Hot Rod Bobber Project

[xfiend]

I haven't yet. I don't ride very aggressively though. Plus we don't really have "curves" in florida

[xfiend]

Interesting day. I got smashed drinking margaritas then won my class in a bike show. pictures to follow.

incoming...

[xfiend]

[slow]

You suck man. I was on a tractor all weekend trying to commit suicide by allergy. Never even started my bike. Good job though!

[xfiend]

thanks, honestly, I think those bike shows are honestly pretty lame, but it was only ten bucks, and my wife talked me into entering it. I glad I did though!

[xfiend]

I've been thinking about lowering the the bike with a rigid rear strut, and how to do it on the cheap. I found this little tid bit, while lurking around

hello mate i used 2, 8mm(0.314in) thick by 40mm(1.57in) wide flat bar drilled 270mm(10.6in) between centers bolted between the shock mounts i found that 270mm (10.6 inches) matches the line of the bike with the swinging arm and the frame

anyone have any thoughts on it?

[Alley Rat]

I wouldn't put a rigid strut in it. If I was going to do it I would just get a lowering kit for it. I am not big on rigid stuts because the bike still looks like a soft tail.

[xfiend]

I'm considering it for two reasons.

1) my wife is really up my *** about not being able to ride. Adding a strut and small p-pad may make it tolerable for her over short distances. I've been considering finding some cheap old gold wing or something to throw her on.

2) I would like to lower it a full three inches. It seems like some people have problems with fender scrubbing with it lowered that far.

I realize that with a rigid strut

1) still looks like a soft tail

2) decreased ride comfort

3) worsened handling

[slow]

How often is your wife going to ride with you? If it's not very often it may not be worth the sacrifice in ride quality. I kept mine so that I can go back to the factory fender, struts and seat if the wife want's to go with me. I haven't done it yet but I think I can do the swap in 15 minutes or so.

[Alley Rat]

Just tell her to get her own bike or follow in the car if she wants to ride with you

[xfiend]

picture from the bike show... best shot of the new bars



Next up is lowering, then, new tank...

[cerveza4lu]

Hey xfiend congrats on the win! BTW, have you had any trouble with the new filter in the rain? I just installed mine today and the bike ran fine until a hard rain came.

[xfiend]

Thanks! due to the design of the filter we're bound to run into some problemso in wet weather. I did oil my filter in the hopes of minimizing those problems. However I haven't been stuck in any storms, yet, so I can't really comment on its effectiveness, but a little oil certainly couldn't hurt.

[cerveza4lu]

Bad news I just tested the filter with my garden hose set to a rain spray pattern and sure enough the filter is getting too wet. I sprayed it with the K & N oil and it didn't seem to make any difference.

I don't know if a piece of plastic wrapped around the top half would work but I'm not giving up just yet. I love the way this filter looks but my bike is a daily driver so I have to ride even during the bad weather. If I figure anything out I'll post it here and if anyone else has an idea please let us know

[xfiend]

yea, i avoid the rain, and i've never had to put it to the test. Let me know what you come up with

[Alley Rat]

Keystones look good. I had them on my bike a while back. Thinking of putting them back on my bike when I put it back together. Gonna take 2 or 3 inches out of the center though. They are too wide right now for my springer.

[xfiend]

I dig em. There is no room for cutting them down with these stock risers. This master cylinder is killing me though. I should nut up and ditch the brake all together, but at least I need to come up with a slicker alternative, this one looks like ****.

[Alley Rat]

Yamaha YZ250 master cylinder. You can find them on eBay for a good price. When I had a brake the is what I used. Real small but still give you good stopping power.

[slow]

Bars look good man. What tank are you gonna go with?

Alley,
Will the factory banjo bolt work on the YZ master cylinder? I'm thinking about ditching the apes and going with cut down MX bars. Anyone know the stock clutch, throttle and brake line lenghts?

[xfiend]

I"ve got a throttle cable laying out in the garage, I'll try to get it measured for you soon. My stock brake line is way to long with these keystones, I could easily go three inches shorter and have plenty of slack left over.