TOPIC:

Hello to all. This is my first street bike first of all. I've been ridin since i was 8 on my first '79 xr 80. before that it was an ATC 70. now ive got 9 bikes in the garage but have never been too interested in ridin on the street. 2 weeks ago was talkin to my buddy Matt, he just got done buldin a 79 ironhead rigid. He starts talkin about a ride called the Stampede. Sponsored by the biker mag called The Horse. Anyways the stampede is a 3000 mile ride from Barstow CA to somewhere in NC. Bike has to be a rigid. I think 48 hours is the time limit. thats an average of 62.5 mph for 48 hours in a row. I thought hmmm this sounds like a challenge, plus Matt needs a compadre to ride with. So, I've got roughly 1000 miles from my home to Barstow, the 3000 mile race and 2000 to get back home. In One week. Last year I took the dirt bikes to Moab and did 300 miles in on week. most of the rigid guys are obviously big v-twin guys- but I like reliable. Always liked the KZ's ever since I saw Mad Max for the first time. the next day I found an 82 750 LTD for $200 w/ title. Brought her home and after a trip to junk yard and another 100 for points, condenser, rotor and cover I got her runnin. began by pulling the bike apart and detrmining how low to drop the frame. bought some pipe and ordererd new axle plates for a start on the project. my whole goal is to build the entire bike for under $1500 and have it as stripped down as possible- no turn signals, no front fender, etc

heres a pic with the removals started

cut the frame yesterday so now im committed. i sectioned out a small piece of the frame to take to the metal fab shop to get the pipe to match. built some plywood struts to locate the axle at the correct vertical location. I'm gonna stretch the wheelbase by 6" so ill leave the swingarm on and use it to align the new axle plates so the sprockets stay in line. after the lower frame rails are done and the axle placement is secure Ill chop off the upper subframe and remove the swingarm. the struts are 3-1/2" shorter than the stock shocks so ive lowered the bike by 3-1/2" in the rear. the front is lowered by just sliding the forks up the triple trees. Found an easy solution to the rear brake master cylinder by modifying the passenger foot peg assy

M/C assy. This bike aint gonna win any shows!

here's what i did to align the rear axle plates im kinda teachin myself here on this one. sure would be nice to have a frame jig.

got the pipe for the rear triangle and started bending-- a little bit at a time to make sure i didnt go to far-- this would have gone much faster with a steel table and a jig but finally got it. cutting was all done with just my grinder and cutoff wheels-- promised my wife this project wouldn't involve any new tools. right now i'm using a 110v flux core wire feed-- just to tack the parts together i'll have everything tigged later

got the legs welded on and put the motor back in so I can fab the new motor mounts all the trash on the vertical part of the frame is gonna be gone. couldn't resist puttin the tank and wheel on to see what she'll look like.

I'll be watching your progress and am interseted in seeing how it turns out. I didn't have a frame jig either, but a lot of measuring and luck- happened to get it strait. At least you didn't use brooms sticks to figure out your look

Sounds like the movie Gumball Rally. Good luck on the trip. Maybe you could get some paint they use on the stealth bomber so u can avoid radar at high speeds. lol.

torkisgood wrote:

... 3000 miles... 48 hours... rigid....

Imho will be pushing hard to cover 3000 miles in 6 days at 500 miles per day, with likely 10-12 hours in saddle each day at constant interstate speeds, less stops for fuel and maintenance.

Would consider that "only" 1000 miles in 24 hours is a significant feat, even on a Goldwing.

While the bike itself may be up to the task, imho the human body parts are gonna need a whopping supply of pain-killers and speed (besides the M-B powder and sheepskin seatcover).

Google "Iron Butt Rally" for additional insight.

I'll take "Root Canal" for $200, Alex.

Holly crapola, "3000 miles in 6 days at 500 miles per day"... Ouch...

Try that on a sport bike! Never mind the monkey butt (I did like that, made me laugh) but the ole back would be toast on a sport bike with these hours/days in the saddle.

BTW, you have any more exploded images or drawings depicting the stretching of the frame... Some thing as to which metals (thicknesses, gauge of steel used etc...) you used, bracings, etc...

OMR