V649HP-Kawasaki's new gravel runner

[freewheeler]

In reference to the leading axle screwing up the handling ... My opinion is It will make it better ... Coming off a DL1000 ... to the Versys ... At first I didn't like it ... the ride was choppy ... and the wheel base ... being much shorter than the DL1000 made the Versys seem unstable to me ... as time went on I got used to it ... but to this day ... I miss the stability and the better ride that the DL1000 provides ... I just made a long story out of saying ... the extra 1" to 11/2" of wheel base the leading axle is going to provide ( in my 40 years of modding bikes ) is going to make it better ... not worse

[johnwesley]

Originally Posted by freewheeler

In reference to the leading axle screwing up the handling ... My opinion is It will make it better ... Coming off a DL1000 ... to the Versys ... At first I didn't like it ... the ride was choppy ... and the wheel base ... being much shorter than the DL1000 made the Versys seem unstable to me ... as time went on I got used to it ... but to this day ... I miss the stability and the better ride that the DL1000 provides ... I just made a long story out of saying ... the extra 1" to 11/2" of wheel base the leading axle is going to provide ( in my 40 years of modding bikes ) is going to make it better ... not worse

It's not a wheelbase thing. Your vstrom has tripple trees designed for a leading axle. So the trail is set right for it. It is well beyond a wheel base thing. With out enough trail the bike will be unstable

[Tijuana_Taxi]

This kind of explains it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle...cycle_geometry

[freewheeler]

Originally Posted by johnwesley

It's not a wheelbase thing. Your vstrom has tripple trees designed for a leading axle. So the trail is set right for it. It is well beyond a wheel base thing. With out enough trail the bike will be unstable

I'm not disputing what your saying ... Just saying from a practical point of view ... that I have done this sort of thing before ... with no Ill effects ... being that Jd is working with a 19" front wheel ( 17" standard ) ... he has already increased his trail ... that coupled with longer travel forks ... ( front ride heigth higher) ... what he has gained in trail ... he is giving back with the offset axle ... I'm betting it will work out just fine ...

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by freewheeler

... I'm betting it will work out just fine ...

i'm leaning that direction too.

the discussion here is along the same lines of thought that occurred when the godfather of these rats...tonymorr...stuck the 41mm KLR forks in the stock 650R clamps. the 650R and Versys bikes share the same rake and trail @ 25/4.2, and although the KLR forks are shorter than the DRZ forks, i don't recall tony reporting any ride problems. he was also running a 19" front, and rode the bike all over the place. the KLR is 28/4.4 and the DRZ400S is 27/4.2, for comparison.

if tony's internet line isn't frozen in balmy upstate land, maybe he can chime in on the subject.

i'm more concerned about the DRZ fork travel in those Versys clamps, so when are ya going to swing by to supervise while i pull them apart? do you typically fabricate an aluminum spacer, or do you buy those somewhere?

[jdrocks]

this is what i mean when i say that the DRZ clamps are very close to the Versys clamps top to bottom. hit or miss on the travel stroke, what happens to one should happen to the other.

[jdrocks]

should be interesting...

[freewheeler]

I say before we start frettin about fork travel clearence ... unscrew the top caps and let the forks collapse completely ... then you will know for sure what the minimum ride height will have to be with the stock DRZ travel ... then you can make you decision from there what to do ...

that bike is going to look HOT ...

when you get to the rear suspension ... I have and idea ... to put in a longer rear shock I.E. longer suspension travel ...

[mousitsas]

what are the differences between the versys and er6n frames???

[ktmklx]

Looking good JD. I know what you mean about painting frames, a real PIA. Here is a tool I came up with that helps a ton. Build a fixture to put the frame in an engine stand. You can rotate the frame then to access the tough parts.

[freewheeler]

NOW ... That is a Great Idea .... !!!!

Originally Posted by ktmklx

Looking good JD. I know what you mean about painting frames, a real PIA. Here is a tool I came up with that helps a ton. Build a fixture to put the frame in an engine stand. You can rotate the frame then to access the tough parts.

[dentvet]

Originally Posted by freewheeler

that bike is going to look HOT ...

when you get to the rear suspension ... I have and idea ... to put in a longer rear shock I.E. longer suspension travel ...

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by freewheeler

I say before we start frettin about fork travel clearence ... unscrew the top caps and let the forks collapse completely ... then you will know for sure what the minimum ride height will have to be with the stock DRZ travel ... then you can make you decision from there what to do ...

that bike is going to look HOT ...

when you get to the rear suspension ... I have and idea ... to put in a longer rear shock I.E. longer suspension travel ...

thanks for the suggestion on the forks.

PM on the way.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by mousitsas

what are the differences between the versys and er6n frames???

main frames the same except for some misc. mounting tabs for the plastic. subframes are different from the battery box back.

more on this later.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by ktmklx

the world likes a thinkin' man, cool idea. a mini version of the fixture the auto resto guys use. well done, thanks for bringing it in.