^nice bike

[Edited on April 24, 2010 at 11:30 PM. Reason : on page 25]

4/24/2010 11:30:20 PM

Speaking of the FZ6, why is America denied all the sexy naked bikes? FZ1N:

4/27/2010 5:50:04 PM

wonder what the purpose was for crimping the 2 outside exhaust headers like that...style, or gas-flow compensation?

4/27/2010 9:25:20 PM

C: badassery

4/27/2010 10:11:46 PM

Saw a dude today riding with a brain bucket, no shirt, and gym shorts. It's really gonna ruin his day if he goes down.

4/30/2010 5:35:25 PM

got my junk registered, inspected, and tagged yesterday

5/1/2010 10:45:57 AM

finally got mine registered this morning.

5/1/2010 11:32:09 AM

In case y'all are interested in hitting some pavement tomorrow with those new rides...
http://www.ncsportbikes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23065

5/1/2010 6:11:18 PM

Does anyone in here ride kawlasokis anymore?

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/mcy/1714284904.html

What about Valcuns?

http://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/mcy/1707057682.html

[Edited on May 9, 2010 at 11:08 PM. Reason : how can you own a bike, but not be able to correctly spell the make or model]

5/9/2010 10:50:38 PM

I'd be all over that if it was a folcan.

5/10/2010 3:27:46 AM

Ok, Im at the very premature planning stages of a chopper build. Also please forgive my lacking vocabulary when it comes to the throttle twisting game. I can ride, I have the mechanical aptitude, tooling, blah blah blah, just a bit new to the intricate details of how the whole package goes together.

Considering using a Sportster engine (883), I think its an '86 model. The engine/tranny will be the only parts used from the donor bike

First concern, visual impact. Will the Sportster engine look too small? (Granted this totally depends on the frame I decide to go with and the sheet metal that ends up on the bike, but I do know it will be a hardtail, stretched, and pretty raked.)

Second concern, parts availability/compatibility. Are there enough aftermarket parts out there to build such a beast, using the Ironhead, without sourcing completely custom, high dollar parts? For this Im mainly referring to the engine/tranny aspect of the build.

Im hoping to get something under way by mid-summer. If so, Ill do a full write-up/photo essay.

5/18/2010 8:07:01 PM

need another helmet?

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=595537

5/24/2010 10:45:32 PM

^^ dude, you oughta build a chopper with a BMW-boxer engine (either old airhead or newer oilhead, depending on what you're going for), or a Valkyrie/Goldwing flat-six, or maybe a V-Max engine (they sound nasty with an opened up exhaust, and with some bigger cams, even more so).

I mean, if you're going to go custom and be different, go ahead and be different.

and if you're going the standard V-twin route, don't use an 883 engine. have you lost your mind?

5/25/2010 1:14:50 AM

Quote :

"I do know it will be a hardtail, stretched, and pretty raked"

In that case you would want to go with a V configuration. I hear what Duke is saying, but for that kind of custom boxer twin or flat six probably won't look right, unless you make the front end really really short and tank really really low and have over-the-tank lean while riding, Japenese-style. Vmax engine should work. However, unless you have a hookup in a machine shop, the easiest way to built one willl be using the standard catalogue parts. You are pretty much stuck with a standard twin and lot sof standard parts. From there it's a matter of bolting it all together.
Anything else and you are looking at quite a bit of machine work and a custom frame (although the possibilities are a lot more open)

5/25/2010 1:45:25 AM

This is the inspiration for the build, given the free powertrain:



Also, the engine (if, after theduke's advising against it, still gets used) will have the 1200 conversion kit thrown in to it. Along with the other basic performance mods (air cleaner, carb work, pipes, etc)

Im not going to polish any turds here, so if its that advisable to not use the sportster as a base, Im all ears. What exactly makes this engine a bad choice? Let me say that this is more of a boredom killer project, and not something that I am going to dump $20k into or anything like that. Plus, it'll be my first bike build.

I'm planning on </= $6k budget, btw

Still getting the "no" vote?

