Premium Member

First name is dave
Joined on August 18th of '04
Lives in Bung Hole, LA
Local time: 02:01 PM
PM | Posts: 10187

no offense should be take due to guys having doubts.. this is a new thing to us.. non-conventional to say the least.. all the time & engineering that went into a conventional pivot wasnt for nothing.. i question the integrity of it also. but i do hope it works out & proves us wrong.. time will tell.. but dont doubt we will tell you " we told you so " if it dont.. you have a good idea here.. there are just cleaner ways of introducing it into the build.. you must expect constructive criticism.. thats why these threads exist.. too help you & others , with the experience & knowledge the rest of us have.. in my case i have over 30 yrs. of building.. to me, if i were you.. it would be silly to disregard a suggestion based on experience.. theres a saying.. " old age & treachery will always overcome youth & skill " .. i have found this rings true in every aspect of life.. again, i like where your going, so dont get upset.. i think you doing a nice job.. theres just a few areas you could improve on & help the look & function.. all around good for you ..

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Last edited by DAVE on 12-16-2007 at 10:59 AM

Report post | Post #76 of 381

Joined on May 1st of '07
Lives in Windham, NH
Local time: 03:01 PM
PM Posts: 110

Coming along f*cking sick. This is the 1st build I check every time I log in. Did u use like skateboard bearings at the swing arm pivot point? Keep up the good work, Im looking forward to seeing the seat and all the other goodies on it.

Report post | Post #77 of 381

First name is Sky
Joined on November 16th of '05
Lives in bend, OR
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 377

quote:

Originally posted by DAVE no offense should be take due to guys having doubts.. this is a new thing to us.. non-conventional to say the least.. all the time & engineering that went into a conventional pivot wasnt for nothing.. i question the integrity of it also. but i do hope it works out & proves us wrong.. time will tell.. but dont doubt we will tell you " we told you so " if it dont.. you have a good idea here.. there are just cleaner ways of introducing it into the build.. you must expect constructive criticism.. thats why these threads exist.. too help you & others , with the experience & knowledge the rest of us have.. in my case i have over 30 yrs. of building.. to me, if i were you.. it would be silly to disregard a suggestion based on experience.. theres a saying.. " old age & treachery will always overcome youth & skill " .. i have found this rings true in every aspect of life.. again, i like where your going, so dont get upset.. i think you doing a nice job.. theres just a few areas you could improve on & help the look & function.. all around good for you ..

No doubt at all that costructive critisicm is for my benefit. I want to thank everyone for weighing in, and I have to keep in mind that this is my first build, and nothing is ever done perfectly the first time. Actually now that I think about it, every project I've ever finished I can usually think of ten things I would do differently

Thanks again guys, and hopefully after I ride this thing, my posts won't come from a hospital computer.....

Report post | Post #78 of 381

Joined on June 22nd of '06
Lives in Butler, PA
Local time: 03:01 PM
PM Posts: 149

i like the creativity of this build.

the concept is cool.

I do though have to go with the few dudes who have safety/engineering concerns.

mainly the handlebars mounting tubes look like they need to be beefed up.

the rear pivot is gonna be really stressed and it seems like something should be changed.

Did you come up with this project yourself, or are you going along with something that has been done and tested before?


Also, what is the ground clearance gonna be?

Report post | Post #79 of 381

Joined on February 20th of '06
Lives in Rat's Mouth, FL
Local time: 03:01 PM
PM | AIM Posts: 1803

not to add to your list, but what kind of spacer is in the neck?.....or is the matching up coming along later?.....only reason i ask is that with the side shot of the headlight, you have quite a bit of space between the tree and the neck at the bottom

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Report post | Post #80 of 381

Joined on June 22nd of '06
Lives in Butler, PA
Local time: 03:01 PM
PM Posts: 149

i didnt see that big gap, but yeah that adds to the list.

looks like the fork tubes have seen better days

Report post | Post #81 of 381

First name is Sky
Joined on November 16th of '05
Lives in bend, OR
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 377

quote:

Originally posted by fairwaymike i didnt see that big gap, but yeah that adds to the list. looks like the fork tubes have seen better days

the fork tubes have the remainders of stickers on them, they are fine.

the neck area is not done yet, it will be cut down to match up better.

thanks
Sky

Report post | Post #82 of 381

First name is Sky
Joined on November 16th of '05
Lives in bend, OR
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 377

Sorry I haven't updated in awhile, I didn't get as much done as I wanted to in my time off, I think I kind of forced it too much, and in the process I made something I didn't like. I almost went ahead anyway, but I just couldn't look at it and be happy, so I took it off.

