Such sad news....

So do you have a frame picked out?
Steve

Three things I see that concern me that I would change.
1) that weld looks like #$%&.
2) the wall thickness of the tubing is really thin.
3) a gusset is needed on that joint.


.,

Nebr_Rex wrote:

Three things I see that concern me that I would change.
1) that weld looks like #$%&.

The weld is fine- it's bonded so well that the station pipe is actually taking a chunk out of the backbone.

2) the wall thickness of the tubing is really thin.

Agreed- already discussed this with them.
3) a gusset is needed on that joint.
It's a good idea in theory- but the reality is, that area would be difficult. The angle ~155*




.,

A bit of Gaffer tape and youll be fine.

It wouldn't have left my bench like that but that's not the problem. From time to time we would have to put one of our parts in a vise and try to break the welds. This one passed. The material failed. With a little beefing up it might be good to go as long as the metal is sound.
Steve

KzChop82 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

Three things I see that concern me that I would change.
1) that weld looks like #$%&.

The weld is fine- it's bonded so well that the station pipe is actually taking a chunk out of the backbone.

2) the wall thickness of the tubing is really thin.

Agreed- already discussed this with them.
3) a gusset is needed on that joint.
It's a good idea in theory- but the reality is, that area would be difficult. The angle ~155*






.,

Nonsense, no amount of engineering or fabrication is to difficult when your neck is on the line.


.

That glob of weld is from pulling away at the end of the weld. Poor form. It should have been reversed at the end.
Steve

Nebr_Rex wrote:

KzChop82 wrote:

Nebr_Rex wrote:

Three things I see that concern me that I would change.
1) that weld looks like #$%&.

The weld is fine- it's bonded so well that the station pipe is actually taking a chunk out of the backbone.

2) the wall thickness of the tubing is really thin.

Agreed- already discussed this with them.
3) a gusset is needed on that joint.
It's a good idea in theory- but the reality is, that area would be difficult. The angle ~155*






.,

Nonsense, no amount of engineering or fabrication is to difficult when your neck is on the line.


.

Let's say you're right...
Pretty sure my frame is still fuc%€ed.

Don't mean to be harsh. I'm just so pissed about it.

I don't blame you. Your life was depending on the quality of that frame. If you don't mind my asking, where did you get it? Foreign or domestic?
Steve

Personally, I think it's asking a lot to have a single downtube / single backbone frame handle the weight and power of a KZ1000 engine. I'm not saying it's a physical impossibility, I'm only suggesting that if it is not designed by an engineer who thoroughly understands the dynamics and forces that will be applied the chance of failure would seem to be pretty high. I notice Kawasaki did not build them that way even though it may have been cheaper and lighter. Ed

When I first saw the bike I thought, that can't work. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to belittle his bike. Judging by the lack of quality of the weld, makes me question the quality of the metal. :dry:
Steve

Domestic, cycle one manufacturing.
They have been great throughout this whole process, by the way.