Brainstorm: Building Steph a bike, Will be based off an old 883/1200 sportster

[BLUE WAFFLE]

Well, Been thinking a lot about this, and I feel once we move into the new house, this is within my technical knowledge...

Want the base to be an old sportster ( Main hoop frame and forks, and powertrain).

Now, this is where the fun begins.

I would like to sport-bike it. I know, it isn't a sportbike, but the small stature of it and the power levels it puts out will be perfect for Stephanie.

Plan on fitting an 05 swingarm upside down (to account for the right hand drive on the sporties)

Also, would like to convert to a decent mono shock.

It would be single seat, with mild rear-sets. Will freshen the stock forks with gold racetek emulators and springs. Also would convert the bike to chain drive, use the stock 636 rear wheel/brakes, and lace up an 18inch rim to the stock front hub with think black laces.

Biggest part would be fabrication of the rear swingarm, and shock perch. Would cut off all the unneeded crap off the stock sporty frame and fab up a new rear subframe.

Anyone with photoshop skills care to draw this up for me. It looks great in my mind, but without it on paper, its hard to tell.

Also, feel free to brainstorm other ideas I haven't thought of.

Keep out the comments of it being a Harley, being underpowered, etc. Just looking for help.

[kt-rides2]

Wow, ambitious project. I don't have any thing to offer. Good luck!

[BLUE WAFFLE]

Wow, ambitious project. I don't have any thing to offer. Good luck!

It's a Ducati 999 subframe, to boot

[macdaddyslomo]

honestly that sportster frame looks almost exactly like the frame on my old zx600 kawi !...may want to take a look at one for some hints...

[Scottly]

One word: Buell.

It's a good base platform to work from, with the engine you desire. I would think that doing the mods on the sporty frame will have you ending up with a flexi-flyer. Those frames just aren't that rigid. Also, with the battery and oil bag in place, there really isn't room to tuck a shock up under the rear of the frame. It's the reason the Buell started out with the shock under the bike...same with the Softail.

Just my $.02

[BLUE WAFFLE]

don't want a buell. great idea with the underside spring, though. that is a great solution.

[echoraven]

My only concern with a sporty is they tend to feel top heavy and that does not lend itself to sport riding.

[Stricken]

Just make sure the bike is 100% safe to ride. Any mistake could be horrible. Good luck with it.

[Scottly]

If you wish to use the sportbike swingarm pictured, modify it so that it holds the oil. It only needs to hold 3 qts and have enough space left to breath (about the space = 1/2 qt capacity). Relocate the battery (tail section??) and that will free the space you need to mount the monoshock.

[BLUE WAFFLE]

If you wish to use the sportbike swingarm pictured, modify it so that it holds the oil. It only needs to hold 3 qts and have enough space left to breath (about the space = 1/2 qt capacity). Relocate the battery (tail section??) and that will free the space you need to mount the monoshock.

I was thinking of mounting the shock outside of the main hoop. I'll draw something up for the idea. I'd rather not have to deal with designing linkages to make an underbody shock work.

The oil in the swingarm is a good idea, but if I'm going to do that, why don't I just put it in the frame?

[BLUE WAFFLE]

[Scottly]

The oil in the swingarm is a good idea, but if I'm going to do that, why don't I just put it in the frame?

Because the frame isn't strong enough to have holes drilled in it for a 1/4 NPT and not crack. Too much vibration.

[stonewall]

make it all out of chrome

[t_bare]

http://www.norleycaferacer.com

Have a look around.
t_bare