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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Big Johns Project /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1351889290 Message started by Big John on 11/02/12 at 13:48:09 |
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Title: Big Johns Project Post by Big John on 11/02/12 at 13:48:09 https://picasaweb.google.com/101653396993695595304/Savage?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ7J98yB3ouOXA&feat=directlink My 03 Savage project. http://https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hBblqFKmUXQ/UJQuESwfOOI/AAAAAAAAAwo/IOVhrPurSzg/s128/005_edited.jpg |
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Title: Re: The Projects. Post by Digger on 11/02/12 at 19:31:43 77732D232977400 wrote:
OK, I just wet myself a little looking at the center stand. What is the story on that? TIA! |
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Title: Re: The Projects. Post by Cavi Mike on 11/02/12 at 21:18:11 It looks pretty cool - that center stand - but I like being able to put my kick-stand down as I come to a stop so I can hop off my bike quick. I'm one of those guys that shuts off the car, pulls the e-brake and opens the door all at the same time and hops out, foot hitting the ground as the car stops moving. Same with my bikes. Turn off the gas, hit the kill switch, coast in with my foot on the stand and my hand on the keys. Soon as the bike stops...kick-stand down while hopping off turning the bars and pulling the keys. I'm always late to the fire that isn't lit. |
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Title: Re: The Projects. Post by KennyG on 11/02/12 at 21:28:58 You will appreciate the center stand the first time that you have a flat tire along the road. Try removing a wheel using the kick stand out in the middle of no where. |
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Title: Re: The Projects. Post by Digger on 11/03/12 at 19:18:49 133126391D393B35500 wrote:
I'm wondering if the kick stand and the center stand necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. Lookin' at the picture, apparently not...... |
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Title: Re: The Projects. Post by Big John on 11/04/12 at 07:15:50 Glad you like the center stand. I had to do a lot of cutting and welding to get it right. It was cut down from a Honda 450 stand I got from e-bay. Will provide more info later if you want it. Both stands can be used. I have not had to do anything to the side stand. They do not interfere. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/04/12 at 09:45:45 I'm one of those guys that shuts off the car, pulls the e-brake and opens the door all at the same time and hops out, foot hitting the ground as the car stops moving. Same with my bikes. Turn off the gas, hit the kill switch, coast in with my foot on the stand and my hand on the keys. Soon as the bike stops...kick-stand down while hopping off turning the bars and pulling the keys. I'm always late to the fire that isn't lit. Yep, when Im riding with someone, as theyre stopping, my door is open, Im standing up, closing the door as theyre getting it in park. I move quickly, dont like stragglers. I walk at speeds no one stays with, always out in front. I have to walk back & join the group, |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by ZAR on 11/04/12 at 18:47:58 Nice and clean John! |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by irondad01 on 11/07/12 at 14:41:09 Good job, John. I like the nice clean look. Carl |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by misterbbq on 11/08/12 at 06:11:43 yep, looks very streamlined. i'd be tempted to lose the chrome header cover (or paint it matte black). same for the chrome battery box. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by serenity3743 on 11/08/12 at 07:11:49 John, I want to know more about your center-stand. I had asked about this topic a long time ago and no one seemed to think there was room for it. Pics and instructions, please! |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/08/12 at 09:09:46 425443545F58454802060502310 wrote:
Thatr was me, I uhh "stand" corrected. Good lookin job there. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Big John on 11/16/12 at 13:48:24 Here are some detailed pics of the center stand: https://picasaweb.google.com/101653396993695595304/Savage02?authkey=Gv1sRgCImEh4mGqMOYuwE I started with a sheet of 3/16th steel to which I welded "ears" for the shoulder bolt on which the stand pivots. The steel plate bolts to the stock structure that used to mount the charcoal canister, but extends far enough forward to reach the engine cradle part of the frame. Since the structure to support the charcoal canister is lightweight, at the points where the frame contacts the plate, I made 2 steel pads to assure solid contact. The bulk of the weight of the bike rests on these 2 pads. The stand itself is from a Honda 450 which was way too tall for this application. I cut it down to its current height, which is about 7 1/2 inches. Also, at first the stand pivoted too far forward when it was down. This made it very hard to push off the stand. I added steel shims between the stand and the mounting plate until the stand pivoted slightly over center, not way over center. The return spring is a return spring from a heavy duty truck brake shoe return spring assembly, and the spring pivot is on the bolt that holds the muffler mounting strut to the frame. The spring can pivot on this mount. When the stand is up, the ground clearance is about 4 1/2 inches. The pedal for the stand is made from the old buckhorn handlebars. After several tries, the bike in now pretty easy to get up onto the stand. The pedal does most of the heavy lifting. The whole project cost me about $50 in materials including welding supplies. If I counted my time, it would have been a lot more, but what else does an old geezer need his time for? The stand works well so far. I plan to add an 18" back wheel eventually, but I don't think that will require much , if any, modification. