Hi everyone.
Okay, I got the beast back to beautiful from 'er wreck.  Lemme tell you what I got, and I what I wanna do.  I'm riding a '96. It's got a K&N filter, a handbuilt shotgun pipe, jets, Dynojet adjustable needle, and lovely custom paint (a Chrysler color...Tangering Pearl Kote.  I think it came on some of the newer Liberties....it's sort of a metallic rust color.) I'm comfortable with the motor as is...it's a little peppy, sounds good, and I am not too worried I'm sending too much power to parts not designed for it.

Now, this sounds nuts, but bear with me.  I scraped up a turn signal.  I hate turn signals and mirrors.  I'm gonna chop em.  It looks like the forks have to come down to get those front sigs off.  Fine.  But I thought, why not slap some different forks on?  I have seen some folks around here with 4" over forks, and their motors look to sit nice and level...it doesn't have the standard 'Jacked Up' look that un-chopped bikes with longer forks have.  

Where are you guys getting these things?  What do they cost?  Do I just order a new set of forks and slap 'em in there with a longer brake line?  If someone could nudge me some rough directions and vendors, I'd be pretty pleased.  I've not seen anything in the tech section, and I searched all last night for articles on it in the search function, and came up pretty dry.  Any help is appreciated.

if you want the front sigs off without taking the tubes off, it can happen.  I just inserted a flat screwdriver and twisted enough space for a wrecking bar.  Twisted enough space to break the mount.

Hutch is right about the Forks by Frank. The Savage already has 35º of rake, and a set of their 4" over forks doesn't look too "jacked up." I really like the extra inch or two of ground clearance. It will also help when I go to put stretched forward controls on later. Here's mine:



In it's current incarnation. Yup, longer tubes and a good long stainless steel brake line will pretty much do it... well, you do have to make a longer spring spacer to go on top of the fork springs. You might get Frank's to include that item on special request. And if you want the tall risers/bars you also may have to splice the wiring, and get longer cables. I think Lancer can help with the long cables, but I have a local shop that does them cheap. Last I asked, Frank's was getting about $250 for a set of tubes (that's cheap). But the long SS brake lines aren't cheap ($50?).

That's still a heckuva lot cheaper than the $1500-$1600 Seeger kit with all the kicked out triple trees on funky ball joints, and 12"-18"stretched legs etc... which, according to Frank, are dangerous at that angle/length. I'm likely to take his word for it. He's been making extended fork tubes for just about everyone since the 60s. He will only make 2" over for heavy bikes now, but since the Savage is so light, He'll still make 4" overs for it.

I've done the math on my 4" over legs, and the trail is around 7", with my 1" shortened rear shocks, and it handles very good. Seating is more comfortable too with the leaned back feel on the seat/butt. It ain't no road racer, but VERY comfortable cruising with the right height handlebars.

Happy chopping!

Two hundred and fifty bills plus a brake line and I got me a chopper.  Solid.

Turn signals?  Mirrors?  It's a chopper, dude!  "Chopping" is the name of the game, I thought.

I hate sigs and mirrors.  I don't run em.

I am a licensed inspector in MO...not necessary here to pass inspection.

Thank you all for all the help.

Yonuh Adisi FSO wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:


Sorry for the slow response time, I'm juggling too many things... I think this is a view that would let you see what you want:



Remember to right click and choose "view" to see the picture full  sized.

Also, anyone is welcome to surf the whole folder of images on my web site by going up and down the folder hierarchy. Here:

http://catoosatrading.com/images/

Just please nobody complain about subject matter that is graphic or adult in nature. No real gore or hard-core porn, but just a friendly warning that there are a very few ... "different" pictures amongst my eclectic collection.  

srinath wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:06:



Frame is stock 35º rake. Just 4" over tubes installed. Well... and rear shocks are dropped a bit over an inch. Rides and handles great, with the exception that I weigh 250+ and our badly potholed roads around here cause the suspension to bottom occasionally (rear much worse than front). I'm still considering putting stock, or taller, shocks back on it. I hate it when the suspension bottoms.

However, if you try to use 8" extended tubes without adding rake to the frame, or using something like one of the Seeger kits, you will end up with a trail of more than 8" which is getting too high. With that much trail the bike will handle poorly in anything but a straight line. Take about 40 acres to turn around too...

OK got it. Dont chop the frame, leave the rear shock stock ... man you guys are making it easy.
Cool.
Srinath.

Your pics are in the gallery ???
I need to see and compare, mine is starting to take shape.
Cool.
Srinath.