hard tail question

hey guys, i was wondering if anybody who hard tailed there bike used the stock seat rails and just re-positioned and re welded them for the hard tail.... i think it would work but using fish plates would be a darn good idea. So, anybody have any input?

 

I was thinking the same thing. My idea was to cut just in front of the shock mount before it takes that upward curve. cut the lower bar at the appropriate place. bend the top bar down and weld in place. Add extentions to meet the swing arm at or rear of the lower shock mount and your done. If you wanted to stretch the frame you could remove the swing arm al together and add lower tubes for a more traditional hardtail.

I think some of the existing hardtails for XS650s could be modified to fit by bending the seat rails down as described above and cutting the ready made hardtails (like the ones from TC or Black widow or Kansaskustoms etc) to fit.

 

Not exactly what you've described, but several of us here have persued hardtailing XJ's in a similar fashion.

 

i have an 1100 so im kinda worried about how small the stock rails are... thats why i wanted to use fish plates. I guess ill give it a shot