hardtail XJ650/or move shock mounts

So just a few questions before i start my chop. How low can you chop the frame before you have to do some other mods.4,5,6inches?The stock shocks are 12.5 and I mocked up a set of struts to 9 1/2 but i was hoping to cut 4-5" lower. and do you have to use a frame jig or just make your cuts and weld 1" OD tubing? last ? should i use 1/4" plate for the drive shaft mount on the 1" OD tubing. thanks everyone for you inspiration.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-2/1 ... 0_4335.jpg

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

check out my thread "crashed" i cut the end off the swingarm at the welded seam as this section retains the shaft, i then used 1/4" bar welded to the top and bottom of the plate and welded these in turn to the mounts fabricated in the frame, i'll try to get some better pics up soon. in terms of a jig, i removed the shaft from the arm then used the arm as a jig ans cut out what i didnot want once the new frame was in place, if you are using axle plates you will need to get 7mm milled out of the fat end of the axle or it will clamp up the break when you put it back together. and so on and so on

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

what do you mean cut 4-5" lower? Like lower it 4-5" lower than it sits with the struts?

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

Sorry i want to lower it at least a total of 4-5 inches. so the stock shocks are 12.5 I want to go at he lowest possible without any mods to the drive shaft.

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

Well i went with a 4 1/2 " drop i did a mock up using 8" on center struts and here is the stance. does anyone see any problems with going 4 1/2" lower on a hardtail? thanks

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-2/1 ... 0_4397.jpg

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

it would be clearer with a pic from the other side, i lowered mine until the shaft was in line and running completely flat, that was my starting point rather than basing it on a measurement below stock. if you are planning on building a rear subframe with the shaft exposed then a level shaft gifes the best line and the least complications

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

here is a pic from the other side.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-2/1 ... 0_4392.jpg

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

That's about how low mine is. Let me recommend lifting it up about an inch from there, and/or relocating your kickstand. Those left hand turns can be a real bastage when the frame is that low. Not to mention with that exhaust, you'll be flattening that bugger out whenever you whack the front brake.

 

Re: hardtail XJ650

I agree with 650 rigid, an extra inch would also make the drive shaft horizontal

 

Ok so if your saying go up a inch then i'll mock up a set of 9" on center struts. doesn't seem like a huge difference with height and a lot of work to hardtail just to lower 3.5 inches has anyone moved there top shock mounts forward? i was thinking about moving mine ahead 2 inches and using 11 or 10inch shocks . If i just drilled the framed and welded a bolt into the hole and move the top shock mount forward this will also lower the bike and still give me a some what comfortable ride.

 

if your just staying with struts its probably not worth it, if you are going to hardtail it properly, fabbing a new rear subframe then it has got to be right first time or its a lot of cutting and re-working if its wrong

 

I saw Crath's post on his hardtail project and thought he went like 6-7 inches with no real problems. I'm going to keep the original swing arm and weld the new frame to it. The exhaust that is there now will be coming off. I just wanted to get it as low as possible without any problems to the frame and driveshaft.

 

That's pretty low. I'm with the others. Raise it an inch or so.

 

Let me caution you about using struts. The rear portion of the XJ's frame is not designed to handle the abuse of eliminating your suspension. I had struts on my bike for a year before I back halved it, and when I inspected the stock frame portions that I had cut out, there were several small cracks that I imagine were only going to get bigger. How long would it have lasted without falling apart? I don't know, And I hope no one here ever has to find out. Strutting a bike is only ever supposed to be a temporary setup to interim doing it the right way, or to test ride it at any given height before committing to a permanent fixture. I would recommend trying several different height struts to help you decide where your break even point is. In hindsight, I wish I would have went an inch higher.

 

Yea, I went about 6 inches lower no problem. I had to notch out the driveshaft housing a little for the ujoints though.

I hit the kick stand mount on left corners all the time. If you arent hitting something on the ground, you aren't low enough.

 

Oooo, you're hardcore. Lol, I'd rather be able to take a left hand turn at something more than 5 mph.