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Here's a pic of my wifes bike

  • Thread starter Thread starter ericzx7
  • Start date Start date
My solution for mounting a wider rear tire. Had clearance for the chain, but not the tourque arm for the brake caliper, so I made a new one. Any opinions?



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NICE!



Useless advice, now that you've fabbed a new one, but the torque arm from an '88-up Katana will work if you shave the mounting point on the caliper down about 1/8"...


But home-fabbed parts have more street cred. ;) Very cool work.


What size is that tire, though? You really don't want to go any wider than a 130 on a 2.5" rim - it can cause handling problems due to sidewall flex with the sidewall being pinched back at such a severe angle. Remember that wider doesn't necessarily mean better....
-Q!
 
Last edited:
QuaiChangKane said:
NICE!



Useless advice, now that you've fabbed a new one, but the torque arm from an '88-up Katana will work if you shave the mounting point on the caliper down about 1/8"...


But home-fabbed parts have more street cred. ;) Very cool work.


What size is that tire, though? You really don't want to go any wider than a 130 on a 2.5" rim - it can cause handling problems due to sidewall flex with the sidewall being pinched back at such a severe angle. Remember that wider doesn't necessarily mean better....
-Q!
Click to expand...


It is actually a 130 that you see in the pic. I am planning on eventually fitting a GSXR front end , and front and rear wheels and tires. This is just preparation for that.
DSC01612.jpg
 
ericzx7 said:
My solution for mounting a wider rear tire. Had clearance for the chain, but not the tourque arm for the brake caliper, so I made a new one. Any opinions?



DSC01628.jpg


DSC01629.jpg


DSC01630.jpg


DSC01623.jpg
Click to expand...

Any opinions? I wish you'd been around when I put a kat rear wheel on my 550, because I had the same problem. I didn't have my welder at the time, so used the "If it doesn't fit, get a bigger hammer" method.

You did a very nice job on that! And I agree, the fabbed street parts give you mucho street cred.
 
LeeGS550E said:
Any opinions? I wish you'd been around when I put a kat rear wheel on my 550, because I had the same problem. I didn't have my welder at the time, so used the "If it doesn't fit, get a bigger hammer" method.

You did a very nice job on that! And I agree, the fabbed street parts give you mucho street cred.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the complement. I too have fallen victem to the "bigger hammer" method in the past. But, as I am off work, recovering from shoulder surgery, and have little money and loads of time, I thought I would do it "right?" this time. LOL hehehe

I'm no proffessional fabricator, that's for sure. But I figure I can't get there by being affraid to try something I've never done before. I'm gonna have to spend some money on materials soon though, as I am running out of "junk" to cut up and rework! :-D
 
ericzx7 said:
I'm gonna have to spend some money on materials soon though, as I am running out of "junk" to cut up and rework! :-D
Click to expand...

I hear ya there. I've got a scrap bin of old steel shapes that I pick from, but my one true joy in life is heading to the recycling yard near my house...tons of goofy steel shapes and stock, at about 40 cents per pound for steel. I've got a Jet chop saw, and my hobart handler now, as well as the bead blast cabinet, and the powder coat oven that I'm working on....I could go on forever. I love this stuff.

Anyway, dig the fab work. Keep it up!
 
LeeGS550E said:
I hear ya there. I've got a scrap bin of old steel shapes that I pick from, but my one true joy in life is heading to the recycling yard near my house...tons of goofy steel shapes and stock, at about 40 cents per pound for steel. I've got a Jet chop saw, and my hobart handler now, as well as the bead blast cabinet, and the powder coat oven that I'm working on....I could go on forever. I love this stuff.

Anyway, dig the fab work. Keep it up!
Click to expand...

Wow! I wish you lived next door to me! I have a CHEAP welder, a home built blast cabinet w/light(made from a plastic 55 gal. barrel) , and some basic tools, grinder , etc...

I need to get a chop saw in a bad way. Cuts with a hack saw are never perfectly square! lol I agree with you though. I love it too. At least its creative.
 
Very nice man. That is one of the very few fairings that I actually like. I'm not digging the CF though. But bah it looks good anyways.... Pretty cool torque arm you got there. Very interesting that, that was the only thing that needed clearancing
 
Ironriot said:
Very nice man. That is one of the very few fairings that I actually like. I'm not digging the CF though. But bah it looks good anyways.... Pretty cool torque arm you got there. Very interesting that, that was the only thing that needed clearancing
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"CF" ?????Call me silly , but what do you mean by that?

