1982 Virago 920 engine up build

[Rich Ard]

i was going to get the tire mounted last night, but it turns out the inner tube i had was the wrong valve style and it wouldnt fit through the hole in the rim, so i will be picking up a new inner tube and mounting it tonight. then i just need to finish the front forks before i can put it back on the ground.

progress!!!

Hang on a minute, didn't i just watch you build a motorcycle frame and hub from scratch? AND THE HOLE WAS TOO SMALL?

 

[gk45011]

Hang on a minute, didn't i just watch you build a motorcycle frame and hub from scratch? AND THE HOLE WAS TOO SMALL?

ROFLMAO ;D
Hey you can't expect the man to do "EVERYTHING" can you? About time somebody called him out on something. LOL

Gary

 

[Knifemaker87]

Superb workmanship, I take it you've got a pretty decent TiG plant.

i have a Chinese TIG machine i got from a friend. he did some amazing work with it, and then gave it to me when he upgraded. It is nice to learn on. i really do love welding.

Hang on a minute, didn't i just watch you build a motorcycle frame and hub from scratch? AND THE HOLE WAS TOO SMALL?

i know i know. but i would hate to open up the hole to compensate for the wrong tube. i am trying to think long term here, and i got the tube because it was an offset valve tube the right sive, and really cheap. i just didnt know what valve style i needed at the time. oops! penny wise, pound STUPID


i also have a large collection of wheels that i am not going to be using now. anybody want them?

 

[Ringo]

You did that with a Chinese TIG welder? Brand/model if you don't mind sharing? Sounds like an inexpensive way to learn TIG.

 

[Knifemaker87]

You did that with a Chinese TIG welder? Brand/model if you don't mind sharing? Sounds like an inexpensive way to learn TIG.

hey,
yes it is a no-name brand. none of the nobs are labeled which would make it infinitely confusing if you dont have the previous owner to show you how to work it. lol i tried to look up the make and model so that i could find some sort of user manual and nothing came up, so not sure what to tell you there. i will get the name on it, but i dont know that it will be much help
thanks
~Chris

 

[7aliveatlast7]

ooh, what kind of wheels?

 

[Knifemaker87]

ooh, what kind of wheels?

the front is a Harley wheel with a 16x3 rim. the back is a harley rim a custom hub, GL1000 spokes and CBR600 rotor.
is that what you were asking?

 

[7aliveatlast7]

i'm sorry, i should have specified. you had mentioned a few posts up that you had a bunch of wheels you wouldn't be using and asked it anyone wanted them, that's what my question was in reference to.

 

[Knifemaker87]

i'm sorry, i should have specified. you had mentioned a few posts up that you had a bunch of wheels you wouldn't be using and asked it anyone wanted them, that's what my question was in reference to.

Oops! Misunderstood.

I have the stock 82 920 rims, a 77 GL1000 hub, a steel harley hubs and rotor, as well as a cbr 600 f2 rear wheel.

I also have pretty much the entire virago as parts. Let me know if you need anything.

I also have a complete rebuilt cbr600f2 engine that just needs a connecting rod bearing replaced...

 

[Fix]

This whole thread makes me tingle.

 

[Knifemaker87]

This whole thread makes me tingle.

Glad it gets you there. lol

sorry for the delay in the process, i have been working on other people's projects. the Virago is kinda stalled until i can get the front forks painted (it is going to happen this week) i have the garage all set up as i painted a co-worker's KZ650 and now that that is out of the way, i will paint the forks before i take down the plastic.

also... i got a new bike, so that has slowed me down. i found a 2000 Ducati 748s that the original owner had been storing in his living room for the last 11 years, so it was in pristine condition, but needed a little love in order to run again. so, i flushed all the fluids, bled the brakes, put new timing belts on it and Ben helped me put new tires on it.

when i got it,


what it looks like now


what it sounds like, (sorry for my dog, he things motorcycle a demonic beasts here to take me away)
http://s23.photobucket.com/user/SocialTransient87/media/10E9DA1F-C161-4191-BBAA-ED3CB9AE1F69-6095-0000093F1BB20FE3_zps52ea8485.mp4.html

so i should be able to get back to the virago after i paint the forks and get a new fuel pump in the ducati (the old one was really corroded and gunked up)[/QUOTE]

 

[620dark]

Damn man, that's a nice find! I'm jealous! ;D Seems like everyone is finding Ducatis lately, which is awesome!

 

[teddpage]

Man i love those early 2000's Ducati's. I almost had one on the cheap a few years ago...im still kicking myself

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk 2

 

[rundown]

"(sorry for my dog, he things motorcycle a demonic beasts here to take me away)"

I suspect that your dog is just about right on that!

 

[Knifemaker87]

hey everybody...
well i think it is official at this point. i will not be finishing on time. between working alot of over time, social obligations and other projects, i have gotten very little work done on my bike.

i did however want to share with you what i HAVE been doing.

i painted a co-workers KZ650..






i also have been doing a lot of fabricating for a fellow Virago owner. It is actually the exact same bike as mine, same year same model. He is just going in a different direction with it.

he chopped the frame, and wanted to mount an R1 shock, have a subframe built, chop the stock tank, and a few other little things.

i got the shock mounted...


the tank chopped,


plates cut (relocated the petcock)


and welded all around


now it looks much more like a tracker


then i capped the ends where the frame had been cut


braced the frame to the lower mount, and started the subframe



and finished the subframe,


i jumped up and down on this thing... SOLID even at the back end (he wants to be able to go two-up)



so... he is coming to pick up the bike tonight, and then i will get to start working on the virago again. i am going to try and get it on its feet before the deadline. might even get it running.

does that count? lol

 

[two-smoker]

You should see if a later Virago back wheel will fit. The five-spoke one. To match that front wheel.

 

[Knifemaker87]

You should see if a later Virago back wheel will fit. The five-spoke one. To match that front wheel.

thats a good thought. i will mention it to the owner tonight.

 

[hansenracing519]

Updates? This one of my favorite builds!!!

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ringo]

+1

 

[Knifemaker87]

Hey everybody,
sorry for the lack in updates. I have been doing some work, though my sping and summer are usually more concentrated on fishing than bikes.

I just finished updating the threads on other forums when i got the reminder i had it on here and had forgotten to update.


Ask, and you shall receive


I decided that i wanted the bike to be a bit lower in the back, and as the 650r shock is one of the shortest avalible, i had to completely overhaul the shock mount and support.
here it is before..


and after chopping the stock mount off, and starting on the new bar. round tubing to fit the rest of the bike!


the supports and mounts all welded up!


and on the bike. lowers it just right in my opinion. gonna be a very short bike.




i also made some adapters to replace the horribly bulky and outdated footpeg mounts


fit on the bike, but i have yet to put the lower support thought them.



and then made the rearset bodies. dont worry... those pegs were fast and dirty and will not be staying in that form.


the drive shaft is what keeps them from being identical... was a major pain in the butt.


then i threw the body-work on there for grind and giggles. the tail will obviously not fit like that... but you get the idea.


so that brings us up to last weekend..