As far as the side stand goes I just left the stock on there. Not ideal and it leans a bit more than I want, but it gets the job done and blends in.
I’m gonna start on another build soon just because I had a lot of fun doing this one.
But this time I want some rear suspension as cool as a hard tail looks it’s not for me haha
Hi Russdog,
try a cut'n'weld heavy wall tube extender in the middle of your sidestand to lengthen it so the bike leans less ?
Getting the hardtail look with rear suspension ain't for the faint hearted.
From my own experience of riding them back in the day:-
Triumph Sprung Hub? Although the ride has some softness the handling was hazardously awful.
Note that Sprung Hubs are very rare and expensive antiques these days
Plungers? Undamped springs, limited motion, varying chain tension and susceptible to windowjamming.
Ariel Ansty Link? Undamped springs, limited motion, link action gives constant chain tension and eliminates windowjamming.
Note that Ariel frames are just as rare and expensive as Triumph Sprung Hubs and that although a skilled machinist could
make an Ansty Link system the system may well be still patented.
Vincent pattern sprung frame? They handled well and unlike the others would be a reasonably doable XS650 frame modification.
What you might try on your existing hardtail is some kinda long movement suspension on the seat so that it moves up and down
rather than pivoting at the front with limited spring movement at the back.