Gooseneck Chopper

[thekinggrim]

Gday peeps
thought my current xs400 chop build might tickle some of your fancies its a 70s inspired gooseneck frame hardtailed one off just started work on it this week still gotta rebuild and polish the old xs lump but planning on running a 1/2 chain driven pma alternator as the old coil and stator failed a long time ago and this is more choppery also hoping to try and convert the engine to twin vm26/30s (i know it cliche and the stock carbs run fine but mine are a nightmare and even thought i know they only want a "carbon clean" and a full seal rebuild i prefer the look of vm's) im also looking into fitting a 180 lucas magneto if i ever find one that isent being sold for all the tea in china.


Rake Angle (little bit more than stock)

Old School Gooseneck Top Tube

40" over stock forks (measured from stock harley forks im sure someone will correct me with the xs length)

Bit of a mockup for the tank

 

[motoTrooper]

Love the creativity even if I'm not into choppers. Keep posting your progress

 

[Spitfire_X24]

This should be interesting. Totally not my style, but I love seeing others ideas come together. Looking forward to seeing updates.

 

[xschris]

Looks like a fun bike to take out on the interstate during rush hour.

 

[thekinggrim]

Looks like a fun bike to take out on the interstate during rush hour.

Hahaha yeah man she's gunna be a monster down the back roads

 

[amc49]

Just because we can envision something in physicality doesn't mean that we should.

I have driven something close to that but not quite as radical and I considered it undriveable after two blocks on it, which greatly upset the constructor of it. He argued otherwise but junked it shortly thereafter for the same reason I was later told.

Now if left in the garage as eye candy fine, but that machine WILL be dangerous to a point and the final outcome will determine how bad.

 

[thekinggrim]

Just because we can envision something in physicality doesn't mean that we should.

I have driven something close to that but not quite as radical and I considered it undriveable after two blocks on it, which greatly upset the constructor of it. He argued otherwise but junked it shortly thereafter for the same reason I was later told.

Now if left in the garage as eye candy fine, but that machine WILL be dangerous to a point and the final outcome will determine how bad.

Different strokes for different folks it all depends on the trail calculations but I can tell from your tone your after an argument not a tech talk so I'l just say cheers for the advice man and I understand were your coming from but if I thought this bike was going to be unrideable I wouldn't build it

 

[amc49]

All I care about is safety and I've had my say, I'll leave you alone.

 

[thekinggrim]

Quick update had an hour or 4 in the workshop today and got the axle plates cut out decided this chop was just too radical for boring old cut off triangles so couple of hours with a die grinder and a pile of hand files and we've got some sexy swirls.

 

[Bear Hands]

No disrespect meant here, but the joint with the headstock looks a bit sketchy:

You could really do with a proper fish-mouth cut on the tube so it hugs the headstock.

Interested in the VM26/30 carb conversion though, has it been done before?

 

[spectra]

No disrespect meant here, but the joint with the headstock looks a bit sketchy:
View attachment 36100
You could really do with a proper fish-mouth cut on the tube so it hugs the headstock.

Interested in the VM26/30 carb conversion though, has it been done before?

It should still be good....... the gap will be filled with filler metal and to be honest most of the time the metal will break before the weld does........or should say the weld will tear off the metal........

I have built a few cages over the years and yes put one to the test and survived............

 

[amc49]

The brother right under me popped a motor on the pro stocker and engine came out as car went through the lights at 180+ mph upside down. The Jerry Haas chassis was one of the first ones designed with a smaller fueler type tight cage inside the larger typical full bodied car one. He credits that with carrying him through the wreck OK, the outer cage DID come apart.

 

[thekinggrim]

No disrespect meant here, but the joint with the headstock looks a bit sketchy:
View attachment 36100
You could really do with a proper fish-mouth cut on the tube so it hugs the headstock.

Interested in the VM26/30 carb conversion though, has it been done before?

Gday man I understand where your coming from and if it was a piece of tube I would have fishmouthed it but as it a piece of solid 30mm bar I've v'd it out all the way round to allow for deep penetration with the filler wire when I weld it yes it makes the bike slightly heavier but it means that there is almost no chance of stress failure on the top tube.
The bottom tubes will be fishmouthed as they are only 25mm x 3mm wall cds tube same as a normal frame and there will be a piece of 10mm plate inbetween them and the top bar as a gusset on the neck. Cheers for the input

 

[thekinggrim]

Busy night got the hardtail finshed and had to redo the top legs and gooseneck bend as none of it flowed right and was driving me mad a lot happier with It now don't think the old tank I had on it from before the frame 're-design will fit anymore bit small

 

[thekinggrim]

She's out the jig at last just the gussets,engine mounts left,blending/smoothing of welds left to do and I can call the frame done then it's on to the engine rebuild and mounting everything lots of work to do

 

[Gra900]

Wow, is that seriously the head angle? Your going to need some pretty strong forks and bracing to make sure it doesn’t bend when you hit the first pothole. Be great to see your first ride out on video.
Best of luck

 

[thekinggrim]

Wow, is that seriously the head angle? Your going to need some pretty strong forks and bracing to make sure it doesn’t bend when you hit the first pothole. Be great to see your first ride out on video.
Best of luck

Yeah man it's 70 degree of rake 50" long forks (ended up shortening it A bit due to fork jig restrictions) but the necks gunna be have a massive 12mm plate gusset and alot of other bits of reinforcement around the neck and humpback the springer forks themselves will be made from 25mm x 4mm wall t45 tubing that I'm going to sleeve with some 17mm t45 as well to make them strong but flexible with a solid 30mm hardend stem

 

[thekinggrim]

All the gussets are done just need to cover them up with some 3mm so it can be moulded easier but a quick mock up of the whole bike with a exhaust template engine mounts are tonight's job.

 

[Bear Hands]

That is some serious gusseting! Puts my welding work to shame too, well done!
As a bike to ride I imagine its going to be fairly awful, but as a piece of art its going to look great. Definitely following this build closely.

 

[thekinggrim]

That is some serious gusseting! Puts my welding work to shame too, well done!
As a bike to ride I imagine its going to be fairly awful, but as a piece of art its going to look great. Definitely following this build closely.

Cheers man I'm hoping it shouldn't be too bad to ride as long as I make the rockers correct the trail properly still have the turning circle of an Atlantic cruise liner but shouldn't handle too bad.