Louis Mielke
05-17-2008, 09:02 PM
Well other than some small creature comforts I can finally say my 500r is pretty much finished. Obviously I'll never be done completely but this bike is to the point that I consider it a rider, the fabrication/ergonomic changes are complete. I know its been a long time coming, seems like I've been working on it forever(yes I can hear those snickers in the back, shudap! I'm not made of money and I'm slow, I know it, you don't need to tell me! HAHA!)
Only thing planned for it at this point is a grab bar and the heavier fork springs I ordered. Hopefully they'll be in next week. Here's a few pictures in what I consider a presentable form. No more "but wait its not finished" comments, its finished other than the stuff I would do to any of my other factory produced bikes.
The ride height is nice and the handling is very comfortable. I spent a good two hours this evening riding it around in the little play area behind my apartment. The jetting isn't quite perfect yet so I'm still working on that but I had a lot of fun and never felt like it was tippy, never thought to myself, this piece has to be changed, or I should rethink this part. Very flickable with the throttle, no awkward out of balance feelings going up steep grades. Crossed dramatic terrain camber changes without loss of control. I'm very satisfied at this point. The shorter swinger was really the key to fixing a lot of the handling issues. Yes the front end comes up much easier now but I feel its a very manageable change. I thought I was going to change the peg location but I've decided its unnecessary.
The fork springs and some fine tuning of compression and rebound and this bike will be as close to perfect as I can make it.
Overall I would have to say (and yes I'm being a bit conceited) this would have to be one of the best dirt bike to trike conversions I've seen/ridden. (I'm sure Jason Hall's aluminum frame 450r will change my mind soon lol) its not a drag racer, very trail worthy, and I think it will do much better on the MX track this year. After my two hours out playing pretty aggressively I'm not tired at all. I couldn't say the same last year or the year previous at TF.
Not much more to say. Just wanted to get that out there, kinda like some closure on this project or some junk like that. I can definitely say that putting the engine in the 250r frame would have been SOOO much easier but this project was very satisfying because I feel like I've accomplished something that has been the somewhat more difficult road less traveled.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530306.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530309.jpg
this is supposed to be an edog style shot. Sorry edog, I'm not very good at your dramatic comic book shots. lol
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530311.jpg
Only thing planned for it at this point is a grab bar and the heavier fork springs I ordered. Hopefully they'll be in next week. Here's a few pictures in what I consider a presentable form. No more "but wait its not finished" comments, its finished other than the stuff I would do to any of my other factory produced bikes.
The ride height is nice and the handling is very comfortable. I spent a good two hours this evening riding it around in the little play area behind my apartment. The jetting isn't quite perfect yet so I'm still working on that but I had a lot of fun and never felt like it was tippy, never thought to myself, this piece has to be changed, or I should rethink this part. Very flickable with the throttle, no awkward out of balance feelings going up steep grades. Crossed dramatic terrain camber changes without loss of control. I'm very satisfied at this point. The shorter swinger was really the key to fixing a lot of the handling issues. Yes the front end comes up much easier now but I feel its a very manageable change. I thought I was going to change the peg location but I've decided its unnecessary.
The fork springs and some fine tuning of compression and rebound and this bike will be as close to perfect as I can make it.
Overall I would have to say (and yes I'm being a bit conceited) this would have to be one of the best dirt bike to trike conversions I've seen/ridden. (I'm sure Jason Hall's aluminum frame 450r will change my mind soon lol) its not a drag racer, very trail worthy, and I think it will do much better on the MX track this year. After my two hours out playing pretty aggressively I'm not tired at all. I couldn't say the same last year or the year previous at TF.
Not much more to say. Just wanted to get that out there, kinda like some closure on this project or some junk like that. I can definitely say that putting the engine in the 250r frame would have been SOOO much easier but this project was very satisfying because I feel like I've accomplished something that has been the somewhat more difficult road less traveled.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530306.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530309.jpg
this is supposed to be an edog style shot. Sorry edog, I'm not very good at your dramatic comic book shots. lol
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m254/louis_mielke/500/SD530311.jpg