Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Chop Till You Drop

Ok, ladies and gentlmen, its official...last night I consulted with Scott, the owner of Native Iron and I will be dropping my bike off in three weeks to get the front end chopped/raked. These guys have been doing all the frame chops here in Cherokee for a while now, some really nice stuff on a lot of my friends bikes, so I'm really looking forward to it. Will post pics as soon as the job gets going. AH YEAAAHHH!!!!!!!!

Lee

So I guess you are either not coming down now or will not be riding if you still are?

Phil, the three weeks was a guesstimate, the guy has a couple of projects in front of me, so he said he would notify me when they are near completion, I'm hoping they take more like FIVE weeks!! Yesterday was an informal plan hatched over a couple of brewskies, you know how that goes, but its definitely gonna happen (he's giving me a good deal for the work involved), and I will definitely be down your way...leaving 06/02. I may just ask him if we can start when I get back.

Lee

projects like that can often run into a glitch, if your still planning on bringing the scoot down, you might want to think seriously about waiting till you git back?? better yet you might consider waiting till winter hahahahahaha looking forward to showing you around.

I hear ya Newt, can't wait to hit that Bike night you were telling me about!! I put my bike on the back of my truck last night (speedo's getting fixed at the dealer under warranty), had to see how it would handle an 800 mile trip...looks good so far.

Lee

Hey Lee, really looking forward to seeing how it comes out. Ummm, if you change the rake on it those handlebars won't work anymore right? I got dibs!!.... LOL
Man, I'm taking my scoot into the dealer today for some service work and won't get it back till Tues. or Wed. and I'm already having withdrawals.
Are you going to longer forks then or is a new front end in the plans?


Steve

Lee,
Sounds pretty cool. Are they gonna actually cut and reweld the front back on with new rake or do it with rods/shims?

When I forst got my bike, the first ride I went on with the local RAT pack was a joint ride with the British Iron association of the area (MassBIA) and it was to Hooters so there was a good crowd:) It was also the first year for the America. So when I pulled up a couple of the guys with choppers came RUNNING over and were drooling and all "Look how easy it would be to just cut it right here and rake it out..." etc. So I bet they cut and weld!

The easiest way for them to do it would be to bend the backbone down and stretch it a bit to increase the rake angle. If they do they they would increase the length of the downtubes as well to match the backbone. They wouldn't be able to cut and rake just the neck due to the fact that the SM and BA necks are cast. They would have to cut out the cast neck and weld in a new neck. Then you might run into legal issues being the the VIN is imprinted on the stock neck. You might have to reregister the bike as special contruction.

What rake are you looking at going to? Any longer then 38 degrees you may have to extend the front end. You would have to run aftermarket extended tubes. If you do that, you'll have to change your wheel, tire and brake setup as well.

Good luck with your new endevour. Keep us posted with pics and updates.


Fryguy.

Glazer, I will definitely have to change my bars (the pullback will be too much), I had planned to advertise them here for sale, maybe I'll hit ya up first, to see if you want them....

Lee

Dinqua/Fryguy, the welder from Native Iron said it looked to be a pretty easy job, just cut out the neck, new downtubes...my main concern was whether the motor mount tube would cause him trouble, but he said that was no problem...I'm only going out a couple more degrees. I have the lowered Progressive Suspension and it makes the bike sit higher in the front, I really only want enough rake to kinda even it out back to level. Scott the welder said I wouldn't need longer tubes, hopefully he's right...he's raked a ton of different bikes (not just Hardleys), so I think he'll do a good job.

Lee

When you say he is going to cut out the neck, is he replacing it with a different neck? Or is he cutting out the neck and welding it back in at a different angle?


Fryguy

Fryguy, yeah he will be replacing the neck...they have a milling machine, don't really know the details, will find out more.

Lee

What your bike doesn't look good enough yet?? I can't wait to see pics of this Lee. Take lots.

Dang, a postponement of your trip would actually be good news for me, because I have a wedding out of state that I need to attend the first weekend in June. The bike mod sounds great though. Can't wait to hear, and see it.

Ryan

John, thanks man...you know as well as anybody that mods to this bike are an addiction; I'll never be done with the bike. Remember in GA you said as soon as you get a few items knocked off your list, four more items make their way on the list hahaha.

Lee

Ryan, I will be in south FLA for two weeks...until the 14th actually, maybe I could drop in on ya on my way back? I've never been to Daytona actually. Would love to cruise the boulevard (or strip, whatever its called).

Lee

I was actually hoping to get down to South Florida for some riding and some new tires (tyres), but whatever it takes! Funny thing about Main St., not much to it for every week out of the year save two.

R

Heja all
Here I got a erlking pic (haha)
for you all impatient guy's :
(click on motorcycle)
www.verholzt.de

Ride on Peter

Sounds like a plan. They will be custom milling a neck for it? Just a thought but did you think about maybe getting a new frame for it? If they are going to custom mill a neck for you, it might be cheaper to get a custom frame made. Just an idea. I hope everything works out for you. I want to see in progress pics when you get a chance. Can't wait to see it. I know you are anxious too. Keep Chopping!

(haven't used this in awhile...)

Fryguy, I really have no idea what the details are, I will be returning from vacation on June 15th, then the project will start....

Lee

Speaking of chopping....are there any negative results, besides the extra grime on the bike, if one removes the front fender? I took mine off this weekend, it looks cooler, but wnder if there is any danger from road debris...I also removed my shield for the summer.

On road trips, I plan to put both back on.

Charlie

Only if you hit any rain. Then it sucks. I agree, it does look cooler without it though.

In theory, the fender, ore moreso the metal frame of it, does support the forks somewhat....

That support is interesting. How do some people get away with out it when the chopper the fork? WillI run the risk of making them go out of alignment if I hit a major hole? I guess if I hit a big enough hole to do that, I run the risk of killing myslef anyway!!!

thanks

I've been running without a front fender for a while now, and as Paschal said, the rain is really the only bad thing...that and if you hit a little dust. I always carry an extra bandanna with me, you can tie it between the forks to catch some of the rain, notice I said SOME of the rain, haha.

Lee

Tsalagi, any news on your project yet?