project floating tail starts...

[seamax]

winter is here and the project begins. it will be a long project since funds are short and winter is damn cold here (not a heated garage)





The goal is to have it look something like this...

[GSX600_Bmore]

Pretty sick looking.

[gregvhen]

psh... peice of cake. 

[tt_four]

I love projects, I give you my blessing!

Check out the sidestand on that gsxr. I didn't notice that in the last thread.

Can we get a preview picture of the tail you're using?

[james2oh6]

what is the front fairing that you have on your bike? it looks so sweet!

[ohgood]

never understood the point of puttin gthe tail 4 feet up in the air... or having a 45 degree angle on it either... but ok-

btw, this one looks hilarious:

[tt_four]

never understood the point of puttin gthe tail 4 feet up in the air... or having a 45 degree angle on it either... but ok-

I can understand why people don't like them, it's probably for the same reasons that I hate bobbers, but as far as high tails on streetfighters, I can't get enough of them. I love the short stubby tails that point straight up. I on the other hand, can't understand what the fascination is with all the current fully faired sportbikes. I think they're all ugly with the exception of a few, so go figure.

As far as the tail on that GSXR. It's at the same angle as the tail would meant for, the only reason it's so high, is because it looks like the guy is well over 6 foot. His seat is only a couple inches below the top of his tank, so he probably just figured out where his seat needed to be, and matched the tail to it. Those bikes have a habit of looking tall too, just because of the design of the frame.

Seamax: What's your plan on this one? Are you opposed to a small brace that goes from just in front of where the frame bends a couple inches behind the top rail, up to just where the back of the tank sits on the subframe for a little support, or are you just going to try to build it how it is? I think sticking in a brace there might help to support your weight, as well as filling in that gap that's under the tank, while still giving it a floating look.

[kml.krk]

...just following the thread...

[007brendan]

What front fairing is that? Is that the F fairing?  What muffler is that, too?  Did you use paint or powdercoating for the red?  It looks really awesome!

[gregvhen]

never understood the point of puttin gthe tail 4 feet up in the air... or having a 45 degree angle on it either... but ok-

but as far as high tails on streetfighters, I can't get enough of them. I love the short stubby tails that point straight up. I on the other hand, can't understand what the fascination is with all the current fully faired sportbikes. I think they're all ugly with the exception of a few, so go figure.

As far as the tail on that GSXR. It's at the same angle as the tail would meant for, the only reason it's so high, is because it looks like the guy is well over 6 foot. His seat is only a couple inches below the top of his tank, so he probably just figured out where his seat needed to be, and matched the tail to it. Those bikes have a habit of looking tall too, just because of the design of the frame.

The seat also looks high because 1) he didnt raise it to meet the tank, he cut alot off the tank to lower it and make it flat. 2) it looks really high because its just air underneath, no support bars stickin out, no passenger pegs, and no exhaust up high.  Which why I think it looks SICK.  thats just me though. I actually hate when street fighters have their tails stick almost straight up in the back and totally ruin the lines of the bike. My opinion only, im always a fan of "do what YOU think is cool"  and i think seamax will make his look great if hes modeling off this pic.

[tt_four]

Came across another bike with a floating tail that's still somewhat braced. Figured I'd throw it in here for you to take a look at...

[seamax]

I'll try to take some pics with the mock up tail on it tonight.

I'm planning on supporting the seating area with tie rods and ends so I won't have to weld anything. I'm also replacing my gsxr shock w/ reservoir with a r6 shock and shorter dog bones so I can have the same height or little higher than the gsxr shock and also a clean look without the reservoir mount. The rear brake reservoir and line is also going to be removed and replaced with an attached mini reservoir or a HRC reservoir kit.

[mullethunter3]

Interesting... what kind of bike is that that you keep posting?

[tt_four]

They're GSXRs from the early 90's. One of the best looking frames ever made, and one of the most common for making streetfighters. The design really shows you how dated the GS frame is, considering even the GSXR frame then was aluminum. If you ever hear someone talking about a "slingshot" frame, that's what they're referring to. A "Slabside" is the generation before those. Similar frame but the top of it slants back slightly, and the gas tank looks like it's gonna slide off the back.

[gregvhen]

wow thats an ugly motorcycle. ^ but i bet for its year it was the oh my goodness

[tt_four]

Haha, I know, I hate the shape of the tank. I said about how it looks like the tank is sliding off the back, but I didn't mention how gross I thought it looked. They can't even be helped by turning them into streetfighters. I think the next generation slingshot bikes look great. They made the 1100s that way all the way up until 1998 or so. They're the kind of bikes you'd love if you only rode by yourself, but would probably get really tired of if you rode with people who had newer bikes.

[seamax]

mockup of the tail...

[DoD#i]

Given you don't want any support below, you might want to figure a way to get some support coming out from the high point of the tunnel in the gas tank - triangulate from above the subframe, just under seat level. Those could be pretty skinny, as they would be in tension, not compression. Probably need to make something to mount them to - I doubt the gas tank mount would be happy getting that kind of force on it. Or that might run further forward - my GS is stored, no easy way to go look at it - long tie rods might come all the way from the frame cross-bar, running close under the bottom of the tank (put some rubber there to kill rattles).

It's not much, but better than nothing.

[gregvhen]

now that i see the mock up, i think you raise the angle just a little bit. bigger gap between the wheel and lowest part of the plastic. my .02

[black and silver twin]

That looks bad a$$! if you do what gregvhen said it will look even more kick a$$. i do think you will have to add some bracing though