| Author | Message | ||
     Road_thing |
I showed a couple of earlier pictures of this bike over in Jerry's thread, thought I'd follow up with this morning's progress:     It's an XR600. rt | ||
| No_rice |
hell ya! | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
That is COMPLETELY cool. I always wanted to do that with a CR500. R | ||
| Patches |
looks fun to ride! Very Kool! | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Kind of a super motard, I'm lovin' it. I went the other route with my Suzy "thumper" to the cafe route. Kind of a "rat bike" but its a daily rider. Its been a fun project but I'm gettin' too damn old to kick start these monsters. Bob  | ||
| Road_thing |
I like that one, Bob! Know what you mean about kicking them, too. I originally bought this one to use as an around town chaser, but after having to kickstart it after stalling at a couple of stop lights I decided to go another way. Here's a brief sequence of construction photos: This is what I started with:  First mockup, powered by Miller Light. Bomber and I were playing in the shop and I showed him what I was thinking about. He said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done!" and the Highway 61 Project was born.  New frame rails tacked in place. I used the original rails as a kind of po-boy jig to line the new ones up. I figured I could still go back to stock if it became apparent that this wasn't going to work.  No going back now!  My first effort. Everything lined up all symmetrical on both sides. I forgot about the exhaust pipe...  Nothing a little heat'n'beat engineering can't fix!  Man, this thing is really skinny now!  Still have to make a box for the air filter and plug all the wires back in, but it's about ready for a little shakedown ride. rt | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
do it real dirt tracker style and just get a foam air filter to mount on it. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Well done Tom (Road_thing),and I know first hand what kind of work and time goes into changing a bike around. Good job bud)! | ||
| Road_thing |
Thanks, Bob! 'bolt, that was my original plan, but after I thought about it, I decided that (1) I'd have to clean that air filter every time I ride the bike. I live on a gravel road and the wheel is going to throw all that crap right at the carb mouth, and (2) the weight of the carb would be supported by just the hose clamp that holds it on the intake manifold. (hmm..is it really a "manifold" when it's one carb feeding one cylinder?) Anyway, I figure it needs more support, and an airbox would be a handy place to put a mounting tab. rt | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Tom, I agree with what you said about and airbox for cleanliness and extra support. Below is what I did using a nice K&N filter I had laying around. It does both, clean air, very little maintenance & good support for that "rubber manifold".  | ||
| Road_thing |
Wow, I would never have thought to tie my air cleaner on with clothesline...  Seriously, that's a nice looking setup. rt | ||
| Philip |
Very cool looking setup. I am seeing a lot of cafe type bikes around here lately, even a smallish 2 stroke and a honda 175 twin! | ||
| Reepicheep |
I love steel frames. Break 'em, bend 'em, weld 'em, and ride 'em. | ||
| Road_thing |
OK, I think I'm ready to fire this thing up. Wiring's done, brakes are bled, fresh oil in the motor, and the air filter is resolved. Had to go with a sock, after I shortened the exhaust pipe, I just couldn't make the stock airbox fit in a way that wasn't going to melt it.  Tomorrow morning, before it gets to 100 freaking degrees outside, I'm gonna give it a trial run. If it'll start. rt | ||
| Road_thing |
 Started right up after I removed a huge booger from the float valve. ...note to self: use loctite on taillight mounting bolts next time. rt | ||
| Road_thing |
Update: Swapped out that 17" front rim for a 19" and put a pair of semi-knobs on it. I think the proportions are better with the bigger front hoop, and God knows the extra traction can't hurt.  rt |
