New build stock engine restomod

[Yamavarna]

Progress report: the shock is at Penske, I’m really liking the Tyga caliper bracket even though the SV650 stuff fits (I will have to look for the smaller Honda rotor that bolts to the SV wheel! The Tyga carbon fender hugger is a beautiful piece and now I need a solo seat to compliment the no fender look, The Zeeltronics arrived along with the Motogadget stuff. I’m sanding and polishing the rgv swinger (it’s pretty scratched up and has a small dent I’m getting filled) and it will eventually end up matte black along with the triple clamps.
At this juncture I’m starting to brace the frame and I’ve noticed the NK racing kit, while it is a very good fit in the center stand mount, the bolts holding it on however are a bit of a loose fit in their corresponding frame holes so; I’m thinking about cutting some plates and then reaming some holes in them that will be a tight fit on the bolts and then welding them to outside of the center stand mount (to shore it all up a little better). Is this too much? I don’t know but it seems like the right thing to do while I’m welding my little gussets in. The SV axle is the right diameter but I’ll have to get it turned down shorter, what are you guys doing for wheel spacers and chain tensioning? I need to address the battery and airbox; I was thinking Toomey stuff but I found a stream about modifying the stock airbox, pro’s and cons anyone? I’m trying to address all of the chassis mods I need to do before going to powder so I may have to wait until I find an aftermarket solo seat and actually get it mounted to see what I need mounting tabs for and what I can cut off. What else needs custom mounting? Maybe a custom plate for the electronics?
So.. not a lot of progress but the logistics in this pandemic are brutal!

[Yamavarna]

The rgv swingarm is at the welders getting some small dents and scratches filled and generally checked over (thanks MK) and I should get it back this week, I also ordered a bunch of stuff from the Netherlands for it, I ordered a solo seat from Airtech and they said 4-5 weeks,

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The SmartCarbs are getting drilled for oil pipes, I found the right Burgman rotor to use with the nice Tyga billet caliper holder (thanks gpaddict), no word from Toomey yet but I bought a 1982 lc yesterday (I know I’m hooked)! so I will just use the D&G pipes until the Toomey pipes are made then the Elsie can inherit them, as a matter of fact I may put the rz forks and carbs on it as well as it runs but it is next in line for a make over.
This is taking a lot longer than I want but; the frame needs fork stops extended as the tabs on the lower triple of the r6 forks miss the rz stops by about 1/4”, then I have to mount the new seat and I may even have to move ahead and mock-up the Zeeltronics, lithium battery and Motogadget stuff as it may need a custom setup, all before I can send it all to Powdercoat, so; it may even be motor rebuild time while I wait, but all good things are worth waiting for!

[Questo vecchio rz]

I had that same solo seat once, I'll tell you take a cut off wheel or a saw and cut off that contoured section along the entire bottom so that the entire unit has a curve it.
Man O man will it look way better!
And you don't even have to guess you just follow that contour line and cut it

[Yamavarna]

Questo Vecchio rz,

Thanks for the heads up; I’m getting a lot of great info from those that have travelled this road before me. I have been sitting on my ass waiting for parts and I finally got some time at the welders (he’s a very busy NHRA chassis builder), we extended the steering stops to work with the r6 lower clamp

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He fixed all of the dents and dings in the VJ22 swingarm

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He is even going to weld up this huge gap that the factory would not, of course I still have to dress all of these welds and polish the swingarm a bit before it goes off to Powdercoat.
I made a plate to strengthen the head stock area but I have to put the pictures in the next post

[Yamavarna]

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This is the spot he is going to attempt to seal up before and after

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[Yamavarna]

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Sorry for redundancy in the pics here is a few of the plates we put in the steering head, of course there will be some artistic Swiss cheese style holes going in them. We are moving on to the gussets now and I’ll post some more pics later

[Yamavarna]

Some more little gussets

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I have to dress all the edges nice and drill some big holes. I have 6 more gussets to add, maybe an electrical tray and of course the mounts for the solo seat. Then I’ll cut off what I don’t need and hopefully be ready for Powdercoat, it seams really slow going and it’s difficult to notice any progress at this point in the build, but that’s my fault really so I’ll try and pick up the pace a little.

[Yamavarna]

I think I am done with the swingarm; it’s gone from this:

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to this repair:

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[Yamavarna]

And I finally dressed it down to this:

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That’s all I’m going to do as it is getting matte black Powdercoat which is very forgiving compared to gloss. I have decided to shorten the r6 steering stem instead of adding spacers, it’s already pressed out and I need the top triple as low as I can get it. I am going to make an aluminum mount for the gpr steering damper and some more gussets for the frame then it’s all off to Powdercoat. I’m not sure about the foot pegs; I can leave the stock pegs or go with rear sets. I’m also wrestling with handlebars or 3” riser Tarozzi clip-ons
Edit; It seems there is a bad light reflection on the pics so I may add some more of the finished swingarm because it doesn’t do it justice; the lines are not perfect and the weld beads reflect the light differently

[85RZwade]

You're getting a lot done! Envious of your progress.

[Yamavarna]

Thanks for the kind words, it really seems like I am doing so much and spending so much with not so much progress to show for it so; it is very reassuring that someone else sees some progress on this project!

[tacky1]

It’s coming on great. This is the part where a lot gets done but can’t be seen. All the little bits and pieces that bring the bike together.
Nice work.

[Yamavarna]

I did a little more work on the frame bracing with some 4130 tubing

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The only other frame mods on the agenda are drilling some holes in the plates, bevel the edges nicely, weld on the damper post and the mounts for the solo seat(when it gets here). So I think while I wait on Penske, Airtech and Toomey I think I will mock up my electrical boxes and make a nice aluminum plate to mount them on.

[Yamavarna]

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Frame bracing is done unless someone sees something I missed. I would like to see any motor mount bracing if someone has done it

[Questo vecchio rz]

Good job, Think you will find that quite adequate.
These bikes even in their (1983 design) are capable of more than most riders ability .Your mods are proven over almost 40 years of club racers to help with handling and stability...
Good job again, your gonna have a sweet ride there!