:mrgreen: Frankenbike lives!, got forks mounted, in mildly tweaked lower tree, on bike, everything mounted, took it for its shakedown cruise,
ran d--n good. rode again after work, even better, 2 probs. 1. no front brake lever, get in a week, 2. fork brace can only bolt down in 3 of four locations. no doubt due to lower triple tweakage. was straightened. but evidently not all the way. question is since it functions satisfactorily like it sits now, would it be safe to keep and ride like so until i get the replacement trees etc. brake levers been ordered. not an issue.
had up to 50 on maiden voyage. had to let frankenbike stretch after long slumber. handling is perfect, so far forks function great, the only thing i am concerned about is the brace using only 3 of 4 holes 4th is half covered. brace is straight. thanks for any help offered

brace is livable temporarily but you'll want to fix that very soon. If your satisfied with the forks redrill a hole in the brace to make the 4th bolt fit.

worrisome though is not having a front brake. you know you get 70% of your braking power from the front so you're at risk if you need to stop in an emergency. I wouldn't ride it without the front brake lever at all if I were you.  Too big a risk.

You may just need to fiddle with the brace a little/ maybe turn it around and see if the holes line up-but it could be your tweaked clamps thatare holding it out of alignment.

question, in the 4th hole, ive half of it showing, if i put a smaller bolt w/ nut in there, would that work?

Handling is great so far, got brake lever ordered. am well aware of the risks but if i ride anywhere, its usually up to my friends pawnshop, which i can get to via back roads. still dangerous as heck, or i ride up and or down my driveway. bout a quarter mile long. going to go to county clerks office to see if i can get a temp. tag (drive-out tag) for frankenbike. so if i get it off the property it'll be legal. im at the point now where im at the testing phase. its like repair/test adjust/test loosen-tighten/test. gotta get this thing on the road to open-er up. when i get lever for front. that is.

Is the fender sitting where it should be in relation to the tire etc??

I'd loosen everything (pinch bolts on the clamps etc..) and see if you can shift it .... Or try spinning it around. These braces are not a super exact engineered piece.... slotted holes...sheesh....


Good luck.

almost any late model sport bike brake lever will(SHOULD) fit....I had a 900RR one on my old f/e
just make sure it looks the same where the lever pushes the cylinder in....
this way you can get nice adjustable one for the bike and you can be riding this weekend!!!!

okay, jared, i have no fender, it was one of the casualties of the bike when it was wrecked by former owner, will try your suggestions though, also may try drilling out brace (suggestion from another postee. and ive already got the lever ordered. from friend of mine. got on his discount :mrgreen: . cheaper than the $12 from suzuki. good price still, but if i can save a few dollars here and there, i can do more for frankenbike down the road, heck even thought about building my namesake. and have a decal(s) made, parts from yamaha, honda kawasaki, &suzuki. I.E. yamahonkawazuki. just a thought though

:x frankenbike got mad at me today., fired er up, went for short ride.
rode down curvy road to trailer park went into to turn around, pulled a slow right hander, frankenbike stalls, right in apex of turn, down i go. no damage though, foot peg kept it off ground. footpeg in its former life was for passenger in the rear right side. it did the same thing ion my driveway on the left side yesterday. (trying to get around my cage) uphill slow speed. but the only parts that got ever-so-slightly scratched, are the ones im due to replace anyway. ahwell, such is the life of an in-experienced rider.

Quoteworrisome though is not having a front brake. you know you get 70% of your braking power from the front so you're at risk if you need to stop in an emergency. I wouldn't ride it without the front brake lever at all if I were you. Too big a risk.

I agree pantablo that he front brake is essential, but i would go as far as saying that the front brake is 100% of your stopping power, (i.e. a stoppie), when the weigth transfer is to the point that the rear tire has little or no traction.

And remember, it was Frankenstine's Monster that did him in. :lol:

dont suppose you have any pictures of Frankenbike do you?

am dealing with taggin' it mon., and installing lever. at same time. tomorrow am changing oil. 'bout time, fmr owner said it was recent, but, my force of habit, it to do it anyway.  

not yet, dont have camera, am working on that, when i get it, i will have pics. but for now imagine stock black 97 gs minus fender and few bent part in instrument cluster., i will have pics like i said when i get camera, 1 question, on my exhaust can, it has seemed to have taken on an odd color. almost like titanium?, not shiny like stock,(much)

what's your question?

sorry bout that question is 1 is that normal, 2, is there a way to get rid of it, i.e. back to normal. (you'll see when i get pics soon.)  (maybe mon.)

sounds like frm owner steel wooled or sanded it to cover scratches. its a chrome cover on the muffler that you can buy (lockhart Phillips?).

or you could just buy the entire exhaust i pulled off my parts bike.  

might just leave as is while i save my pennies for a yosh?

if it looks like titanium, that actually might be kinda cool.

yeah, w/ a black, (or if i look closely, i see blue metal flakes in the paint of the bike), and a dark&shiny muffler can, kinda beginning to like it. btw will have pics soon.