I have to do something with my maxim

Ok guys....I've been thinking about making my maxim into a chopper, but I don't know where to start. I was going to make the bike into a street fighter, but I don't believe that Im up for that kinda work...Does anyone have any ideas?

 

make a cafe racer out of it

 

Are you wanting to hardtail it?

 

ok guys, this is a 83 750 Special. I don't have a problem with the hard tail look, I just don't know where I would began with it. And the tame with the cafe' racer...Wouldn't know where to start!

 

Well, I suggest looking at the galleries on here. There have been quite a few different takes on each mod done and documented in various threads here as well. Decide if you'd prefer a cafe racer style bike over a chopped or bobbed look. Then you can direct your questions appropriately. I don't think any of us have any secrets we won't share with you to make your modifications easier on you. All I have to say now is decide quickly and work quickly. Sumer is approaching and the last thing you want is to have a bike half finished when its riding season.

 

that is very true....PLUS i need a set of carbs...lol But I will do that to get a more specific question

 

Ok I want make my bike into something like a whale tail, or a hardtail? So can someone instruct me further?

 

hmmmm be more specific in what you want to do... here is a picture of my bike and what i've done so far, could be something similar to what your thinkin its not done by any means but most of the major frame modifications are done and now its just cosmetics and painting.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199 ... /maxim.jpg

 

yeah I like that....see I really wanted something sporty, this is kinda like what I want.

 

well here is a semi-detailed list of what i've done

Raked front forks 7 degrees

cut off frame back to rear shock mounts

removed centerstand

Mac 4-1 exhaust

Pod filters

Harley Davidson Sportster rear shocks (lowered about an inch and rides so much better)

removed front and rear fender

changed turn signals to smaller type


Mod's for the future

weld up a good rear lighting assembly to house blinkers brakelight and license plate

paint tank beautiful colors

make side covers out of diamond plate aluminum

get a legitimate seat



anyways thats just a small list... if any of that sounds like stuff you'd like to do i'd be glad to share information

 

hummmm...I wouldn't mind having it like a cafe...but doesn't that require some extensive work too?

 

its all in what you make it. i wouldn't necessarily stick to one 'genre' as-it-were just decide on a few things that you think you can do that would appeal to you visually and then do em!

 

I think oldbikebarn.com has somewhat of a cafe racer kit. I may be wrong but it could be a good place to start.

 

07spacker, how did you rake the frame 7 degrees and make it accurate, straight and safe? Did you take pics? If you did it right, your skills are worth alot!!!

 

07Spacker,
I assume by your photo that you cut and re-welded the steering neck to get your rake change? I see the engine hangs lower in the front? Does it change the lean rate significantly or isn't that an issue? PD

 

i cut up the back of the steer tube but left the top attached just barely to give me a bending point. i cut triangle gussets to go over the cut once i'm done (they're just heavily tacked right now so i can ride and make sure it goes straight and everything) the 7 degrees is just an approximate i got with a square after the fact because i just bent it til i felt it was comfortable and looked how i wanted. in order to make sure it was straight pulled a string line from the rear wheel mounts and made sure that the wheels track together in a straight line. i'm now in the testing phase making sure its all straight and true and i don't get any wobbles... so far so good, feels dead solid and straight up to 70 (i didn't push it any farther) so this weekend i'm going to weld the permanent gussets, grind, paint, and finish the whole thing to give it a clean look. hopefully that all make sense. as for your question painter d the frame is actually perfectly level on the bottom it just looks funny from the picture. it is a few inches lower but is still perfectly level to keep the engine exactly how it was before (i don't wanna mess to much with geometry. it rides great the only difference is turns are a little different with more rake but i have gotten used to it already.

 

Thanks Spacker!
I was looking at doing it for awhile now and kinda wondering if it would be better to get a different after market "raked" tree or do what you did. Now that I see it actually done, I guess I can go ahead and start cutting!
You must think like I do and I'm beginning to like it!!
Is that the same set of forks or did you get longer forks on it too? PD

 

see 07spacker I wanted my bike to be more street fighter....i want to cut that back portion of the seat off like yours, but I want a rear set on it, and sports suspension....I want it to be a killer bike

 

just the good ol' stock xj forks... but remember changing the rake will lower the front down some and you'll have to even that out in the back to keep your engine level... just a thought.

chopping the frame and the seat was real easy. i wouldn't hesitate to give it a go. i might just be having one of those moments but what is a 'rear set' you speak of? it sounds familiar vaguely but i still can't picture it.... fill me in. i just put on some harley davidson take offs... they already handle better than my ninja's monoshock did so i'm all for it!

 

Rear sets are shifting and braking controls found mainly on crotch rockets and cafe racers

 

So far, I've just lowered the rear of the bike, which did not seem to change the handling any, even at 85 mph. It is still rock steady. Now I can successfully rake the front to lower it. I could always just slide the forks up into the triple trees to lower it, but I'd like to have that rake instead. I am still concerned about the trail however. I like the longer wheel base, but I'm concerned about the trail, so I guess I'll have to do the math first and see just where that leaves me.

 

PainterD, that's I nice bike man.....I like the style.

 

Thanks Darkangel,
I've done some added mods to it since that photo was taken, so I guess I should get an updated one up soon.
I just pulled the valve cover off to do the valves, so I painted that red too. And the stock big square tach/speedo housing is gone too. I replaced it with a Honda speedometer with LED indicator lights. The chrome carb tops are red (all the red is pearl paint with high temp clear over it) I also did most of the engine with flat black high temp paint to set off the red some.
And I have since re-covered the seat and added 2" springs to it for shits and giggles.
When the weather breaks, I'll pull it out and shoot some photos for ya. PD

 

i'd forgotten how much i liked your bike PD. so a rearset is like the opposite of forward controls? just controls that are further back so you ride in a more aggressive position?

 

Your on the right track Spacker. The Seca comes with more rear set pegs that will put you in that position. Unless you want them back further to the rear? I guess I'm just the opposite, I like forward controls for longer rides which seems to be more relaxing for my legs.

 

Well I love rear sets.....when you get into the crouching position on a windy day, or when racing they come in handy...and when Im cornering I hate scraping my pegs and stuff...so yeah...but I plan to turn the bike more into a street fighter look still I guess....but Im just missing my carbs.....and I dont have a welder to do the work I need.

 

go on craigslist or your local equivelant and pick one up... they're so great and never really lose value if you buy them used.

 

I will just have to use a ebay one i guess