Road Scholars

[motorhedfred]

Thanks for the welcoming IM Kris.

I mainly joined because I'm interested in starting with a dual-sport or supermotard because of the street legality and buiding a road version on the cheap.

I've thought for some time that all the advancements in off-road motorcycles needed to be exploited for road bikes.

I'm not really a thumper fan per say, but with quiet exhaust, I can live with a one lunger*.

My main goal is going to be to find out which sport bike front forks and alloy wheels are the easiest to adapt.

I haven't decided on any particular bike and I'm open to suggestions.

One thing I've noticed on the newer enduros and super motards is that the rear subframes BOLT ON !! This is good news to me as I might go standard, streetfighter or cafe racer style with a topmount type tank so making a bolt-on frame to carry a seat, tank and tail would be a cinch. I have an old GS450 Suzuki tank that looks all the cafe style.

I'm hoping to build a unique, fuel efficient, relatively fast road bike for as little as possible. With some advice, some lightweight parts and lots of "learning experience". I think it can be done.

* maybe I should start with an Aprilia....too bad they don't come cheap.

MHF

[chandler]

i can tell you a ninja650r rear wheel is a bitch to fit. dont go that route. its doable and now will be done in a week but its still a bitch.

[motorhedfred]

Thanks for the tip.

[motorhedfred]

so, is everyone using the expensive aftermarket wheels, or supermotard spokers or what ?

[ricracer16]

Good question,

What is everyone doing?

I would think the easiest and cheapest would be the best but weight is horse power, and considering there isn't much horse power in those little engines anyway.

It may just depend on what you are doing with the bike. I for one would just be doing trackdays so making it competive isn't a goal. I just want something that I can learn and have tons of fun going into and out of corners. I'm 36 yrs old now and I think my chances at MotoGP are gone and I after accept that....LOL...

But really I just want a bike that I can convert and have a crap load of fun at trackdays. Something that I can use every gear at full RPM through every corner and not worry to much about launching myself into the upper atmosphere.

What are people using for the rear suspension? Can you just swap out the rear spring and shock for anything or can you use the same set up?

[chandler]

im using a 07 zx6r front end. with two big ole nice radial calipers. and the zx10 styled wheel. in the back im using an 06 ninja 650r wheel cus it matches the front and is 4.5 inches. and i very healvily macined cush drive welded direct to the rim.

for the rear shock. i have no idea. i think im going to make dogbones to get it to the length then find my leverage ratio and get a spring made by racetech.

[motorhedfred]

And you're building from a 2004 honda 450 ? What did you have to do to get the front forks mated up ?

[chandler]

turn the stem, thats all

[motorhedfred]

Chandler,

Did you turn the stem for smaller ID head bearings ? The bike the forks are designed for has got to be heavier, so are you planning on having springs custom wound, or adapting spring from something else ?

Also, since you chose and stuck with the ninja 650r rear wheel, I assume it must look good and/or otherwise fit well.

Thanks,
MHF

[chandler]

the stem was hourglass shaped and 30 in the middle. so i turned it to 30 which is the crf bearing size. the forks are used for a heavier bike by 100 pounds but i weigh 100 pounds more than the default rider of a 636. i used the rear wheel cus it matches the front and is 4.5 inches.

[chandler]

and the 650r is not a bolt in. i spent 250 bucks on machining plus the wheel. but anyways the bike is for sale so it doesnt matter now. im trying to get 2100 for it but its not going to well.

[motorhedfred]

Has anyone tried adapting CBR600 wheels ? The mid to late 90s CBR600 wheels are relatively inexpensive. There's a guy on 4strokes.com that adapts them to XR600 and XR650L supermotard bikes with good success. Here's a link to some of that info.

http://www.4strokes.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25456

A CFR450 with these wheels in orange and painted up to look like the Repsol GP bike would look sweet on the street.

MHF