Diameter of frame?

[mrhammer2u]

If your a purist.....you may want to click back now....lol.

I want to chop rear of frame where the tail lights go. Then install a cafe seat. I dont have a welder. What's the inside diameter of the frame? Hoping I can find a plug that I can screw in. Maybe something from the plumbing section at home depot?

Any non-welding ideas are welcome.

[vanimal5k]

A friend of mine build a rat bike. After he cut the frame, he tapped out the inside and put in stainless steel allen head bolt with a domed/rounded head.

[jetmechmarty]

Dime City has a loop that should fit the 11. To do it right, you need to have it welded.

[natemoen]

I would say do it right or don't do it at all. Find someone to do the welding.

[IanDMacDonald]

If your a purist.....you may want to click back now....lol.

I want to chop rear of frame where the tail lights go. Then install a cafe seat. I dont have a welder. What's the inside diameter of the frame? Hoping I can find a plug that I can screw in. Maybe something from the plumbing section at home depot?

Any non-welding ideas are welcome.

I hear yah on the non-welding. In my younger years of frugalness, I avoided welding a cafe, and it turned-out pretty darn good! However, that bike is never rode, so I cannot attest to my jerry-rigged loop. Welding shops honestly do not charge much for small jobs. Save a hundred bucks over a month, and do it right as others have said above.

[mrhammer2u]

Thanks all. You've talked me into having it done right. I met a Machinist who said he can make me alum flush mount end caps for $75.

[IanDMacDonald]

Before you pay that sum, I'd do a little research on those end caps. Look into handlebar end caps, as-well as conduit caps.

[jetmechmarty]

You may wish to add a loop instead.

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index....7733#msg427733

http://www.sonicworxcycles.com/#!page2/cjg9

[DiverRay]

As a thought on the frame mod. The reason the "hoops" are used is to keep the rear of the frame rigid. without some type of brace between the two sides, the frame will flex and you will notice that in the handling. The minimum would be a bar between the two sides, welded on IMHO.
Any welder with a MIG can put on a bar you have already cut to size and fitted for about $25, as it would be a five minute weld, at most.

[jetmechmarty]

As a thought on the frame mod. The reason the "hoops" are used is to keep the rear of the frame rigid. without some type of brace between the two sides, the frame will flex and you will notice that in the handling. The minimum would be a bar between the two sides, welded on IMHO.
Any welder with a MIG can put on a bar you have already cut to size and fitted for about $25, as it would be a five minute weld, at most.

Absolutely! I was thinking about the cross brace being in the way. That's my hoop reasoning.

The stock bike has a fender, seat, and grab rail tying everything together. With that all gone, something needs to replace it. Note the loop on the custom done by professionals.

[TomB]

As a thought on the frame mod. The reason the "hoops" are used is to keep the rear of the frame rigid. without some type of brace between the two sides, the frame will flex and you will notice that in the handling. The minimum would be a bar between the two sides, welded on IMHO.

There is already a cross tube just in front of the top shock mounts, and Yamaha didn't use any extra cross bracing rear of that apart from a bolt in mudguard mount.

Brat/cafe style bikes rarely take pillion passengers or luggage like a standard XS11's do. Whilst a rear loop is more strength and nice for style its not essential.