I will probably go with a 520 chain conversion, and offset front sprocket, but the torque arm was really the only issue with the swingarm itself. Still alot of work to do. Trying to do it in stages, as time and (more importantly) money , dictate. I have not yet purchased any wheels, as I am still undecides as how far I want to go with the front end. Will a Katana front wheel work on the stock forks? Or do I HAVE to swap the complete front end to go with radial tires? Any Ideas?
 
By the way, the fairing mounts are cleaned up and painted now. Will post pics soon, maybe tomarrow.
 
ericzx7 said:
"CF" ?????Call me silly , but what do you mean by that?

I will probably go with a 520 chain conversion, and offset front sprocket, but the torque arm was really the only issue with the swingarm itself. Still alot of work to do. Trying to do it in stages, as time and (more importantly) money , dictate. I have not yet purchased any wheels, as I am still undecides as how far I want to go with the front end. Will a Katana front wheel work on the stock forks? Or do I HAVE to swap the complete front end to go with radial tires? Any Ideas?
Click to expand...

Carbon Fiber. Not sure if its real or not but I've never really liked the looks of it. I'm kinda more into a solid paint scheme. Everything one color you know?... But that's just me I'm boring
 
Well duh!:oops:Now I do feel silly! haha

The "CF", is fake, and WILL be painted either black, or burgandy to match the rest of the paint. I happen to be a solid color guy myself.
 
ericzx7 said:
......Trying to do it in stages, as time and (more importantly) money , dictate. I have not yet purchased any wheels, as I am still undecides as how far I want to go with the front end. Will a Katana front wheel work on the stock forks? Or do I HAVE to swap the complete front end to go with radial tires? Any Ideas?
Click to expand...


If you are looking for a wider rear rim for cheap money, go with the `85-`86 GS1150. It's 3.5 " and matches the front exactlly. This could work well for you until the funds gel for more radical modifications.

I'm generally not a fan of aftermarket paint jobs but yours looks good. Nice bike. How's it run?
 
ScottMc1100L said:
If you are looking for a wider rear rim for cheap money, go with the `85-`86 GS1150. It's 3.5 " and matches the front exactlly. This could work well for you until the funds gel for more radical modifications.

I'm generally not a fan of aftermarket paint jobs but yours looks good. Nice bike. How's it run?
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. That may be just what I need to do. I want to use gsxr wheels, but my wife likes the stock ones. She still wants a wider rear tire though. Your idea may just work. Thanks.

Thanks for the compliment. I did the paint myself. My first paintjob ever.

The bike runs great. The previouse owner dragraced it(suposedly), But the engine is in perfect shape. And it's plenty fast!
 
How did you lower the bike? I'm interested as I have a bike for my wife atm that she is on her tip toes sitting. I was wanting to lower the bike a couple more inches but am at a loss as to how to accomplish this.

Al
 
If I be your wife ,will you build me one to?Well done old son.Lucky girl.Cheers,Simon.
 
ScottMc1100L said:
If you are looking for a wider rear rim for cheap money, go with the `85-`86 GS1150. It's 3.5 " and matches the front exactlly. This could work well for you until the funds gel for more radical modifications.

I'm generally not a fan of aftermarket paint jobs but yours looks good. Nice bike. How's it run?
Click to expand...
That was great advice! I am getting ready to put my check in the mail for the wider rear wheel, compliments of "yak". Thanks ! So glad I found this forum. Lots of great people here!
I figure that since my wife would like to keep the stock suspension, because she likes the stock wheels, I'm just gonna have to find another GS to fix up the way I want it! Great reason to start another project , right?
Besides, I'm enrolling in a motorcycle mechanics course very soon, so I need another bike for practice and study, right?!? lol
 
ericzx7 said:
That was great advice! I am getting ready to put my check in the mail for the wider rear wheel, compliments of "yak". Thanks !
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No Problem, glad to help where possible with the little I do know!
Yak's good people8-)! You'll get the part, and it will be exactly what he says it is. Enjoy!

ericzx7 said:
I figure that since my wife would like to keep the stock suspension, because she likes the stock wheels, I'm just gonna have to find another GS to fix up the way I want it! Great reason to start another project , right?
Besides, I'm enrolling in a motorcycle mechanics course very soon, so I need another bike for practice and study, right?!? lol
Click to expand...
Well....YA! If she'll let you, get it while the gettin's good!\\:D/
 
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