86 vf500 upgrades.

I never did like welding with a mug.....always made my coco taste funny.

 

LoL yea that would take some serious skills wouldn't it lol

 

It's a good thing you guys don't work for Honda designing swingarms because they would still be made from thick-walled steel tubes!

It's basic Mechanical Engineering really - the same priciples apply here as with I-beams. A very thin sheet would add a great deal of strength and rigidity to that area. If you don't understand that then it would take too long to explain it than I have time to type here.

Rock on Matt, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

It probably was the lighting. Sounds thick enough to actually do something, what made you go with 1/4"? Jamie thinks you can use some tin foil and you'll be all set. Easier to use and you don't need a welder.:wink:

 

Awesome! I'm going to remember that one.

I don't think it will do much for the handling of the 500. It's a pretty rigid design. I also think it will make working on the bike a hell of a lot harder and it's already hard enough. I'm speaking of installing the carb cables in particular. I'm pretty sure that the opening that you are about to close offered the best access.

 

Hey Matt - if you need some, I could probably spare some tin foil from the hat I'm wearing to keep out the cosmic negativity-rays. Hopefully you don't need much, the hatred radiation is at an all time high it would seem.

 

I don't see any hatred or negativity, at least in this thread. However, I too have my Faraday cage hat on for max protection.

 

It was free lol that's why I used 1/4 inch. This is just a opinion jamie has really been there for me with the difficult stuff and helped me on my suspension for the bike he's never steered me in the wrong direction more or less he's just a vf advocate like that rest of us you and him both have awesome talent where's you completely transformed a mostly stock 1000R into a bad ass ride. Iduno can't we all just be friends?

 

That ACTUALLY made me laugh out loud! Good one.:thumbsup:

 

I wasn't sure if someone in the bike building world or just common sense led you to use a beefy plate but IMO, it's a smart move. I never had a problem with you trying to strengthen the steering head, just thought if you were going to the trouble, might as well make it uber beefy. Seems like the end product will be cool either way. There are at least 2 500's going under the full custom knife, yours being one of them, and I can't wait to see both. Keep the dream alive.

Oh, and I love everyone...I'm a rider not a hater.:biggrin:

 

ugh...how much do those two 1/4" plates weigh?

 

No doubt its going to add a little weight.

 

If I could ask, if you are stating that this is the same principle as a wide flange beam then are you saying the metal plate that Matt is adding is the web of the 'beam'?

Is this an economical use of material?

 

All he's saying is even a thin piece of metal can add strength. I've stepped into uncharted territory so we don't know how its going to turn out.

 

Matt, I totally applaud your efforts and look forward to seeing this project come together.

This said, I think there is room here on the Forum for a more detailed discussion on the theory and the statics involved in this type of frame modification without requiring tin foil hats. This is written with lighthearted intent.

I find these projects very interesting and a welcome addition here.

Hope all goes well with the arc welding and please keep us posted on the progress.

 

One plate down one to go.

 

I still can't help but think that you are loosing some really critical maintenance access, both for tool access and visibility. I also doubt very much that this mod will do anything noticeable except add weight. I mean, look at the construction of this frame stock. Was this a mod that anyone did in the days when these were raced around local tracks? Not that I know of. Enough negativity. It's your bike and it looks like you're having fun with the mod. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Im not sure if its going help me or not but I do think it might help even if its a fraction every little bit helps.

 

Matt, I'm sure you have given this some thought, but if I could ask, how are you planning on routing the cables & wires that go through this area on a stock bike?

 

Good question im going to route them through the same hole so im gonna have to cut a inch hole in each plate for the the cables wires can go through it. The plates are in need to clean them up, I was going to brace the swing arm pivot area but im kinda screwed on space.