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Remember springers being extended with Ford radius rods and even butt welding? How did anybody live through those days?
Some didn't.
Cut the bottom of the neck. Start rakin' the neck. Get the 'gap' to 1/2, 3/4", what ever you 'thought' was what ya wanted. Put a 1/2 or 3/4" nut or bolt in the gap, grab the stick welder, crank up the amps, weld 'er up FULL.
Remember?? When they were covering this in geometry class, some of US were staring out the window at the nice weather and the Sporty that just strolled past the school. So we were forced to learn it laytr.
Geesh, Knuck, OF COURSE we were schmotter than to jus' butt weld 'em. We ground a bevel on 'em first. And then used a fillet weld, jus' like they taught us in shop class, when we were givin' that kid in front of us a 'snuggy'.
Floppers are actually caused more by rake, than length. You get the rake and trail correct, you can get anyting to run straight and handle decent.
Had 4" over tubes on a Honda, Beezer, and a Trumpet, no probs with any.
Denver's Choppers first 'long bike' was labeled the Flyin' Hawaiian. It was like 44 over. Jus' phenominal. And they rode it like madmen. They make a very close version, again. Can't get the pic to copy and load. It's on their website, go to BIKES, and scroll thru. It's the one with the BIG Hawaiian model sitting on it.
__________________ U don't quit ridin' cuz U git Ol', U git Ol'cuz U quit ridin'
American by Birth - Biker by Choice - Saved by GOD's Grace So Many Bikes, So Few Bikers.
Had a hardtail in the 70's that came with all rake and no stretch. It was all molded beautifully. We put a 10" over on it just to get it to sit level. It was a flopper. I set it up as a rolling chassis with stock length tubes, and the bottom frame rails sat about 2" from the ground. Took it to an old 1%er, who pushed the rake back enough to give me some ground clearance (did it with a welder in his living room).
When it was done, it handled like a go cart. It was balanced so well, I have an old picture somewhere of me standing on the seat going down the highway.
Had a hardtail in the 70's that came with all rake and no stretch. It was all molded beautifully. We put a 10" over on it just to get it to sit level. It was a flopper. I set it up as a rolling chassis with stock length tubes, and the bottom frame rails sat about 2" from the ground. Took it to an old 1%er, who pushed the rake back enough to give me some ground clearance (did it with a welder in his living room).
When it was done, it handled like a go cart. It was balanced so well, I have an old picture somewhere of me standing on the seat going down the highway.
God, we were dumb back then.
Gotta love Bondo covered welds
__________________ Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare.
4" over stock is really only about 2" over current FXWG type front ends. That small an increase in fork length shouldn't give you any nervous moments. That's only the increase that my XA forks have over a stock springer.
How are you planning on matching the shafts? Or are you going to use a 4 speed in the Softtail?
Frame is an 89 softail. Sounds like 4 over is going to be ok
Yes, 4 speed with kick only, motor won't accept electric primary
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniper77
I always speculated it was the drugs we were on that softened the bones so they didn't break as easily.
Totally agree, but those were the days we would like to remember even thought we can't
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaddyKnuck
Gooseneck frames are a whole 'nother nightmare.
don't even want to go there.
Gotta go talk to my long time indy about finding a frame shop to stretch the back bone 2 inches for an extended Mustang tank and maybe even 'fixin' the rake. Ive seen nice bikes stretched and kept low. That's what I'm going for. I gots parts from various past projects that I want to put to good use. It's going to be a solo bike for runnin with the boys and I sure do miss the panhead bad
__________________
David P.
Riding Back Roads Take care of your stuff and it will take care of you !!
Denver's Choppers first 'long bike' was labeled the Flyin' Hawaiian. It was like 44 over. Jus' phenominal. And they rode it like madmen. They make a very close version, again. Can't get the pic to copy and load. It's on their website, go to BIKES, and scroll thru. It's the one with the BIG Hawaiian model sitting on it.
Flopping has less to do with the length of the forks and much more to do with the rake in the neck. Just as a very loose guideline, you can rake it out to about 38 degrees and add enough length in the tubes to make it sit level and it will still handle okay. after that you need to consider raked trees to bring the trail back to a safe number. I have 42 degree rake 3 degree raked trees and 4 over forks and it has the same trail as a stock dresser.
Better shun the bait, than struggle in the snare.
