TOPIC:

Ok, Ok, if we must be practical, then I have another idea from a different Italian builder. Why not go with the MV Agusta style exhaust 4 in 4 out all under the tail. Might be too wide to fit under the KZ tail. I guess you could stack them. Take a header collector and turn it around backwards to use as a tip. That way you won't be roasting Mama's keister directly. Guess you won't see many stock MV exhausts for sale on ebay like you do for say a K7 Gixxer. Don't see many MV's with a slip-on do ya?

The idea crossed my mind a few months ago...until I priced used ones on ebay There's a used Arrow RG3 up for auction right now for the MV....bidding is only at $627 with 3 days left I think to cut costs in the short run, I'll use a stock undertail muffler. As far as fitting under the stock KZ tail, I am thinking I may need to lay up a glass replica tail that is a little wider to fit what I want. Great idea though testarossa, keep 'em comming!

i think maybe beasley or airtech sells wider longer tailsections for dragracing maybe a cheaper easier way to go.

Thanks Timebomb, I'll look into that. It would certainly save me time, and potentialy be cheaper than fabbing my own...but mostly faster than prototyping my own one off part.

I dropped off my cylinder, head and valve cover at J&P's this afternoon. I apologise to everyone hoping to know their exact process, but when I asked exactly how they made my cases look so awesome, they just smiled and said that alot of the local shops would love to know their "3 or 4 step process" and that is was proprietary. We'll see though, I still have some time to pester it out of them

Now, on for some good news!
I drove the 60 miles to Long Beach and visited a salvage shop there that had a Speed Triple SSSA. After some hagling and rooting around for the rear caliper that had dissapeared (didn't find it) I walked out with this beautiful hunk of aluminum and steel -

It's so pretty!

The top view (as if no one's ever seen one of these)

Single sided swingarm....Droooooooooooooool!

Larry and I have spoke on this concept numerous times.... Would love to do one... Definitely keep a project posting going on your progress...


I just got wood... ...

The profile. I was suprised at how clean this swingarm was for the price. Unfortunately, it is not entirely complete - I still need to source or make the side bushings for the swingarm pivot and get a rear caliper. But for 230 bones, I was satisfied I didn't get ripped off

Good stuff. Gonna be interesting.

OMR, I plan to do just that Now that I've put up some pics, lets get to some numbers!
The '08 Triumph swingarm measurements are as follows -
Pivot centerline to axle centerline = 19 13/16"
(compared to 19 5/8" as measured on stock swinger, still mounted on frame)
Triumph swingarm width at pivot = 11 3/16"
Swingarm axle width inside flange heads = 13 1/4"
Weight (as measured on my absolutely precise bathroom scale) = 34.5 lbs

I was surprised at the heft of this part, but I have to keep in mind that most of the rear wheel components are incorporated into the swinger instead of the wheel. Besides, I'm not doing this for the weight savings!

Single sided will be totally cool! Thanks for sharing and please keep us updated. I'm not familiar with a single sided swingarm at all, so even the pictures you posted are very interesting. This will be an awesome build to watch. Keep up the good work!

I can promise you all that this is as exciting for me as it will be for you. I can just about guarantee some mistakes and setbacks, but thats what projects are all about!

I do have a question about posting though, if someone thats been here longer can enlightne me: Should I keep this build entirely in my projects post, or should I break it up: i.e. make a post in the chassis forum for the frame jig and modifications, or in the engine forum for the engine build....Thanks for your support my friends. With your help I plan to make one sweeeeeet little scoot!

Adam,
Congrats on the swinger. That is one serious aluminum casting. Did you read the Tony Foale article that I forwarded to you? A SSSa basically cuts off one side of the triangle, so the other two sides need to be beefy.

I have the same question about the project thread. My project thread has already become slow to load due to all of the pictures. I was planning on seperating out all of the individual projects by heading and then linking my project thread to the sub-threads as an option. Hopefully the more experienced members or mods will weigh in on this.

Thank you Josh, and I just read the Foal artical. Somehow I missed in went I went through it the first time. I really liked that one though, as it speakes to me in language I understand: compression, tension, torsion and the geometry to resist those forces. I almost started to think about building a rig to check the torsional rigidity of my frame before and after mods, but I think just one more bite than I want to take right now. I have ENOUGH on my plate for the time being! Now, I suppose its time to get started on the frame jig. Josh, did you want that frame weight with or without the swingarm?

Without, if you please. Sometime when you have to kill about six hours, check out this website. www.tonyfoale.com/ Loads of good info here. I would like to get a copy of his chassis book, but he wants 69 euros or about $95. It's probably worth it, but I'll have a hard time convincing myself to part with a Benjamin for it.

That is an expensive book at $86 (Amazon), but that guy has some good ideas and I bet there is valuable information in it. I wonder if the local library has it?... and

On with the show! Here are the base materials for my frame jig
I have (2) pieces of 2"x3"x6.5' rectangualr tubing. (4) peices of 1.5"x1.5"x18" square tubing. (3) peices of 2"x4"x12" rectangular tubing and (1) 2"x4"x18". All tubing is .120 wall mild steel tubing. I will need some more material for fixtures, but I'll get that later.

Now that I have something to modify my frame for (SSSA ) I thought I'd get started on the jig while my engine parts are out being matched to my cases

The 1.5x1.5" tubing is the transverse support for the main 2"x3" longitudinal jig base. Of the 4 transverse braces, the outside two will be located 5" from the end of the main rails. This will place them close to the wheel axle supports without being in the way. The other two will be located under the swingarm pivot and the engine cradle. Now, I need the fixtures (made of the 2"x4" tubing) to be tight between the main longitudinals for accuracy, but slide in easy without a beating by Uncle Ned (my sledge hammer)so I made a .030" shim by using 6 sheets of printer paper. I also clamped one of the other 1.5"x1.5" tubes to the top side of the longitudinals. This will act as a strong back and help prevent the main rails from rolling off of level when I start welding.

Another view

And a closer look...

Well well well. It just can't go smoothly, can it? I got everything set to weld that first transverse brace on and.....No Argon! That figures. I'll have to get the bottle filled up tomorrow, IF I can find a welding supply shop open on Saturday