a. I see a RD with Chambers and decide I want a set for my bike. They should look smart and go like hell.
b. What I can get on the market look like this. And are the same as fitted on my mates blue bike. They look great on the bike, they sound great, but they work like shit.
c. I decide to import a set of pipes. From the US or UK. I find some pipes on e-bay from company XXX. I ask around for advise on whether I should buy these pipes. I am told that the pipes are only 3 stage. For decent pipes they have to be minimum 4 stage or more by Rickard. Even the best imported pipes wouldn't give me the power I want was Rickards advise.
d. I study pipe building. Collect a whole lot of software to help. Its no big shakes. All you need is to know how to use a degree wheel and measure your ports in degrees. If you cant do that there are programs that can calculate it for you, learning to calculate time areas helps but isnt required to build the perfect set of pipes, for a stock engine. Feel free to browse some of the software I collected for this project here
c. Ricard from Sweden decides to help me all out in designing the perfect set of pipes. I bounce some of the designs I have come up with off him. He sends me his idea of perfect pipes. They pretty much match up to what the programs were telling me with subtle differences. I decide to go with his diagram.
d. I survey the market and find 3-4 good famous pipe builders. I spend time with them studying how they work, welding technique etc. Finally decide to go with a guy called Fatim. His welds are works of art.
c. Rickard recommends minor porting, RZ reeds, for 80 BHP output, and so the building begins. First the Stencil is cut. Then the cones are made. Note only 8 Cones are shown in the picture. Another 14 sections were made which are not shown.
d. The pipes are ready. Do I paint them or chrome them.
e. Works out chroming them is cheaper :)
f. The pipes get loaded up on the bike.
g. Now I have a new set of problems. I want to keep both stands and the
kicker. The pipes are thick with a central dia. of 125mm.
h. Time to get inovative. So we discover a new kicker design that works. You
heat the kicker and bend it till it clears the Chambers Neato. Got to keep both
stands too :).
i. Some Views of the pipe. From different angles. Last one shows the side stand and main stand
j. Ok time for a trial run. Come back hands and legs shaking. All I could say was Oh Momma!
k. New Problems the bike is lifting the front wheel in first 3 gears when it hits the power band. Options considered were new frame, whilie bars, clipons. Decide to go for clipons.
l. Scourge the market for clipons both locally and on the net. Finally found something I really liked. The biggest advantage of these neat puppies is that you can adjust their angle to balance your body weight and riding style. Started with flat and kept dropping them a teeth till the wheel wasn't lifting so much. And most of my body weight was on the front wheel.
Note the teeth on the handle of the clipon.. Loosen the Allen nut and you can rotate the handle to suite your riding position of body weight configuration.
Along the way for the search of perfect clipons. I came across these bars. That offer a riding position you would get with convential non adjustable clip-ons. But look better and cost peanuts. (10$).
My other Problems I needed to resolve.
I didn't have a front mudguard. And I needed better brakes. With the additional power the old brake system of drums up front and rear where no good.
The solution was to get a used front form from a Fury / Zanduap German bike with mag wheels and disc brakes. It has a much larger fork dia. of 35 mm as oposed to the stock RD 28mm this gives beter stability at high speeds.
The front mudguard is hard plastic. Black when un-painted. You can see I got the Idea from the Blue bike. He is using them. They come from the 00 Yamaha RXG and will fit any bike with the U Clamp. You will need to drill the clamp to fit your bike. Clamp fits on under side of guard so you cant see it in the pictures.
The last job I am working on is choosing a faring for the bike. Do I use the same faring as my Street bike with the halogens or this new design.
The only factor is money the new design costs 3 times what the old one does as it comes with a built in head light.
Finding the Right Rider
The right rider has to be light. Couldn't find one so we made one :0)
Age: 2 Days
Weight: 8 Pounds
Training starts next week :)
Note: Don't take me too serious on calling this a Drag Bike. Its more like a Mickey Mouse Project when compared to the stuff. Jade racing and Ric are doing. Just my little project bike to unwind with. And to prove a point even most dumb ass guy can fix his own bike and can do anything he sets his mind to.