Don't hate me for this...

[XSLevi]

...but I'm considering doing a chopper ala: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihPLDMTRBPs

Any Ideas on how to get the rake done? Any one here ever done any frame mods?

[natemoen]

That video has been tore apart many times over here.....

[XSLevi]

Why don't folks like it? Go ahead, let me have it.

[cywelchjr]

...but I'm considering doing a chopper ala: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihPLDMTRBPs

Any Ideas on how to get the rake done? Any one here ever done any frame mods?

As the guy who did it said, you can't corner but slowly, and you can't go very fast as it's all for looks not for go.

As for how it's done, he said he heated up the neck area of the frame and bent it. I for one would not trust the frame after doing that. There is a proper way to do these things, and I know I don't have either the skill set OR the equipment to do it correctly, and getting it done by a shop could either be not too bad price wise or could break the bank. But if you're looking for something that's all show and no go (which is what that bike is by the guy's own admission) that's the build for you, otherwise, you might want to consider one of the types of chopper/bobber builds that are more functional and leave you with a bike that can still turn some reasonable speeds. As low as that thing is, if you hit the front brakes hard (required in pretty much every state I know of) the bottom of the frame is going to hit and you're going to lose your tire contact patch which means likely going down .

[11Rider]

Hey I say go for it - it's your bike! I was considering something like that (not so radical) but I got a Suzuki Savage that I'm now going to go nuts on and keep the 11 more towards the stock side. Maybe you could consider something like that too. But why anyone would ridicule another fellow biker for making his ride his own is beyond me. What's wrong with all show and no go if that's what you like?? When you're done I'd love to see pics and get ideas from you!

[cywelchjr]

Who said anything about ridicule? If you ask for peoples opinions on something, you have no right to get upset when/if they don't agree with yours. If you don't really want peoples opinions, then you shouldn't be asking for them. Frankly we are telling him why we think it's a bad idea and what the downsides are, so that he can make an INFORMED decision about what to do. If he knows the downsides to it, and still wants to do it, then more power to him and go for it.

My only heartburn on this is the good running bikes the in more than 50% of the case end up being parts sold on ebay or craigslist because the person starts in and decides it's too big a job after cutting up the frame and just parts it out and another bike is gone forever. The ones that are already chopped up etc that maybe can never be brought back to a complete bike, doing this may well be the best route for them. But in any of those cases, it's HIS bike, to do with what he will, and it doesn't matter if we like it or not. But if he asks for my opinion or advice, I'm going to give MY opinion and advice, and it's going to be what I think. But I'll also give advice on how best I know to accomplish what he wants to do even if I don't agree with the goal, because I'd rather see the goal reached than see it fail and the bike get parted out.

So see? If you ask "should I chop this bike?" I'm likely to try and talk you out of it (unless the frame is already cut up). But if you are already going to do it and area asking advice on how to accomplish a certain part or such, I'll do my best to give my best advice. Notice I didn't say do nothing, I said he might want to consider another direction if he wants something that retains the ability to corner and go somewhat fast. This was advice, not ridicule. If he want's show rather than go, and can make it look as good as that one, then I would say go for it, cause while it's not my taste, for what it IS, that one in the video is a well done example of the breed.

[jwhughes3]

Not so low

If you chop it dont take it so low you cant corner...

That is all..

John

[bikerphil]

With a little extra work you could probably get a V-twin to fit in the frame too.

['OlGuiltyBoy]

With enough work anything is possible Phil.

But if you're looking for rake on some triple trees, even a 0 degree tree to fit our stem with bigger/up to date forks try these people out.

http://www.customtripletrees.com/

[11Rider]

Who said anything about ridicule? If you ask for peoples opinions on something, you have no right to get upset when/if they don't agree with yours. If you don't really want peoples opinions, then you shouldn't be asking for them. Frankly we are telling him why we think it's a bad idea and what the downsides are, so that he can make an INFORMED decision about what to do. If he knows the downsides to it, and still wants to do it, then more power to him and go for it.

