Comments on: Reaching Cloud 9 On A Chopper http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/ World's Number One Source For Custom Motorcycle News Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:15:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sugar Bear http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98330 Sugar Bear Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:04:59 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98330 I agree with Paul also, Nicker,....."with the proper rake and trail the front end should not flop"...... I don't believe this is true in this case however. Those forks look to be 20" over or more, which is a different geometry from what you dealt with. I understand what Dragon and Fuji are talking about. The longer the tubes, the more flex you have and you get into the tweeking. Bear I agree with Paul also, Nicker,…..”with the proper rake and trail the front end should not flop”…… I don’t believe this is true in this case however. Those forks look to be 20″ over or more, which is a different geometry from what you dealt with. I understand what Dragon and Fuji are talking about. The longer the tubes, the more flex you have and you get into the tweeking.
Bear

]]> By: Nicker http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98280 Nicker Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:26:23 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98280 Sugar B, I'm with Paul on this one..... Don't think it has to flop. Got a 12"-over chop out in storage. It never did flop. Haven't ridden it in years (plate tag says '93). The only issue was front end flex, on a bumpy road would making it walk to the outside of a turn. Other than that it handled just fine (5x16" -n- 1.75x21") no fork brace necessary. Smooth as a Caddy on the freeway. Wasn't much into engineering rake & trail when i built back about 1975, but i was smart enough not to use a kicked out head-set. To get the motor back down to a stock position the frame was sectioned and the neck rotated up & back. Just went out & measured the neck rake.... it's at 47 degrees. Not really sure since that's the only 12"-over scoot i built, but IMHO a big part of flop is about jacking up the CG by raising the engine and not kicking out the neck. On the other hand, i could very well be wrong... -nicker- Sugar B,

I’m with Paul on this one….. Don’t think it has to flop.
Got a 12″-over chop out in storage. It never did flop.
Haven’t ridden it in years (plate tag says ‘93).
The only issue was front end flex, on a bumpy road would making it walk to the outside of a turn.
Other than that it handled just fine (5×16″ -n- 1.75×21″) no fork brace necessary.
Smooth as a Caddy on the freeway.

Wasn’t much into engineering rake & trail when i built back about 1975, but i was smart enough not to use a kicked out head-set.
To get the motor back down to a stock position the frame was sectioned and the neck rotated up & back.

Just went out & measured the neck rake…. it’s at 47 degrees.

Not really sure since that’s the only 12″-over scoot i built,
but IMHO a big part of flop is about jacking up the CG by raising the engine and not kicking out the neck.

On the other hand, i could very well be wrong…
-nicker-

]]> By: dragon http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98277 dragon Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:20:25 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98277 had one of the old school like that back in the 70s and did have a couple of big ones lmao had one of the old school like that back in the 70s and did have a couple of big ones lmao

]]> By: fuji http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98266 fuji Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:56:18 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98266 This front end setup is a crap your pants happening when you least expect it . Been there and almost had the big one . This front end setup is a crap your pants happening when you least expect it . Been there and almost had the big one .

]]> By: Grayhawk http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98258 Grayhawk Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:10:06 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98258 Thanks Sugar Bear I was hoping you or Pat Kennedy would get in on this posting as A lot of builders are getting back into this style for good or bad and should not have to go through all the pitfalls already expierenced in the past least not forget the inexpierenced/unsuspecting end customer looking for cool. Kickstart used to have a basic rake/trail chart in their little book for the basics that a least tell ya if you build outside the recommendations of the chart your not necessarily building a rider. Not knocking the bike as I like choppers and the detail is commendable in the above bike and not seeing exact specs on this build it just looked and breathes like bikes we built in the 60's and 70's that bounced, flopped, flexed and shuttered at speed and had frame failures athough metalurgy is better now. Form and Function is primary. Thus my two comments. Grayhawk Thanks Sugar Bear I was hoping you or Pat Kennedy would get in on this posting as A lot of builders are getting back into this style for good or bad and should not have to go through all the pitfalls already expierenced in the past least not forget the inexpierenced/unsuspecting end customer looking for cool. Kickstart used to have a basic rake/trail chart in their little book for the basics that a least tell ya if you build outside the recommendations of the chart your not necessarily building a rider. Not knocking the bike as I like choppers and the detail is commendable in the above bike and not seeing exact specs on this build it just looked and breathes like bikes we built in the 60’s and 70’s that bounced, flopped, flexed and shuttered at speed and had frame failures athough metalurgy is better now. Form and Function is primary. Thus my two comments.

Grayhawk

]]> By: Sugar Bear http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98253 Sugar Bear Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:02 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98253 Unfortunately, I do not believe it will "turn well with others" as stated, and it has to flop and glides don't work at those angles and yes, it will need a fork brace for extended riding. I know how to fix all of the above ..... :-) . Sweet looking bike!!!! Unfortunately, I do not believe it will “turn well with others” as stated, and it has to flop and glides don’t work at those angles and yes, it will need a fork brace for extended riding. I know how to fix all of the above ….. :-) . Sweet looking bike!!!!

]]> By: Paul http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98146 Paul Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:38:13 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98146 The way a chopper should look. With the proper tail & rake the front end should not flop. Ask Sugar Bear. He knows. The way a chopper should look. With the proper tail & rake the front end should not flop. Ask Sugar Bear. He knows.

]]> By: Jeff Nicklus http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98145 Jeff Nicklus Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:36:06 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98145 From an engineers stand point, I cringe. From the love of the old choppers side of me, I love it! Ahhhh back to the days of some good ol' front end flop! Over & Out, Jeff From an engineers stand point, I cringe. From the love of the old choppers side of me, I love it! Ahhhh back to the days of some good ol’ front end flop!

Over & Out,

Jeff

]]> By: Sheriff http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98139 Sheriff Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:15:02 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98139 http://picasaweb.google.com/SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP/AndyFlyingChoppersWinnerNORRTLJE08# Readers of the blog might remember the premiere June 08 This is the 2nd invite to Sturgis http://picasaweb.google.com/SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP/AndyFlyingChoppersWinnerNORRTLJE08#

Readers of the blog might remember the premiere June 08
This is the 2nd invite to Sturgis

]]> By: rock star http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98137 rock star Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:36:19 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98137 rad. rad.

]]> By: Grayhawk http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2009/04/26/reaching-cloud-9-on-a-chopper/comment-page-1/#comment-98136 Grayhawk Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:09:54 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=11178#comment-98136 Your right on about the true chopper look, always did like it. Nice detail from their web site pictures. Another time machine and they will get the true chopper feeling rolling across 90 near Sturgis with those narrow bars and tires along with that extended front end, his elbows may be knocking together from the gusts of side winds. I always did like a fork brace cross piece for stiffening with that long a front end as it will flex and bounce a bit. Not to mention the stresses just below the neck on the small diameter frame down tubes where the cross frame member ties due to the combination of rake and extended rise. Nice looking Chopper. Grayhawk Your right on about the true chopper look, always did like it. Nice detail from their web site pictures. Another time machine and they will get the true chopper feeling rolling across 90 near Sturgis with those narrow bars and tires along with that extended front end, his elbows may be knocking together from the gusts of side winds.

I always did like a fork brace cross piece for stiffening with that long a front end as it will flex and bounce a bit. Not to mention the stresses just below the neck on the small diameter frame down tubes where the cross frame member ties due to the combination of rake and extended rise. Nice looking Chopper.

Grayhawk

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