MotoGP style Swingarm UPDATE: Finished

[Damon]

A few of you might remember me talking not long ago about making up a "motoGP" stye swingarm for my R1. Well, I finally got the ball rolling today by purchasing everything I need to get it started.

For those who do not know what Im talking about. This is the effect I am going for.

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3725220172_276b908ab5.jpg

After talking to a few people about getting it welded, someone mentioned about something called "structural acrylic" I have since done my research and this should be perfect for sticking it all together. Ordered some today, only cost £18.99 for 50ml


https://www.glueonline.co.uk/shop/ac_ta4302_50ml.JPG

I then went on the hunt for some ali sheeting. Got my hands on a square meter of the stuff for £15 Went for 1.5mm thickness in the end as I wanted it to be easily cutable and bendable without being too fragile.

https://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5057/alisheet.png

I Next went on the hunt to find some suitable tinsnips to help with cutting the rough shape out. Found these for £4.49 in the end. Should do the job If not, I'll have to get the jigsaw out.

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9933/tinsnips.png

As I'm still on the bike daily and I didn't want to potentially ruin my existing swingarm, I set off on the hunt for a spare swingarm. Found this beauty hiding on ebay. Managed to get it for £9.99 + £12.00 postage. Result, It has no dents and a few scuffs so is perfect for what I want it for.

https://img704.imageshack.us/img704/7186/swingarm.png

So there we have it. Watch this space. I am now just waiting for all the parts to arrive and then it's all systems go.

I have a quick question though. Can I powder coat over bodyfiller? The idea is to smooth the swingarm over, using bodyfiller where needed. A bit like this...

https://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/hawkeyskyline/ri%20build/2008_0529blackyskyline22230087.jpg

[chris-red]

I was just about to post how this was bollocks and that it was stolen because I recognised the picture from Detailing world. Then I read the post
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[ms51ves3]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Initially I would agree with 'chives. Powder coating relies on the item being coated having an electrostatic charge. However it appears that there are people using powder coated finish on wooden doors so it might be possible.

Whether any powder coaters could do it, or only certain ones, no idea.

All the best

Keith
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[Damon]

[s44678]

Maybe I misunderstood, but are you about to embark on the fabrication of a critical structural part of your bike using sheet aluminium and some adhesive?

Ambitious to say the least! Do you have sheet metal experience? Will be very interested to see how it goes. Keep it updated!

[swiftb]

[s44678]

Aaah, shit sorry I get you; You're going to 'fill in' the existing swingarm top brace using sheet ali to give the effect of it being one single hollow...

Thought you were going to make one from scratch!

[Barry_M2]

I wanted to do something along those lines as I didn't like the small and rather pathetic looking stock swingarm on my ZXR (Second Picture).

So, I decided to fit a complete rear end (swingarm, wheel, brakes etc..) from a 2008 ZX10R. (First Picture)

As well as being a lot better looking, the swinger and wheel are a hell of a lot lighter too, almost half the weight infact!

Just in the process of making a new exhaust that doesn't hide it as much.
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[Damon]

[Barry_M2]

[400bandit]

I'd be tempted to get hold of some of these rods and weld it;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jijW310xvp4

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Damon]

[warped one]

I'm affraid that as a fabricator/welder I don't entirely rate them.

Yes it is good to have a strong weld but. Having a piece of the meterial, that is stronger than the parent meterial can be a bad thing in certain applications. Quick run down of the types, find out the composition and check against this.

Pure rods - crack easy
5% silicon - rods crack fairly easily
5% magnesium - rock hard for high strength applications

I supose with what your trying to do it wouldn't really matter what rods you are using because it is only for a cover plate.

But it does look good, I would have personaly gone with a fully polished surfice and if you though it was uneven taken it to a sheetmetal shop to have it rolled on the english wheel to smooth it out.

Warped
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amnesia - Never in the history of usernames has one been more accurate. Warped indeed. You sir are a fecking oddball.

[Ichy]

[CHR15]

[400bandit]

I'm no expert and I have never used them myself but I've seen other vids of them just using a butane torch to god effect.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[400bandit]

Here's a similar product, looks pretty impressive to me;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-cv3R4fWZc

Joe
____________________
Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Damon]

[400bandit]

I think the key to it from the videos I have seen is to make sure you tin it properly first and use a stainless steel wire brush to clean it up.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Damon]

UPDATE:

Had a play with the welding rods and found that they were fine for welding together thin bits of metal, but as soon as something more substantial, i.e the swingarm was introduced, they really didnt work. As some of you pointed out before, I just couldn't get enough heat in the swingarm for it to stick. The rod would just bead on the surface.

So it's back to plan A; glue and rivets. After pestering the postman for just over a week, I have finally made up quite a collection of bits and pieces. Also, I spoke to a powder coating company this morning and they recommended "JB weld" for use as a filler before powdercoating. It is what they use to good effect. Found some on ebay so placed an order today.

Anyway, here is what I have done so far.

https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3049/img0218q.jpg

Cat helped me unwrap the swingarm

https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/467/img0228h.jpg

https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8752/img0229j.jpg

https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9727/img0235f.jpg

Gave it a bit of a clean, then chucked it in the bath for a final soak

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1230/img0240f.jpg

Next, I made some cardboard templates and done a test fit, making ammendments as needed. Once I was satisfied with the fit, I transferred the template to the sheet Ali.
https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/3841/img0251mq.jpg

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6497/img0252b.jpg

https://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5283/img0254w.jpg

I'm off to college tonight so will ask to use their bandsaw to cut out the shape neatly. Will update as soon as.

Cheers,

Damon

[Blackwolf]

This should lool quite good, intrested in how this will turn out...
What colour you going to powder coat it?



n a side note: who you using to powdercoat? need to get some done...
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[Damon]

[ms51ves3]

[Damon]