V Star 650

[sandmanred]

Started this fork assembly a few months ago. It's ready for some shakedown miles now! More to come on the rest of the build later.

 

[sandmanred]

 

[sandmanred]

 

[sandmanred]

 

[sandmanred]

 

[sandmanred]

I designed the brake stay to provide a neutral force back to the fork by keeping it parallel with the trailing link. But I left enough room to drop it down on the brake arm a bit to provide an anti dive force. I wasn't 100% sure it would work so I did a little experiment. I measured the shock compression in a slow speed skid stop with the brake stay in both the neutral and anti dive position. The picture shows the anti dive position. The 0.2 inch difference measured at the shock translates into 0.5 inch less dive on the suspension when in the brake stay is in the anti-dive position. Or another way to say it is the stopping dive of the suspension from the neutral position is 1.75 inches and only 1.25 inches in the anti-dive position.

 

[sandmanred]

Decided to do the seat next. The aftermarket seat on the bike looks great but not comfortable. So I grabbed an old one from ebay and remodeled and recovered it. I trimmed it down in thickness and built up the front a bit with the slab I cut off. This is cover may not be the final but it's not at least it's a lot more comfortable than the aftermarket one. Before and after.

 

[sandmanred]

Starting on gas tank.

 

[sandmanred]

Forward mounts underway. These cups are plan B. Plan A was the mangled L shapes in the 5th frame. I had to anneal them several times to get them to fully conform the form but I'm happy with the way they came out.

 

[sandmanred]

Now on to the upper shell. First two pieces joined. Welded inside and out.

 

[Maritime]

Crazy

 

[TresCuatros]

Wow, this is wild. That front end especially!

 

[porcelanowy]

Hello
Mad scientist project
I love that kind of garage porn

Now the back of the bike do not match the crazy front so I assume, there are plans for the rear end also?

 

[sandmanred]

Hello
Mad scientist project
I love that kind of garage porn

Now the back of the bike do not match the crazy front so I assume, there are plans for the rear end also?

Yes, the plans for the rear is a full fairing over the rear wheel. This is the best sketch I have for concept right now. The fender/fairing is planned to have the same body lines as you see on the tank. The body lines will start spaced fairly wide behind the seat and merge together at the tip of the tail. Or something like that. That all starts this late fall/winter.

 

[JadusMotorcycleParts]

Wow, amazing skills, awesome to scroll through your process photos, I didn't want it to stop! Very cool front end and can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the bike

 

[sandmanred]

Wow, amazing skills, awesome to scroll through your process photos, I didn't want it to stop! Very cool front end and can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the bike

Thanks for looking. I'm on pause for bit but hope to get rolling again later this fall with the tank and tail fairing.

 

[sandmanred]

Finally getting back to it. I feel like the top is coming together like I want it too. Lots of planishing to do. Next challenge after that is a cap depression and fit the top to the bottom.

 

[sandmanred]

Fitted the upper half on the frame for the first time.

 

[pidjones]

Flows nicely.

 

[sandmanred]

Returning to the tunnel for a bit. Probably should have done this first but I think it's ready to fit the two halves together.