Baby Bobber and public participation

[Goosifer]

Short story long.

A while back over a holiday break, the wife and I had a go at modding her VL250... The task went fairly well, fun was had by all, but we overshot our time estimate and had to get the bike back on the road leaving some ideas unrealised.

Thereafter I bought another one to tinker with to my hearts content, that was over a year ago and still haven't gotten around to doing anything meaningful with it.

I sketched up a few ideas and thought I'd put them out there, see which ones people dislike the least :)

Cry havoc and let the exhaust wrapping commence :p

Original.
http://i.imgur.com/v6cIyQm.jpg

1.
http://i.imgur.com/pIi3W4j.jpg

2.
http://i.imgur.com/06LdJbE.jpg

3.
http://i.imgur.com/t2lQYSN.jpg

4.
http://i.imgur.com/yrYm5ei.jpg

[Big Dog]

None of them are terrible.
The 4th one may be a bit more of an acquired taste than the others.

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[Burnie]

If you must desecrate her, then #4 is the least awful. :no::no:

[Big Dog]

I dunno, if achieved to the standard of the drawing I wouldn't mind a larger cc version of 1 or 3. Both improvements over stock aesthetically, ultimately isn't that the point to this kind of project?

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[flashg]

I like no 1, it'll need rear brakes though, you appear to have removed them in all your design's

[admenk]

Come on, where's the Swedish super long front end, apes and sissy bar? :cool:

[AllanB]

No 73 is a easy(er) build by far. And looks cool. I'd question investing any funds in mono-shocks etc on one of them.

The only problem with no.73 is the bike won't live up to it's looks!

And ditch the exhaust wrap. Fucking exhaust wrap fad.

[avago]

Pics 2,3,4 are good but Pic 1 rocks! IMHO


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[ellipsis]

...all four are cool but #1 and #4 are the coolest...the single shock stuff is going a little far in my books...:niceone:

[skippa1]

Like em all but 1 for sure

[awayatc]

Looking at rear shocks only 1 and 4 look reasonably do able....

Also in NZ you really need mudguards front and rear.

So maybe just leave as is and ride it more...?

[OddDuck]

I quite like 1.

2 and 3 are stylish but as others have said, going monoshock rear is taking on quite a bit.

[Paul in NZ]

Have you ever built a bike like this before?

If not - I would just make minimum changes and concentrate on getting the finish right and tidying up the original design without spending a fortune...

You run the danger of owning a $15,000 250 Virago otherwise.

[Goosifer]

Hey Chaps, thanks for all the responses and suggestions.

Seems #1 is the front runner

Big Dog - More cc's would always be welcome. Aesthetical improvements are the intended side effect of this project, the main point being to get my hands dirty, do more than just the usual superficial touches and learn as much as possible.

Burnie -Yes, desecrate her I must :)

flashg - Who uses their rear brakes?... Seeing as I have no need for rear brakes, I also tossed all brake lights and indicators....drawings not to be taken literally :p

admenk...Even I have my limits.

AllanB - Not looking for easy, but don't want to be pulling my hair out either.
"The only problem with no.73 is the bike won't live up to it's looks! " - Pish!

Avago, ellipsis, skippa1, OddDuck: seems you are in good company

Awayatc- Strangely enough there doesn't seem to be any regulations on motorcycle mudguards (other than width), I'll have to come up with something suitable.

Paul in NZ - I've always worked on my own bikes, but have only done one custom build, which does fit your description .... I'll end up overspending, its pretty much a given but it will not be to that extent ... I'll chalk it up as school fees.

[Goosifer]

There is quite a bit of cautioning against going monoshock, what would the main pitfalls be other than cost?

[Big Dog]

There is quite a bit of cautioning against going monoshock, what would the main pitfalls be other than cost?
Just hazarding a guess but getting a good enough mount / welds on a swing arm and frame (not designed for that paricular setup )to get past the lvv inspector.

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[Big Dog]

In theory at least, a monoshock swing arm needs to be more rigid as it needs to soak up the lateral force normally managed with the independence of dual shocks. This means the swing arms mount to the frame is normally chunkier on a monoshock too.
Both ends of the monoshock now need to be up to 2x the job of either of the dual shocks.

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[OddDuck]

There is quite a bit of cautioning against going monoshock, what would the main pitfalls be other than cost?

It's a pretty major mod, I'd see issues with WOF, possible LVVT cert needed. Pinch of salt with that, that's just a guess, I haven't been there myself yet.

You'd need to have a reasonable understanding of vector diagrams and forces so that you could select the right monoshock and pivot positions. If you're going to try, get Tony Foale's book on Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design, he covers this in some detail. Haven't done it yet myself, I've just read the book.

Also possible to bog down in a hopeless morass of delays, cost blowouts, running around to various places trying to buy things, racing the clock to get there before closing, etc etc... I've been there way too many times. If you take on too much then the project's doomed. Physical energy and drive is limited, it's easy to dream big but sometimes you've got to draw clear lines about how much you take on.

