Sharky's Max project....

[Sharky]

Ok....been playing.
By changing the 2 steering stem locknuts ( 2x7mm thick) for 1 @ 4mm I've gained 10mm drop on top yoke.
And dropped the legs down slightly in same has seen an increase of 16mm in the 'overall length' of the forks.
The 120mm travel equates to the front wheel being 100mm off the ground.
Ground clearance is 125 under the pipes.
The stock max figures are 140 travel and 145 clearance. So should be sweet now.....but I will obviously check it out thoroughly once subframe is done.

 

[Sharky]

Update time.....
Finally worked out the subframe....I wanted to do it this way but short of heating and bashing flat some tube which would look crap I was stumped.
Luckily I found what I think was part of a truck stack pipe mount....with nice hydraulically formed ends....and 2.5mm thick steel.
So this is how she sits....again, excuse some of the welding...it will be sorted once its stripped down.

 

[Traumahawk]

All I can say is wow......this will be AMAZING when your done.

 

[Sharky]

Got it down off the bench today.....how looow ??

 

[Sharky]

Finally after several versions the handlebar risers are sorted.
50mm billet block, pillar drill and router.
I owe the innovative way of bar clamping to the girlfriend...she's got some great ideas...
Bit of tidying up and router work and they'll be done.
The idea is they match the stud pattern and style of the yokes.

 

[Sharky]

Handlebars almost finished...modified laverda jota adjustables....just the top section moves now with new mid section.
Found a load of stainless tube cheap...so I now have a full 4-4 custom exhaust.
I'm making 2" supertrapp type baffles to go inside each of the 4 mufflers.

 

[robmac]

Looks great, very original


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[one2dmax]

Original indeed though some of the parts (like the high handlebar) aren't the look I personally like.

 

[Rollie]

1.5 years into the build , good thing you have a second bike. That's what drives me crazy on projects. You want to do it once and do it right , but you want to ride it after every modification. :bang head:

 

[Sharky]

That's the joys of being self employed...yoyo income...

But as I've got the xjr there's no rush....

 

[Sharky]

Update.
After weighing up to costs versus style I've scrapped the subframe for something more 'stock'looking...thus bypassing the engineering red tape.
The stock pillion mounts will fit, albeit angled upwards and stock rider peg mounts. once the seat, side panels etc are on it will hard for the cops to see the work.
The exhaust is going to go back to 4-2...Power is more important than asthetics...

 

[Miles Long]

Your build is coming along nicely. Should be awesome when done.
BTW......that's one big-ass fish in the background photo. I bet you have some great shark stories to tell.
Sharks are common in my area as well, during the summer months, including Great Whites. They occasionally get in fishing weirs, bust things up a bit trying to escape. Other than that, quite harmless.
Cheers!

 

[Sharky]

Lol. ...sorry mate but thats a jigsaw fron Jaws in the background.....
But I have been in an aqarium with some sharks....Nurse and 6 gill (fish eaters) but still 10' long with big teeth....
Bike is on hold for a few weeks....gotta move housr and then move again 4 months later. ...
But at least then I get to set up properly as we'll own that house. ...

 

[one2dmax]

Nice

 

[Boogieman]

This is looking amazing. I have made a couple choppers and I can appreciate the work you are putting into this. It's looking great.

The tough part about making a non-Harley based chopper or custom bike is, basically everything has to be made or adapted to fit. I have a buddy who made a Harley based bobber (mine choppers are CB750 based) and he had to do only a little "customizing" or reworking of parts. I think if you went the Harley route and had either lots of money or lots of plastic, you could put a bike together very quickly. Doing it with other bikes takes a lot more patience, but IMO you end up with something really special in the end. Basically everything has to be adapted/customized/modded/fabricated from the ground up. There are some great aftermarket stuff for the Vmax, but it's noting like the plethora of manufacturers geared up to make Harley parts.

I think one of my choppers took me 2 years to make. It was actually easier because I found a NOS aftermarket frame, so a lot of components were pretty much bolt up and go. The other one is still being made, but is rideable now. I have been working on it for about 6 years. It's definitely worth the effort. You get the bike YOU want and it's something unique that you won't see at bike night

Keep up the good work, it's gonna be (and already is) one sweet ride!

 

[Sharky]

Finally got my cyl heads back...nothing major...just a nice smooth flow job.

 

[Traumahawk]

Finally got my cyl heads back...nothing major...just a nice smooth flow job.

Looks good. Every little bit adds up.

 

[Sharky]

Been busy with the fiberglass airbox cover..now has a narrowed version of instrument pod moulded in.
Need to work on tail piece next...time to carve up the expanded foam.
Engine rebuild nearly done then its frame strip down for welding before putting motor back in.

 

[Sharky]

Decided to chuck motor back in...the welding can be done later.
This build is taking a lot longer than my xjr...guess a partner with 3 kids does that...oh well.
So here it sits..playing with an xr750 tail unit..needs lot's of work but the basic shape works.

 

[Miles Long]

Are you still planning on using the airbox cover as a supplemental gas tank,(and presumably incorporating the gas cap)?
Have you considered using the area between the side rails as an extension for the underseat tank, with the cap hidden in the tailpiece? Looks like a few, actually more than a few, extra liters could be added to your fuel capacity.
Your build is lookin' good!:eusa_dance:
Cheers!