How to ruin a perfectly good stock frame

[mlc216]

I'm not embarrassed of anything. I just figured I would show you what I was working on. I don't give a crap what you think or say about how it strong it is.

I never said the stock frame was weak, it's just built for a different purpose. It IS stiffer than the frame I'm building, but stiffness isn't what you want out of a rigid frame. Will my frame handle like a stock frame? NO. But I'll never ask it too. I wont be diving into corners like a sport bike. Will it handle dirt jumping? I don't know, but I'm not going to try it.

I don't want to argue about the strength of the frame anymore... If this kind of project isn't welcome on this site then please tell me and I'll delete my posts and go ride my bike.

If anyone has any real questions about the design or fabrication of the frame, then I'll do my best to answer them.

 

[tkent02]

I'm not embarrassed of anything. I just figured I would show you what I was working on. I don't give a crap what you think or say about how it strong it is.

I never said the stock frame was weak, it's just built for a different purpose. It IS stiffer than the frame I'm building, but stiffness isn't what you want out of a rigid frame. Will my frame handle like a stock frame? NO. But I'll never ask it too. I wont be diving into corners like a sport bike. Will it handle dirt jumping? I don't know, but I'm not going to try it.

I don't want to argue about the strength of the frame anymore... If this kind of project isn't welcome on this site then please tell me and I'll delete my posts and go ride my bike.

If anyone has any real questions about the design or fabrication of the frame, then I'll do my best to answer them.

Here's a question, you say you are an engineer, let's see the math. Looks like a death trap to me. This from one who has had a serious crash from a frame failure, the whole steering head popped off the front of my first bicycle. That bicycle frame was more stout than this one.

 

[Nessism]

I'm curious if you are going to add any more steering head reinforcement or is this the finished product from a structure standpoint?

 

[chuck hahn]

hence my earlier question about adding gussets at critical weld joints!!

 

[Nessism]

hence my earlier question about adding gussets at critical weld joints!!

Chuck, that frame needs more than a few gussets before it's going to be safe.

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

Whoa guys...I love this forum, but EVERYONE on here is anti-custom it seems. I've seen this sort of flaming in multiple threads.

Anyways, OP please continue to post pics. I love seeing what an individuals thoughts on what a GS "can be" turn out to be,

 

[tkent02]

No one is anti anything, just hate to see people getting hurt on stupid designs.

 

[chuck hahn]

IM not bashing the dude. I just simply see the need at a few places as a minimum. he can build a 4 cylinder shaft driven outhouse if he so chooses..no skin off my nose.

 

[mlc216]

Here's a question, you say you are an engineer, let's see the math. Looks like a death trap to me. This from one who has had a serious crash from a frame failure, the whole steering head popped off the front of my first bicycle. That bicycle frame was more stout than this one.

If you want numbers I'll give you some in the morning when I get to work. Just curious as to what kinda bike it was? I used to race mountain bikes and manage a bike shop in college.

I'm curious if you are going to add any more steering head reinforcement or is this the finished product from a structure standpoint?

The neck doesn't need anymore reinforcement. It already has a larger weld group area than the stock neck. The main benefit of this type of neck design is that it eliminates any bending moment on the neck caused by the frame. You may not be able to see it in the pics, but the gusset on the neck is I-beam shaped which helps a lot with torsional forces experienced when cornering.

hence my earlier question about adding gussets at critical weld joints!!

I will add gussets in certain areas. Which areas are you inquiring about?

 

[chuck hahn]

Under the steering head and where the two lowers join in would be my choice areas...

 

[chuck hahn]

guess my speed scrollings didnt let me see there are already gussets there..anyways thats what i was thinking too..

 

[Allie]

I'm very interested to see how it turns out. I don't know anything about engineering but it sure looks like great craftsmanship to me.

An honest question, it appears that the only really critical parts left from the GS frame are the steering head and the rear wheel mounts. Couldn't you have just cut those from a frame and fabricated the rest from scratch? Or was it really easier to do it this way? (answer in the 'for dummies' format pls, cause like I said, I don't know anything about engineering).

Don't mind Ness and Tkent, you can always put them on ignore if you like. They're good guys and very knowledgeable on GSs, though honestly I don't know if they know squat about what they're talking about in this instance or not. They could just be trying to give you a bunch of chit, which they have been known to do on more than one occasion.

 

[Allie]

No one is anti anything, just hate to see people getting hurt on stupid designs.

BTW you're anti tact, courtesy, and civility half the time. You should try prunes some time, they'll straighten you right out.

 

[mlc216]

Allie,

I used the lower frame rails as well. I could've just built a frame from scratch, but I don't have a frame jig and I used the original frame to build a frame to help keep the neck and axle plates square and build a new frame to my own specifications.

 

[Allie]

Yes I did see that you used the frame rails too, I just didn't think they were anything special to fabricate. Really the steering head I'd think would be the only hard thing. Well okay, the bearing races anyway. But okay that makes a lot of sense about the frame jig. It just seems ironic to start out with a frame and really end up with very little of it left by the end. You can still say it's a Suzuki though lol. What engine are you going to use?

 

[mlc216]

I started with a stock gs450 and I already have a gs450 chopper as well. The other gs450 motor will go in this frame

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

So long as the forces acting on the frame are not exceeding its strength.
But we all look and see this as an extension and an increase.

You cannot make something longer and reduce the stress upon its parts.
Do you have the measurement of the stength of the tubing you used?

An awful lot of measurement goes into a mc frame even the old ones we drive. The centre section that ties in the down tubes on mine would support a church let alone a fat ass and a tank of gas.

The angle you are anticipating for the fork is another dismal scary thing.
Its a bloodly long distance to be supported under load in a turn banking out and hitting a pothole.

I say your frame is a lot of wishful thinking that will twist willy nilly and kill you or worse some poor victim that gets in the way.

Not PC? Too damned bad. Your engine and a good bump will fold it in half.

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

I started with a stock gs450 and I already have a gs450 chopper as well. The other gs450 motor will go in this frame

I've seen your 450 on Chop Cult. It's a sick bike.

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

So long as the forces acting on the frame are not exceeding its strength.
But we all look and see this as an extension and an increase.

You cannot make something longer and reduce the stress upon its parts.
Do you have the measurement of the stength of the tubing you used?

An awful lot of measurement goes into a mc frame even the old ones we drive. The centre section that ties in the down tubes on mine would support a church let alone a fat ass and a tank of gas.

The angle you are anticipating for the fork is another dismal scary thing.
Its a bloodly long distance to be supported under load in a turn banking out and hitting a pothole.

I say your frame is a lot of wishful thinking that will twist willy nilly and kill you or worse some poor victim that gets in the way.

Not PC? Too damned bad. Your engine and a good bump will fold it in half.

But do you really know this? Or are you just going off what you think?

I know for a fact that this guy knows how to build a bike, I've seen his custom work over at Chop Cult. I have no idea either way, I am no engineer, but you seem to feel passionately about this so I thought I'd ask.

 

[ptexotik]

whoa. I just assumed you were going to be installing pedals!