XT550/SR500 FrankenThumper

[Yamaki]

I finally decided what to do with my really busted up XT550 and my extra SR500

Both are more or less rolling chassis as of now, but tomorrow i will try to make something fun and funky looking by combining them.

Bad pics but its the only ones i have at the moment.

Anyone know if the forks are a direct swap or do i need other bearings or modifications to the stem?

The XT550 engine is turning and the PO told me that it had a weak spark. Time for new cdi? Or could i use the complete SR500 wiring for it?

Also the carb boots are done for, and im already nervous as to jetting and adjusting the weird two stage carb.

 

[Yamaki]

So this is going to annoy me later on, but i started the tear down of the xt550 before i had it running anyway : I got tired of waiting for spring.
I took it apart a little and decided to run the xt forks with an 18" front/back tire, some upside down stock sr handlebars and the sr tank. And i will make a new subframe as well.
Tank still needs some more massage before it will clear the spine.

 

[Yamaki]

Mocking up stance and ground clearance. Im going to make it really low, uncomfortable and unsafe, i doubt it will ever see any twisted roads anyway ;D 60-80 mm fork travel once i get some spacers sorted. No rear suspension probably, maybe some kind of bar with a small leaf spring in the middle. Just trying out some weird ideas on this one.
Btw, in case you didnt know, sr forks is a bolt on swap on the xt550.

I went with the xt forks though, i just need to learn how to lace the xt hub into the sr rim, how do i find the lenght of the spokes? the rims both have 36 holes and the angles are the same.

 

[Floegstad]

Do you have a title on that spare sr500, and do you want to get rid of it for a reasonable price??

 

[Yamaki]

Do you have a title on that spare sr500, and do you want to get rid of it for a reasonable price??

The spare SR500 is german, no papers or title. I dont know the procedure of how to get it either:/ tell you what, if you come by with that spring one day, you can take the frame and rear swingarm with you?

 

[Yamaki]

So i let the bike rot in my basement for a while.
Took it out the other day and here it is now.
Looking much sharper with the gsxr running gear.

 

[Yamaki]

Got the tank mounted and figured out what shape i wanted for the seat.

 

[Yamaki]

Some progress was made today

 

[Yamaki]

Made the seat foam and some other stuff today.

 

[alzcbz]

Wow. That's a change of direction we weren't expecting. I like it.

 

[coyote13]

Yes. Very much yes.

 

[samsquantch]

That is one hell of a project! Good luck!

 

[Yamaki]

Went to the shop for some late night welding.
Maybe it's a heavy construction but i wanted to try this approach ever since i first saw it. (Work in progress)

Thanks for the kind words

Edit: frame work almost done for the tail/seat.

 

[Yamaki]

Tail/seat update

 

[Yamaki]

I got really busy as i started to make a living from wrenching on old jap bikes, just got my own workshop so onve again it is time to get a little further on this project.
Going to mount a vz21 turbo with a draw through carb setup. It will probably be done in 10 yrs or so lol, but im having a good time with it which is all that really matters

Pics incoming

 

[Yamaki]

Gonna be a hot seat lol planning to put insulation on the inside and some heat wrap on the pipe going to the end pipes which i hope will make it cool enough to ride it more than down the street and back.