| Author | Message | ||
     Eshardball |
What sort of shock were you planning on offering? I think your idea is great. The parts would just have to be prettied up, but congratulations on your working prototype. Perhaps try just selling the linkage kit and leave the choice of shock up to the owner. | ||
| Malott442 |
The speed triple/955i daytona Showa unit. That would be hard to do because every shock can be different lengths, shock rates, and have different mounting widths..... It might be easiest to sell the kit after being sent the shock of choice..... Matching up the shock is a bigger pain in the butt than most would think. Plus I thought about making the unit universal, and it just wouldn't be strong enough, and would pose a liability to me, as well as the rider. | ||
| Malott442 |
failure testing started today. this setup is rock solid! | ||
| Malott442 |
anyone got a measurement of the stock ground clearance from the shock when the bike is on the kickstand? | ||
| Malott442 |
Man, I never knew I would lose so much sleep over something that can seem so trivial at times.... Well, I'm inside from laying on the floor looking at the bike. I drew up a new third design....... This one involves no loss of ground clearance and an absolute bolt on application for bikes set up for 16.5" shocks. Don't know how I would set up a newer style yet..... maybe I'll buy the other front mount from someone..... I've got the new design on paper, and now I need to go back outside and look at the bike some more and take some more measurements. And I've got to be up at 9! Man, I'm an idiot! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! Hope you made it up in time for work  | ||
| Buellsrule |
6" ground clearance. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I am interested in the lowering link you made previously - pictures, drawing? | ||
| Eshardball |
I believe that I have another front mount. Which one were you looking for? Eric | ||
| Eshardball |
Not an idiot. Motivated! | ||
| Malott442 |
Lowering link pictures are lost, but I'll make up another copy...... Let me finish this working prototype first. My idea last night fell through due to the fact that the width of the setup would interfere with stock exhaust and would look a bit unsightly, as well as be a little heavier.. It looked cool to me though!! Well, I got some more ideas, worked them out, and it led me back to my original idea. I made a slight modification to it, and now I feel I am ready to go ahead and get this sucker on the road..... Ordering the materials tonight, hopefully. I just have to make sure my paypal has sufficient funds... So I guess if all goes well, sunday will be the big day, shipping limited. p.s. I'm looking for the newer style front mount. for the 14.5 shock. (Message edited by malott442 on December 02, 2008) | ||
| Buellfart |
I once suggested this to avoid the cost of a Wilburs shock many months ago and got no responses. It seems a great idea even though it kind of stepped on a sponsor's toes. It should be relatively simple and make it possible to adopt any great shock to a tuber without the huge expense. Are there any dimensional drawings out there? | ||
| Malott442 |
Well, relatively simple can take on many shapes... With the 955i shock, and with a 16.5 front shock mount (old style) the front shock mount is untouched. With another shock comes different lengths, different front mount widths... There are a lot of variables that prevent a universal kit, but it can perform to a point under a universal design....... Well, I got all the parts on the way, and some of the tooling together. I just need to find a LH die in the right size..... | ||
| Malott442 |
scott in NH, are you talking 2" lowered by the seat, tip of the tail, 2" as measured by the swingarm, ground clearance? They are all different..... I can do 2" ground clearance no problem..... all the others are smaller and require some more trickery to accomplish without access to a machine shop..... I'll draw some out if you need it, but the easiest way to lower the bike is to take a spare front shock mount (old style) and use it with two steel plates sandwiching it in the slot. You cut the shouldering down a tiny bit, measure the ground drop by having the shock disconnected and the bike on a hoist, jack, etc. Then mark the spare shock mount and drill it for 12mm (7/16 is close enough I believe....) Chop off all surrounding bullcrap, paint it, and be done with it...... Remember, it needs to be aligned to fit snug inside the mount in ALL directions. Not snugging it to the top of the mount will cause the link to swivel, causing a possibly dangerous situation with swingarm travel over bumps and also will eventually over time wear throught the bolt holding it in place to the swingarm. Not to mention structural stresses to the swingarm itself from the shock. Side to side is important to fill up so that the Swingarm mount bolt can be torqued down properly without damaging the swingarm, as well as holding the lowering link steady. Ummmmm, any more questions, feel free to ask, or PM me your phone number, it might be easier to talk it through. If I end up building another, I will take pictures of the build process.  | ||
| Malott442 |
P.s. I am done with the design, just waiting on materials to show up via mail and then I'll be digging in. I think I might build that EZ lowering link tomorrow. I'll take pictures as I go. It makes for a VERY strong, easy, cheap way to get the bike lower to the ground, not to mention it can be swapped out in less than 3 minutes for the track/ passenger/ twisties/ showing off..... | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Your timing is perfect Matt as I was already planning to meet with my machinist and brainstorm a quick way to lower the bike for dragracing that can quickly be undone! 2" at the seat is what I am after. I am also going to have a bar riser made and swap out to a flatter handlebar so I can lower the fork tubes at the same time (the tubes hit the stock bars). And I am looking for another S3 seat to modify so I can lower myself on the bike too.... (Message edited by scott_in_nh on December 03, 2008) | ||
| Malott442 |
