first chop

[skins]

im gonna try and build my first hardtail chop. ive got a 1982 suzuki gs650 donor bike, and a hardtail frame, (dont know what sort). can anyone give me any hints ,tips, advice on how to go about it without messing up too much. all help will be very much apreciated

[devon-tony]

make sure it all goes together and works beofre spending money making it all look nice

yup I have done it, wonder how many others will admit it

put the bike together only to realise that nice fresh paint or powder needs removing to weld on a bracket that you forgot :(

[skins]

thanks mate, il remember that 1

[Blackjack]

GS650?

That a shaft drive thingy?

And this random hardtail frame you have, that for a chain drive bike?

See the problem?

[chazz]

yep agree with dt dry build it first an get everything lined up and any engineering sorted before you spend on custom goodies

[addjunkie]

id buy a few back issues not sure how far back they go but some fella called blackjack wrote some dam fine articles about building a hard tail. might not be same as your plan but loads of useful hints and tips.

there also about 3 weeks worth of reading about this stuff on www.chopperbuilder.co.uk

[hardtailbiker]

depends on the frame you've got, what dimensions are the headstock, will the GS650 go straight in with the bearings, if it does you are fecking lucky. How does the back wheel fit in, is the frame wide enough to take the wheel and shaft, how easily can you make up spacers, make sure the engine is not heavy on one side. Is the frame blasted so you can see the welds or has it been filled- if so blast it so you can see the welding.
If the frame has been made for a chain driven bike then this needs to be rebuilt where the wheel shaft goes. Will the front of the frame get in the way of the pipes. Where are you intending to mount the rear brake, battery box electrics.

Have fun the best way is to try it, you will fuck it up, hopefully not in major way

[SatinBlack]

Checkout Blackjacks site, do as he says and not what some bloke down the pub said and ya won't go far wrong, the man knows ;)
Blackjacks (http://www.thefont.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bikes/index.htm)

[Taff]

Helps to stick your bad ass pipes and air filters on and set it up while it's a stocker and you can run it and sort it out right.
You'll have more than enough to be going on with when it's first on the road as a chop without having to mess with the running of it as well.

[skins]

thanks for all the advice lads, its well apreciated. this should keep me busy for a while. thanks again