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by gerald.hughes on 11/16/12 at 17:22:40 I am with Digger and Serenity. When I saw that center stand, all that I could feel was lust. Now that I know that it can be done, (Lots of people have told me that the bike is too low for a center stand.) I will not be able to rest until I figure out how to get one on my bike. I am not handy with tools and such, so I will have to take the pics and description to someone else to do the work, but knowing that it can be done is half the battle. Thank you so much. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by gerald.hughes on 11/16/12 at 18:31:37 John, just an additional thought, why don't you send the pics to Suzuki, and see if they can produce a unit that can be purchased aftermarket as an accessory. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/17/12 at 03:23:41 Suzuki wont do it, Id bet, ohhh, but those Ryca guys mite,,. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by strang on 11/17/12 at 06:42:20 Really like this bike, kind of retro without shouting. Tail light/backrest setup is very slick. Is that a bigger headlight as well? Also: Note to anyone thinking of fabricating centre stands - I will buy :) |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Gyrobob on 11/17/12 at 06:51:00 5E4147405D5A6B5B6B53414D06340 wrote:
If they start making centerstand kits for Savages, it will cost $500. I'm not saying anything negative about Casey or Ryan, it's just the reality of the costs of fabrication for something like this for lot sizes of five or so, twice a year. The good news would be,... if you could find some way to come up with the moolah, a week later you'd have a lovely centerstand that would work correctly right out of the box. The way they would engineer the kit, it'd probably take 30 minutes to install. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Big John on 11/17/12 at 08:07:18 I have also modified the suspension by lowering the front forks according to Ryca, and added 11 1/2 " shocks to replace the 10 1/2 " stock ones. This lifted the rear of the bike a little. Unfortunately, changes like that can easily affect the design of the center stand, possibly requiring modification. If you have to take the work to a shop, be ready to take it back a few times to make changes needed to get the stand right. There is a lot of trial and error involved. I don't know of any other way to get it right than by trial and error. I used half a spool of welding wire and a couple of cutting wheels on my angle grinder fiddling around with it until I was satisfied. I am pretty happy with it now, particularly as I did not have to weld to the bike frame. It is entirely bolt-on. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Big John on 11/17/12 at 08:24:31 I am glad you guys like my little creation. I was going for a retro look (I grew up riding Brits in the 50s and 60s) without spending a lot of money. I get lots of looks from folks. They aren't sure what it is, and I have been questioned about it several times. They are amazed when I tell them it is an '03. The headlight is from a HD Fatboy, with a diamond lens setup. The tail light is LED from a Chinese e-bay vendor. I hate turn lights on stalks, so replaced those with smaller ones on the back. They are built into the mirror arms on the front. I will probably put an 18" rear tire on it when I need to replace the current tire. The fat rear tire does not look right on this bike, IMHO. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Dave on 11/09/14 at 04:02:09 I added this build to the Bike Build Stickey......it was buried in the old RSD posts and a lot of folks may not have seen it. I like the look, it takes some of cruiser look away from the bike and makes it look like an older style bike. The larger headlight is a nice touch, and might be a good solution for all those looking for a better headlight with minimal modifications for the mount. The handlebars also look good on the bike. Dave |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Kris01 on 05/05/15 at 18:17:30 Great idea but that means Suzuki has to put more money into their bottom of the barrel, lowest priced cruiser. Ain't gonna happen! Your best bet is to con, uhhh, persuade a custom builder to produce them for us. |
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Title: Re: Big Johns Project Post by Art Webb on 05/05/15 at 19:57:51 447A716C616C61030 wrote:
If they start making centerstand kits for Savages, it will cost $500. I'm not saying anything negative about Casey or Ryan, it's just the reality of the costs of fabrication for something like this for lot sizes of five or so, twice a year. The good news would be,... if you could find some way to come up with the moolah, a week later you'd have a lovely centerstand that would work correctly right out of the box. The way they would engineer the kit, it'd probably take 30 minutes to install.[/quote] There was a guy on Honda Rebel forum who made them in his home workshop for less than $100 for the Rebel Nobody bought them Most people today have no appreciation for center stands, they all have AAA bike towing as a guy who remembers when a tow truck wouldn't touch a bike, I wish one was available unfortunately, I don't weld, and don't cut that well |
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