tolerate the clip ons otherwise will return to eurobars or something, or should just get a pretty billet triple tree top to go back and forth......

jvandyke · « **Reply #61 on:** July 28, 2015, 09:35:54 PM »

really liking it, got sick of waiting on my cousin's promise to sew up a seat cover for me so I did one myself, hand stitched, not too bad for a first try, dang it's cool to ride

BollarNPS · « **Reply #62 on:** July 29, 2015, 10:59:34 AM »

thinking about doing this with my 650. My question is did you try the new handle bars without the new rearsets and if so how was it? did it make it much more comfortable after the change.

jvandyke · « **Reply #63 on:** July 29, 2015, 11:42:29 AM »

I did everything at once, I don't think clip ons without rear sets is even humanly possible is it? Do people do clip ons and not rear sets? I suppose they do........

BollarNPS · « **Reply #64 on:** July 29, 2015, 02:54:17 PM »

well i figured it would be like a harley vrod which has forward controls and something like drag bars. where did you get yours from?

jvandyke · « **Reply #65 on:** July 29, 2015, 07:05:06 PM »

rear sets off of ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-Alloy-Universal-NON-Folding-Rearset-Foot-Pegs-and-Levers-Cafe-AHRMA-Flat-/151751888551?hash=item23551e0ea7
although I got the folding type
clip ons are just your run of the mill clip ons from anywhere
Just got back from a 50 mile run and while I can certainly feel it in my hands and shoulders it's not "terrible" and it's just really fun to ride like that.
I wouldn't want to do a 1,000 mile weekend on it but short bursts like that are fine.
I think I'll do a bobber next.

BollarNPS · « **Reply #66 on:** July 29, 2015, 07:21:11 PM »

cool thanks!!

jvandyke · « **Reply #67 on:** September 22, 2015, 12:14:07 PM »

just a glamor shot. Fun to ride but not very comfy in the long haul (of course). So I'd say the fun factor has been increased quite a bit, I had a lot of fun doing it and I do really like to ride it, at the expense of long distance rides (which I never get to do anyway).
I might need another bike for that!

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #68 on:** September 23, 2015, 12:10:13 PM »

Glad you enjoy it. Me personally, I'm pretty sure my size 12 1/2 feet would get burned multiple times on those pipes.

jvandyke · « **Reply #69 on:** September 23, 2015, 01:36:01 PM »

Quote from: Restoration Fan on September 23, 2015, 12:10:13 PM

Glad you enjoy it. Me personally, I'm pretty sure my size 12 1/2 feet would get burned multiple times on those pipes.

Go faster to get away from the heat.....I'll tell the next cop that, see if it flies, but officer, my feet were hot.
(seriously, I don't feel a thing)

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #70 on:** September 23, 2015, 01:46:48 PM »

I wasn't referring to the hot air. I'm afraid I would burn my feet on the pipes themselves.

calj737 · « **Reply #71 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:43:34 PM »

Roger that! Cooked toes... Would be nice in the winter though- built in foot heaters

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Author Topic: to brat or not to brat (Read 10056 times)