Posts
92
Joined
6/18/2013
Location
Atlantic City, NJ
US
Edited Date/Time
12/14/2017 7:15pm
We would like to announce that we will be involved with a stellar bike build that you guys will not want to miss. World renown bike builder Wayne ransom Wayneransom.com and @the_kings_ransom on Instagram will be building a late model KX500AF with a boat load of handmade titanium goodness. "Yes, of course there will be a hand made titanium cone pipe involved" We will be gathering a bunch of great sponsors that will be included in the build. Ransom has also dedicated an Instagram page that will be posting step by step progress of the build. This can be seen at @ransom_KX500Af_build on Instagram. We cannot wait to see this come together stay tuned
The Shop
Not just bolt on garbage and graphics but actual machine
work and bringing it back from the dead. That oil drain hole
damage and repair was great.
Has some cool Ti pipe pictures on it.
Pit Row
Using a HSS ball mill on a manual knee mill to make 'finishing touches' =
j/k. I'm sure it'll look good in the end but somebody needs a CNC
Hell, I've done things with my old mill and lathes, that would give purists / shop teachers fits - and, indeed, myself. You do what you have to / need to do. And be bloody careful when you are breaking the rules ..........
You use what tools / Equipment you have - though, this builder looks to be not lacking in machinery, and funds.
AFs - at the most basic level, a set of files, a drill / drill press, a hacksaw, and a TIG welder is the most a skilled person, or a person just having a go at getting skills, needs. Research your / the original materials, and use / treat them accordingly. It's not rocket science, though some will make you think it is.
I've seen utter shit made by companies ( who've done so for many years, with them making a lot of $$$$$$ from their sub standard work), and individuals.
I've also seen absolute works of art, made by both the categories above. The best I've ever seen, has come from individuals, that did superb work, for themselves.
And a titanium expansion chamber? whos gonna wanna take that out in the dirt and rocks? and is this even a tuned exhaust or just a guess at the shape and hope it works "ok"? It just seems like more flash than substance.
For me, AF500's aren't really that great. They're better in fantasy than in reality. I really didn't like mine. It just vibrated way too much and really hated anything technical. It was a cool bike to own, but I never really wanted to ride it. I got way more enjoyment out of normal CR500.
I'm sure it will be a cool bike, I just don't really get the point. But, then again I'm disillusioned with the concept. carry-on...
But... I never understood why, as I've seen it before, anyone would use a ball mill to make an edge-break - it just creates another sharp corner at the bottom. On a part like a motor mount, vibration will find those sharp corners and eventually cause stress cracks. A chamfer mill(1/2" in this case) is the way to go(center point [of the radius] to center point). More sound and it'd look better as there'd be no need for that over-cut into the corners(which may have been a mistake and then matched on the other corner - who knows what's going on there). Or, interpolate/CNC
Again tho, when all said and done, I'm sure it's gonna be sweet!
But, I have done quite a few, non by the book, machining operations over more than 4 decades of engineering. And , have had no failures from said operations.
I do admit, I tend to bristle at the near slavish worship of the CNCing of parts. Especially basic parts, with no quantity to them. The amount of times I've seen people foaming at the mouth in lust of crapily done 'CNC' parts, is near endless. I've largely refused friends requests to do AFs for them over the last few years, but with a couple that I owe so much (not financially, but as good friends) to, I agreed to just do the labour on their AFs, with my recommending kits that had a pretty good rep. To then find they were rather sub standard, and having to replace crap CNC'd bits, with humbly hand made, yet safe, quality parts.
Yes, I am an old curmudgeon.
Will work for free(for moto)
BTW, I really want to be in S.Australia in June for vacation. How's the weather there/then?
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