vlad
New Member
Posts: 15 
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Post by vlad on May 14, 2007 11:38:52 GMT -5
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Post by spyug on May 14, 2007 13:07:17 GMT -5
That's a very interesting and informative article.
Thanks for posting it.
Spyug
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chop
New Member
Posts: 0
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Post by chop on May 15, 2007 23:32:42 GMT -5
After reading more on this thread I think it's important to clarify that my issues around the tubing and axle plates relate to the shipping of the product. It's all fine and good to post how great the part may be, but, if it doesn't survive the trip to it's destination then what's the point. There is more to quality than just the part itself, alot more. So, I was not happy with the goods and I am saying something about it, right here where some one doing there homework can get educated.
Cheers.
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kzac
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by kzac on Jun 23, 2007 6:52:04 GMT -5
I don't know black widow chopper or any other chopper frame manufactures for that fact. However I am familiar with frame design and construction (you can say Im in the OE business).
Tubing thickness buy itself is not a deciding factor in frame construction. There are many other factors that play into frame construction.
Simply taking a cutting tool, and a welder, does not make you a frame designer. There are many mathmatical calculations that enter into the equation, along with many material issues (type, wall thickness, hardness, flexiability, resistance to permiation (rust), etc).
Most frame builders use an industry standard material, designed specifically for frame manufactring (there are several)
However its the design placement (engineering) of the materials that provides the frames ability to withstand the daily rigors of operation.
I would hope for the safety of all that a frame manufacturer would be able to indicate the SAE testing that their frame was subjected to, and how it was improved to meet the test criteria. This is far more important than just relying on wall or material thickness alone.
For instance a 500 hour test of a loaded frame moving over the most extream of road condtions at 60 mph would indicate if the frame design has flaws, This type of testing would extreamly stress all areas and completly fail the weakest.
When you look at an OE frame and think, I don't like this tube placement I think I will move it here. Remember this frame design has undergone many hours of testing and the result is the accumulation of all the failures that occurred during those tests.
Be careful, a good frame designer should be able to tell you how his/her frame was tested, to what specificatons and what material was chosen. I would steer clear of those whos only focus is to make the frame visually pleasing without considering the engineering involved.
kzac
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irish
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by irish on Jul 17, 2007 15:54:53 GMT -5
I've heard great things from some of the guys on the Horse site about kansascustoms hard tail sections
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Post by lumbeendn on Jul 19, 2007 15:51:36 GMT -5
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bpupeza
New Member
We were meant to live
Posts: 4
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Post by bpupeza on Sept 19, 2007 20:52:54 GMT -5
Hey hey hey
I had my 81 xs frame hardtailed by the spyder man. I can attest first hand. It cost $300 dollars hello. My bike goes down the street straight as an arrow with no hands. Did the frame come back polished to a mirrored finish? no. Did I get what I paid for my Jap chop? yes. Does everybody I meet think its way cool? yes. Did the motor still fit in the whole when he was done? Yes. yes and yes. CRap? not in my book! Art work? Clean it up yourself. Sweat equity is the name of this poor mans game. Thanks spyder Ill send pics soon as I can get ahold of a digital camera.
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chop
New Member
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Post by chop on Nov 26, 2007 22:37:01 GMT -5
What's up,
I noticed everyone's weld on's are 300.00 or less. Fortunately, there's more to durability than the no hands test of faith. The Tigman made my day...a full-on one-off h.t. for just over 800.00 and his work truly is the real deal. Just for the record, I'm poor and sweat so at the end of the day I want what's coming to me...my money's worth.
Cheers.
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Post by knucklebuster on Dec 4, 2007 21:11:09 GMT -5
Tigman is doing my frame - wouldn't have it any other way.
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Post by 72hellbent on Feb 11, 2008 23:01:08 GMT -5
nothing personal to anybody here.... I have a friend who bought one some time back, by the end on his journey building the bike he had to consult the dude from kansas customs to get it right. Now take in mind this was some time ago, people and products of their skill do usually improve. Have they? I'm not sure. Were they in need of improvement? Everybody can improve WITH determination to suceed. As for myself, I don't trust anyone. So I built mine myself. The pieces I cut of the bike I took to a steel shop and bought an exact match of DOM tubing. Not really sure what the dimensions are anymore, but I figured if the factory used that dimension I could bet it was a pretty safe match. All in all I put about $60 in the tubing, $20 to a friend for machining the slugs, $10? in wire for my welder, about an hour gritting my teeth w/ my hydraulic tubing bender ($70 harbor freight), and piece of mind in knowing I did it right and can bet my OWN a$$ on it $$$$PRICELESS. Moral here is, If you can do it better than do it, if not pay someone else to do it for you and trust and research that person before you put your life in their hands of their fbrication skills or lack thereof. Like I said I trust no man, so I felt if anybody was gonna screw me it would be myself.. damn that was kinda like a rant wasn't it....oh well fuqit
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Post by Six-Five-O on Feb 11, 2008 23:09:35 GMT -5
Did men not build the XS in the beginning? LOL...Just asking. ;D
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Post by 72hellbent on Feb 12, 2008 16:29:54 GMT -5
Actually the frames from the fctory are bent and welded by machines you can tell by the welds.
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Post by lumbeendn on Feb 22, 2008 14:29:44 GMT -5
...I picked up one of the BWT hard tail kits from a friend. I won't lie...its the cheapest out there, so thats what I went with. It indeed is 1" tubing and registers just under .100 on my caliper...so the 14ga sounds right. Plates are indeed 1/4". Like somebody posted, you get what you pay for. From an engineering standpoint the materials are on the low end of what you would choose for a build. Are they inadequate? Not in my opinion...at least not for my chop. I'm confident in my welding and I'm slugging of the frame...and I'll add some gussets at the backbone if I feel it needs it. Will post some pics along the way...
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Post by lumbeendn on Feb 23, 2008 20:01:39 GMT -5
...got everything tacked up today...  |
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Buzz239
Junior Member
1982 XS650 SJ
Posts: 71
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Post by Buzz239 on Feb 27, 2008 8:42:31 GMT -5
I didn't mean to sound derogatory about BWC. I've heard so many comments, both pro & con, I wanted a strait story. With the way the economy is going and me being a working guy, I just want to know if I'm throwing my money down a rat hole. If they are an reputable company, that's great and if there not, it sux to be them.
Buzz
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