[Edited on May 25, 2010 at 1:14 PM. Reason : ]

5/25/2010 1:08:02 PM

5/25/2010 1:27:14 PM

I can't understand why anyone would want these heavily raked custom bikes. They look painful and clumsy.

5/25/2010 2:52:30 PM

they LOOK painful and clumsy

designed properly and built correctly they handle just how they are supposed to

you do know that they arent going to handle like a street bike, right?

5/25/2010 4:15:38 PM

^what do you mean? i'm still relatively new to motorcycles, but it sure as hell ain't going to handle like a dirt bike.

5/25/2010 6:09:20 PM

rear suspension is not optional imo

5/25/2010 6:13:01 PM

bikes handling is based on a combination of quite a few factors. weight, weight distribution, power, powerband, tire/wheel size, wheelbase, rake, trail, COG, etc.

the raked out chopper style bikes are obviously not going to handle like a sports car but it is still possible for them to be built so that they can be ridden smoothly.

when bikes are hacked together to achieve the long raked out look without regard to the trail, it is very easy for them to flop to the sides and be fairly unstable. with the correct trail built into the design of the bike, it is possible to achieve the look and still have decent road manners. and for the intended purpose of such a bike, when out on the open road, they ride stable enough for fairly lengthy hands-free riding

that being said, the longer the bike, the slower it will turn, the larger your turning radius. chopper style bikes are meant to be slallomed or to take on the twistys

blah blah blah....someone else can get more detailed about why/how certain rake/trail acts differently or is more preferred. you get the point though

5/25/2010 8:41:41 PM

I know enough about the complexities of motorcycle front end design to know I have no business chopping one. Also, with a hardtail, you better have a chiropractor on speed dial. You're sitting in a sprawled position, there's no way to stand up and take the impact off your back when you hit a pothole. Those bikes are meant to be trailered to shows and look pretty.

Yamaha XS's are easy to chop too. Simple motor, cheap weld-on hardtail kits, and parts are plentiful. They used to be cheap, but with this chopper craze the prices are going up. Guys do some really crazy things to them, but I won't sell you mine to chop.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/

The chopper craze is on the wane, I think...you see fewer bullshit chopper shows on Discovery Channel these days. I say if you're going to chop it, do something really original...like this:


Also...for the love of god run a front brake. Your stopping distance will more than double without one...that rear tire just doesn't grip enough. 1973 and earlier XS's had drum brakes on the front if you want a clean look.

Of course, a sportster boardtracker has already been done as well. There's really nothing new under the motorcycle sun.


[Edited on May 25, 2010 at 9:15 PM. Reason : .]

5/25/2010 9:07:08 PM

This is the dumbest piece of shit I have ever seen

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/mcy/1767728121.html

5/31/2010 10:21:07 PM

^i concur. redneck engineering at its best, or worst...same thing i guess.

5/31/2010 11:11:51 PM

Picked up a sporty at work a bit ago for super cheap. Dropped some 60k's over jugs on it new carb and cam and am starting to cut it apart when i got time. should be pretty nasty lil bobber when i am done...

6/1/2010 3:58:58 PM

That sportster has promise.

My long-term money/time pit.


[Edited on June 1, 2010 at 10:35 PM. Reason : doh]

6/1/2010 10:34:26 PM

anyone got a new enough coupon? i need to buy some luggage with the quickness.

6/6/2010 9:35:26 PM

I have some soft Teknic bags for my SV650.

If I end up getting a BMW in the next couple of weeks, I won't need 2 bikes with bags...I'll sell them to you, if we can work out a way for you to get them (I'm out of the country at the moment).

6/7/2010 7:49:53 AM

i ride a now-extinct Buell XB12R

6/7/2010 5:00:42 PM

how do you like it? What's it like compared to a 600cc Japanese race-replica?

6/7/2010 5:10:32 PM

We have a Harley XR1200 at work and it be pretty nasty for the most part but deff has nothing on a inline 750 or bigger.

[Edited on June 7, 2010 at 5:17 PM. Reason : .]