Have you considered clip ons? | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Clip ons would be too low for me and would interfere with the fairing. The stock S3 bars (not S3T bars) sit right, I just want the clearance. With a riser I can use a lower bar and still have them sit in the same space they occupy now and I won't have to move them when I lower the triples down the tubes. I only have one bike so it has to do it all with little changes that are easily done and undone. It is a comfortable 2 up sport tourer, can hold it's own on  rides, and is a consistent performer at the dragstrip...  | ||
| Malott442 |
Well, the only thing left to wait for is the hardware, the tooling is here. I am going to put this together either tomorrow or saturday, whenever the hardware arrives. I will be posting pictures and video, going to abuse the shit out of it. Make sure it holds up. Then the final will be built. And then offering it up for sale. I am applying for a patent, just so some bozo doesn't take my many hours of math and daydreaming, and sleepless nights staring at a bike away from me. I feel that I will be able to sell them pretty cheap. I will offer them with and without the Triumph shock. The first few kits will be priced lower to get the ball rolling, basically just enough to provide me with enough to build more of em. I'm not looking to get rich of anyone. I just like the accomplishment, and hopefully will be a tick mark on a resume as a mechanical engineer. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Some business minded questions: Will we have to sign our life away? What happens if one fails while riding? Oh, and there is a set of two front shock mounts on ebay right now. Just a heads up. | ||
| Malott442 |
Liability wise, this will have to be sold as an "OFF ROAD USE ONLY", which you will see on any lowering link in tiny fine print that you buy for any motorcycle. If anyone knows how to get this kit certified, by all means let me know what path to take. I would love to put it out with my name behind it, but due to the fact that if someone buys my kit and goes jumping their bikes off 30ft ramps, cutting them to lower or change shocks, doesn't keep an eye on bolt torque (which should be periodically checked and maintained at regular intervals) and gets a lawyer, then I will be royally F**KED. There are people with common sense, and people who get themselves hurt being stupid, and then sue. I just can't afford to chance a stupid to buy my kit in it's early stages of life. I stand behind this product 100% in its build quality and design. If someone buys this kit and doesn't like how it feels, then I will re-imburse them fully under refund. If there is a mechanical defect within a year, then I will replace or refund the product. I may be flexible on the year policy, not sure yet. Need to consult with a couple of people. Including you guys. How long should I guarantee the worksmanship of the kit? Mechanical defects do not include negligent abuse, cutting, welding, or cross-threading of any components. It will include any squeaks, rattles, wears, cracks. I cannot guarantee the shocks either, unless you cough up 934.00 for the new shock from bikebandit. Nice used shocks are readily available from ebay for 50-200 all the time...... The kit is comprised of 1/4" double plate cold rolled steel, 3/8" cold rolled steel rod, and the linkages themselves are rated at 7,605lbs. static. If you weigh more than 3000 pounds, then don't go riding. If you want to jump the bike from more than 8 feet in the air, this kit will probably decide to punish you for your stupidity. Otherwise, this kit is rock solid. The pictures won't lie. Just give me a few days to get the pictures and video together, once the hardware shows up (hopefully tomorrow). Chasespeed and Tripp will be the first two people to see these kits, the two local guys. | ||
| Malott442 |
If I make my lowering kits, then I will on the other hand put my name behind them 100%. I know for an engineering fact that the front shock mount on the bike will fail before the converted shock mount used as a lowering link due to the angle of pressure. The lowering link would safely carry 4 times the load of the front shock mount. Anyone with rigging experience could vouch for that one. I might be getting a few custom made from a machine shop from billet aluminum. They are going to cost a good bit more, but will look better, be lighter, and oh yeah, look better! And cost a ton to build! | ||
| Buellsrule |
Matt, I would like to be the first non-local guy to get a kit. May end up using it on both of my tubers. Also, I'm interested in the lowering link for drag racing. Thanks, Frank. | ||
| Eshardball |
Malott442, You should consider incorporating to help insulate yourself from the a**hole that would attempt to sue you should the shock mount break after jumping a tractor trailer. I'm going to cut my spare front mount to lower my S1. Funds are too low right now to buy myself your kit. Does the Triumph shock have more adjustments than our stock ones? Maybe in the spring. Congratulations on your design! | ||
| Brinnutz |
Malott, Just making sure you are covering your ass. That is all. =) | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
They are going to cost a good bit more do you have ROM pricing? | ||
| Malott442 |
ROM... Is that Run of the mill? I haven't a clue yet about the aluminum. I have to go to a machine shop. And then I have to get different lengths made. I figure 2", 3", and 4" would be good lowering amounts. The adjustment of the 955i rear shock is in bound, rebound, and preload. Adjustment range is either the same or more. It's all going to have to wait until the final prototype is assembled, hopefully today. Spring adjustment does appear to offer more though. I appreciate the input and help guys! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
ROM = Rough Order of magnitude... $50, $100, $150, $200, $300......? (just for the lowering link - I don't wan't it to be confused with the price for the shock conversion) (Message edited by scott_in_nh on December 05, 2008) | ||
| Thejuicer |
Lookin forward to seeing some pics...Josh. | ||
| Malott442 |
ROM, in aluminum for lowering link. I'm shooting for under 100.... It's all up to the machine shop at this point..... I might make it in time today to get an estimate..... Hope so!!! Well, I have been busy yesterday and today helping my neighbor replace his heater core and clean out the ducting, as well as replace the thermostat and hoses on his Dodge Dakota. (IT SUCKS!) But finally I'm free, and now headed to basement to get exact measurements. Hopefully won't take too long. Hardware is yet to friggin arrive. Was hoping for today, but not yet. |
