Hard tail bobber

[Guest]

I know many do not agree with making the GS a bobber but we all have our own taste.

I have been working on my project for a bit here and there but can't find a hardtail kit to fit ,even if it universal. TC Brothers said saince it's a shafty, the universal they have won't work.

Has anyone done a hardtail on their bike?

I have a 82 GS1100 Shafty.

[mmattockx]

I don't want one myself, but you can do what you like with yours. If you weren't 3000 miles away I would even try and blag a test drive on yours (when finished) just to see what it is actually offers.

Are you looking for a weld in type kit? I expect the reason you can't use a standard hardtail triangle is that it usually replaces the stock swingarm setup. For a shaftie you just need a solid brace that goes from the top rear of the main loop down towards the rear shock mount on each side. You will be stuck with the stock swingarm in order to keep the shaft drive system but you can fix it in place with a solid frame to give you a hardtail frame. That certainly shouldn't be rocket science.


Mark

[gsrick]

I agree, a shaft driven bike isn't the best choice for a hard tail. The shaft tube is part of the swing arm and that gets eliminated when going hard tail. Your only option is solid struts and that doesn't change the look like most hard tails do. If you've got the urge to change the stock look, the go cafe or brat with the shafty and then look for a chain drive bike for a bobber project.

[bwringer]

Most people who do this just make struts that replace the shocks.

Keep the shocks around and you could put the struts on to take pictures or whatever it is people do with these things, then slip the shocks back on if you want to actually ride.

[Steve]

If you do end up with a hardtail, keep a couple of things in mind.
1. The u-joint in the driveshaft does not like to be run at extreme angles. It is a simple u-joint, so the velocity of the output shaft will change TWICE with every revolution. The greater the angle, the greater the speed variation.
2. The u-joint does not like to run in the same position all the time. If the shaft is not perfectly straight (see point #1), the speed changes will hammer the bearings into the races, which will create more clearance and slop in the driveline.

As others have mentioned, we are not trying to rain on your parade and tell you not to do a hardtail, what we are saying is that this is probably not the best choice for the project.

.

[sam000lee]

I think choppers and hardtail bikes are cool (sometimes) but a GS shafty is just the wrong bike to hardtail. If you're going to get into a project like that ... get a chain drive.

[gsrick]

150227_0002.jpg
This is a early 750 that I worked on for a kid.

[gsrick]

150227_0001.jpg
I'm not sure if it was a kit or someone fab work. I hope you don't have back problems, because even with the springer seat, it's still harsh on bumps.

[80GS850GBob]

You could make new down tubes to tie the frame to the swing arm and maybe even attach them where the shocks go...but as has been said, a hard tail is a rough ride depending on the streets where you live...highway speeds can be "interesting" over patched/rough road. My friend had a hard tail chopper long ago...tiny tank and all. I road it once and while it was different I don't know that I'd want to ride that every day - but that's me. You paint your canvas how you like...

[gsrick]

I don't know that I'd want to ride that every day

The kid bought the 750 for a daily rider to go to UCF. He lived approximately 10 miles from the school. Those pics were taken at the shop I work at and I gave him my card in case he decided he wanted to sell it. About 8 months later he called me to clean the carbs, because he wanted to sell it. He said he rode it for a week and drove his parents car the rest of the time and decided to sell it to get his own car. The carbs were gummed up from not riding it. I did a few test rides on it fine tuning the carbs, made my own decision not to make an offer on it. I'm not sure if my back would have handled it or not, probably not, but I felt as if I was sliding back especially getting up to speed. Maybe with wider up turned back it would have been better. At least this one has a rear fender. I've had to test ride a Shadow 1100 bobber at work, that didn't have anything but a rotating tire behind the seat.

[80GS850GBob]

The kid bought the 750 for a daily rider to go to UCF. He lived approximately 10 miles from the school. Those pics were taken at the shop I work at and I gave him my card in case he decided he wanted to sell it. About 8 months later he called me to clean the carbs, because he wanted to sell it. He said he rode it for a week and drove his parents car the rest of the time and decided to sell it to get his own car. The carbs were gummed up from not riding it. I did a few test rides on it fine tuning the carbs, made my own decision not to make an offer on it. I'm not sure if my back would have handled it or not, probably not, but I felt as if I was sliding back especially getting up to speed. Maybe with wider up turned back it would have been better. At least this one has a rear fender. I've had to test ride a Shadow 1100 bobber at work, that didn't have anything but a rotating tire behind the seat.

Yeah...you have to run a big rear tire to get any kind of "suspension"...and that tire would probably try to hunt all the road imperfections too.
More power to those who run them...I'll just watch though.