Re: CB900 Scrambler - Now with 150% more video!!
10 Days until Rally WV and the racing debut of the scrambler.
I have questions about steering stops below...if you have any knowledge please lend it.
I got the XR650R front end in the mail last Friday but I already had riding plans over the weekend so I did that instead. Saturday the 900 got the nod. A buddy and I went out to central Ohio near Tar Hollow and Zaleski state forest to do a bunch of gravel roads from a road enduro route sheet I had from a couple years back. In total it was little over 180 mile loop and weather was awesome. The bike ran flawlessly too.
Saturday I took the 450 out to Dayton Dirt Riders club for about 4 hours of technical hills and trails. Epic day but sweltering heat.
So last night I got the forks and triples out to do some dry fitting to decide if I'm crazy to modify a bike that already runs really well on back roads. The racer in me would regret not trying since I think it will allow the bike to handle rough stuff faster.
Here's the bike at the beginning of the night.
Everything came apart with the tools in my tool pouch. I left the brakes and throttle hooked up. lazy ass.
This was one of those nights when the beer is cold and things are going right.
Keep in mind that these bikes rolled off the assembly line 21 years apart and where "originally" designed to serve two very different roles. These Honda guys stick with what works.
The fuse panel/upper handlebar clamp/choke cable mount fits the cast upper mounts on the 650 perfectly.
The 650 upper also has a set of mount holes from stock odometer that I can use to mount the ignition switch and the trail tech instruments.
The stem has the exact same measurements (as predicted). Threads are the same and the length/location is spot on.
The top bearing is an exact match.
The 650 forks are set wider so I only lose a few degree of steering turn on each side despite the fatter fork diameter.
This set-up didn't come with a master cylinder but I started digging through the parts bin from the CL/FT500 and I found a brand new nissin unit in black. As an added bonus the taller reservoir will be better than the stocker which was designed for bars with a down bend.
So there's still work to do.
Have to fabricate a plate to mount the ignition and gauges.
The lower bearing on the 650 is shorter and has a smaller outside diameter. Since the shaft is the same size I'll try to transplant the stock one but if I destroy it I'll get a new one in the mail ASAP.
New steering stops are needed to keep the forks from mashing the tank. Should I have a wider stop welded to the head tube or have some aluminum blocks welded to the lower triple clamp?
The ignition lock plate needs to be modified or removed. I'll probably just trim the top edge off for now. It's very thick steel so it won't suffer any real performance loss.
Once these things are handled I'll get into the forks and decide how much to limit the travel and trim the springs.
Other stuff to do in the next 9 days.
I still need to fabricate the mounting brackets for the eye-to-eye rear shocks.
Need to figure out a front fender mount. This may be the trickiest part of the whole deal.
Also need to make some number plates and transfer my numbers over.
I'm going to get back to work now....
