V649HP-Kawasaki's new gravel runner

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by tragerbon

I like the swingarm idea...I found one for a great price and picked it up. I don't really care for the versys one sided looking swingarm and at one point was thinking about adding a little extra length to it to compensate for longer aftermarket forks and added strength.

the ninja swingarm looks much better, and is plenty strong also. the 06-08 held up fine under the pounding of those two trips up north, so even that version is strong enough. when i decided to build on the versys frame, i knew i would never use that aluminum versys thing. i should sell it. the versys swingarm is strong enough though, never heard of any problems with it.

[DreadPirateKermit]

Great thread JD! I wandered over and read the one on the Versys forum as well. That wasted a few evenings in front of the boob-tube! I've never ridden one of the Kawasaki vert-twins (I'm a 'strom kinda guy) but I have to admit to being K-curious. I think if I had ran across your Ninja/19" front wheel build thread before I picked up my current biggie Vee, I'd have been tempted to go that way.

Maybe next time.

[sanjoh]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

a little lighter than the ninja swingarm, but it just looks so damn clunky

I've heard it's a lot lighter, did you put em on a scale?

NOW your going to worry about looking clunky

I'm about to put the versys swingarm on the dirt ninja for the weight savings and according to more than one race team additional stiffness.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by DreadPirateKermit

I think if I had ran across your Ninja/19" front wheel build thread before I picked up my current biggie Vee, I'd have been tempted to go that way.

that 19" wheel mod is what really makes these rat ninja/versys bikes go.

when you put these naked rat bikes next to the v and wee stroms, the suzy bikes look huge in comparison.

[MTrider16]

Ha!, I found where your hiding at. Like he said above, you're worried about looking clunky all of a sudden?

I'm going to have to look up that WSJ article now. Looks like NG is getting serious. When are you converting your rat bikes to run on CH4? I play with the stuff a little.

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by sanjoh

I'm about to put the versys swingarm on the dirt ninja for the weight savings and according to more than one race team additional stiffness.

sorry, those versys things just ain't pretty. if i'm gonna dance, it's gotta be with something better lookin' than that.

somebody said a 3# difference, so if i skip lunch tomorrow, i can make that up. besides, i'm not racing.

[MTrider16]

Found an article. 4.5 bcf sounds interesting. Looks like BP has the Denali Project, and EM is calling their project Alaska Pipeline. Both are going to follow the Alcan from Fairbanks through the Northern Rockies. That road is going to get a pounding during construction.

Mackenzie goes from Inuvik southeast. Another field entirely.

I think the shale gas in Texas and the northeast is going to slow these projects a little, like the article states.

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Ha!, I found where your hiding at. Like he said above, you're worried about looking clunky all of a sudden?

yup, clunky.

now since you're from montana, i can get your opinion. a cowboy would drop dead before he would be seen riding an ugly horse. right?

thought so, case closed.


the WSJ story was more than a couple column inches. the partners in that deal had 750 million already spent on the preliminary work when they shelved it the first time. i happened to be in the NWT in 2007 and talked to some of the Deh Cho First Nation people about it. they were demanding 50% of the revenue that came through the pipeline at the time, take it or leave it. they must have changed their minds.

these rat bikes could use a little rocket fuel. got some of that?

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Mackenzie goes from Inuvik southeast. Another field entirely.
David

that's the one.

[jdrocks]

here are the swingarms for comparison. the swingarms are interchangeable across the model years for both bikes as far as i know. besides the mounts, the lengths are identical on the centerlines of the swingarm bolt and axle bolt. Versys is aluminum, 650R (ER6F) is steel. obviously different in design and appearance, the Versys arm is 2#-14oz lighter on my scale.



the sport bike crowd were early into this game, and the versys swingarm swap on the 650R was popular for those upgrading a street bike or prepping a track bike. the upgrade continued on the bike by swapping in a 5" cast rear for 180/55 rubber and then swapping in the entire 636 front end for the fully adjustable usd forks, bigger brakes, and low bars. all the swap parts could be found pretty cheap, besides the swingarm.

the versys swingarm was (and is) pretty scarce on the used market and there were a few shops that were buying all the OEM parts and putting together the assembly for resale. takes a special tool to install the swingarm bearings.

[Ednukey]

Howdy jdrocks,

I'm curious, what ninja model year is radiator you plan on using? Or, are you planning on using a V rad?

I believe it was 2009 that they essentially put the V radiator into the ninja, since it has something on the order of 40% more cooling capacity. I know it was longer than the previous model - which would affect your ability to mount the older ninja rad to the V frame, without welding some custom tabs.

As always, great ideas and work.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by Ednukey

Howdy jdrocks,

I'm curious, what ninja model year is radiator you plan on using? Or, are you planning on using a V rad?
.

welcome, hope you put the books down for a holiday break!

i knew about the radiator sizes, but would like to use the one that's on the parts bike. i left the stock versys radiator mounting tabs on the frame, and i might be able to fab an adapter bracket for the smaller radiator. the 650R radiator is adequate, i only had the temp light come on once when the core was clogged with that silty chloride mud on the Dalton...you remember that stuff, i'm sure. even then, the bike didn't really overheat, just got a little warm.

that road was wet and muddy most of the way up and back, and the radiator got clogged up even when protected by the guard. shame on me for not checking it earlier.

[MTrider16]

Originally Posted by jdrocks

yup, clunky.

now since you're from montana, i can get your opinion. a cowboy would drop dead before he would be seen riding an ugly horse. right?

Yep, right you are.

Originally Posted by jdrocks

the WSJ story was more than a couple column inches. the partners in that deal had 750 million already spent on the preliminary work when they shelved it the first time. i happened to be in the NWT in 2007 and talked to some of the Deh Cho First Nation people about it. they were demanding 50% of the revenue that came through the pipeline at the time, take it or leave it. they must have changed their minds.

Usually the natives around here shoot for the sky on the first offer. After a little discussion, the price becomes more reasonable. They still get more per mile than the normal landowner, so I don't think it is a bad thing.

These proposals seem to go on again and off again all the time. NG is predicted to be steady or down unless there is more demand. Lots of shale gas, and off-gas from oil production. I think the northern roads are safe for awhile.

Sorry, no rocket fuel here.

David

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Yep, right you are.

David

ok, i'll take that as gospel.

a final note on the 09 and up 650R swingarms. these arms use a completely different axle assembly than the 06-08. both use pull adjusters, as opposed to the versys push style adjuster, but the 09+ is configured for the heavier section of this swingarm leg, uses heavy side plates keyed to the cast adjuster instead of just flat washers, and a 25mm longer axle. other than spacers, nothing is interchangeable. so if you intend to use the newer style swingarm, be sure to get the whole works.

[jdrocks]

Originally Posted by MTrider16

Usually the natives around here shoot for the sky on the first offer. After a little discussion, the price becomes more reasonable. They still get more per mile than the normal landowner, so I don't think it is a bad thing.

These proposals seem to go on again and off again all the time. NG is predicted to be steady or down unless there is more demand. Lots of shale gas, and off-gas from oil production. I think the northern roads are safe for awhile.

the two first nations groups i spoke with in that area were the Deh Cho and Gwich'in. Deh Cho east of the Nahanni range and Gwich'in to the west. both sitting on top of a treasure chest of natural resources located on their ancestral lands. the revenue stream that will come from developing these resources will make every man, woman, and child wealthy by most standards. the old ways are fast disappearing even now.