SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> My chopper
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1276731807

Message started by metri on 06/16/10 at 16:43:27

Title: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/16/10 at 16:43:27

So today I finished up my chop. I literally chopped the frame in the middle and made the back end rigid. Foot clutch, hand shift, custom knurled hand grips and footpegs. Note the gas tank. That used to be a stock tank but I cut it open, filled in the tunnel, moved the bung... It might not be the prettiest bike in the world, but I made just about everything on it, even the clutch and brake cables... In the background you can see a bit of my shop. Messy but effective :P Special thanks to Lancer who's advice over the years has been very helpful. Of course many others have given advice also, too many to mention.
I would like to note I fit a 630 chain on there with sprockets from a GS550. My orignal chain conversion used a 530 chain I think, but I like the heavy look of the 630...

Metri

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/16/10 at 16:46:43

Ok that didn't work either.... I'll figure this out...

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/16/10 at 16:51:44

Best I could do was post them on my blog....

http://www.briansopinion.com/

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by Horatio Hawkshaw on 06/16/10 at 17:12:23

That looks outstanding. 8-)

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by strangeling on 06/16/10 at 18:46:15

Here's the pics. Dang nice job 1

http://www.briansopinion.com/media/blogs/a/.evocache/102_0471.JPG/fit-720x500.JPG

http://www.briansopinion.com/media/blogs/a/.evocache/chopper%20left.jpg/fit-720x500.jpg

http://www.briansopinion.com/media/blogs/a/.evocache/chopper%20right.jpg/fit-720x500.jpg

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by John_D FSO on 06/16/10 at 19:16:10

Very cool! 8-)

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by kimchris1 on 06/16/10 at 20:11:45

Nice job and congratulations on finishing your project. :)

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/16/10 at 21:37:39

Thanks. I loved working on this bike. I learned a lot from this site and the great people on it. Thanks. Now it's time to ride!

Metri

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by PerrydaSavage on 06/17/10 at 05:05:24

Outstanding work!! That is one COOL LS650!! now go RIDE the snot outa that thing!! 8-)

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by mikelhsr1982 on 06/17/10 at 05:20:36

That bike is wicked cool. Nice work.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by babyhog on 06/17/10 at 05:36:07

Is that a kick-start? And I don't see a speedo... ?
And is someone actually gonna ride on the pillion, or is it just a cover?
I like the curve in the exhaust. How's it sound?

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by kevinphan on 06/17/10 at 08:37:02

666564696B71080 wrote:

Is that a kick-start? And I don't see a speedo... ?
And is someone actually gonna ride on the pillion, or is it just a cover?
I like the curve in the exhaust. How's it sound?

It's a foot clutch, jockey shift setup.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by Rocco on 06/17/10 at 10:19:15

that is so beautiful! what kind of flat black did u use ?

i'm into the "may not be what others like but i did it myself" look as well!!

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by dasch on 06/17/10 at 10:43:11

Good job!! Great vision, great project!

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by Savage_Amusement on 06/17/10 at 14:27:00

Nice work! I really like everything!

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by Scott_H on 06/17/10 at 16:21:39

Great work!

Title: Re: My chopper Very nice job.Be proud brother
Post by Airmav on 06/17/10 at 18:10:19

323533202F26242D282F267776410 wrote:

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/17/10 at 21:56:28

Thanks for all the positive comments. It's been a great project.
I definately plan to ride the snot out of the thing ;) Today I was out riding most of the day. I hit 90mph and man that feels fast and it's all I can do to hold on. What a rush.

I used Krylon Ultra Flat black industrial spray paint. I used a spary booth, but rattle cans. Next time I'd probably powder coat, because it's really hard to assemble a bike and not scratch anything. I did wrap the frame in rags while assembling, but I still got a nick or two.

Yeah it's not a kick start, it's just the foot clutch setup. The exhaust is an orignal screamin' eagle and welded to some stainless tube. The exhaust sounds mean and everyone knows when I'm comin. Just the way I like it.
Passenger pillion is fully functional, though there is a built in 120lb weight limit ;) I'm not planning to take a passenger but I could. I can sit on it and it's more comfy than it looks, but I'd rather be driving.

I still want to make a new clutch lever and master cylinder, but I'm going to be riding too much to get around to it any time soon. Thanks again for all the support.

Metri

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by james may on 06/17/10 at 22:04:12

looks great.. what kinda tank is that? enjoy the ride man!

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/17/10 at 23:05:39

Hi James,

That tank was stock. I cut the bottom off, welded in the old filler hole, speedo tunnel and the tunnel for the frame. I centered the new bung and voila, a larger tank. I filled it up today at just over 13L. A modest increase, but worth the work and I love the way it looks on the bike.

Metri

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by LANCER on 06/18/10 at 04:56:53

A very nice old style chopper. You did good. Congrat's !

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by Rocco on 06/18/10 at 07:11:35

krylon huh? i use rustoleum, i've heard bad things about krylon, but maybe the booth helps, mine is always done outside, and i don't worry too much about scratches ;D

i would have been more careful, til the day after i painted her, the left side cover fell off on the highway, got run over, and i put it back on like that.....since then, not much prep work lol

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/18/10 at 08:36:02

I've heard good things about John Deere Ballistic Black, but this krylon was chap and a friend recommended it so I tried it. It does chip, but the stuff doesn't run when you spray it. It doesn't touch up well at all. a spot touched up shows like a glowing beacon... Next time I may use the expensive automotive paint and the real spray gun, or bite the bullet and get the thing powder coated.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by dasch on 06/18/10 at 10:16:24

Metri, how did you fill the tank hole?? I tried MIG - it leaked. Than Brazed with brass - leaked!! Finally I bought another tank! It turned out it's a hot rolled steel, develps cracks when cooled form high temperatures. Any advice is welcome.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/18/10 at 22:54:45

I just TIG welded the tank. No cracking problems at all. As for "hot rolled", it's a stamped tank so it's closer to cold rolled (residual internal stresses). As for leaks, you can seal the tank with epoxy. Some use Por 15, but I used an epoxy from Caswell Inc. Epoxy gas tank sealer. I sealed it, not because of leaks, but beacause I had small pin holes from rust on the inside of the tank. Both MIG and brazing should work on a steel tank. Not sure why you'd be getting cracking.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by dasch on 06/19/10 at 04:10:08

Don't know. Only thing I can think of is that maybe different years have different tank material. The guy that brazed it has years of experience, he told me it's hot rolled or hot stamped, not sure what he said. Anyhow, It would both weld and braze just fine, and while it cools you can hear it crack. Strange.

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by metri on 06/19/10 at 09:10:22

Cast Iron loves to do that and you have to cool it slowly by covering it with sand. You could always try that. Could have been hot stamped but I doubt it. There is no scale on the inside to the tank and hot processes leave scale. In manufacturing you try and minimize processes, and cleaning after stamping would try and be avoided. I'm just guessing though. I'm not really a specialist in manufacturing.... Just a newbie to it :P

Title: Re: My chopper
Post by dasch on 06/19/10 at 11:37:25

Obviously better than me, my friend. ;)

Anyhow, I have a new tank coming. I don't dare to try again.