Frame bracing, boxing vs tubing.

[Spiff]

Hi again, been a few years since I was last on this forum, still haven't finished my gs but hoping to get there now. So tomorrow I'm starting to brace my frame.
I've been reading this; https://oldskoolsuzuki.info/archives/315
And I see it's a 60x20 1mm box steel that's recommended on the B C and E bracing, but what if I can't find that? Can i use steel tube instead? Or make a box with 1mm steel sheet?
I see both boxing and tubing being used online but I don't know about the pros and cons, I'm sure anything is better than nothing at this point but I wanna do it proper when I'm first gonna do it.

And if anyone is wondering why I'm doing this I'm fitting a sv1000 front fork and a bandit 1200 rear with öhlins shocks so I think it's for the better.

[salty_monk]

You can fold those box sections out of sheet. No reason why not. look at the plane of the forces. You could also just use a single thicker plate and get most of the same benefit with a lot less hassle (that's what Suzuki do as stock on where they brace the frame)....

[80GS1000]

I used a mixture of round and rectangular tubing when I braced & monoshocked my frame. I can say it definitely reduced the "hinged in the middle" feeling of the flexy stock frame. It's never going to be as stiff as say a modern sportbike frame, but is definitely an improvement over stock.

[kochic]

I used tube, 16g plate and one piece of tube between the swingarm pivot where I added another engine mount.
Its a work in progress.
Marc
CIMG5567.jpg

[kochic]

these are made with 16g plate.
Marc
CIMG5569.jpg

[kochic]

under the tank.
Marc
CIMG5529.jpg

[kochic]

another picture.
Marc
CIMG5524.jpg

[kochic]

Aluminium engine mount, more than 1lb lighter.
Sorry for the small pictures, I know how to post bigger pics.
Marc
CIMG5591.jpg

[Spiff]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll just fold some sheet metal for the box sections B and C and use tubing for the rest.

Made the front one today

[Buffalo Bill]

Cool thread!
Just like to know if any of these bikes were built for racing?
Because reducing weight is important for race bikes.
Thanks.

[Rijko]

Cool thread!
Just like to know if any of these bikes were built for racing?
Because reducing weight is important for race bikes.
Thanks.

A lot of these modifications were done by Yoshimura on the GS1000 racers of the time.
They had powerful engines in a factory (touring) chassis that needed to be stiffened
to handle that power.
Reducing weight is important, but more of a thing that came later on when
technology and knowledge combined to create stiffer and lighter frames.

That is the reason manufacturers like Nico Bakker, Egli, Rickman etc were
big - they were the pioneers that created lighter and stiffer frames for those
engines.

The factories picked up on that quickly, copying and improving on those designs.

[Spiff]

I'm hoping the removal of the stock seat and rear of the frame along with aluminium rear swing arm and a lifepo4 battery pluss removal of any unnecessary stuff is gonna negate whatever little weight is put on by this

[kochic]

Are you building a 750?
Marc

[Spiff]

Are you building a 750?
Marc

That's right!

[Spiff]

This was exactly what I need. Homemade easy plate brake!

https://mistrymaketool.com/Home/PostDetail/31