Big bike frames

[F5 Dave]

. . . Put 20mm spacers in the forks and a 5mm spacer to stiffen the rear spring . . .

Pity that that doesn't stiffen the spring rate, only increases preload. To get it stiffer you need to (practically) increase wire diameter or reduce live coils.

[speedpro]

I've learnt heaps about suspension now that I have something that actually responds in a meaningful way to adjustments. My front forks are a combination of three sets of forks and I actually cut down the preload spacers so I ended up with maybe 5mm preload. The sag is all measured and is within the suggested range. I've fitted cartridge emulators to control compression damping and therefore dive rather than preload the springs to stop dive happening which also stops much else happening. You can get decent 17" rims for not too much money so don't be put off by unsuitable wheels if the rest of the bike/chassis is good.

[Scotty595]

I've learnt heaps about suspension now that I have something that actually responds in a meaningful way to adjustments. My front forks are a combination of three sets of forks and I actually cut down the preload spacers so I ended up with maybe 5mm preload. The sag is all measured and is within the suggested range. I've fitted cartridge emulators to control compression damping and therefore dive rather than preload the springs to stop dive happening which also stops much else happening. You can get decent 17" rims for not too much money so don't be put off by unsuitable wheels if the rest of the bike/chassis is good.

Cool. There is a RS250 frame/bike etc on TM at the moment but it dont have wheels and tank and a bent swingarm. Would it be easy enough to source some new wheels for it (not aprilia as they are $$$) and easy enough to get a good engine to put in?

[F5 Dave]

Buying bits piecemeal is always more expensive. But sometimes you have to. But what about shock & linkages? That could ad up super quick for something exotic(ish).

[speedpro]

What Dave said. Getting axles, spacers, caliper mounts, further alterations etc etc can add up real fast plus the bent swingarm bit is a worry - how is the rest of the frame?? I'd keep looking. It may cost a bit more to get a mostly full rolling chassis but the wheels will fit, the calipers will be in the right place, the discs will mount on the wheels and so on. Just throw tyres and an engine at it and away you go.

[Scotty595]

Yeah thought it might be a bit dodgey. Esp for the price that its got on it atm. Guess i will be best to get a prebuilt fxr or something

[TZ350]

.

If your into 2-strokes the better engines have to be Honda MB100's and Suzuki GP100 and 125's or if your bored with selfharm and really want to feel some pain a TF100 will do the trick. The "SAFE" bet is one of those 150cc 4-stroke things.

.

[Henk]

If you decide to go the safe bet way don't worry too much about getting a pre built one.
The conversion takes almost no time if you have some mechanical apptitude and you can run one pretty much stock to start with. First time out mine had the tail light and headlight removed. Could just as easily have left them alone. The only thing you really need to do to get on track is whack some nylon on it and take the sidestand off. I've only gone as far as I have to make it look pretty initially and to crash proof it as much as possible. Now I'm trying to find a bit of extra performance to make up for my lack of ability, doubt it will help me all that much though. It is fun taking things away to see what happens.

[=cJ=]

If you're interested, I have a CBR250 frame and forks and front and rear wheel floating round doing nothing. I picked it up pretty cheap, so would let it go fairly cheaply too

[Scotty595]

Only thing with this is the price of bloody FXR's etc on TM. Have you seen the price of these? I could get a bucket FXR for WAY less than what the asking price for some on TM. It would be a shame to get a perfectly good bike, rip all the road gear off and go for it. It would be great and i would have my bucket but its not really worth paying the extra for all the "road bits" when your not going to use them

[Scotty595]

If you're interested, I have a CBR250 frame and forks and front and rear wheel floating round doing nothing. I picked it up pretty cheap, so would let it go fairly cheaply too

May possibly be good for me or my wife (depending if i find another one) - she likes the shorter bikes

[Henk]

You're right, the FXRs on tardme are way over priced. Crashed / deregistered ones turn up every now and then, I got seriously lucky with mine and got it hell cheap. It's the bucket brigade that are holding the prices up, and although they are advertised for 2k and up they aren't regulary selling for that, at some stage the hopeful vendors are going to have to wake up.

[Scotty595]

You're right, the FXRs on tardme are way over priced. Crashed / deregistered ones turn up every now and then, I got seriously lucky with mine and got it hell cheap. It's the bucket brigade that are holding the prices up, and although they are advertised for 2k and up they aren't regulary selling for that, at some stage the hopeful vendors are going to have to wake up.

Totally agree. I saw one today advertised for $4300! lol thats a bit of a joke. Its more than what they bloody sold for new. I believe they were about $3200 new

I will have to see if I can find a crashed one, otherwise I may have found a already sorted bucket for an ok price, but still not much cheapeer than the TM ones

[Yow Ling]

Cheap FXRs are out there , I have bought 10 or 11 varying in price from 600 to 1200, last week i posted a link to one in wellington with a buy now of 900, it has since been pulled but they are out there, once they are buckets there is no going back so there is a used bucket market as well. A mate in welly bought one from a car wrecker for 200 a month or so ago. You need to be onto it have your money sorted and be ready to pounce !!

[Henk]

Depending on how sorted it is it might be about the same as buying a cheap one and doing it yourself. To get back what I have put into my bike (you've seen it, nothing flash) I would have to get about 2 to 2.5 k for it. And that's taking into account the fact that I paid $500 for the bike to start with. Most expensive thing on mine is the GSXR 250 wheels. Budget on about 300 without disks and 450 by the time you have them on. Assuming you can find a set. Mind most of what I have spent (including the wheels) is just to make it look like a proper little racebike. Doesn't go that much better than a stock one.