Dirt Floor Leaner

[Pete-NZ]

Heres the arm for my next unit... Yamaha XT660R dirt leaner..
Its made from 32mm OD X 3mm stainless pipe..Has a 3:1 leaverage
ratio to the shock... " thats not the shock I will be useing"
The 17" wheel is from the rear of a Suzuki FXR150.. I replaced
the 17mm ID bearing with 3/4" ID.. biggest I could bore the wheel for...
The end of the shock conected to the frame will have a ride hight/leveling
adjuster of some type... not thought that far ahead yet... The arm
will pivit on bronze bushes...

[cleatusj]

Thank's Pete, I'm still stick welding and machining with a drill press plus an old small Atlas/Craftsman 6x18 lathe. I like to of forgot the angle grinder with cutoff wheels.

I make a little progress when my brain gives me something that seems to be an answer. The good thing is that often the idea works.

[Hellracer.nl]

My first damper set up (horizontal) was way to weak, I've experimented a bit with different set Ups and now it's fine.

[Hiho]

You may find that design for the single side swing arm is not rigid enough. We started with a similar idea but had to put in another rod to stiffen it up. You can see it below, the one from the botttom right angling back.
The shock is a Progressive from a Suzy Boulevard and designed to operate on that angle. If you use a normal shock, as it leans closer to horizontal you need a much stiffer spring rate.

[cleatusj]

I have been thinking about using an older 18" Honda wheel but it only would accept bearings for a 12mm axle. I decided to turn a disk of 3/4" steel to accept a 19.9mm axle and fit where the drum brake once resided. I will next turn an axle down to fit both size bearings and build a one sided swing arm.

[cleatusj]

HiHo, I have a heavy aluminium bodied fixed hack with a single sided swingarm that has held up very well to hard running.

[Hiho]

Is that a square section you have used?
We used a 32nd pipe and found it had too much flex without the extra brace.
The leaners are a lot more fun though!

[cleatusj]

It's 1x4 solid but the leaner will really have to be something special to be more fun than my fixed as I'm able to run gravel a lot faster,in corners, with that rig than I can in a pickup and pull away from most cruisers in the corners on pavement.

I could be a little crazy.

[cleatusj]

I know it's been a while but I had to turn an axle and then find my die to cut threads and I'm not the fastest using a lathe but I did get it done.

Spent new years eve day welding the axle I turned into a swingarm and attaching to leaning sidecar frame. New years day I added a shock and fender support. Now I need to mount the fender and come up with a body or mold my own.

Here's where it sits now.

[cleatusj]

Got to give it a 50 mile test run with plenty of tight twists today and it was great. I did notice that I was slowing to 25-30 for 15 mph posted curves but that may change with time.

[cleatusj]

I made a few adjustments and added a fender and a 15" plywood deck until I can find or build a body. I want to keep the body to 16" or less in width so I can keep the 45+ deg. lean angle. Will post pic's tomorrow.

[cleatusj]

I decided to narrow and shorten an old pick-up tool box to use until I can find or build something with better looks. I do not own a brake so this was done the hard way but I think it will work for the time being.







I still need to sand, seal the seams and paint.

[cleatusj]

Bolted the body on this morning and gave it a 160 mile run with a 25-30 mph wind and had no surprises. Next I'll have to add lights and wiring.





This should be great to haul camping gear or groceries.

[XL-erate]

Looks great, Cleatus, you did a mighty fine job! Thanks for sharing the build, I've enjoyed it very much. Very nice workmanship on a very practical rig!

[Hellracer.nl]

+1
Just wondering what your maximum lean is towards the rig. Looks like this is limited by the narrow track, am I right?

I know that I need more lean on my leaner, I max-out on 60% of the turns I do....