How to ruin a perfectly good stock frame

[Krunk_Kracker]

My beef with so called "customs" is the fact that the huge majority of them wind up with straight pipes, or something similar. Why?

What's wrong with straight pipes? My bike sounded **** with straight pipes...I just didn't want the volume.

[Adler]

What's wrong with straight pipes? My bike sounded **** with straight pipes...I just didn't want the volume.

I believe the volume is the issue.

[Guest]

I heard a larger capacity GS go past me once that had no baffle or muffler, I thought it sounded like it was farting...

I'm not noise police, but I think inline fours and parallel twins actually sound better with at least some restriction.

V Twins sound good with less, but I find the Harley's with the crowbar modification offensive, and most Harley riders around here seem to do that.

I'm pretty sure our GS' are designed for some back pressure too...

That's just my 2c on open pipes...

MLC, keep going, I wanna see this new one

[Guest]

Here's a question, you say you are an engineer, let's see the math. Looks like a death trap to me. This from one who has had a serious crash from a frame failure, the whole steering head popped off the front of my first bicycle. That bicycle frame was more stout than this one.

My fathers first motorcycle, an early 2 stroke Harley did that to him...

[mlc216]

I heard a larger capacity GS go past me once that had no baffle or muffler, I thought it sounded like it was farting...

I'm not noise police, but I think inline fours and parallel twins actually sound better with at least some restriction.

V Twins sound good with less, but I find the Harley's with the crowbar modification offensive, and most Harley riders around here seem to do that.

I'm pretty sure our GS' are designed for some back pressure too...

That's just my 2c on open pipes...

MLC, keep going, I wanna see this new one

The pipes on my gs have homemade baffles. Idled like crap and had no low end power at all with the straight pipes the previous owner fab'd up... I believe in back pressure

[Krunk_Kracker]

Look in my sig to see how mine sounded with open pipes

You can also hear it with the shorties

[mlc216]

Springer is a little too long so I'll be saving it for something else down the road. Had to cut the grass tonight so all I did was bolt on a little more accurate mock up...

[Agemax]

that looks much better, front end is more proportioned now

[Mindless]

Now that's better.

I still think it's a good idea to put some bracing from under the tank somewhere towards the lower end of that triangle-brace at the headstock.

[oohsam]

Those forks look much better man! Good work son!

[TPL]

Now that's better.

I still think it's a good idea to put some bracing from under the tank somewhere towards the lower end of that triangle-brace at the headstock.

Yep, I agree and triangulation absolute is key at such a stress point. Also it looks as though the motor will be leaning back 30 degrees the way the frame is?? Good luck with the build though.

[mlc216]

that looks much better, front end is more proportioned now

Told ya I had a better front end in mind... Just waiting on my XS650 trees to come in so I can make the new tubes fit.

Now that's better.

I still think it's a good idea to put some bracing from under the tank somewhere towards the lower end of that triangle-brace at the headstock.

I have thought and re-thought about adding a stress bar (like an original harley wisbone frame has)... In the end I may sacrifice the beautiful open space above the motor and put a stress bar in...

Those forks look much better man! Good work son!

Thanks!

[mlc216]

Yep, I agree and triangulation absolute is key at such a stress point. Also it looks as though the motor will be leaning back 30 degrees the way the frame is?? Good luck with the build though.

I built it with only the original lower engine mounts so that I can pivot the motor forward some. My current bike has the same issue and with a float adjustment it does just fine.

[TPL]

I built it with only the original lower engine mounts so that I can pivot the motor forward some. My current bike has the same issue and with a float adjustment it does just fine.

Don't get me wrong, I like choppers and I am currently working on a cafe project. But with chopper builds and frames it is always a battle between looks and functionality of the frame.

[Guest]

Lookin' good now! And yeah, +1 on those forks for sure, something wasn't right with the springer, but then again what do I know?