RE: Yamaha XV950: PH2 Ridden
Discussion
Rosscow said:
Rosscow said:
Indeed!
Alas mine is a later '95 version, with dual rear shocks. However a little bit of imagination still conjures up some interesting machines:
Out of interest, if I wanted to do a project like this, who would I speak to when it comes to things like moving shock mounting points or reducing fork length?Alas mine is a later '95 version, with dual rear shocks. However a little bit of imagination still conjures up some interesting machines:
We know the blokes at Polar Cycles & I'll be getting them to weld the frame on my Triumph when I finally build it. It's gonna be a standard frame, but various bits are broke.
srob said:
You'd want to go to a fairly handy fabrication company, unless you fancy having a go yourself.
Moving something like a damper mount wouldn't be that big a deal if you've prepped it yourself (ie stripped down the area), know what you want and have some half decent dimensions.
Reducing fork length; do you mean literally putting different length forks in or altering the angle of the headstock to give a sharper rake? If the former, I guess suspension people but if the latter, it'd be a far bigger job involving making jigs and stuff I suspect.
Well, this is from the owners blog:Moving something like a damper mount wouldn't be that big a deal if you've prepped it yourself (ie stripped down the area), know what you want and have some half decent dimensions.
Reducing fork length; do you mean literally putting different length forks in or altering the angle of the headstock to give a sharper rake? If the former, I guess suspension people but if the latter, it'd be a far bigger job involving making jigs and stuff I suspect.
pipeburn said:
Started by cutting off the rear end and the upper suspension mounts and relocating them 50mm higher to lower the rear. Lowered the fork also 50mm. The forks on these things are ridiculously long, but once lowered it gave it a lot less of a "nose bleed" stance.
The welding/cutting/general fabbing bit isn't so hard - it's totally possible to do yourself (although if you're a bit clumsy like me, it's best to have someone more competent along for the ride when you do) but getting it _right_ is a different thing entirely.
It's one thing to piss about in photoshop until you like the way it looks, then go weld something up that looks like it - but it's totally different to get something that rides properly afterwards. If you're just planning on putting it in the garage and looking at how pretty it is, maybe taking it out for a gentle cruise on sunny weekends, then it probably doesn't matter so much, but setting up suspension geometry properly is REALLY hard. If you want to press on once the thing's built, you'll want to speak to a professional...
I can't recommend one I'm afraid, but I can tell you horror stories of a few mates of mine who thought they could "improve" their bikes by lowering them / altering the stance, and ended up with something that basically wouldn't corner and bucked like a mule under braking because they didn't do it right.
It's one thing to piss about in photoshop until you like the way it looks, then go weld something up that looks like it - but it's totally different to get something that rides properly afterwards. If you're just planning on putting it in the garage and looking at how pretty it is, maybe taking it out for a gentle cruise on sunny weekends, then it probably doesn't matter so much, but setting up suspension geometry properly is REALLY hard. If you want to press on once the thing's built, you'll want to speak to a professional...
I can't recommend one I'm afraid, but I can tell you horror stories of a few mates of mine who thought they could "improve" their bikes by lowering them / altering the stance, and ended up with something that basically wouldn't corner and bucked like a mule under braking because they didn't do it right.
Hoopsuk said:
They could be on the money with this one. A reliable, easy customisation platform. The growth in this in recent years has been large particularly in the US.
I agree. And if they tap into the 'cafe racer' scene (so offer a flat track kit, ape hangers, bobber guard etc it seems...) they'll be quids in!Rosscow said:
sprinter1050 said:
If I ever wanted to "customise" anything I'm pretty damn sure I'd start with something that is not intended as a Harley look-alike or remotely described as a "competitor" !!
Really? 
End result is bloody stunning though.
Yazza54 said:
Rosscow said:
sprinter1050 said:
If I ever wanted to "customise" anything I'm pretty damn sure I'd start with something that is not intended as a Harley look-alike or remotely described as a "competitor" !!
Really? End result is bloody stunning though.
Yazza54 said:
Anyone actually know how involved it is to make something like that xv750 caff? Wonder what that tanks off.
There's a reasonable amount of work involved, depends how comfortable you are with fabrication of subframe a and what not. The art comes in getting the stance and layout right.I seem to remember the tank came from a Benelli Mojave
RumpleFugly said:
Yazza54 said:
Anyone actually know how involved it is to make something like that xv750 caff? Wonder what that tanks off.
There's a reasonable amount of work involved, depends how comfortable you are with fabrication of subframe a and what not. The art comes in getting the stance and layout right.I seem to remember the tank came from a Benelli Mojave
Monty Zoomer said:
Even after all these years I still can't see the point in these Japanese pretend Harley-Davidsons.
If you want a Harley-Davidson why not just buy one? Why buy a Japanese imitation?
There's a million reasons. Top of the pile would be cost and (perceived?) build quality. That and they're not an OHV twin that is basically an evolution of a 90 year old design and go round corners.If you want a Harley-Davidson why not just buy one? Why buy a Japanese imitation?
But personally, I'd still buy the Harley
I find the Harley Sportsters, which this Yamaha emulates, too physically small and not good at being left outside.
Jap and European bikes fare much better at being out in the rain and cold with owners that would rather ride than polish.
This is the first Jap cruiser that has ever caught my eye tho and I just hope that it is built a bit bigger than the Harley it is copying.
Jap and European bikes fare much better at being out in the rain and cold with owners that would rather ride than polish.
This is the first Jap cruiser that has ever caught my eye tho and I just hope that it is built a bit bigger than the Harley it is copying.
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