New 500R pictures, got the 250R frontend on

[Billy Golightly]

I took some new pictures of the 500R today with the 250R frontend. looks quite a bit better I think, and some how (difference in the tripple clamps?) I've gained an inch or two more of front rake. I can also get it slammed to the ground height wise and not have to worry about the front forks sticking up above the handlebars which is a bit of a safety issue if you have an accident. I had to press the 250R stem out, and press the CR500 one back into the to 250R clamps. The CR500 is about 2 inches longer then the 250R ones. I also had to weld new stops onto the 250R clamps to keep the tripples from banging into the tank. I probably should have gave myself a little bit more room because they're very very very close to touching when you lock out either way right now but its not to bad.

I was also working on trying to rig up a silencer on it. Some of you who've seen me post in other threads or from chat might know I was going with an inframe center mount setup. Meaning that the silencer would actually be right underneath the seat inside the middle of the subframe. I had a silencer that fit but was way to long so I cut it down to size and re shaped the pipe going to the actual silencer canister and finished it up today. However...there was very very little difference in the sound level. Pretty dissapointed in it. I spent quite a little time on it and it was looking pretty nice but it doesn't work (Cut to much off the canister to shorten it I guess). So instead I've opted to go with just a DG silencer that slips onto the end of the main pipe with no inbetween pipe. Its at kind of a stupid angle and it looks dumb but its fairly quiet (You can carry on a conversation while its idling actually) and its easy to remove and replace. I need to make a hanger bracket for it and get some inch an quarter ID radiator hose to go over the joint to seal that up. After that it'll be done.

I also did a mod to the frontend that I bet no one will spot that I think will reduce wheelies by atleast 50% on area where the tires hook up. My seat is gone right now but as soon as I get it back I'm gonna throw the all traks from the trx250R on it and see how good the setup works :D I know its gonna work 100% better then it was though just from the little bit I've rolled it around and sat on it and stuff. Next drag race is Saturday the 20th back up in Hazlehurst GA. The track there is clay and it hooks up very well even with my worn out pro wedges. That, and me getting those huge paddle tires is my reason for doing this frontend mod. Even the +8 swingarm will not be enough to hold the frontend down when I get the big paddles. :eek::crazy:


Thats all for now...Coming sometime in the future I hope to design and build an aluminum swingarm.

[Billy Golightly]

One more picture....

[nimda78]

looking good 'atc

james

[vartiak15]

going to be suckin in some hott air. lol. is that a cuztom pipe?

[Billy Golightly]

The head pipe? Its just a DG for the 85 CR500's. It fits fine since I used the bike frame and radiators.

[bigredhead]

hope you got a thick seat !!

Nice pics !

[old honda dealr]

What mod did you do to the frontend? To help reduce wheelies?

[BigGreenMachine]

Only thing you've done to keep the wheel down that i can see is raising the forks in the tripples.

[Kintore]

Well done billy, I personally like it better this way than with the other forks. I remember at Trikefest how loud that thing was(shivers), Im glad its alot quieter now than it was. Are you going to be getting video when you are up at Hazlehurst GA?

sweet!

[Billy Golightly]

Only thing you've done to keep the wheel down that i can see is raising the forks in the tripples.


Yeah I did do that...but theres also another thing that makes a HUGE difference. I'll give you a hint...it concerns the front wheel and tire ;)


I guess tomorrow I'll finish up the hanger backet and get some hose to seal off the connection joint. Not sure on the video Kintore, I'll bring it and try to get some of the other trikes but dont know if there will be any of me or not. Zack (atczack) might come but he's not sure on his work schedule yet.

Billy

[Yamahammer490]

Yeah I did do that...but theres also another thing that makes a HUGE difference. I'll give you a hint...it concerns the front wheel and tire ;)


Billy


This might be a stupid question: you didn't fill it with fluid like they do on farm tractors, did you? (This is just a wild guess but it looks like there was some liquid on the tire. Otherwise I have no idea...)

[BigGreenMachine]

This might be a stupid question: you didn't fill it with fluid like they do on farm tractors, did you? (This is just a wild guess but it looks like there was some liquid on the tire. Otherwise I have no idea...)


Sounds like we have a winner, you beat me to it. lol smart move though and compliments on a very unique trike Bill :w00t:

[Billy Golightly]

This might be a stupid question: you didn't fill it with fluid like they do on farm tractors, did you? (This is just a wild guess but it looks like there was some liquid on the tire. Otherwise I have no idea...)


