Zombie thread revival! Are the kids in bed? We need to talk. I like to ride the backroads, county and township roads where the curves are frequent enough that 60-65 in the straights is usually for short periods. it's farm, deer country (I) can't get too crazy on the street, but.
I think I'm at a crossroads. I have been working hard "upgrading" the resto-mod. And I think I hit a roadblock.
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This still has a stock engine with a bit better air filters in the stock housings, commando type mufflers on stock headers, jetted well, Pamco ignition, running super. Typical maintenance-upgrades are done; tapered, bronze, a mikes front rotor MMM vesrah pads 10mm MC, ss line Mikes cart emulators, just in, sportster springs. some decent progressive shocks/springs on the back The biggest change this year is 3x18 rims front and rear with 110/80/18 PP3 tires. Wow the thing is now capable of cornering beyond what is sane (for me) on the street. Yes I could use a stiffer fork brace yet, and it's in the works, for now I may swipe a fork brace living on madness. and there is a reinforced fender getting ready to go on. I have "upgrade" stiffer swing arms that could go on. The front tire has moved me beyond what I think can get out of one rotor/ caliper. That tire is well capable of handling "stoppie level" braking without skidding. I am deciding on what fork brake combo will get me there, but...
While running "too hard" with some sport bikes I got into some fairly good head shakes at the brake/turn transition. I was able to damp them and then separated the braking from the turn in just a bit more, to keep them at bay. But now have been doing some studies of what that shake is. I think I have it narrowed down. While at speed if I really force the bars back and forth I can see the top of the frame steering head flexing side to side. I did this repeatedly over several days, thought at first it may have been an optical illusion since the forks/trees
are moving in that area, but I put fingers on the gas tank and frame at the gap and can actually feel the flex as the top of the frame goes left right. Don't think too hard about me at speed, one hand on the bars forcing them rapidly back and forth, the other down in the frame tank junction while I'm looking in there and not at the road... So I guess that's the place I'm at, I think it may be time to take the resto mod back one step, put the 2.15 19 front 2.5 18 back rims with pilot active tires on it and call it done. And start in a on a different XS with the aim of street racerish power and handling while keeping a generally "ancient" look. My snarky goal is an old poop's; shame the "kids on sport bikes that don't know much" ride. I just love watching some whipper snapper say WTF how can he do that? The big question is going to be the frame. I think top of the head bracing will be in order and have just a couple ideas to explore, shy of a ground up frame build!!! This is dumb, I admit it, I can go buy better performance for 3K and just go riding but where's the fun in that? Any one else see what I 'm seeing or have I been drinking the kool/aid a bit much?