The swingarm of a Softail
type frame adds considerable weight to a custom bike. Eliminating a lot of the
pivot material, crossbar, shocks, and heavy fender braces reduces a lot of
weight and quickly adds some performance and style for a very classic looking
chopper that uses later parts.
The frame is made from
1-1/4 x .125 DOM tubing. The neck is heavy wall 2 DOM tubing with counter
bores for press-in chrome or stainless neck bearing cups. The backbone is
straight for that classic high neck chopper look (but still makes for a pretty
low bike). The neck is raked to 35 degrees. The seat post is leaned back to
allow exceptional clearance for the rear cylinder and exhaust without dimpling
the tube. The bottom rails and top rear wishbones are widened out. The frame
takes a stock tire without looking strange but has 10-1/2 between the axle
plates so stock axles still fit but a much wider tire will fit.
The frame is completely TIG
welded. Welds on the neck and axle plates have been smoothed down (only the
ripples of the TIG welds have been cleaned off without removing much weld
bead). The frame was washed down with metal prep to remove the dark oxide coat
on the DOM steel tube.
Here is a view of the rear
wishbones. The typical softail has a kick-out on the left side to leave room
for the 1.5 belt drive. This frame has been made symmetrical by adding a
kick-out to the right side. Since the frame and swingarm stanchions are
eliminated, there is a lot of extra room for a wider tire and still use the
long lasting belt drive
or with a chain, maybe a little more rubber can be
squeezed in.
Below is a picture of the
frame mocked up with a plastic mock engine and stock softail transmission, 16
rear tire, 21 front wheel and some drag bars. The front end is a mock item
made to be adjustable for different fork length and tree rakes. A stock oil
tank will not fit anymore but there is plenty of room for everything else.
