Project Superhawk motard "SuMoHawk" begins
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Man, you should have given the only sane reason to put the suzuki stickers on the bike, which is to register/insure only one bike & swap the plates on different days. Not that I would condone such actions, but it would make sense. PEACEOUT
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
Well it's been a while since I've updated the superhawk, so I went and got some work done today. What I finished today eliminated the current dilemma I was facing, which was that no one made the proper bearing for the stem. So what I did instead was remove the Superhawk stem and fit it into the WR250 triple. Sounds easy, right? I wish. First step, remove the stem from the Superhawk stem. It was welded on the bottom, so I had to grind the weld off and tap the stem off. 
Bam, stem and triple separate: 
Next step, the WR250 stem. 
Off comes the bearing: 
The tricky part was that I was not sure how it was mounted in the triple. We ended up measuring the section of the stem above and at the bottom of the triple and determined that it was taper-fit. So into the press it goes, lots of pressure, and pop it was out. 
Next problem(s), the WR250 stem was .3mm thicker than the Superhawk stem. That meant I needed .15mm thick shim wrapped around the stem. This came in the form of a thin, aluminum sheet. Once placed around the shaft, it fit snug. Perfect. 
Next problem that needed to be addressed was the securing measures. The WR stem used a tapered fit and a ring on the end of the stem, which hooked against a lip on the inside of the stem. We used the lip to our advantage by welding a tube, slightly bigger than the stem, onto the end of the SH stem. The lip: 
And the larger tube welded onto the end of the stem. 
And here it is again: 
The final thing to do was to add a bit more security and keep the stem from rotating when it is tightened. There were two screw holes on the bottom, and we used these to our advantage. To accomplish this, we welded a steel plate onto the end of the stem. This was a little tricky as well, as we had to make sure that the lip-surface was smooth so it would fit in the triple. This was achieved by beveling the outside edge and then tig-welding it. Afterward we used a lathe to grind the weld down to the proper size. Here is the finished stem: 
All together: 
The plate is hardly visible after being painted: 
Bam, stem and triple separate: Next step, the WR250 stem. Off comes the bearing: The tricky part was that I was not sure how it was mounted in the triple. We ended up measuring the section of the stem above and at the bottom of the triple and determined that it was taper-fit. So into the press it goes, lots of pressure, and pop it was out. Next problem(s), the WR250 stem was .3mm thicker than the Superhawk stem. That meant I needed .15mm thick shim wrapped around the stem. This came in the form of a thin, aluminum sheet. Once placed around the shaft, it fit snug. Perfect. Next problem that needed to be addressed was the securing measures. The WR stem used a tapered fit and a ring on the end of the stem, which hooked against a lip on the inside of the stem. We used the lip to our advantage by welding a tube, slightly bigger than the stem, onto the end of the SH stem. The lip: And the larger tube welded onto the end of the stem. And here it is again: The final thing to do was to add a bit more security and keep the stem from rotating when it is tightened. There were two screw holes on the bottom, and we used these to our advantage. To accomplish this, we welded a steel plate onto the end of the stem. This was a little tricky as well, as we had to make sure that the lip-surface was smooth so it would fit in the triple. This was achieved by beveling the outside edge and then tig-welding it. Afterward we used a lathe to grind the weld down to the proper size. Here is the finished stem: All together: The plate is hardly visible after being painted:
Thread Starter
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
Started working on it just now.
Fairings are off, triple is on new forks, and I pulled the clip-ons off the forks.
In the morning I shall pull the forks and wheel, mount the wheel on the new forks, compress the forks and mount them, then decompress it and put the weight on it.
Fairings are off, triple is on new forks, and I pulled the clip-ons off the forks.
In the morning I shall pull the forks and wheel, mount the wheel on the new forks, compress the forks and mount them, then decompress it and put the weight on it.
Last edited by Just_Nick; Nov 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM.
Thread Starter
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
Success, front end successfully mounted. I didn't take pictures because this is exactly the same steps as the first set of pictures.
Thanks Doug for bringing over those races.
I still need to fashion a caliper adapter, I need a brake line, and I need to make some wheel spacers.
Thanks Doug for bringing over those races.
I still need to fashion a caliper adapter, I need a brake line, and I need to make some wheel spacers.
Last edited by Just_Nick; Nov 24, 2009 at 05:53 PM.
OCMD honorary member
Superstock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
From: Olympia, WA
You could cut the wood to fit the foot of the kickstand, maybe cut it out in the shape of a duck foot, or a dragon foot. (you could even paint it)
Zip ties or a radiator hose clamp will keep it on. This way you won't have to cart those long pieces of wood around.
Anywhere I can help.
Carry on.
Zip ties or a radiator hose clamp will keep it on. This way you won't have to cart those long pieces of wood around.
Anywhere I can help.
Carry on.
Thread Starter
Who are you?
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
You could cut the wood to fit the foot of the kickstand, maybe cut it out in the shape of a duck foot, or a dragon foot. (you could even paint it)
Zip ties or a radiator hose clamp will keep it on. This way you won't have to cart those long pieces of wood around.
Anywhere I can help.
Carry on.
Zip ties or a radiator hose clamp will keep it on. This way you won't have to cart those long pieces of wood around.
Anywhere I can help.
Carry on.
OCMD honorary member
Superstock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
From: Olympia, WA
Whatever you use it needs to be strong, kickstands take alot of stress.
I wonder if you could get a CRF250X/450X stock kickstand to work? Or possibly one of the trick aftermarket billet ones for dirt bikes. Not sure if the superhawk weight is too much for them though.
Or..... you could zip tie a chunck of wood shaped like a dragons foot painted green to match your bike, CUSTOM
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 44
From: Essex, uk
I really enjoy watching people doing things like this. I wish I had the skills. I'm interested in seeing what you do with the rads, IMHO it's the only thing that makes the side profile look strange.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
Thanks for that Inde! Nick and I had the last laugh on the "expert's" at the bike shop next door on this one. I don't suggest that they are not proficient or professional. They just could not fathom a coil that would fail in the secondary and not go dead to ground. After your replacement arrived, I told Nick to haul the old one next door and give them the coil as a paper weight or maybe a suppository. They weren't impressed. Both of us got a good bit of yardage out of that one. Thanks, again!
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
http://austin.craigslist.org/mcy/1508746438.html
Put Suzuki on the tank cause you're bored? now you got it posted on craigslist for the second time.
3 strikes and you're out!
Goodnight.
Put Suzuki on the tank cause you're bored? now you got it posted on craigslist for the second time.
3 strikes and you're out!
Goodnight.
OCMD honorary member
Superstock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
From: Olympia, WA
Thread Starter
Who are you?
SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 731
From: Las Vegas, NV
OCMD honorary member
Superstock
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 252
From: Olympia, WA
Mile long wheelies, sure...
Jumping staircases and throwing this thing around like a freestyle bike will be a trick.
-The bike will need to loose 80-100+ lbs.
-You'll need to be around 6'8', 315lbs. 8% bodyfat.
I think you have a good start. All obtainable really.
I'd throw a leg over it and give it a try! With this thing I'm sure injuries will follow. Entertaining nonetheless.
Continue please.
Jumping staircases and throwing this thing around like a freestyle bike will be a trick.
-The bike will need to loose 80-100+ lbs.
-You'll need to be around 6'8', 315lbs. 8% bodyfat.
I think you have a good start. All obtainable really.
I'd throw a leg over it and give it a try! With this thing I'm sure injuries will follow. Entertaining nonetheless.
Continue please.
