SV650 Adventure (AKA franken bike)

[elgato gordo]

Pretty hot for riding around here so got some work done on the SV after a short ride to the Crest to try out the twisty turns.

First put some new Shinko 705's on order. The 244 and 700 was only available in 5.1 inch wide and I thought the rear rim would be too wide.

Rebuilt the front forks and put on some new fork protectors.


Made a new spcer for the front axle cause the fist one was too loose. Still kind of hard to put the wheel on since the spacer slips so I put some silicone sealer on it to hold it into the fork clamps.


This shot shows the custom nut I made to adapt the SV axle to the YZ forks.


Started laying out a skid plate.

[elgato gordo]

Due to the GSX shock upgrade I could not fit the stock battery so purchased a SHORAI lithium ion. Really great product 210 cranking amps, much smaller and only weights about 2lbs. It even comes with special foam packing so you can pad the space as needed.

[DaBit]

How are you going to mount the skid plate to the bike? I used a steel frame from the rear engine mounting location to the 10mm through-hole at the bottom-front of the engine. The steel frame doubles as the mounting point for the pegs and bottom of the vertical radiators.





Currently I am not working on that bike but doing some composite experiments for the LC8 instead. That does fit in the big SV-picture though; I am trying to gain enough experience with composite to be able to replace the entire subframe with a composite fuel tank. Battery and regulator will be moved to the skidplate under the engine, and when they are gone the rear of the bike only has to carry me and the tail light. So that's why I think I can leave the classic subframe for what it is and replace it with just a tank.

[elgato gordo]

I'm going to use the kick stand bolt and bolt thru the engine that is not used, near the center. Seemed like getting a longer engine mount bolt would be hard. Ten I'll fab some bars off the forward frame mount to grab the front near the exhaust pipe. Saw one design on the web that used the exhaust pipe bolts on the front cylinder but I don't want to stress that area really.

[RedRaptor22]

Originally Posted by elgato gordo

I'm going to use the kick stand bolt and bolt thru the engine that is not used, near the center. Seemed like getting a longer engine mount bolt would be hard. Ten I'll fab some bars off the forward frame mount to grab the front near the exhaust pipe. Saw one design on the web that used the exhaust pipe bolts on the front cylinder but I don't want to stress that area really.

Get with Blair at Svracingparts.com, he should be able to make you up some longer engine bolts for a not rediculous price, or the guys over at motosliders, they make longer ones for the sliders they make which are widely known to be the best sliders around for the Sv.

[elgato gordo]

I'll give them a call thanks for the info.

[DaBit]

Originally Posted by elgato gordo

Seemed like getting a longer engine mount bolt would be hard.

I used a piece of M10 strength 8.8 allthread. Fixed an M10 nut to the end using two small blobs of weld metal, so it is a bolt now :)

Saw one design on the web that used the exhaust pipe bolts on the front cylinder but I don't want to stress that area really.

I wouldn't do that either. Those lugs are not exactly sturdy.

[elgato gordo]

Some important progress this weekend. Starting to look like a motorcycle.

New skid plate:

1/8 inch 5052 alum plate



Picked the easy mounts. Will add a front crash bar next to support the front better.








New tires, Shinko 705. Took a short spin down my road for a test drive. Pretty solid feeling on gravel and some dry ruts, much better than the street tires:

150x70R


120x90H




Next up is the headlight and and extending the kickstand.

[DaBit]

Looking good!

[elgato gordo]

Couple of mods this week:

Extended the kickstand:






Replaced one Fleabay lights with another Fleabay purchase (Hella 1500's). Guess there is some extra room for more but this will do for any day trips:


Took a test ride on some dirt roads north of the Sandia Mts. Really happy with the tires so far they feel good on the gravel. Thought about doing some sand but no one around to help pull me out.

First up Sandia Crest for some twisties then down the back way thru Placitas.




Then out to Hollywood Casino and behind the race track:




And Back on Hiway 14

[elgato gordo]

Did some more test rides.

Took a trip down to Mountainair to hiway 60 and back up thru the forest and out to Manzano.

Looking south to hiway 60






Found some mud holes along the way so fire danger is down some.

Ride went well but noticed it getting up to 215 degrees in the slow stuff so I ordered a new ratiator and intalled the cooling fan

[elgato gordo]

Installed the new radiator and fan on Sat. had to mount the ignition up on the light/dashboard plate. Then off for a test ride to Toreon, NM.

Took forest roads NW of town and intersected the Fouth of July Loop and back to Tajique.

Great ride, easy dirt roads, some mud holes left from rains a week ago.

The SV650 does great on the dirt. Some minor head shake on some rougher bumps at speed but not too bad.

The new radiator is much wider than the Gen I unit I had on before, so I need to think more about protection in that area.

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by elgato gordo

IMO a shorter "beak" would really set it off. Great build.

[elgato gordo]

Yea but the beak runs in the family.

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by elgato gordo

Yea but the beak runs in the family.

Ha, yeah. Nothing a little "plastic surgery" can't resolve.