6/7/2010 5:16:10 PM

Eh, not really talking acceleration.

I don't need much more power than my SV650 to be entertained (and I've owned much faster bikes). It's more of a question of handling and braking.

6/7/2010 5:25:55 PM

ohh. We had a xb9r I rode(Not very far or to its limits by any means) It was pretty nice. Still on a track I think I would take the rc51 over pretty much anything. IMO

6/7/2010 5:37:22 PM

saw my first Buell rider comrade here in CLT last night.

me- Buell XB12R

him - Buell 1125R

6/8/2010 10:28:54 AM

^I dont know if you will need or want to... But Nasty Bikes make 90” Monster Bore Kit and it rly makes these motors rock and roll. You do have to machine your case but other then that there pretty easy kit well worth the money.

6/8/2010 3:07:15 PM

tks. i'll have to look into that one!

6/8/2010 3:08:55 PM

Yea np. I have built a few of them at work and they RLY make make them motors sick haha

6/8/2010 3:13:55 PM

watched my brother drop a bike on HWY 181 this weekend in a curve. pretty scary to see in the mirrors.

side note...he's ok and the Buell handled like a dream!

6/16/2010 1:25:50 PM

Does anyone know of where I can get parts for a Honda RC51?

6/16/2010 1:29:22 PM

anybody here ever do a track day? i'm looking to go to Atlanta or VIR and might need some pointers on getting the bike wired up and track ready

6/16/2010 1:31:01 PM

I road a xb12r with a flash, full exhaust, and intake. talk about slow. those rotors love to warp too.

they are neat looking if that is your thing.

they smooth out once they hit about 4500 but they redline at like what 6500? I would always dog my buddy out on his

6/16/2010 3:11:00 PM

i ride the xb12r because its different. beleive me...i get crushed on the straights. but in the corners its hard to beat the low-end torque. i rarely need to go above 130 anyway...so its more fun for me up in the mountains where i can chew up the sides of my tires and drag my knees around.

I have been able to hang with anything out there in the mountain twisties...straights are another matter

[Edited on June 16, 2010 at 3:54 PM. Reason : redline is 7...not too much off from 6500]

6/16/2010 3:53:19 PM

A 100hp/400lb bike being ridden at 10/10th on the street is retarded. Under any circumstance.

6/21/2010 4:39:34 PM

Being an incredible bike mechanic myself, I often like to laugh at the misfortunes of others

Like this guy

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=499.0

whose bike wouldn't start ... because it was in second gear

6/21/2010 8:55:17 PM

Mine will start in gear. Neutral safety switches are for pussies.

6/21/2010 11:34:31 PM

mine had a damn switch that (I'm assuming) was malfunctioning and would kill the spark if the kickstand was down. that didn't last long. still don't mind the neutral safety switch though, I park on a hill pretty frequently and leave the bike in gear, I can definitely see myself being absent-minded just long enough to start the thing in gear while helplessly standing beside it as it walks off the stand and onto the pavement

6/21/2010 11:55:11 PM

Quote :

"mine had a damn switch that (I'm assuming) was malfunctioning and would kill the spark if the kickstand was down."

i assume you mean even when it was in neutral? because i was under the impression that it's SUPPOSED to kill it if it's in gear

6/22/2010 7:43:19 AM

The neutral safety switch on my CB550 was pretty wonky. Over the course of a few months, it went through every state of dysfunction: only starts with clutch, only starts in neutral, button doesn't work at all, only kickstart. Eventually, though, all my cursing paid off and it fixed itself overnight.

^^ I think it's a feature of most newer bikes to not start with the stand down. Not sure though, all the bikes I've owned have been older than I am.

[Edited on June 22, 2010 at 8:41 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2010 8:39:55 AM

Newer bikes, and some older ones, won't run with the stand down and in gear. Put in neutral or put the stand up, and it doesn't mind.

6/22/2010 12:17:08 PM

I just stripped down a zx6 engine for a racing tractor and it took me over an hour to disable all the asinine safety features from wiring harness.

6/22/2010 3:54:10 PM