Lighten UP!

[posthuman]

from everything ive read here, it seems like the effort isnt worth enough to get a seat of pants difference, with the exeption of lightening unsprung weight

[pggg]

This one's an 18 inch XJ900 front wheel, 110/90/18 tyre, it's a fair bit wider than an XS 19 inch, it's to match a back 160/60/17 which is pretty low profile.



Now it's a nuicance to fit this 900 front, dunno what year it is, it's got a 15mm axle, XS11 is 17mm, NOT downsizing the axle diameter, gotta swap bearings to take the 1100 axle, fiddling with spacers and stuff, the speedo drives are interchangeable on both 900 and 1100 wheel though except for axle diameter


They're identical gearing from what I can see, seems strange, so again assuming the 18 inch wheel is gonna read the same as the 19 inch XS wheel on the speedo - but won't be surprised if it doesn't.

[50gary]

JFTR, I just weighed my 1978E OEM exhaust system, 19LB.6oz
I hope to be able to make my own four into one with muffler (of some sort) at about ten to twelve LB.
Cheers, 50gary

[HobbyMan]

Not to crush your spirits any, but if you want it lighter it would be easier to buy a diffenren't bike. Personally, I prefer the mass because of the extra stability it gives. F=ma

[TopCatGr58]

Again, thinking about getting bent!

Originally posted by 50gary
JFTR, I just weighed my 1978E OEM exhaust system, 19LB.6oz
I hope to be able to make my own four into one with muffler (of some sort) at about ten to twelve LB.
Cheers, 50gary

Hey Gary,

Not to hijack this thread, but since you brought up the idea of making your own exhaust system, I've been doing a little research into this possibility myself, using STAINLESS!

I've found several hydraulic manual pipe benders from sources like Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, etc., like this!


Some of the statements about these say they are for Sched. 40 pipe...not for exhaust pipe!?

I found that Sched. 40 pipe can vary from these sizes and more:
Sched. 40 pipe is .113"/2.8mm thick up to .216"/5.5mm for 3" pipe.
Other schedules are 10 and 5:
Sched. 5 is .065"/1.65mm thick

Steel gauge sizes I've found are:
16ga = 0.063"
18ga = 0.049
11ga = 0.125

A web site that sells SS pipe for exhausts recommended the 16gauge for weight and strength. That supplier has the 1.75 OD sized pipe needed for our bikes, 1.5ID minimum size!

MY QUESTION IS, if the bender can bend the thicker pipe, then shouldn't it be able to bend the thinner stuff easier?

I was watching biker buildoff, and they had to use an auto exhaust bender trying to bend handlebar pipe, and it was kinking, until they adjusted the pressure settings. And it was a fancy bender with a form on the back side of the bend as well as the inside part. The above bender only uses a curved form on the inside of the bend, just rollers on the backside. Would this lead to more of a chance for kinking the pipe at the bend, or are they saying that the rollers could INDENT the pipe if it's too thin?
T.C.

[79XS11F]

Could you not draw it up and get a muffler shop to do the bending for you TC.
Rob

[TopCatGr58]

Where's the fun and adventure in that?

Hey Rob,

I was wanting to be able to do it myself. Isn't it like $10.00 a bend, with the headers alone, that's 8 bends at least, would have it paid for with just one system, and IF I was able to do it successfully, would possibly be another item I could offer to the masses?? But most likely, I'll be able to make it in just satisfactory condition/quality for myself, but not necessarily PRODUCTION quality for others!? Besides, always nice to have another toy/tool!
T.C.

[Ken Talbot]

AFAIK, those benders work much like the benders in a muffler shop, and they will also kink the inside radius of the bend. This is just the nature of this type of bender. Do a google search for mandrel bending and you'll see the kind of technology you need for making nice exhaust systems. The bad news is mandrel bending equipment is expensive. The good news is you can just buy pre-bent pieces in a wide variety of sizes and materials. You do some careful cutting of these pre-bent pieces, weld them up and wallah - you've got your custom exhaust.

Here's a link to some info on mandrel bending

Here's just one of many sites that sells mandrel bent tubing elbows

[TopCatGr58]

Ken,

Thanks for the links, however that supplier doesn't have pipe in the 1.75" OD size needed for our pipes! THIS PLACE does, and they sell "U" bents instead of just 90 degree bends requiring some extra welding to extend the pipe on the end of the bend so that it will reach the head, etc.!

But I was hoping that I could "play" with a bender and some pipe to avoid as many welded joints as possible! I don't have a TIG welder, just a MIG wire feeder, won't make as pretty of welds, although I do have a grinder!

I do have a muffler shop just down the street, perhaps I'll check into how much per bend, as well as see if they have any technical info on the type of bender I was looking at!?
I gotta stop watching so many episodes of BikerBuildoff and OCC!
T.C.

[mro]

Bent, not broken

Stock exhaust header not too tight a bend.
This might do the trick, but gona cost over $500.00 w/shipping.
Would need to ask em about "kinking" inside of radius for tube size tho.

http://vansantent.com/model_3_bender.htm#accessories

check out the video


mro
might have to start looking out for a used one

[50gary]

I would make mine from .065" wall and mild steel. I have a friend that does titianium and ceramic coatings he does mainly race car stuff but many bikes and two strokes as well. I'll do the work but he lets me use his shop for my bikes pipes. Luckily, I have the TIG welder. I love that race bike look with about 12 weld joints to get around a bend (s) Muffler shops generally don't use equipment that makes mandrel bends. I'm thinking of making them "stepped" starting with 1.5" then step to 1.625" and finish with 1.75" I may buy that twins book from Amazon.
Cheers, 50gary

[79XS11F]

Re: Where's the fun and adventure in that?

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey Rob,

I was wanting to be able to do it myself. Isn't it like $10.00 a bend, with the headers alone, that's 8 bends at least, would have it paid for with just one system, and IF I was able to do it successfully, would possibly be another item I could offer to the masses?? But most likely, I'll be able to make it in just satisfactory condition/quality for myself, but not necessarily PRODUCTION quality for others!? Besides, always nice to have another toy/tool!
T.C.

I LOVE tools too but have no idea what a pipe bender that will handle that size in stainless would cost. If it's several hundred then having it done is a good idea but it its a couple of hundred then I would also just buy it.
Rob

[79XS11F]

Don't know if this is of any use but when bending copper piping a trick to avoid kinking and wrinkling is to fill the pipe with sand before bending it. the sand inside prevents kinking, deforming or flatting at the bend and wrinkling on the smaller DIA pipe but not sure if it would work as well on larger sizes.
Rob

[Jeff]

Here's an alternative to mandrel bending.

Roller Bender

[LoserShoes]

Take a look at a "Hosfelt Bender". Think I spelled it right. You can get dies for tubing for it.

Steve