My project GL1100 Bobber Hardtail

[junkcreations]

Well another sleepless night working on the bike. Tore down the rear hard tail section and went with a swing arm airbag suspension that I first wanted to try. Kept to my drawings and think I got it really close. Will have to do some cleaning up of the rear suspension to make it look better, otherwise it turned out real slick. The swing arm moves freely and doesn't bind, plus it is super smooth. Installed two Nitro Drop Shocks on either side to dampen it. With no shocks it would just float there. One shock wasn't bad but two definitely tame it better. Also cut down the factory seat and made a mount and support for it to slide in and be bolted down. Need to make the rear bolt down as for now it just slides in there. Overall I like the stance better and it is much lower ride height, plus I can adjust my ride height by adjusting the air pressure. Will have to redo the Ape Bars, thinking I'll go more with the Dakota bar style. Next up, controls!!! Anybody ever hook up both the front and rear brakes to one lever? Just asking. I have the front brake master, but lost or threw away the rear one.... Here's a quick video tour of the bike as it sits now and the suspension moving.

[duke182]

Interesting

[ogrebro]

I'm impressed with your airbag set up! I'll be keeping an eye on how this progresses. Great job!
Bill

[joedrum]

lots of things work ...some way better than stock... i like this a lot ...great job ....

[junkcreations]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Excited about it to. Going to refine it a bit. Dint like the seat support mount. To tacky. Will clean it up some and keep you posted.

[junkcreations]

As promised here is the new swingarm design. Cleaned it up a bit and went to a more stable stronger design. Overall above all else I want the bike to be clean functional and a bit radical in design. What you think? Will post another video hopefully tonight with the airbag in and suspension moving. Now on to the seat and tank. Any ideas for what to do about a gas tank. Don't have room for the stock tank. Anybody use a tank off of another Honda and make it work?

[Casper]

Looking good, nice to see it coming together. I'll keep my eyes open for the video. Do the air bags have a way to alter the pressure, to adjust the ride?

[junkcreations]

Looking good, nice to see it coming together. I'll keep my eyes open for the video. Do the air bags have a way to alter the pressure, to adjust the ride?

Yes the airbag can adjust the pressure. Nice feature BC I can adjust rude height easily.

[junkcreations]

Well here is the video and updated photos. Like how it turned out.

[junkcreations]

Well finished my seat mount and seat pan. I will have to see about going and getting it covered of course but I like how it turned out and it looks real cool just sitting there floating above the rear wheel. If you're wondering the mount is made out of a F250 Rear leaf spring. Very stiff and gives me an extra spring without touching the rear suspension. Next up, foot-pegs and controls. Trying to decide if I want to run a rear brake only. Thoughts? I won't have a front fender as I'm still going for a modified bobber look.

[wog]

snip... Trying to decide if I want to run a rear brake only. Thoughts?

Front brake(s), YES!

[junkcreations]

I thought so. After reading other posts yes. Now if only I can find some.

[hmratbam]

I used a cb750 front hub spoked to a 21 inch wheel and a single caliper/disc on the Bopper trying to cut down on all the mass in that area. Had enough brake and cut down some on all the machinery up there.
Most often to use a regular tank you will have to do something to the birdcage under the shelter. Normal approach is single backbone and move the lower bars in a little to put them under the new tank. I think there have been some V-star and Harley tanks modified to fit over the stock frame but that leaves a really wide tank with not much fuel in it.
With the stock tank gone there's room for the electrics in that area even with an airbag.(I think)

[BGarth]

I went with a single back bone and then did some light trimming to a GS850 tank on my project. The tank fits the frame well and I think is the right size for the bike. Really, it doesn't look too far from stock.

[junkcreations]

Well it has been a long winter but I'm back on the project. Switched the front end out with that of a 1980 CB900c motorcyle. Looks great. Have custom seat pan, tank from a crotch rocket and a LED turn signal/tail lamp combo and headlight with integrated turn signals. Will have to post pics once I get it all wired up but getting close.