SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Anti Chopper
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1163662814

Message started by mickthelimey on 11/15/06 at 23:40:14

Title: Anti Chopper
Post by mickthelimey on 11/15/06 at 23:40:14

Any of you master mechanics know of a frame that the savage engine will drop into.
My bike is in my living room for the winter,and the more I look at it the more I don't like the angle of the forks,looks like a half chopper,and there is nothing I dislike more than a bike with the front wheel in another zip code,I would like to shorten my wheel base by about 6 to 8 inches,any ideas?

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by lancer on 11/16/06 at 04:11:31

One of the earlier versions of the Savage, the 400cc engine I believe, had a regular street bike look to it vs the cruiser look. I cannot remember which specific model it was, but someone here will know.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by babbalou on 11/16/06 at 05:27:35

Let us know if you find a workable frame. This is a mod I'm also interested in. I lean more Royal Enfield than Orange County Chopper as to style. I like twisty roads & comfortable ergonomics too, so the chopper thing doesn't suit me, though that thumper motor is a jewel.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/16/06 at 05:30:18

Not to be picky but wouldn't an anti-chop be pure stock?

More to your question though, I think raising the back with higher shocks changed that look somewhat... but maybe not enough for your aesthetics. Take a look at the pics below. Upper is before and lower is after. (Just ignore the differences with the toolbag and ammo box). I think the changed angle seems to shorten the appearance.

http://rob.savageriders.com/images/Shocks%20Comparison.jpg

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by mickthelimey on 11/16/06 at 08:33:38

yes I like the look,the shocks look the same,how did you raise them?

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by Max_Morley on 11/16/06 at 08:37:22

The other bike referenced was called a Tempter and it later came in the 650 version, before ending up with a twin in it. Try 97 Tempter in the search feature. I'd love to have one of those !! Max

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by serowbot on 11/16/06 at 09:55:42

I put 12" shocks off a suzuki intruder 800. Bolt up perfect. Makes a more standard look, same as "savage_rob".
If you go to 12"s, you must remove or modify the front end of the beltgaurd to prevent rubbing the front pulley. Also changes the oil level in the sight glass, and the reserve level in the gas tank. Much more cushion in the ride though with the extra travel.

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006%5C09%5C20%5Cbikepics-683713-full.jpg

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by Bulwark on 11/16/06 at 10:05:17

The bike looks WAY better, to me anyway, with the back raised up. Very nice mod.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by Savage_Rob on 11/16/06 at 10:39:09

mickthelimey wrote:

yes I like the look,the shocks look the same,how did you raise them?

I replaced the stock shocks with 12.5" Progressive shocks.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by Paladin on 11/16/06 at 13:33:01

mickthelimey wrote:

Any of you master mechanics know of a frame that the savage engine will drop into....

http://savage.andruschak.net/tempter/Image3.jpg
AFAICT, the Tempter was only sold in Japan. Threezukes was posting from Japan, but hasn't been heard of since May and hid his e-mail address. Given the occasional Savage frame showing up on e-bay I would imagine that an occasional Tempter frame would show up in Japan. Chain drive, Drum front brake, but those can be changed.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by PerrydaSavage on 11/16/06 at 15:49:21

That Tempter is a beautiful lookin' Bike ... and if any of you Americans have any friends/relatives stationed in Okinawa, I'll bet you could have one of them obtain a used Tempter for ya and have 'er shipped over?

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by sluggo on 11/16/06 at 16:57:02

Paladin wrote:

in the early 80's suzki did offer a machine very simular to the tempter in the US. it was called a gn 400 and i rode one for 98,000 miles before i screwed up and blew it up. that's the same muffler as mine, engine very much the same, fjront brakes were disk though. i loved that machine. i'll try to round up a photo.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by WD on 11/16/06 at 21:28:56

The whole reason I modified mine was initially to close up the fender gap. I have a Rebel fender on the rear, still looks a bit "off". With the struts, it should be getting a full(er) fender. I just don't like the chopper/bobber standard "bobtail" look. Even my Vulcan 800A is getting a fuller rear fender (stock tail light looks like a baboon's behind). :P

Fork gaiters (Norton spec) help minimize the rake (visually). Swapping the fenders for fuller coverage ones is easy, and fairly inexpensive. Clubman bars and a bikini fairing would also seriously change the bike's lines, making it look more compact. Heck, toss an 18 inch rear hoop on it, some dual sport tires, a high pipe, Kawasaki W1 or W2-SS fuel tank and make yourself a TT replica. Haven't seen that one done, yet... WW2 R.A.F. BSA 500 tribute bike... Possibilities are endless... 8)

I like a traditional late 1940s to early 1960s look best. Bobber, cafe racer, touring bagger, as long as the front end isn't raked out to some outlandish degree/length. I've been customizing bikes since 1987, thought 1970s "cartoon" caricture choppers were goofy looking then, still do. What do I know though? I'm just a "kid" (at age 34). :D
-WD

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by mickthelimey on 11/16/06 at 23:27:27

I love the look of the "Tempter" I even like the drum brake,probably as good as the feeble disc brake on the Savage.
My nephew looks like he might get a posting to Korea,do you think they might have imported them?
other than that an old BSA frame might work,have to look into that.

Title: Re: Anti Chopper
Post by barry68v10 on 11/17/06 at 13:28:23

I really like the look of the Royal Enfield as well...If only they had belt drive... ::)