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GS550E Project "Kafebiku"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
extra 117.jpg

again would have gone a couplle inches longer, but you already have, so imo your bike would look even better

take note that if even more clearance is needed the bottom of the pan can be hammered to implement a compound curve that hides under the tail.
 
DohcBikes said:
View attachment 48885

again would have gone a couplle inches longer, but you already have, so imo your bike would look even better

take note that if even more clearance is needed the bottom of the pan can be hammered to implement a compound curve that hides under the tail.
Click to expand...

Looks good man. I'll take a look later today. Will report back. Thanks for the info.
 
ok but you didnt ask how i got those compound curves into the "hoop" tubes...

a set of 1" handlebars will give you all the curves you need. of course everybodys skillset is different
 
Setting the swing arm at 340mm shock mount to shock mount I get about 3" of "travel" using the stock wheel and tire. I can't find the diameter of the tire i ordered but i think it might give me another 1"

 
So now hopefully you see that isnt going to work. Notice how your hoop ends up directly over the highest point on the tire, right in the center. This is exactly where suzuki engineers found the need to step up the seat and and run an arched brace to stay clear of the path of travel.

I'M afraid you are trying to hope your way to clearance. You're going to have to cut and weld it to fix the mistake.
 
DohcBikes said:
So now hopefully you see that isnt going to work. Notice how your hoop ends up directly over the highest point on the tire, right in the center. This is exactly where suzuki engineers found the need to step up the seat and and run an arched brace to stay clear of the path of travel.

I'M afraid you are trying to hope your way to clearance. You're going to have to cut and weld it to fix the mistake.
Click to expand...

Does this illustrate the total shock stroke of 3.35"?
 
Last edited:
The way I read this, the stock shocks hit the cushion ① at 85mm/3.35". So you're currently short 8mm/.35" with the stock tire at maximum depression?

Assuming you really gain 25.4mm/1" with the new tire, I'm not sure if the resulting 17mm/0.66" clearance would be enough to account for frame flex/stop cushion compression...

Edit: Quite likely it won't, and the calculation is wrong, see the replies below
 
Last edited:
roeme said:
The way I read this, the stock shocks hit the cushion ① at 85mm/3.35". So you're currently short 8mm/.35" with the stock tire at maximum depression?

Assuming you really gain 25.4mm/1" with the new tire, I'm not sure if the resulting 17mm/0.66" clearance would be enough to account for frame flex/stop cushion compression...
Click to expand...

The hagon shocks I am looking to get have a maximum travel of 80mm. If I get a 350mm shock fully extended and 270 fully compressed I should be ok. I'll know better when the tire arrives so I can see what the diameter will be.
 
Also remember that the tire grows slightly as speed increases.

The shock stroke is not the same as the amount of travel.

A. As steve mentioned, the axle is behind the lower shock mount.

B. The shock is not installed at a 90 degree angle. The uptravel of the axle considerably exceeds the shock travel.

Dis stuff ain't as simple as it may seem :)

P.S... At 350mm you will be at the edge of the envelope on chain slack. Be sure to set that up properly.
 
Moral of the advice here if there is one, is that if you want a truly finished and 100% correctly functioning motorcycle at the end, you will have to assemble the entire thing, test it and make revisions, then break it back down for the least important phase, cosmetics.
 
DohcBikes said:
Moral of the advice here if there is one, is that if you want a truly finished and 100% correctly functioning motorcycle at the end, you will have to assemble the entire thing, test it and make revisions, then break it back down for the least important phase, cosmetics.
Click to expand...

I'd have thought the moral was "Measure twice, cut once." - lol
 
Yeah, my back-of-the-napkin calculation is wrong. I didn't take into account what steve and dohcbikes mentioned. Clearance will be much less.
 
Got he custom Buchanan spokes to work with the hubs and rims. Laced up by Wheel Works motorcycle shop in Hayward, CA. Tires mounted and balanced. Had to modify the rear caliper arm to make room. Most will say that it will rub, I'll report back if I have any issues.









 
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