XV750 "Twisted Cafe" project. An ever evolving vision.

[alexmac]

One of the most badass bikes I have ever seen! woo!

LOVE this bike!

[biker_reject]

A new subframe will have to be fabricated.  I plan on using a  Ducati Paul Smart replica seat cowl made by Airtech.  Still, I think it could be either a wicked cafe or a wicked bobber.

[alexmac]

Friends don't let friends ride bobbers 

[berguney]

dude, very nice work is going on here.. i'm watching, congrats.

[JustinLonghorn]

Keep it up, sir.

[biker_reject]

Still working on the front end, measured for spacers and seeing if my master cylinder is still good (draining it right now).  One thing I didn't think of when going with the R1 front end is how to mount the headlight.  It's not like I can just buy some headlight ears.  I seriously doubt anyone makes them in 500mm.  Ha!  A bracket will have to be made and I'm thinking about the ignition lock mounting points on the GSXR top clamp as the new mounting point?  Looked at an old Suzuki tank to swap in, but the tunnel was too narrow. The XV backbone is substantial, to say the least.  Thought about buying an RD 250 tank off fleabay, but it was heavily rusted inside and had big dents.  Seller still asking almost $100 for it plus shipping and I don't know if it would fit.  Too big a gamble.  Beat up and rusty XS ('76) tanks are going for $150 or higher, as well.  WTF?  Guess I'll have to settle for the stock XV tank for now...  I just am not crazy about the shape. 

Finally got all the old gasket material off the case covers.  Man, was that a tedious job!  Covers painted with Rustoleum high heat primer and high heat gloss black.  I decided to use the hub cover that came with the rear wheel to front conversion.  I was just going to leave it open.  Anyway, I started drilling out the cover and will screw it to the hub with either  small polished Allen head screws, or black Allen head screws. 

Fitted the cleaned and rebuilt carbs.  Engine looks amazing and I didn't polish a thing on it! 

[biker_reject]

Got my wheel spacers back from the machine shop.  OMG, I was not expecting something like these gorgeous machined pieces!  They threw in the caliper spacers fo free.  Thank you-thank you!

[biker_reject]

In the meantime, I've been working on the hub cover which I was originally going to discard.  Started doing one of my favorite things -  drilling holes!  Of course I'll have to repaint the hub cover as its finish has been dulled by the aluminum shavings and from lots of contact with the pieces of wood I used to cushion the cover from the drill press surface.  Powder coat does have its limitations after all.  Doesn't like to be scratched!  I'm hoping I can paint right over it.  Next up, drill out my brake rotor!

[biker_reject]

I've discussed this with Sepp Koch who has been chopping XV frames for quite some time.  He has built them for street and track with no issues with frame or handling.  It took me a couple of years before I embarked on such a radical conversion.  After owning a Buell XB12R and assembling another Buell XB out of parts, the configuration is basically the same as the XV.  I think I've read everything on the ViragoTech forum and have not come across anything regarding head gasket failures.

[turbodog]

3 years now as a daily ride and no problem whatsoever with the "Sepp-ectomy" on my '83 XV920 frame.  No worries.  Nice work on the bike!  I got tired of watching the suspension I have for my turbo XV project sit and gather dust, so am preparing to put it all on my daily ride.  GSXR front, etc... very similar to your setup.  I'd like to compare notes, especially on the front.  I'm going to be making my headlight mount this weekend.

[deepwaterimports]

wow awsome looking bike

[biker_reject]

What I meant about my Buells relates to the mounting points using the engine as a stressed member being similar in configuration.  It is surprising that the Buell's mounts conists of small aluminum dog bones.  Like Rusy Olive's build, this is not a track weapon or a super sport race rep.  And, there aren't many Virago forums out there.  ViragoTech is the best I've found.  Head gasket failure is simply not a topic ever discussed!  I'm glad someone here who has done this mod has not experienced any issues in 3 years of daily riding.  As I mentioned before, Koch has built multiple track bikes with chopped backbones.

[biker_reject]

Ha! Maybe!  Would it make any difference if I  beefed up the rear
mounting points?

[turbodog]

Best bet .... listen to folks with actual hands-on experience with these bikes and modifications, with thousands of miles of seat time with these mods, and don't be swayed by hysterical hypothetical hyperbole .

[turbodog]

Hmmm, must I spell it out?  On the forum since February this year, 13 posts per day...20 days (16 percent of your life in the past 130 days) spent on this site... doesn't leave much time for wrenching and riding, and earning the dough to do either... no pics of bikes posted that you claim as your personal handiwork ( I admit I didn't look long, life is too short, gotta real motorcycle to build...).... no, definitely NOT you.  Just trying to keep a like minded XV fan from being derailed by bogus imagineering.