Everyone seems to like drag racing....

But what about us "canyon carvers".

I've seen PLENTY of threads about how to stiffen up a frame for serious power... so I figured that it might be kinda cool to start a different kind of chassis thread.

Let's call it:

"HOW ARE YOU MAKING YOUR BIKE HANDLE AWESOME?!?!"

Mine?

-GSXR 750 standard telescopic fork.
(Chose not to go inverted. The standard early 2000's fork is immensely adjustable, and has better handling than most people realize... better in some respects than an inverted fork in terms of rigidity when mated up to our 30 year old frames! )

-2005 Yamaha R6 rear end with arm and shock, linkages, etc.

-40 spoke Excel 3.5 and 5.5 front and rear wheels.

-GSXR front calipers/rotor assemblies

-R6 rear caliper/rotor

-Posture. I'm keeping the back end somewhat higher.

not building huge power, just a mild 1197.

frame will be gusseted some, but it sounds like i am building a similar combo.

05 636r front end
05 636r swingarm/linkage/shock
05 636r front and rear wheels/brakes

i went with the 636 parts mainly for looks, as i can't tell the difference between a bike that handles well and one that just handles. 8^)

i am hoping for decent ride quality, maybe a little better handling than stock, and most definitely brakes from the current decade.

i've everything, save for the wheels and brake rotors now. those i am planning on having in the next week or so.

the spokes that you are setting up for your bike sound cool. black hoops or bare?

--r

duct tape and bailing wire...oh and a pocket full of pomade and a cheap black comb..thats how I get around them corners...

but really...newer harly rear shocks that are 13.5 to raise the rear up a bit and keep things stiff...inch anc a quarter pvc spacers in the front forks with 20 weight oil seem to make the front end a little more race'ish...oh and dropping the forks about a inch or so in the triples to steepen up the rake and give a little quicker steering...

all in all not quite as drastic as my friend Caff but simple and cheap...

solomrus wrote:

the spokes that you are setting up for your bike sound cool. black hoops or bare?

--r

Aluminum standards, no paint.

I'm thinking the hubs will be painted though....

I'm with you. Spiritedriding down the small two lane roads beats drag racing or even droning along the interstate.
You seem to have attacked the problem more vigorously than I did.

So far:
>new tapered steering head bearing, progressive springs and new fork oil.
>dilled ebc rotors and steel braided lines all around (dual calipers but the original ones!)

Things I'm considering over the life of the project:
>cartridge fork emulators
>excel rims: just a little wider than stock, 2.15 front and 3.00 rear. Should give me more rubber for good contact but not change the ride too much.

Sam

caffcruiser wrote:

But what about us "canyon carvers".

I've seen PLENTY of threads about how to stiffen up a frame for serious power... so I figured that it might be kinda cool to start a different kind of chassis thread.

Let's call it:

"HOW ARE YOU MAKING YOUR BIKE HANDLE AWESOME?!?!"

Mine?

-GSXR 750 standard telescopic fork.
(Chose not to go inverted. The standard early 2000's fork is immensely adjustable, and has better handling than most people realize... better in some respects than an inverted fork in terms of rigidity when mated up to our 30 year old frames! )

-2005 Yamaha R6 rear end with arm and shock, linkages, etc.

-40 spoke Excel 3.5 and 5.5 front and rear wheels.

-GSXR front calipers/rotor assemblies

-R6 rear caliper/rotor

-Posture. I'm keeping the back end somewhat higher.

My carver speaks for it self. rd400 Daytona tz style

Working on adding zrx12 rear end and zx12 front.Lots of gussets.

I might not ever race, but investing in a track day, is a for sure thing in my future. I completely agree with what's been said above, that a squiggly line on a map is far better than a straight line to me anyday. Not for speed, but the work-out involved, and focusing into the next corner.

Freeway on-ramps are a great mini dragstrip, but don't make up for one. Accelerating full throttle while tucking, as you toe-down into another gear is a great feeling. You gotta try it, besides it a good way to measure you and your bike's horsepower.

Backroads rule!!!

Adjusting one's suspension(if applicable) makes a difference as well. Min'e all stock, and adjustable, but I haven't messed with it from where it sits. This, too, is in the works for the future.

Post edited by: CoreyClough, at: 2006/12/09 10:46

solomrus wrote:

not building huge power, just a mild 1197.

frame will be gusseted some, but it sounds like i am building a similar combo.

05 636r front end
05 636r swingarm/linkage/shock
05 636r front and rear wheels/brakes

i went with the 636 parts mainly for looks, as i can't tell the difference between a bike that handles well and one that just handles. 8^)

i am hoping for decent ride quality, maybe a little better handling than stock, and most definitely brakes from the current decade.

i've everything, save for the wheels and brake rotors now. those i am planning on having in the next week or so.

the spokes that you are setting up for your bike sound cool. black hoops or bare?

--r

brakes from current decade,you suck !wheres your sense of adventure?:evil: id say the frame gusseting would be about the same.id try and find a good stiff swingarm about same length as stock if you want to be a canyon carver but be carefull taking rake/trail out of frontend without adding a steering stabilizer.the problem with nebraska and iowa is we dont have anything to compare with a mountain road or the cost highway in california so its pretty hard to outdo a slightly modified stock suspension in a corner,but we do have some really long stretches of nothingness for long blasts thouugh!:evil:

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/09 11:38

Braced frame, and read sig;)
Scott

wireman wrote:

the problem with nebraska and iowa is we dont have anything to compare with a mountain road or the cost highway in california

Well that and your main freeways not having any corners from one side of the state to the other. :woohoo:

caffcruiser wrote:

wireman wrote:

the problem with nebraska and iowa is we dont have anything to compare with a mountain road or the cost highway in california

Well that and your main freeways not having any corners from one side of the state to the other. :woohoo:

ah youve obviously been here before! well we do actually have a couple curves but they all have stop signs on them,between that and the amish folk it is a little complicated!