Making a 500 Triple Handle

[Skub]

Interesting article,though even with the mods,I'd say ground clearance may still be an issue.
https://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/y ... 00-triple/

[Count Steer]

The rider makes it look quite small.

Nice bike.

[mangocrazy]

It's a rabbit hole that I wouldn't dare to go down.

But if I did...

Probably the first thing I'd do would be to get some different engine plates made up to mount the engine higher in the frame. Then I'd try and find a way to effectively put a lot more weight on the front wheel. Bikes of that era had a massive gap between the front wheel and the frame downtubes. That needs to be reduced, along with rake and trail, and then perhaps lengthen the swing arm by 30-40mm to again put more weight on the front.

But like I said, it's a tempting rabbit hole, but one I don't intend to explore...

[ogri]

High powerd bike stable = best of luck with that. The instability is all part of the thrill

[Yorick]

High powerd bike stable = best of luck with that. The instability is all part of the thrill

Not on the new stuff. Next week I'll be at Portimao hitting 175 every lap and bike will be 100% planted.

Coming out of last bend at 110 on speedo with knee scraping on ground plucking up courage to open full throttle, that's the thrill

[Ian]

I did pretty much what he did, longer back shocks, 18" front. I also replaced the rubber engine mounts with aluminium plugs when I used later cases because the frame is so bendy a rigid engine helps keep it stiff. It certainly cured any wobbles.
Unfortunately I increased the tyre size which slowed the steering more than expected, it turned slower than standard despite the raised rear end.
I only did a couple of seasons racing but the handling wasn't an issue I just lacked talent

[Mr. Dazzle]

What does that do to the engine itself? Using the engine to stiffen the frame (which is absolutely legit, loads of OEM stuff does that) of course means you're now putting more loads into the engine. Might be worried about cracking the mounting points and stuff like that if they weren't designed for it.

[Ian]

The cases didn't crack the front engine mounts on the frame did. The A and B engines had solid mounts so I felt confident doing it. It was an A or B frame ( I had one of each).
It was the D and later engine that had rubber bushes. I have several sets of cases so I bushed the later cases in an early frame.
Often the rubber bushes turned to mush from oil contamination anyway.

[mangocrazy]

I presume the later H1s had rubber engine mounts to counteract vibration? Which is weird, because triples generally have very good balance. What is the crank layout - is it 120 degrees between firing intervals?

[Mr. Dazzle]

The cases didn't crack the front engine mounts on the frame did.

Probably the less annoying way around TBF

[ZRX61]

The cases didn't crack the front engine mounts on the frame did.

Kawasaki's were still doing that into the 1980's. Mates '83 750 Spectre broke both down tubes just about the front engine mount (as did two of my '75 H2-C's). I've welded up a few Z1 frames that cracked just below the gusset under the headstock. It all cases the cracks were so straight they looked like they were cut with a laser.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Weren't Suzuki doing it into the 2000s?

[ZRX61]

Weren't Suzuki doing it into the 2000s?

TL1000's, Suzuki US quietly bought them back after replacing frames for a while. Mates one had two frames replaced under warranty & then Suzuki bought it back after the third break (all in the space of about 14 months). He got enough $$$ from the deal to buy a fully optioned Honda Aspenbago & had cash left over.
Deal was the owners had to sign an NDA to keep quiet about it. Mate left the paperwork on his coffee table right in front of me & then left the room for a while..

[Mr. Dazzle]

ISTR one the Gixxers had issues too...

Need KFB or Cheesy or someone who can remember all that specific model stuff to tell me which one.

[mangocrazy]

Was it the TL1000S or the TL1000R (or both) that had the frame cracking issue? I owned a TL1000S for about 3 years and it was a cracking bike (no pun intended...)

[ZRX61]

Was it the TL1000S or the TL1000R (or both) that had the frame cracking issue? I owned a TL1000S for about 3 years and it was a cracking bike (no pun intended...)

Both, but apparently the R was worse for it.

[Skub]

The first 04/05 ZX10R also had frame cracking issues. Mostly USA models. That bike was so light it was almost flimsy in places. The seat unit lugs broke on mine several times.

[mangocrazy]

Well, every day's a school day. Never knew about that. In fairness I only kept my TL1000S for 2 or 3 years, as I needed to sell it to put food on the table without going deeper in debt (out of work for 15 months). I've posted this before, but this is me on the TL at Oulton Park, Old Hall corner.

Tl3.jpg (44.58 KiB) Viewed 558 times