Like Dave has said the tire issue is just that...an issue. If you really prefer the meatier tire than I would suggest just sending your rear wheel to Buchanans and having them do it. That is the company that RYCA gets their 18" hoop and spokes from. For an extra 100 dollars you can choose whatever width blank hoop you want and they build the same wheel that RYCA will build. And they're also in Cali about 15 miles from RYCA so shipping would be identical.

I am also about to start a cafe build using a 2002 savage. I plan to do the 3" swing arm stretch and run a 19" rear to match the front. I chose to do the smaller 110/80/19 so I used a 2.75 hoop. Out the door price for me was $430 but I'm driving distance from Buchanans so I didn't have to ship.

Ryca weld on extensions:

http://shop.rycamotors.com/extended_swingarm_weldon.html

This is a bit of a thread hijack.....and I will most likely pull out the last 3-4 posts of this thread after we discuss it a bit...or we can continue it in Rylee's build thread when he makes one.

I am not sure the 3" swing arm extension is a good thing.  The rear tire is already set back a bit too far to look good with the length of the RYCA fuel tank and seat.  Adding another 3" may make it look like those folks who extend the swing arms on their sport bikes and make them into.....drag racers (I don't like that look).  Also it requires the use of a chain/sprocket conversion - and since the Cafe' bike uses longer shocks and the sprockets are a smaller diameter - the chain will rub on the top of the swing arm at the pivot point....and the 3" extension will only make this situation worse (and the rear-set brackets are in the way and have to be notched for a chain conversion).  And.....this extension will shift even more weight onto the front wheel.....and in Cafe' form I believe that there might already be enough weight moved up front.

Yes Dave all good points. I know the 18" rear conversion requires notching the center brace of the swing arm assembly so I was being proactive about a 19" wheel. The 3" swing arm stretch would be a bit much. I can counter that by offsetting the seat an inch or so further back. The ryca cafe kit has you forward and for me at 6' 2 I was not comfortable when I sat on 1 and felt I could stand to be an inch or two back further. Pulling the wheel further away does however change chain travel angles and that is an issue I haven't experienced yet. I'm sure there is a way around it whether it be notches or sprocket size options. It's a road I go down when I get there.

@Dave
That was the plan. I intended to do the seat hoop and back pan a tad further back. Not really sure what tank to run. I've been looking at gs750 tanks with knee cut outs. Any suggestions on a good tank with a traditional cafe look. Preferably with knee cutouts?

Rylee wrote on 09/10/15 at 22:24:09:



I have been watching for a GS450 tank to come along at a reasonable price.....some of them have knee cutouts.  So far the cheapest one I have seen went for $ 200.....they seem to be popular tanks with the eBay bidders.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Suzuki-GS450-New-Original-Fuel-Gas-Tank-GS-450-E-...

If your gonna spend the money on a good tank this website sells repops of a bunch of classic cafe tanks. They are all new and ready to go no rust or damage. Look to spend 400 to 600 bucks but you will find a lot of rare tanks on here that cost as much of not more on ebay for 30+ year old beat down tanks full of rust and dents!

www.airtech-streamlining.com

They are fiberglass tanks though...