What I did get done:
cut out the seat pan:



Finished up the rear axle blocks, so the rear wheel sits in place properly now (also mounted the sprocket), you can also see the baseplate for the rear section that I cut out, haven't finished it though:



In that last picture you can also see the bracket I made to connect the air cylinders to the swingarm, they turned out OK, but then I was trying to make the mid-bracket, the strong one to hold the cylinders in place, like so:




It turned out so-so, and the longer I looked at it the more I hated it, so out it came. I'm trying to think of a better way to mount it right now.

I also tossed in the motor to make sure that nothing I was making ended up in the way of anything else. Note- the exhaust will not route like that.

I also cut out the brackets to make the forward control for the shifter, that should be done this weekend (hopefully)

Now to one of the main issues. When mounting the cylinders, I was under the impression that the output sprocket on the motor was offset more to the side, with the motor in, here's my mistake:



Whoops!

I might have to run a dual jackshaft type deal to get it to clear, but I think I've got it figured out now.

It was just one of those things where I was putting too much pressure on myself to get stuff done, and it was taking the fun out of it. So I had to take a break for a couple weeks to get the passion back. After all, if I'm not having fun, then why am I doing this?

Anyway I appreciate all the support I've seen here, and now that I'm back on the wagon, I should start getting some regular updates again.

thanks
Sky

Report post | Post #83 of 381

Joined on February 20th of '06
Lives in Rat's Mouth, FL
Local time: 03:01 PM
PM | AIM Posts: 1803

right on... looks like you are building with a good perspective

Report post | Post #84 of 381

First name is Scott
Joined on March 18th of '05
Lives in seattle, WA
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 549

That's a big whoops! Welcome to the club

You should be alright movin those cylinders inwards towards bike center. still curious about those lower swingarm mounts though.....what about running a piece of tubing from the inside shackles and connecting the bottom rails? Like this? and then a solid axle through that point?

Attachment: latestpictures004.jpg
This has been downloaded 273 time(s).

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Report post | Post #85 of 381

Joined on January 14th of '08
Lives in Trailer Park, -
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 12

Looking good

Report post | Post #86 of 381

First name is Carl
Joined on June 1st of '07
Lives in Marikina, Philippines, -
Local time: 04:01 AM
PM Posts: 687

Sky! looking great! This is going to be such a cool bike! (Okay, it already is! )

Question on the cylinders though, will you mount them rigid like that with no pivot? won't that put some side load on them when they push on the swing arm? As the swing arm moves outward, the mount points will describe an arc, pulling sideward on the actuator arms of the cylinders.

About the drive sprocket, looks a bit cramped for a jackshaft there. What about offsetting the drive sprocket until it lines up with the rear but instead of letting the shaft support the sprocket on its own so far out, brace the sprocket properly with a bearing mounted on a plate that's bolted to the frame and/or engine so you can take care of the side load on the shaft?

Report post | Post #87 of 381

Joined on June 30th of '05
Lives in Philadelphia, PA
Local time: 08:01 PM
PM Posts: 160

Carld is right on, you can't solid mount the tops of those cylinders, they need to pivot top and bottom.

I also second Climbers input on connecting the bottom rails and beefing up the bottom pivot point.

I think you are doing a great job and definitely am not trying to put you down or be negative, just trying to help as I have made a few of these mistakes myself in the past. You are thinking outside the box and that should be commended, keep up the good work. It also takes balls to put your work out here for everyone to pick apart, like I said, not picking on your work by any means, just trying to save you a few headaches.

Report post | Post #88 of 381

First name is Sky
Joined on November 16th of '05
Lives in bend, OR
Local time: 12:01 PM
PM Posts: 377

quote:

Originally posted by dirtnap Carld is right on, you can't solid mount the tops of those cylinders, they need to pivot top and bottom. I also second Climbers input on connecting the bottom rails and beefing up the bottom pivot point.

Yeah I'm still looking for the best way to mount them right now, I'm open to suggestions because I appear to be stumped.....

quote:

Originally posted by dirtnap I think you are doing a great job and definitely am not trying to put you down or be negative, just trying to help as I have made a few of these mistakes myself in the past. You are thinking outside the box and that should be commended, keep up the good work. It also takes balls to put your work out here for everyone to pick apart, like I said, not picking on your work by any means, just trying to save you a few headaches.

I appreciate all input, for sure. This being my first bike, there's a lot to learn

also, the bottom pivot point will have gussets welded to it.

Report post | Post #89 of 381

First name is Carl
Joined on June 1st of '07
Lives in Marikina, Philippines, -
Local time: 04:01 AM
PM Posts: 687

quote:

Originally posted by 04zx6r Yeah I'm still looking for the best way to mount them right now, I'm open to suggestions because I appear to be stumped..... I appreciate all input, for sure. This being my first bike, there's a lot to learn also, the bottom pivot point will have gussets welded to it.

Well, you know that mid bracket you made? what if you keep that, but instead of welding it solid to the frame, mount it on pivot points as well? That would give you the necessary movement.

Report post | Post #90 of 381