ABxv535 Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Hi was thinking of removing rear shocks and replace them with metal bars to make my bike a hardtail, seen some pics online of it done... has anyone done this and did u encounter any problems ? Cheers
Moderator Airhead Posted January 3, 2011 Moderator Posted January 3, 2011 why would you want to go out of your way downgrade your bike?
Joeschop Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I have a hardtail chop - it's a bit bouncy but not too bad. Have seen quite a few Harleys done this way, I'd say just make sure you use decent quality materials. might be worth asking on the Britchopper forum as i'm sure someone on there will have run a bike on struts.
Moderator Airhead Posted January 3, 2011 Moderator Posted January 3, 2011 yeah I can understand a custom built pukka hardtail chopper, what I cant understand is changing what is a bike built with suspension to hardtail. My first bike was a hardtail, a 50cc french built mobylette, couldnt believe my luck when i found a frame with a swing arm for it
ABxv535 Posted January 3, 2011 Author Posted January 3, 2011 i want to drop the mud guard down closer to the wheel that's the only way i can think of doing this without having problems with tyre rubbing inside the mud guard with the shock movement by getting shorter shocks, I've removed number plate and rear light from rear mud guard(number plate fitted on sissy bar with custom rear light) and had mud guard smoothed and resprayed but due to shocks there's a big gap between mud guard and tyre that doesn't look right so i was thinking to do something like this but without the rear light on the mud guard , this was the best pic i could find to try to explain what i'm trying to do...
ABxv535 Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 Decided to take your advice and scraped the strut idea and bought some smaller shocks for it (still waiting delivery, should arrive this week) changed from 320mm standard to 255mm hope it will be enough to achieve the look i want... had my mudguards and sides covers sprayed in panther metallic black, just waiting now for my petrol tank to be sprayed ...and new rear tail/brake light...
Moderator Airhead Posted February 13, 2011 Moderator Posted February 13, 2011 But youve put the tyre closer to the mudguard by 65mm in one fell swoop, so dont you think this will cause tyre / guard collision problems
ABxv535 Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 No we tested this and even with two people on it ( i'm 80kg and my mate with 70kg) with the shock on the harder setting( i never ride with pilion anyway ...) the tyre doesn't rub the mudguard and there's a gap to allow shock travel still, that's the reason i wanted shorter shock there's a big gap between the mudguard and the tire with the 320mm shocks and makes the bike look odd! i did look at different sizes before buying the 255mm shock.
Moderator Airhead Posted February 13, 2011 Moderator Posted February 13, 2011 I'm a bit confused as to how you did this testig having said you are still awaiting delivery of the shorter shocks
ABxv535 Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 with the shocks off my mates bike... ,so after testing it worked i bought some off ebay and I'm now waiting on delivery ...
ABxv535 Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 don't know if this link is going to work but if you look at the garage my first pic of my bike , can you see the gap i've got between the tyre and the mudguard... and now with the rear light removed it just looks very odd all that gap... http://www.yamahaclub.com/forums/garage/vehicle/187-yamaha-xv535/page__tab__images
ABxv535 Posted February 17, 2011 Author Posted February 17, 2011 New shocks now fitted and still have a 80mm gap between tyre and mudguard , even with me 80kg and my mate that is 90kg took her for a test ride there's no rubbing and no problems...and looks much better
ABxv535 Posted February 20, 2011 Author Posted February 20, 2011 petrol tank will be sprayed this week... and forward controls will be next on the list...
realrayzor Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 I like the look of the short shock. If you put the same seat and rear bumper as the bike in the pic it would make it a sweet looking ride. Razor
realrayzor Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 I wish Found it on the big wide web. XV535 with a street fighter look.
ABxv535 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Posted February 22, 2011 I do like that seat...Very nice... guess that would be a custom made seat??
Paulwhite Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 hmmm... if it was me id whip off the pillion seat and sissy bar (since you dont use it anyway) and stick a small bobber seat on there, without the springs and maybe a little exhaust wrap ......but thats just me lol looking good though the massive gap between fender and tire seems to be a common feature in the xv and xvs range dunno why .
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