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ch-ch-ch-changes! (or how to learn to stop worrying and love the idea)

3716 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  beater
3
so, always being one to be never satisfied, i decide to take my bike into a more "symmetrical" direction. (pic of it from about a year ago:


and i was inspired by those crazy spaniards at rad-ducati.

besides that, it's my "opinion" that underseat exhaust and single-sided swingarms are soo 1993 (and why not single-sided fork tooo? cannondale bicycles has been doing it for almost as long, but that's a whole other rant) also i felt the wheelbase is a tad short (there's a reason for those +15mm corse swingarms, and the 749/999 swinger is about that much longer too)

and really nothing against any of these things, i just do as i please ;D

soooo, on with the building.....

to start, i had a couple options, which is great considering i had already made irreversible modification to my 2v engine when i fitted it into the SBK roller back in 2007.

i could go with 777/749 swingarm but with a couple caveats, FIRST the shock would have to be lengthened about an inch, *or* the upper shock rocker would have to be moved downward about an inch because the 749/999 models moved the whole assembly down that far by recessing the lower mounting points almost to even with the front pivot and rear axle (as viewed from the side) and the SECOND caveat would be the exhaust routing, not alot of room to be had there barring major fabrication to the swingarm (which i am as of yet incapable of aluminum welding/heat treating etc...just give me some time tho HAHAH) or some sort or assymetrical routing to a high-or even undertail exit.

which brings me to my other choice, a multistrada 620 swingarm! the multi-family of bikes utilise bearings in the swingarm a-la all SBK's, and have provision for convenient exhaust routing! now you may ask why not go with the multi1K SSSA?? welll, the multi-bikes also have the lower shock mount recessed in the swingarm, BUT the 620 dual sider (which i said up there i wanted to go dual being bored with single) is made of steel, so that i can work with! and i don't have to make any more modification to my already powdercoated frame...just weld new shock mount on the swingarm and re-paint!

so, here are a couple dark spy-shot pics (not really, just couldn't get the flash to go off):



as far as the exhaust goes, turns out that multi620 *almost* fits. amazingly the flanges are just like the older carb and IE 900 motors, just that the bends where the two pipes come together are about 1/4-1/2 inch short, causing the junction to touch up against the rear of the case. no worries tho, there are some nice bends to re-use!! and i am able to now make the routing go in an even more sensible route (meaning i'm gonna be able to make them closer to equal length)

so finally i need to decide on a can, (traditional or megaphone?)

and unfortunately must do some re-thinking on wheels...it was also my thought to go with a 4.5" wheel, which in my humble opinion, there's no need for a 5.5 wheel on a sub-100HP bike, and i have seeen firsthand small-wheeled monsters and SS scorch a track (and i scored a gorgeous gold-frame matching wheelset on the cheap) but i'm also of the opinion there's no need for dual 320mm discs on a sub 100hp and <400 lb bike, but here i'm going back to dual fronts (all about symmetry right?!) but, anyways, the 4.5 rear wheel it just looks a little, well, off hanging out back there. am leaving it for now, just gonna marinate on it for awhile.....

so yeah, that's about it, besides what i can get done today as it will be my last "free" day to do work on it til this time next week///
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I liked your bike before, but can't wait to see it in the future. I have a lot of admiration for those of you that really work on or modify your bikes to make them better performing or more pleasing to your eyes. Keep up the good work!
thanks!

well, bleeegggh [bang] [bang] [bang]

i just don't "feel it" if you know what i mean.



i want to/am likely going to take it back to upright riding postion/no front fairing. the whole idea was that in the more up-right-ish riding position it was way way way too easy to wheelie, so slightly longer swinger....but somehow the clip-ons made their way back to it and here we are. blegh.

...updates at some point in the future. [bacon]
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i want to/am likely going to take it back to upright riding postion/no front fairing. the whole idea was that in the more up-right-ish riding position it was way way way too easy to wheelie, so slightly longer swinger....but somehow the clip-ons made their way back to it and here we are. blegh.

...updates at some point in the future. [bacon]
I envy people who dare to just put the hacksaw into their bike like you do. Perhaps because nice bikes are so rare here, but i simply don't dare to do that.
Very nice work, keep posting!
so what bike is that tail from? I am building a cafe bike from a kz400 and it looks like it would be cool. I have already formed a metal one in 24ga, but you never know...
i made it from 24ga and bolted it to the seat same as originally attached.
new idea

had a new idea for the exhaust, and promptly executed it:

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i made it from 24ga and bolted it to the seat same as originally attached.
funny - that's what I ended up doing too.

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Wow, that's a lot of work. I too envy people who have that kind of mechanical know-how.

I must say, you're the first person I've heard of who actually wanted to drop SSSA and go to DSSA. :think:
and unfortunately must do some re-thinking on wheels...it was also my thought to go with a 4.5" wheel, which in my humble opinion, there's no need for a 5.5 wheel on a sub-100HP bike, and i have seeen firsthand small-wheeled monsters and SS scorch a track (and i scored a gorgeous gold-frame matching wheelset on the cheap) but i'm also of the opinion there's no need for dual 320mm discs on a sub 100hp and <400 lb bike, but here i'm going back to dual fronts (all about symmetry right?!) but, anyways, the 4.5 rear wheel it just looks a little, well, off hanging out back there. am leaving it for now, just gonna marinate on it for awhile.....

so yeah, that's about it, besides what i can get done today as it will be my last "free" day to do work on it til this time next week///
I'm changing mine from 5.5" to 4.5". The 4.5" cast Brembo weighs 12 lbs, and the 160 tire is lighter than a 170 (or 180 of course). I'm still in process though because of a machine shop error.
had a new idea for the exhaust, and promptly executed it:

My God that thing is going to be really loud.
yeah, it will be pretty loud, but hopefully not quite as loud as it was at one point when it had a pair of 3" reverse cone megaphones ala arc fab meggies...
yeah, it will be pretty loud, but hopefully not quite as loud as it was at one point when it had a pair of 3" reverse cone megaphones ala arc fab meggies...
Loud isn't necessarily more power. It just annoys the neighbors.
whaaa, no kidding???

(bit of sarcasm there :^)

if i was worried about power i'd be using an actual airbox instead of individual pod filters as well....but then i'd have to find another place to put my battery and ECU and cut off some of the inner supports just behind the steer tube...maybe someday i will go for substance over style???

but yeah, this bike has been for the past four years a "because i can" type of deal.

later today when i finish up with the wire-wheel on the pipes i'll post up some pics of the finished product...turned out half-decent if i do say so myself!
dude - that is BEGGING for cocktail shakers!
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