You got it! I have the front tire filled with water and I dont see wheeling much of a problem anymore. I got the waterhose to valve stem tool from NAPA. The only problem with this is that it adds alot of weight. If I remember right water roughly weighs 8lbs per gallon, I think I added atleast 4 gallons so thats over a whopping 30 lbs thats right on the front wheel. I should be able to put more weight towards the back for traction now instead of hanging over the front bars like before :w00t:

[OldSchoolin86]

Nice billy! It's looking a lot better!!! :beer:

[slothminx]

i can only imagine the power that thing has to need a swinger that long!!. its all coming together now i like the look of the angled forks makes it look mean :naughty:

will

[hrc85250r]

i wouldnt add that much weight with the water in the tire, when you can just custom cut some turf tamers and ice screw them to death, and make a decent wheelie bar out of aluminum for it...that will save you 15-20 lbs and probly a couple hundredths off yur e.t., all that water has to create alot of drag on the fornt end when it tries to get rolling too.....i know the cr500 has the power to overcome it, but i personally would find a better way to keep the front end down while putting the weight on the back wheels...

[wheelie king]

Nice rig. I know you worked hard on that, and it definitely shows! That weight in the front tire is a killer, bUt I do not necessarily agree that a wheelie bar is a catch all answer......hmmmmmm......I'l have to think about that one.

Well done, Bill. :cool:

[nouseforaname90]

Looks like you need to polish up those front forks.. :eek: .. thats the only thing on that bike that caught my eye as "ugly".
Otherwise, very nice job! :Bounce

[Yamahondaman]

That Look's ALOT Better !!! i think one day the Banshee's will Have A FIT when they can't catch you at the BIG End !!! GIT IT RAG !!!! :-)

[twgranger]

Great job!! Looks scary fast!!

[Billy Golightly]

You still haven't got to ride it yet Ronnie...Maybe next weekend up there at GA you can take it for a run or two in practice if you want. Just dont kill yourself with my 1/4 turn twist throttle hahaha.

The hours I have in this thing are starting to stack up...The $$$ too. Luckily alot of the stuff I already had laying around and just had to spend some time adapting it and making it work. Theres still alot of functional and mechanical things I want to do before I start getting into the asthetics and worry about making it look nice. Heck I might keep it ugly and make it a sleeper.

[Derrick Adams]

That thing looks really cool now with the 250R front end. I have a question for you though. Wouldn't it be better to weight the forks than to fill the tire? Lot's of rolling resistance there. Starting and Stopping.

Now all you need is a shorter swing-arm and some 18" turf tamers! :naughty:

[Billy Golightly]

Maybe Derrick, my theory (Probably wrong) is that since the water is not stationary inside the front wheel that it will more or less travel with it in rotation and will not create much drag on it at all. I'm not sure how bad it'll effect the front braking performance is one of my main things. As soon as I can ride it I'll give everyone a report on it and see how it works. I'll try the all traks from my 250R which hookup real good and I'll see how far I can get the frontend up, and how it rides around in general.

[Jason Hall]

Hey billy how in the world did you think we could see inside of you front tire? :lol: :wondering That thing looks 80 times better with the 250-r frontend. About the wheelie bar I think a wheelie bar on a three wheeler is more of a hazzard than a help, I have thought long & hard about one. I watched the quads at the drags at trikefest with them, & the bar shook the quads almost out of control. But out of the hole you can sure stay on the gas. Those welds on the steering stops look sweet! The water in the front tire sounds good, I almost did that to our go cart, in the left side tire's but i never did. I would think the water will start spinning somewhat, but might would only affect you when turning. When you just go straight it probably won't hurt anything except the weight. Hey I just might bring another swing-arm & pipe to trikefest in 06, so I can run the 310 in the mx races. That would be fun, if the races were on different days again. Even if they aren't I'm hillbilly enough to change it twice in 1 day. :crazy:

[Derrick Adams]

So, i'm trying to figure out which way has more rake. I've heard that the 250R triples have rake built into them and that it isn't real good. But it sure appears like it had more before.

Looks like it will be much easier to ride now.

[Tri-ZNate]

Hey billy put the seat on and take a pic, I need a new desktop :twisted:

[Billy Golightly]

I think the reason the second one looks like it has more rake is because of how long the forks are, and how I dont have them slide up any in the clamps. If you go back in the search and look at some of when I had the CR500 clamps slid up some, you'll see the front wheel and forks are almost in a vertical posistion. The other thing is that in the bottom picture I've got leading front axle, instead of trailing axle with the 250R. I could probably flip the forks around and get a little bit more rake but then the brake caliper would be in a weird place. Heres a picture of when I had it lowered down with the CR500 forks: http://www.supload.com/free/pictures/500Rside.jpg

[Yamahammer490]

I don't know anything about drag racing but, in general, adding unsprung weight to a vehicle adversely affects its handling. Since you'll mostly be going straight over a relatively smooth surface it might not be too bad, but I bet it will feel kinda squirrely over bumps of any kind.

I'm anxious to read your ride report.

[3Razors]

If your serious about dirt drag racing. Your best bet is to install a wheelie bar. If you got too long on the swingarm, traction and performance suffer. Lowering the front is a good step.

