Triumphrat

sweatmachine · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaCorse

Don't cut the frame. Use raked HD forks. So much easier to do and if you ever want to go back to stock... no problemo.

/Mike

you mean raked trees, or raked bearing cups?

You can get 3* from raked bearing cups, provided they'll fit our frames. He would need longer forks, of course.

Raked trees are not a solution, not a good one anyway, because it will screw his trail up and make the bike handle awful. Raked trees are not the same thing as raked bearing cups or a raked frame.

oldroadie · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyeastside

If you're going to build something that cool, you can't use a 'fake' anything. I wouldn't mind seeing a battery sitting in plain sight, but the bike would lose credibility with fake covers. Just my honest thoughts. Check out LedSled or Baas Metal for cool battery boxes.

My thought is a "fake oil bag" would make a grand place to hide the fuse block and other assorted electrical items coming out of the frame plus lend and old school look. It would be functional, just not hold any oil.

jostalli · 05-17-2008

Today I met with the designer of the bike in the pic and I've asked for his help in this project. Here is my list of mods:

I'm not going to go with a hard tail (since I plan on actually riding it). I'm going to find some small springs and drop the frame about an inch and a half above the rear tire. I need a taller tire (can't find an 80 or 90 to fit a 17 inch wheel)

I'm definitely chopping the frame to rake the fork and eliminating the rear foot peg mount section on the frame.

I'm going to cut down an old bonnie tank instead of use the existing.

I'm eliminating the speedo, controls, side covers, fenders, headlight, pipes and blinkers. I'm just going to have a two in one exhaust made like in the pic

The seat will be a fabricated aluminum sheet with a slab of foam (for comfort).

I still haven't decided how to hide the battery. I may have some side covers fabricated just to hide things.

I'm sure I'm missing a lot of details but you'll see the finished product at the end of June

sweatmachine · 05-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jostalli

I'm not going to go with a hard tail (since I plan on actually riding it). I'm going to find some small springs and drop the frame about an inch and a half above the rear tire.

might as well hardtail it then, and run a sprung/suspended seat. It will have as much, or more, suspension travel, and look better.

666Bonneville · 05-18-2008

i have a hardtail triumph, and i can ride it for hours without crying.

everyone seems to be so afraid of them for no reason. it will look ugly as a soft tail flat tracker.

jostalli · 05-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 666Bonneville

i have a hardtail triumph, and i can ride it for hours without crying.

everyone seems to be so afraid of them for no reason. it will look ugly as a soft tail flat tracker.

I'm glad you said that. I had a custom hard tail chopper for about three months till I sold it. I hated the ride. If I hit a bump at high speeds the back end would hop up. It was just unsafe to ride fast.

I agree the hard tail is the way to go to make it look good. I definitely don't want to do a sprung seat. That's for bobbers/cruisers.

mikeinva · 05-18-2008

I am with you i wouldnt have another hard tail they ride like crap.I am past the age of wanting something that looks cool i want one that handles and runs fast .I look at it this way if its fast and ugly you wont see it long lol.

jostalli · 05-18-2008

While it is clear my purpose for customizing the bonneville is to make it look cool I do want it to be functional. This is why I post the project on this forum. The feedback is priceless. So, gents how can I have the best of both? Do I pad the hell out of the custom seat? Gel? Tiny hidden springs? Do I try to find small, inconspicuous shocks instead of a completely hard tail?

6t · 05-18-2008

Does anyone make a repro sprung hub? I had a 1950 Thunderbird with a sprung hub, seemed to work o.k., although at the time I coveted a swing arm. Time change I guess.

rodburner · 05-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jostalli

I'm glad you said that. I had a custom hard tail chopper for about three months till I sold it. I hated the ride. If I hit a bump at high speeds the back end would hop up. It was just unsafe to ride fast.

I agree the hard tail is the way to go to make it look good. I definitely don't want to do a sprung seat. That's for bobbers/cruisers.

I guess I`m confused now. You had a hardtail but hated it,but you want to hardtail your Bonnie.And a sprung seat is for bobbers,so you will heavily pad a custom pan. You can get shorter shocks from many makers,the Progressives I have are available in sizes down to minus 4" from a stock Bonnie,but there WILL be issues going that low.Seats are a personal thing.My custom seat is very thin,only allowing me to ride about 100 miles before a break,but its a trade-off I accept.I have other seats that I can ride on for hours,but they don`t look that good to me.Bonnie`s are very versatile when it comes to making mods.