XS11 swing arm stretch?

[scrapvalue]

Anyone stretch a drive shaft and swing arm on XS11??
If so, how much?

[Elevener]

Im curious as to why you would even consider it on an old bike?

[bikerphil]

Easy way is go chain drive/late model swingarm/mono shock. Then you can go with a fatter wheel. I've never heard of anyone stretching the stock arm before.

[Rasputin]

I have seen one or two on another site with good pics as well. It was one of the chopper forums. If I can find (read Remeber) it I will post up a link.

[crazy steve]

There's been a couple of posts on modded swingarms....

Here's one: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...gth+driveshaft

Here's a search: http://www.xs11.com/forum/search.php?searchid=677299
(not sure this will work...)

There was also a post about using a commercially-available custom length VMax driveshaft on a hardtail conversion, but I couldn't find that one.

[Rasputin]

This is not the one I was thinking about but it does show several bikes with stretched swing arms and shafts. Might get some ideas or contact info from it.
http://www.customcycledevelopments.c...hives_page.htm

[scrapvalue]

The reason I am asking is because I want to build another old,(really old), style custom like this one I built.
This was a 1074 Honda CB750. I strectched the swing arm 8 inchs on it.
Everthing I put back on the bike was pretty much hand made.
When motorcycles were first beginng made, there were no catalogs or bike shops to buy stuff from. You either had to make it yourself or find something that would work for the purpose. That is how I went about building this one.
I really like the way it turned out and have put a little over 6500 miles on it.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/...pvalue/ksl.jpg

I have a 1978 XS1100 that ios just begging for the same style treatment.
But this one will be a bagger style set up for touring.

Does anyone have a swing arm and drive shaft assembly they may consider selling for reasonable?
I would like to try streching one and then installing it if it works out, but not left without a rear end if it don't.

[natemoen]

Probably be way easier to go with the chain drive, then you would even be able to change up the wheels to match your style.

[scrapvalue]

Even if I do the conversion to chain drive, I still have to strech taht.

I am hoping to at least try to stretch a drive shaft, just to see if it can be done.

As far as style goes, the bike will have its own style, just not sure what it will be yet.

You can't really plan the whole thing out before you start.
It will evolve as the project proceeds.
If that makes any sense.

That CB750 I did looks nothing like what I had first planned.
Each thing you do gives way to other ideas.
Thats what makes it so much fun.

To be different means not doing things the same way twice.

[crazy steve]

If you're trying to do this on the cheap, unless you have the ability to machine your own new driveshaft I don't see this as being inexpensive. A 8" stretch is a lot....

You shouldn't have to do anything to the final drive. Swingarms are on EBay for as little as $10 plus shipping. But these swingarms are considerably different from a chain-drive unit and will require precision to keep proper alignment of the driveshaft/FD/axle if you cut it up; if it were me, I'd build a 'jig' for welding the swingarm. It will be complicated by the fact that the non-drive-side arm isn't parallel to the other side so you can't simply extend it.

But the big fly in the ointment will be a new driveshaft; as I mentioned, a one-piece aftermarket unit in custom lengths is available for the VMax that will have the right splines on both ends but is larger in diameter which will cause problems with interference inside the arm and/or reduce tire clearance (already barely enough). Cutting/stretching/rewelding the stock shaft could be done, but at only 5/8" in diameter I don't know that I'd trust a welded shaft.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it will certainly be much harder than extending a chain type swingarm. Several of the 'swapable' swingarms used in the links I posted are longer than the OEM arm, but not 8" longer...

A chain conversion would be easier, but not cheaper; beside the cost of the middle drive conversion ($650?), you'd still have to get another swingarm, chain, rear wheel, and probably rear brake.

[natemoen]

I dont think you could get a shaft that had been lengthened strong enough to withstand the twisting force of the engine against the friction between the road and the tire.

The only way to really get the strength would be to cut and pin and that would probably increase the diameter of the shaft by at least 1" if not 1.5". The shaft is already unbelievably hard and cutting and welding 2 shafts together even if a good machine shop did it and hardened it they probably would not think it would last. But they will do whatever you want as long as they get paid.

You could probably get a custom shaft made to length but that is going to be big bucks too.

[crazy steve]

You could probably get a custom shaft made to length but that is going to be big bucks too.

Found the link.... http://rmsportmax.com/gateway.html

These guys can do up to 6" over the stock Vmax length, but the downside is their shaft is almost twice as big around as the XS unit, so it won't fit the XS swingarm without major mods and issues with tire clearance. Not cheap either at about $280, but still less than having it done as a one-off.

The Royal Star arm is about 1.5" longer than the XS unit and supposedly can be made to fit...

[natemoen]

Open driveshaft...?

Have to rig up a custom swingarm but your already altering it if your lengthening it.

[crazy steve]

Open driveshaft...?

That's been discussed too, but the downside is that exposes the driveshaft/FD splined connection to the elements so you'll have to figure out some way to keep the lube in/dirt out...

[scrapvalue]

I have a guy who does automotive drive shaft extensions and he dosent see it as a problem to lengthen one of these.

I know there are going to be unforseen difficulties, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
There are probably a million reasons why it won't work, but if it hasn't been tried, how will we know for sure.

I'm don't think I will be extending this one 8 inchs, probably just 5 or 6.

If I can get used one for cheap enough, I will give it a try.
Figured I would give someone here a chance to get rid of some unwanted parts before I go the flea-bay route.