[Red Rider]

You got it! I have the front tire filled with water...As an added benefit, you won't have to wear one of those annoying hydration backpacks. If you're out riding & get thirsty, simply stand the bike up on end & lock your lips around that valve stem nipple. :beer

[Billy Golightly]

As an added benefit, you won't have to wear one of those annoying hydration backpacks. If you're out riding & get thirsty, simply stand the bike up on end & lock your lips around that valve stem nipple. :beer


LMAO...Hey I wonder if you could carry extra gas for really long trips like that??? :lol:

[mymint87]

WOW...I'm very impressed!! fricken NICE!!!!

I just love pics of trikes with the rear plastics off..., it's a cool way to display a trike! :w00t:

[OldSchoolin86]

LMAO...Hey I wonder if you could carry extra gas for really long trips like that??? :lol:
LOL, I was just joking with sloth about a camelback being my gas tank untill I make one. :D

[Billy Golightly]

Hey Frank, If when you get to that point I can help you out any on one let me know. I dont have a brake or slip roll here yet but I hope to be getting one soon...Might make one of those fuel tanks that goes in the airbox posistion on the Z too. :naughty:

[crazy0690]

lookin good

[Billy Golightly]

I got to ride it a little this afternoon since my seat came in (I took some pictures but it was to dark out already, sorry). I also swapped the 22in all trak tires from my trx250R onto the 500 since I figured they would hook up better then my worn out pro wedges. I was right. The following are my thoughts on the water in front tire setup.

First thing you notice is the bars are alot harder to turn, and its harder to roll around in the shop. Not a whole lot like the brakes are stuck on or anything, but a noticeable amount. Turning at speeds while your moving is a little bit harder. Takes more effort to direct the front wheel in the direction you want it. It still stops fairly good, even with the smaller 250R front caliper. I can clamp down on the master cylinder and still make the front wheel lock up at about 3rd gear 3/4 throttle or so. That was one of my main concerns, that the front braking performance would be really degraded to the point I couldn't get stopped if I need to. Thankfully its not an issue. Next up is the whole reason I did this, to prevent wheeling. And man, let me tell you it WORKS! I got in some pretty thick grass over here by the shop (Did mow it first though. Gets caught around the shifter and what not if I hadn't) But anyways I tried it one or two times without going all out and it felt REALLY solid on the front. I went around and while moving TRIED to wheelie by yanking on the bars and giving it throttle at the same time. The front forks would come out to the end of their travel but the front wheel NEVER left the ground. Keep in mind this is with 22in maxxis all traks on the rear that are probably 95% tread. So I roll back around to a place to start. I try first to start with. Weight towards the rear of the seat, full throttle and dumped the clutch. It broke the tires loose like you would not believe. I though it was gonna throw them right off the rims. I was in an out of control slide through first all the way through second from the wheelspin. After I shifted into 3rd it started to hook up. I come back around again and pick the same line. This time 2nd gear, wide open weight towards the end of the seat and dumped the clutch. Crazy wheelspin once again but you can feel and tell the tires are digging like mad. I'm not even going half the speed my wheels are turning when I shift into 3rd. It catches alot more but is still spinning the all traks. Not a single time during these two runs did the frontend ever become light or did I have to worry about endoing it over backwards on me. I was able to put as much weight to the rear as I wanted and dump the clutch and it was nothing but the tires clawing and scratching at the ground. I managed to glance behind me one time and I was throwing grass and dirt probably 20ft behind me. This thing was spinning those all traks like nothing else in the world and the frontend stayed planted the ENTIRE TIME. It was freakin awesome being able to just put all your weight on the back with those tires and just dump it, and not have to worry about it looping out on you. I can't wait to put these big arse paddle tires on it and then get in the dirt and see if the frontend is still held down then.

I've included one poor picture I was able to take this evening before it was totally dark of the roost marks I left in the grass from just 2 runs. This is not thin grass that tears up easy either. Hay is made off the rest of the field so you know there is some good thick grass there. Also for people not familiar with the Maxxis All traks, theres a picture of one of them too.

[Jason Hall]

Billy now all you need to do is get ride of some of the tire spin. Thats when you will see how much water you need in the front tire. If that animal ever hooked up it will flip you on your ass & you will have to hope you have AFLAC!!! :beer Thanks for going into such detail about the water in the front tire. I just might have to try that. If you start messing with the rear shock spring tension / compression you can hook er up better, but you probably already have. :w00t:

[BigGreenMachine]

Nice trench! LoL it takes one mean motor to spin a tire like the alltrak, they arent some wussy tire. I'm really surprised that it didnt wheelie. After you get your paddles mounted you need to start losing some water from the front tire to allow better weight transfer to the rear tires for added traction.

[OldSchoolin86]

Hey Frank, If when you get to that point I can help you out any on one let me know. I dont have a brake or slip roll here yet but I hope to be getting one soon...Might make one of those fuel tanks that goes in the airbox posistion on the Z too. :naughty:
Thanks Billy. I've got some ideas I want to bounce off of you, I'll catch you chat sometime. :naughty: