Streetfighter RZV Roller

[Smoker]

Get your fingers ready for typing, Martin.

Wait until you see what I'm going to do, next.

Always appreciate your input, brother.

[MK]

For the first time the welding it's absolutely ok.
In that case a little practice on some scrap parts wouldn't have hurt.

But don't tell me the tube bending/cutting and CNC'd parts are also first timers?

[Smoker]

For the first time the welding it's absolutely ok.
In that case a little practice on some scrap parts wouldn't have hurt.

But don't tell me the tube bending/cutting and CNC'd parts are also first timers?

His first one-off swingarm.

I know that Sebastian wanted to do all the work himself, but I really wanted axle blocks that looked similar to the RZV mid-frame. Seb did the hand drawings and the CAD drawings for the axle blocks, and I sent them to Mike at Diamondback Designs. He's done good one-off work for me several times. Local machine shop said $250-500 usd each (the 2 blocks are different). Mike said $250 each. And they turned out super sweet.

This swingarm project had no planning. Seb fabricated his own tubing bender, and someone mentioned it would be great for a custom tube frame or swingarm. I saw the tubing-bender thread, and said - "Make me a custom tube swingarm!"

So, I can tell you that the tube-bending is definitely a first-timer.

This is definitely not his first time welding aluminum, though. I know Seb wants to do his best for me, so it's okay.

Even though I have no idea what this swingarm will cost, I think it's worth it. He's contributed a lot of time and effort. I just tell Seb my ideas, and he does the rest.

If the swingarm is a failure, it will most definitely be my fault.

[Luther]

That's a piece of art. If there a neked lady in that pic I didn't see her

Next time put your welds diagonal to bend load. 45 degree

[Smoker]

Get your fingers ready for typing, Martin.

Wait until you see what I'm going to do, next.

Okay, at least for the moment, I've decided NOT to drill holes in the swingarm and run the brake line through the inside.

[Smoker]

Seb started on the swingarm gussetting.

Also welding the spots that were hard to get to with the arm in the jig.

[Smoker]

So, you know that the swingarm is close to done.

Let's assume the swingarm fits.

The pipes for my Streetfighter RZ350 are also almost done. I was hoping that when I picked up the RZ350, I could drop off the RZ500 for the next set of custom pipes. Don't even know if Jeff is interested in making a 3rd set of custom pipes. Haven't discussed it, yet.

The big problem is, I don't have the custom tail mocked up. Don't even know what tail to use, or whether to go with a one-off fabrication. Been thinking about it for a LONG time and still don't have an answer. Plenty of ideas, though.

Need to make some decisions and move fast. If Jeff's willing to fab the 500 pipes, I don't want to miss the opportunity.

Working on one-off RZ350 titanium silencers, and the one-off tubular RZV500 swingarm, which are going well and almost done. Now, this 500 tail moves to the top of the priority list.

Still in the game.

[JonW]

Still in the game.

[Smoker]

Okay, it's been a long time anticipating this proposition.

I asked the big question a few minutes ago. I asked Jeff if he would be interested in making custom pipes for this bike.

Consider how long he's had my 350, making 2 pipes. The 500 has 4 pipes, and the design is WAY more complicated than the 350 pipes.

Don't forget, I have no upper tail. If I can't mock something up fast, it's not going to happen.

Waiting for Jeff's response. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to do it, but he charges a mint for his work, so he may not be able to resist.

I'll let you know, when I get the call.

[Smoker]

Damn. Already shot down on the pipes.

I'll ask again, when the bike is actually ready.

[Smoker]

I didn't try to hold up fabrication of those new 350 pipes in the other thread. The pipes just happened to be ready for pickup this weekend.

For the past year, I've been hoping that the new 500 swingarm would be done by this time. More than anything, I wanted to deliver the 500 bike when I pick up the 350 bike in San Francisco.

The kicker is, the new swingarm is supposed to arrive today, 3 days before I was supposed to go to S.F. - but, as I recently mentioned, Jeff is too busy to make the 500 pipes.

And the catch-22. I haven't mocked up the tail section, which needs to be done before making the upper 2 pipes. The custom tail requires frame mods, so no going back. I've been afraid to do it because Jeff never gave the OK on making the 500 pipes.

For now, the plan is to finish both sets of custom pipes Jeff made. I'll need to fab a set of one-off titanium silencers and a support bracket to the frame, and have the parts from both sets gold titanium nitride coated. When Jeff sees the completed pipes, maybe he'll change his mind. There's also a chance he could need a massive infusion of cash for his racing budget. That was part of his decision to make the last pipes.

If I can't get one-off pipes, I'll be stuck using pipes with OEM fitment. There must be fabricators that have a jig for making the 500 pipes. Backup plan is to find someone that could make pipes of my design, using OEM fitment. Smaller sections, maybe even heat-colored titanium or zebra striping.

Stay tuned.

[Smoker]

Swingarm is now at the Smoker shack.

Sketchy cross-country delivery worked out fine.

It'll take a short while to evaluate the new arm. Not concerned with aesthetics, just looking at function.

Will post more when I know.

After handling the arm, I would guess it could handle at least 500 HP. We probably should have gone with .0625" tubing, instead of .125" tubing, because this bike will never make more than 100 HP. Can't blame Seb for wanting to make sure the swingarm doesn't kill me. The new arm is still 2 lbs lighter than the R6 conversion arm.

[Jeff B]

After handling the arm, I would guess it could handle at least 500 HP. We probably should have gone with .0625" tubing, instead of .125" tubing, because this bike will never make more than 100 HP. Can't blame Seb for wanting to make sure the swingarm doesn't kill me. The new arm is still 2 lbs lighter than the R6 conversion arm.

Although .0625 tubing may have been functionally acceptable, I think the .125" tubing will increase rigidity and improve handling. I think you made the right choice.

[MK]

Note that the ability to resist bending is calculated with the 4'th power of the diameter.
A tube of half the diameter will only bear 1/16'th of the load!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_moment_of_area

[Smoker]

We probably should have gone with .0625" tubing, instead of .125" tubing, because this bike will never make more than 100 HP.

Note that the ability to resist bending is calculated with the 4'th power of the diameter.
A tube of half the diameter will only bear 1/16'th of the load!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_moment_of_area

I was referring to wall thickness.
The diameter would have remained 1.50 inch.