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Message started by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:04:10

Title: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:04:10

Got some time in the shop today to work on the thumper and I fabbed up the new seat pan and speed hump rear. Also relocated the tag and tucked it into the hardtail better.

All I'm waiting on is the leather guy to finish the seat and back pad and she's finished.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:05:39

Speed hump welded in

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:06:48

Finished product (minus seat/back pad)

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:07:33

Rear shot

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/03/15 at 18:12:06

I ordered a set of bullet led lights for the rear. Going to fab up some extensions off the speed hump to the upper tube of the hardtail and mount the lights on both sides. They have turn signal functions as well so I can reinstall turn signals in the rear at least.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Dave on 06/04/15 at 02:46:26

If you posted all your threads in a single "build" thread.....we could include it in the "Bike Builds" sticky. When you post a single thread for each change it is impossible to include them in that thread.....Just Sayin'. ;)

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by verslagen1 on 06/04/15 at 07:16:17

and if you want, we can splice them together for you.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Bubba on 06/04/15 at 10:07:55

Is that a tractor tire?

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/04/15 at 10:28:35

@bubba
Yes that's a tractor tire

@dave/verslagen1
Here the build thread link
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1431568873

Sorry about that I keep forgetting that's there :-[

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by old_rider on 06/04/15 at 11:01:13

625542424111101813200 wrote:

Is that a tractor tire?

Guess i'm not the only one that picked up on that...

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/04/15 at 18:00:08

I posted a thread about it a while back. Saw a Japanese built bobber in a magazine that had matching front and rear 15" wheels with this tire and it looked insane. Goodyear makes a similar tire motorcycle specific but it comes in 16" only. Took me forever to find out what tire it was. Made by firestone and actually pretty beefy.

I guess if running a car tire is considered the "dark side" Ive gone beyond that!

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by old_rider on 06/04/15 at 18:37:10

Well, since its an agricultural tire and they plant "green things", perhaps you have gone to the "green side"? :-/ ::) ;D

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/04/15 at 19:33:52

The tire was originally on a 1937-1941 John Deere tractor front. Firestone did a repop for restoration projects and made the tire. It's DOT rated has a load rating way more than the bike even comes close to and a speed rating of up to 100mph though I doubt any late 30s John Deere tractor could go that fast.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Dave on 06/05/15 at 03:04:30

Before you go to the trouble of mounting those LED turn signals, take them out in the sunshine and hook them up to a battery, and then get back 50-100 feet and see if they are "bright".....a barely visible red glow will not get anybody's attention when they are busy texting or daydreaming. It needs to be a good visible light to be effective.

There are some really good LED turns signals.....most of the low cost Chinese made LED turn signals just aren't bright enough to do the job in the daylight/sunshine. I have seen a lot of sport bikes around here with the stock turn signals removed....and some pretty poor LED tail lights installed - and it the daytime they are just about worthless.

Stay safe!

(Is my computer the only one that has a number of the photos sideways?)

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/05/15 at 07:55:20

@Dave

I planned on testing them first. At $20 I won't be upset if they aren't bright enough for use. I've been rear ended before so I'm well aware of the consequences of dim lights in the rear. It's the reason I have that big LED trailer light for a tail/brake light and not the trendy bullet light or old ford model tail light.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Dave on 06/05/15 at 09:28:00

Good for you Rylee. Good lights, turns signals and brake lights are very important.

I see a lot of motorcycles out and about that have made light changes that make them very vulnerable - if the car doesn't know you are slowing down or turning it can get ugly really quickly.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/15 at 11:34:02

I totally dig that rear tire.
What's the speed rating?
I know it's a strong tire, for weight bearing, but I don't have a clue what kinda speed it's good for.
Otta make for some interesting lines on the back.
Was it hard to balance?

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by 01suzsavage on 06/05/15 at 12:51:52

He said earlier in the thread its rated for 100mph [ch128077]

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/15 at 14:02:02

That's a nifty answer to
What tire do I want?

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by verslagen1 on 06/05/15 at 14:58:28

Dad had one of those on his tractor, great directional control... in mud. ;D

shouldn't hydro plane ever.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/15 at 16:07:45

Probably not a great idea for this...

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=motocross+across+water&FORM=VIRE11#view=detail&mid=86A8C7463C75A70B5B7C86A8C7463C75A70B5B7C

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/05/15 at 19:42:41

@Dave
Lights came today. They are super small housing wise but man are they bright. Hooked them up to a battery and set them on a shop roller seat which is about the height they'll be mounted at and I walked a block and a half away and my buddy had them on running light and touched the brake wire and I had no issues seeing them looking into the sun! Can't wait to get them on the bike. Gonna make a few changes to the speed hump first. The back plate needs to be taller. And once that's done I can do more of a fender wrap on it because I will clear the tire.

@Justin
They were super easy to mount. We have a tire shop we use for all our tire work and dude said it was one of the easiest he's done. Only has 3 stick on weights to balance and I think that was more of a tire not perfectly true issue than anything.

@verslagen
It tracks really well. Haven't been in any rain yet but I'm sure hydro plaining won't be an issue at all.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/05/15 at 19:45:37

@Justin
The tire was $165 off eBay which is the going rate for most firestone deluxe style tires from anyone. I have a 19-4.00 firestone for the front that I'm gonna do soon so I can have that classic big tire look front and rear now that the bike has gone that direction with the build.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/15 at 19:51:12

Well, get some miles on the thing. You may have started a movement.
If it handles and does the miles to justify the money.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Dave on 06/06/15 at 04:01:51

One of the issues with straight line treads is "tramming"....where the tire wants to follow pavement grooves or joints. That is one reason that the front tires on motorcycles have the wiggly center groove and have "steered" away from the ribbed front tire.

You may also get some tread squirm in corners....where the tread rolls around a little bit under side loads.

It will take some miles before we know how these work......you are "plowing new ground" with these tires on a motorcycle! ;D

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by KennyG on 06/06/15 at 07:23:41

Dave,

I remember my 1956 Triumph had a ribbed Dunlop front tire and it was pregnant dog on wet roads, old bridges with metal roadways, and any kind of rain grooves.

I promptly changed tires on the Triumph to Pirelli or Avon, cannot quite remember......LOL

No animals were hurt in producing this reply......LOL

Kenny G

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/06/15 at 16:41:28

@Dave
I cross a bridge over the port of LA to and from work everyday that has the metal grate center section for about a 1/4 mile. Tire does really well to be honest. I think the tread sections of the rib are wide enough it doesn't grab the grooves.

I'm not starting a trend unfortunately because Japan has been using variations of this tire for years now on bobber builds.

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Dave on 06/07/15 at 03:07:59

Those ribs are far wider than the ones that used to be on motorcycle tires, so they may well be far more stable and too stiff to squirm around.

Funny that Japan would pioneer the use of a "John Deere" tire on a motorcycle! ;D

Title: Re: New seat/fender configuration
Post by Rylee on 06/08/15 at 08:16:32

I have 3 center ribs that measure just over an inch wide on mine.

@Dave
I'm not sure if they pioneered it but that seems to be where I'm seeing it most. I'm assuming it's from the nearly unavailable options of vintage tires for a 15" rear wheel.