[OddDuck]

In theory at least, a monoshock swing arm needs to be more rigid as it needs to soak up the lateral force normally managed with the independence of dual shocks. This means the swing arms mount to the frame is normally chunkier on a monoshock too.
Both ends of the monoshock now need to be up to 2x the job of either of the dual shocks.

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Sorry Big Dog but I disagree, every shock absorber (single or dual) I've ever seen has used rubber or spherical bushings precisely to avoid lateral loadings through the shock. Swingarms flex in use, that's bad, but shocks jamming up and not sliding would be really bad news.

The only way to stop a swingarm flexing is to make it as torsionally rigid between wheel axle and swingarm axle (and axle mounts) as possible.

[Big Dog]

I'm not a mechanic so I won't argue the lateral loaf aspect but the same total load still needs to pass through half as many mount points.

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[Mike.Gayner]

I like #1 a lot - it's also by far the easiest build.

[Goosifer]

Thanks, excellent points.

Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design has just been ordered :niceone:

Biting off more than you can chew is a sure way to doom a project before its even started, should this build go well, I'll take another look at swingarm setups.

[caspernz]

For my taste, #1 is clean and simple, but #4 also appeals to me in a weird elegant sort of way.

Personally not into spending loads of dosh on what could easily become a bottomless pit, but hey it's not my money.

Learning new stuff is always fun though, so good luck with your project :headbang:

[Drew]

I like no 1, it'll need rear brakes though, you appear to have removed them in all your design's

Double the sprocket as the brake disc.

[Mike.Gayner]

Double the sprocket as the brake disc.

Grease and brakes are best friends.

[Drew]

Grease and brakes are best friends.

Don't lube the chain in place. Have the pads grip further in than where the chain runs. There is precedent on dirt bikes. It's a fucken VL250, it's not gonna eat chain.

[Goosifer]

Double the sprocket as the brake disc.

And there I was thinking you were joking.

http://www.tolle-engineering.se/store/p/sprocket-brakes-203241/sprocket-brake-2-piston,-complete-kit-48-teeth-418906

[Drew]

And there I was thinking you were joking.

http://www.tolle-engineering.se/store/p/sprocket-brakes-203241/sprocket-brake-2-piston,-complete-kit-48-teeth-418906
Nope, it was my plan for the sidecar. Ya need a fairly big sprocket though and we wouldn't have been able to go big enough at the front to get the right final drive ratio.

[Laava]

Double the sprocket as the brake disc.

Holy fuck! Did you work on the Buell design team?

[djsubjective]

i like the red one :niceone:

[Drew]

Holy fuck! Did you work on the Buell design team?

It's been done before, a 250 virago is a good candidate for it.

[Goosifer]

And so it begins.

Rego lapsed, so first order is getting the bike back to standard and ready for inspection...big thanks the Frosty for this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/105993-How-to-get-a-deregistered-bike-on-the-road)

http://i.imgur.com/jh7OVCk.jpg

[Goosifer]

She cleaned up quite nicely.

All the replacement parts needed I had on hand from the previous project. The only thing I didn't replace were the bars, I just adjusted them to no long hit the tank.

Matte black everywhere, it takes forever to clean off...gave up to preserve my sanity.

Top to bottom service and running rather well.

Does anyone have any idea how to clean off those classy paintbrushed whitewalls?

http://i.imgur.com/2kYx49w.jpg

[Big Dog]

Boot polish?

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[caspernz]

[QUOTE=Goosifer;1130986991]

Does anyone have any idea how to clean off those classy paintbrushed whitewalls?

[QUOTE]

To clean, start with a brush with kero. It won't harm the rubber as long as you don't leave it on for ages. Then use your normal soapy stuff to clean up, or if you have to use dishwash liquid...

The other approach is tyre paint to cover the white paint...

[Goosifer]

To clean, start with a brush with kero. It won't harm the rubber as long as you don't leave it on for ages. Then use your normal soapy stuff to clean up, or if you have to use dishwash liquid...

So crazy it just might work :niceone:

[Goosifer]

The first concept of the air filter pods.
For the moment I am planning to keep the original airbox, these will just bolt on either side replacing the current ones

A bit uninspired and boring, but you have to start somewhere

http://i.imgur.com/s8o6wJW.jpg

[Goosifer]

Hit a small snag with paperwork, so I've been killing time while getting it sorted.

More design ideas, some old, some new, but mostly done for a bit of fun.

http://i.imgur.com/oyiRtMA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2xcKzv3.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpGVgT4i0-8

http://i.imgur.com/aUpBipu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/AJhqysL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MZaoprW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gV6UuhS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rwD0Zmn.jpg

[Drew]

Eddy headlight. EDDY HEADLIGHT EDDY HEADLIGHT!!!

[Big Dog]

+1 to Eddie, assuming you buy the theory visibility is about being a perceived threat, that should have your SMIDSY driver run to the hills.
https://youtu.be/86URGgqONvA

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[Tazz]

Eddie. Discussion over. XD