Wide tyre into XJ build log

So,parts have begun to appear so it seems a good point to begin the log. I will be putting a 250/45/18 tyre onto a car wheel and mounting into my 1989 XJ900,along with a monoshock conversion. This project will take a little while,as with 3 kids and a full time job I don't get a huge amount of spare time!
Anyway,onto some pictures. The bike as I got it....

And after a bit of a camo-delete.....

Thats better. I will be doing the chassis work for now and will get into the engine some more over winter but for now she runs fine so leave well enough alone. Parcel chap delivered this yesterday....

And ths....should be a bit chunkier,no?!

So thats where we're at so far. I'm just waiting on my spare frame and swingarm (complete with final drive,god bless ebay!) and the surgery can start.

 

...this should be interesting to watch....

 

i gotta give you points for going big... this'll be interesting for sure!

 

daymn. this will be neat. dont let us down!

 

Sounds like a wild conversion and I can’t wait to see the out come. I saw the bike on eBay, did you buy it or were you the seller?
All the best
Al

 

Just seeing the tank butchered like that makes me cringe and brings tears to my eyes.

 

It's pretty straight,amazingly. Only one small hole which started leaking when i was stripping back all the camo paint. But I aint a purist I'm afraid,thats why I buy ratty bikes to start with,so I'm not chopping up summat nice.

 

Hey Al,no I was the buyer mate. Got it for a decent price so nothing ventured....

 

Can't wait to see this. Are you going with a double sided swingarm or a single sided?

 

Got to be a double arm. The design of the final drive isn't up to the stresses involved,it would destroy the bearings in pretty short order. However if this setup works as it should there's no reason a similar setup couldn't be devised using say a Goldwing final drive instead to provide a single-sided version. Obviously more work would be involved to produce the different splines etc.

 

Single sided would look nice. Since your using a car rim, could you use the car spindle and bearings?

 

PINGU!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!! I'm really digging the direction you are going.

I am still leaning towards using a Suzuki M50 cage on a modified XJ swinger with the double UJ. I don't have the parts yet, but should shortly. I am not going anywhere near as wide as your setup though. I am looking to install a 180 or so rear tire.

The BIG A$$ car rim and M/C tire you are using will look awesome though!

I will be following this thread closely and looking forward to the outcome as my setup may or may not work. If it doesn't, count me in on a kit. I think it would be worth the money and effort to install.

 

Its the bearings in the final drive that would break up mate. They're not designed to take the levering stresses that would apply with a sssa. If you imagine holding a rod about a metre long with one hand at either end,hanging a weight off the centre of it then let go of one end it gives you an idea of the stress involved. Single sided shaft drives run some pretty hefty bearing setups. Maybe that could be a project for next year...... :lol:

 

Thanks man,get some posts up when you're underway,I'm keen to see where you go with it. If you need any help ref UJ's give me a shout,I've studied the subject pretty extensively....its how Vmaxes get you. :lol: