Single Sided Swingarm (SSS) conversion - how to
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
I'm guessing he was responding to my post...
And yeah, it might have been vague... But if you are "old enough" on the forum it's fairly logical...
Trace the origins of the bike that 2whltuner posted images of, and you find that it's the very same bike built by Brian Light... And that is either the first bike with an SSS conversion, or at the very least the first documented build... And it predates me registering on this forum by a few years, having been sold, re-sold and discussed many times over... Hence my comment on "full circle"...
And yeah, it might have been vague... But if you are "old enough" on the forum it's fairly logical...
Trace the origins of the bike that 2whltuner posted images of, and you find that it's the very same bike built by Brian Light... And that is either the first bike with an SSS conversion, or at the very least the first documented build... And it predates me registering on this forum by a few years, having been sold, re-sold and discussed many times over... Hence my comment on "full circle"...
Thread Starter
Escape Reality
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 612
From: KANATA, KANADA
I'm guessing he was responding to my post...
And yeah, it might have been vague... But if you are "old enough" on the forum it's fairly logical...
Trace the origins of the bike that 2whltuner posted images of, and you find that it's the very same bike built by Brian Light... And that is either the first bike with an SSS conversion, or at the very least the first documented build... And it predates me registering on this forum by a few years, having been sold, re-sold and discussed many times over... Hence my comment on "full circle"...
And yeah, it might have been vague... But if you are "old enough" on the forum it's fairly logical...
Trace the origins of the bike that 2whltuner posted images of, and you find that it's the very same bike built by Brian Light... And that is either the first bike with an SSS conversion, or at the very least the first documented build... And it predates me registering on this forum by a few years, having been sold, re-sold and discussed many times over... Hence my comment on "full circle"...
No tweety. It wasn't direct at you. I knew exactly what you meant....
Member
Squid
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 99
From: Tampa FL
yeah tweet sorry. it took me finding images of both the swing arms(vfr750 and 800) to understand what you meant by different configuration, now that i have seen them i get why it seemed like a sufficient answer because it is blatantly obvious. i didn't know what i was looking for so the responses seemed like ya'll were kinda blowin me off. my bad dude.
Rex Kramer-Thrill Seeker
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,312
From: Brookfield, WI
If you don't mind me asking, who makes that lower fairing? It fits the Super Hawk so much better than any other lower fairing's I have seen. The front wheel radius fits the stock lines perfectly, I like it. Beautiful bike!
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
The whole fairing is Mario Nava carbon fiber. If you look closely the upper isn't stock either. It has different lines, less curvy than stock. This lower wouldn't mate up to the stock upper. Slightly more italian to me.
Member
Squid
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 99
From: Tampa FL
Step 4: (Linkage Plate and dog bone)
The shock linkage plate and the done bone must be fabricated. I am going to post Brian’s drawing along with the dog bone. This is required since the VTR dog bone cannot be used.
My Firestorm - SuperHawk Forum
The shock linkage plate and the done bone must be fabricated. I am going to post Brian’s drawing along with the dog bone. This is required since the VTR dog bone cannot be used.
My Firestorm - SuperHawk Forum
how long does it need to be? if anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Not sure how this thread got resurrected but I actually own the original of Brian Lights SSS bikes. With all due respect, that setup wasn really not well built and was in the process of failing at the aluminum triangles which already had elongated holes from not being strong enuff to begin with.
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 57
Not sure how this thread got resurrected but I actually own the original of Brian Lights SSS bikes. With all due respect, that setup wasn really not well built and was in the process of failing at the aluminum triangles which already had elongated holes from not being strong enuff to begin with.
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
Member
Squid
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 99
From: Tampa FL
Not sure how this thread got resurrected but I actually own the original of Brian Lights SSS bikes. With all due respect, that setup wasn really not well built and was in the process of failing at the aluminum triangles which already had elongated holes from not being strong enuff to begin with.
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
so im going to switch the material from aluminium to steel and as far as a measurement on the dog bone .. how long does it need to be and i can use aluminium for the material for the dog bone correct?
Thread Starter
Escape Reality
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 612
From: KANATA, KANADA
Not sure how this thread got resurrected but I actually own the original of Brian Lights SSS bikes. With all due respect, that setup wasn really not well built and was in the process of failing at the aluminum triangles which already had elongated holes from not being strong enuff to begin with.
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
I have a friend who is a bikebuilder with a machine shop and when I took him the bike to do some custom header work (I was installing a penske and needed clearance) he said he didnt want me to ride the bike due to the linkage failure.
He rebuilt the whole thing in a non failable sort of way and its way better now. I can take pics if anyone wants them. PM me
perhaps it is the quality of the aluminum itself is the problem. As with all custom fabrications, the end result quality is highly dependent on the materials used and skill set. OEM r&d is what we sometimes fail to respect. As for the dog bone, I will measure when I get back home. On that note, I would suggest instead of a fixed length, you should consider making adjustable one instead. A design similar to adjustable camber arms for cars. This will allow much more flexibility.
Member
Squid
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 99
From: Tampa FL
perhaps it is the quality of the aluminum itself is the problem. As with all custom fabrications, the end result quality is highly dependent on the materials used and skill set. OEM r&d is what we sometimes fail to respect. As for the dog bone, I will measure when I get back home. On that note, I would suggest instead of a fixed length, you should consider making adjustable one instead. A design similar to adjustable camber arms for cars. This will allow much more flexibility.
Thread Starter
Escape Reality
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 612
From: KANATA, KANADA
After measuring my set up; on center, it is 4.5 inches. I would again suggest that you fabricate an adjustable link so that you can dial in the exact height that you want. If I had to do it over again, I would do exactly that. GL
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53
From: Monterey, CA
Hey.... the SSSHawk is still alive! Good to see it hasn't gone to the crusher! Looks good!
I do miss the old girl but I've moved on to several other bikes/projects in the mean-time.
Thanks for sharing!!
BLIGHT
I do miss the old girl but I've moved on to several other bikes/projects in the mean-time.
Thanks for sharing!!
BLIGHT
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 344
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53
From: Monterey, CA
Edit: Wait... I just saw someone else with over 5000 posts!!! Wow, lots of free time there I guess. Northern climate perhaps?... perhaps not much time to actually ride a motorcycle? hehehe....
Last edited by blight; Jan 9, 2013 at 12:02 AM. Reason: New facts...
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53
From: Monterey, CA
The upper is 100% fiberglass. The lower has a small CF panel on the very bottom edge, standard FG on the upper portions. The same goes for the rear seat section, the CF was only in the aft tail piece, although I see the OEM SuperHawk seat in your photos. Mario Nava and I discussed this by cellphone while he was driving before I placed the order... it was a way to reduce cost and still look 'racy'. BTW, Mario based the lower design on the CBR900RR lowers. It's a pretty close copy, and good looking.
Your bike still looks good overall, but frankly I'm not a fan of the white tape (or paint) sections... just my opinion though.. I preferred my original red and contrasting carbon fiber design, which are similar to Mario's designs.
Hope you are enjoying the bike though!!. It really ran like a monster when I sold it to Eric in VA! It looked like this when it shipped out:
Also, sorry to hear you are having trouble with the triangular plates... I pulled them after 2000 miles to inspect them and there was no visible wear. Not sure what happened to them after the bike was sold... maybe the subsequent owners were 300 pounders, or the East coast roads were really tough. Dunno. The plates I made were 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum, and a bit thicker than the OEM Honda alloy plates.
Still, folks anyone considering a conversion... good advice to make the triangular plates from steel for your conversions, as an added level of safety. Many recycled metal stocks come from China or wherever in recent years, and may not be quite as strong as expected.
Cheers,
BLIGHT
Last edited by blight; Jan 8, 2013 at 11:54 PM.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
From: Russia
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
Cool... wow, 2100 posts? Pretty amazing....you must be the SuperHawk expert here!
Edit: Wait... I just saw someone else with over 5000 posts!!! Wow, lots of free time there I guess. Northern climate perhaps?... perhaps not much time to actually ride a motorcycle? hehehe....
Edit: Wait... I just saw someone else with over 5000 posts!!! Wow, lots of free time there I guess. Northern climate perhaps?... perhaps not much time to actually ride a motorcycle? hehehe....
And yes, as I'm in Sweden (the southern part, so kind of inbetween, no bike but not enough snow to go snowmobiling this year... But anyways) I have about six out of twelve months that's enjoyable riding, and another three that's possible but not that enjoyable... So I have been fairly active each winter since I joined in 2006...When I made my triangles for the swap I did to SP1/SP2 swingarms, I opted to use steel plates for the exact reason that aluminium plates wouldn't really last well...
One thing to note, while you may have selected a nice grade of alu, and a nice thickness, a non OEM plate pattern might put larger than desired load on the holes as a result of the goemetry and mechanical advantage it creates...
I found that some variations of hole pattern that was very, very similar produced very different forces when calculated and very different feeling as far as suspension when i tested them...
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
Cool... wow, 2100 posts? Pretty amazing....you must be the SuperHawk expert here!
Edit: Wait... I just saw someone else with over 5000 posts!!! Wow, lots of free time there I guess. Northern climate perhaps?... perhaps not much time to actually ride a motorcycle? hehehe....
Edit: Wait... I just saw someone else with over 5000 posts!!! Wow, lots of free time there I guess. Northern climate perhaps?... perhaps not much time to actually ride a motorcycle? hehehe....
though with the amount of miles I have put on the bike I think I seem to find time for a ride now and then.....
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 12
From: Russia
Anybody send me big photos from the first page, please. My mail 750rs@mail.ru
#1
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 125
From: 34691
Hey yeah Im in the process to this thread helped alot. It would save me some time though if I knew the exact size of the triangle deals and do I need a custom dog bone?... or do I get a adjustable dog bone? Never even heard of one but sounds cooool.
Thanks for any help Im literally mid way in right now
Thanks for any help Im literally mid way in right now