My only heartburn on this is the good running bikes the in more than 50% of the case end up being parts sold on ebay or craigslist because the person starts in and decides it's too big a job after cutting up the frame and just parts it out and another bike is gone forever. The ones that are already chopped up etc that maybe can never be brought back to a complete bike, doing this may well be the best route for them. But in any of those cases, it's HIS bike, to do with what he will, and it doesn't matter if we like it or not. But if he asks for my opinion or advice, I'm going to give MY opinion and advice, and it's going to be what I think. But I'll also give advice on how best I know to accomplish what he wants to do even if I don't agree with the goal, because I'd rather see the goal reached than see it fail and the bike get parted out.

So see? If you ask "should I chop this bike?" I'm likely to try and talk you out of it (unless the frame is already cut up). But if you are already going to do it and area asking advice on how to accomplish a certain part or such, I'll do my best to give my best advice. Notice I didn't say do nothing, I said he might want to consider another direction if he wants something that retains the ability to corner and go somewhat fast. This was advice, not ridicule. If he want's show rather than go, and can make it look as good as that one, then I would say go for it, cause while it's not my taste, for what it IS, that one in the video is a well done example of the breed.

Misunderstanding here!! I in no way was ridiculing your alleged ridicule Notice the OPs original title - he seemed nervous that he would get flamed for chopping his 11. I have, on occasion, seen some people take flak for chopping up a classic bike. It seemed to me the OP was worried about this and hence my comment. however, I did not take your input as ridicule and was not referring to it My reference to "what's wrong with all show and no go" was merely to encourage the OP. You have been a tremendous help to me many times in the past and have a high regard for your knowledge!

[DGXSER]

Hate is such a strong word!!

I would not say that I would hate, I won't even ridicule you, I will however think to myself in a printed fashion what in the hates posessed anyone to do such a thing. See, I am an engineer, I think in terms of logic, and function. So when I see that bike I think things like.... straight pipes, those carbs will never tune well enough to function in the power band and still idle......Sitting the bike on the pipes, how long till those break a weld or bend when hot......That extreme rake will make that bike handle like condensed cow doo doo.........The low low stance will not allow it to corner AT ALL.

Now none of that is ridiculing the OP, just the bike he chose to select for us to review as the model of what he plans to do with an XS11. As we have never seen the condition of the machine he is planning to do this with, it seems premature to think he is ruining a fine piece of machinery.

But then, like I said, for me the cup is never half empty or half full, its just twice as big as it needed to be.

[crazy steve]

[QUOTE=XSLevi;345929Any Ideas on how to get the rake done? Any one here ever done any frame mods?[/QUOTE]

I've done frame mods....

[IMG][/IMG]

... as seen here (49 degrees of rake). But I also retained a rear suspension and adequate ground clearance, so mine will handle much better than the video bike. That bike is waaay too low, and will high-side the rider sooner or later. Personally, I wouldn't get on that bike as it's an accident looking for a place to happen...

Even so, I consider mine as nothing more than a bar-hopper, and not an 'every day' bike by any means. With that much rake, you have very slow-reacting steering; it's also very 'heavy' steering at low speeds, with the front wheel wanting 'flop' if you're not paying attention.

As far as doing the frame mods, don't try it unless you're totally confident in your welding/fab skills; this is not a project for a novice. With this much rake, the stress at the neck is considerably higher than stock. This guy cut off the whole top of the OEM frame, fabricating a new backbone. That part looks ok, but his lack of bracing at the swingarm pivots would give me pause.

Bottom line IMO is, yeah, it looks 'cool'. But living with it will likely prove to be misery punctuated by flashes of terror.... if it doesn't kill you...

[fredintoon]

Why don't folks like it? Go ahead, let me have it.

Hi Levi,
because it's an unrideable f**king abortion?

[latexeses]

The title of the movie...
How to turn an $1800(?) dollar motorcycle into a few hundred dollars worth of "usable parts" in one easy lesson...

[Wildkat]

Hi Levi,
because it's an unrideable f**king abortion?

So don't ride it if you're pregnant...