Chapter 3

Modifying the Frame

I got the frame cleaned up in Chapter Two, and loaded it, the fuel tank, tail section, and front end to take over to Tracy's shop. There he was able to work his magic and modify the frame for me. Things to consider when modifying the frame for racing: Rear Sets, Battery Placement, Fairing Mounts, Fuel Tank Quick Mount, and Seat Pan/Tail Section Mounting. Tracy laid it all out within minutes and even with a welder glitch, had the fram ready in just a couple of hours.

First off, remember the flute from Chapter Two? Tracy filled it and I will "clean it up" so it doesn't look ghetto. Then he grabbed some angle iron and eyed up a section to mount on the right side. Flash, flash, poof poof... and I have a rear set mount. Flip the frame over... flash, flash, poof, poof... the other rear set mount is done. WOW!

Then he takes some bar stock and measures a couple of quick pieces for the top of the frame in the rear. These are to be seat mounts that I will drill and run bolts through. I will then drill the bolt ends so an "R" clip can be inserted - making it a quick release set-up. He then takes the fuel tank and flips it over. Grinding off the paint on the tab to the rear of the tank, he exposes clean metal to weld on a piece of flat steel. This is to be another quick release set up using an existing bracket on the frame.

Then came the front fairing mount. Tracy took two pieces of angle iron and formed them to each side of the steering neck. Then he took a piece of flat steel and welded a cover piece over the angle iron. The goal here is to be able to tap a couple of holes and have the fairing stay bolt to the steering neck. It's another smooth way of making the bike servicable in the future.

The ball then is back in my court. I now need to clean up the welds and sand the frame for paint. Things are starting to come together and I have to form an idea of how I want this thing to look. Vintage bikes are great in black, but there's a big part of me that is seeing a pearl white with ghosted images in it. I really liked the GSXR I had last season - White with Black Graphics. I also think the tubular frames on the vintage bikes are cool... so I may want to do something other than black to show that off.

Why don't some of you throw your suggestions my way?

Kurt the new vintage guy