J. Wrights Gl 1100 bobber build

[BillyBarcode]

Awesome build! I have an '83 GL1100 Interstate that I want to strip down like you did...if only I could weld!

[J Wright]

That tank seems to fit quite nicely! Great find!

It fits pretty good but Im going to make it fit better. Redo the tunnel, reshape the front and back, mold in gauges, move filler, move petcock, add sight gauge

[Norbert R]

That is the coolest idea ever for a battery box, bravo !!
Tank is going to look super as well

[duke182]

Had to subscribe. Dont want to miss what might be next

[wog]

Looking great!
Enjoying following along.

[J Wright]

cut the tank apart. need some materials to redo the tunnel and to do my modifications. also ordering gaskets today to get the motor back together.

[J Wright]

Ok, so I have been kicking around some ideals on my suspension set up. What I came up with I think will be kinda of unique as I have not seen this done yet. On the other hand it may not work and may have to redesign something later.

Goal....
To have a custom girder front end and to have a good ride quality and also be able to drop it on the ground when parked as I have already cut off my kickstand. Regular air ride gives the lift needed but not the ride quality as the only way to control rebound is with a spring or by adding more pressure which changes ride height (no good). There is a company out there that makes a dual airbag setup that makes it to where you can adjust ride height and rebound at any point (perfect) but at over $1000 for the rear its not going to happen.

My solution.....(hopefully)
There is an industrial company that make air cylinders for anything from animatronics, to shipping lines, to heavy duty rams. This company also make an air cylinder with an air port on both sides. One side is to push the ram out and the other is to push it back in. My thought is that I can pressurize one side to get my ride height and then pressurize the other side to get my dampening force. Now these were made to cycle quickly and I wasnt sure that they would hold pressure for an extended amount of time so I ordered the size I would need to use for the front, put a pressure gauge on one side and compressed it by hand and then further with a vice. It has held 40 psi for over 2 hours so I am thinking that this may actually work.

cylinder specs....

Front...
1 1/2" diameter with a 6 1/2" stroke length which should be plenty of lift
rated for 250 psi
1.7 efficient ratio... means that for every 10psi air put in it will lift 17lbs, so 100psi x 1.7= 170lbs lifting x 2 (one for each for leg) = 340lbs lift force. like I said they are rated at 250psi so with 2 at max pressure it could lift 850lbs

Rear.....(not ordered yet)
1 3/4" diameter with a 3 1/2" stroke length
same 250 psi rating
2.4 efficient ratio.... as the rear will not be directly over the wheel but further up the swing arm Im going with a larger diameter which gives me a greater ratio for the leverage, this will also lift the rear about 6 1/2" while using a 3 1/2" stroke

Here is a pic of the cylinder I am planning on using in my vice with the pressure gauge on it. still at 40 psi after 2 hrs

[HOTT]

that whooshing sound you heard was that going right over my head.

So you totally have my attention.
Can't wait to see this play out.

HOTT

[robin1731]

Those are the same type of cylinders we use on air shifters for the race bikes. We don't keep them pressurized though. Holding air at a given place, like in the vice, is one thing. But the hit of a 600lb bike going over a bump at speed is totally different. It may work, may not. But if it did fail going down the road it would be no fun.

[J Wright]

Those are the same type of cylinders we use on air shifters for the race bikes. We don't keep them pressurized though. Holding air at a given place, like in the vice, is one thing. But the hit of a 600lb bike going over a bump at speed is totally different. It may work, may not. But if it did fail going down the road it would be no fun.

yea. not sure if it will work but going to try. plan B is air shocks or bags

[CYBORG]

air shocks or bags make more sense

[Norbert R]

Fascinating - above my grasp too but gonna be fun to watch

[duke182]

Not sure about those cylinders but there are some that could be utilized. BUT you would have to utilize a tank as an expansion chamber.
This allows the air to move and the cylinder to move as a shock.
The size of the tank determines how much air moves and how much of a damping effect occurs.
That is a simple explanation. Other factors come into play also.
Without the tank, the ride, when aired up, would pretty much be that of a hardtail frame.

Air bags can also be used.
But keep in mind that bags are just air springs.
Without shocks, there will be nothing to damp the spring and it would be a lot like riding a pogo stick.

Goodluck.
Looking forward to seeing what you choose to do.

[J Wright]

water pump is bad. waiting for parts again.

[jdvorchak]

I wish I could weld 1/10 that good. Kudos brother.