1983 RC480, Uber Trickness!

Dude soooo trick !

Can’t wait to see the updates. That swing arm is so sick, and the tank is badass too.

Got the clamps and some more parts fitted up this afternoon.

The clamps we make ourselves from 6082-T6 alloy. They move the bars further forward and raise them a little. This gives a massive improvement in ergonomics. It gives these older bike a completely "modern" feel.

Titanium stem top nut and bearing adjuster nut. (Made in house) and one of our HRC spec front #plate bolts.




Fitted the new linkage up as well. This is the first, prototype, CR480 linkage assembly we have made. Billet 7075-T6 for the link and 6082-T6 for the knuckle. The link is longer than stock. The same length as a "Simons" link. This gives a much more modern and progressive linkage ratio. It also has proper bearings!! The stock 480 linkage used bushes! We are using a modified 1988 CR250 bearing set, plus a pair of seals whipped out of an 89 kit, plus CRF450 lower shock bearing. (We have the seals from the 89 kits on order so we don't have to canibalise kits in the future!!)






As the link is longer than the original it requires the front mounting point to moved forward. Plus some special, offset, collar bushes to be machined and fitting into the frame. I'll get some detail pics of 'before and after' this mod, showing how it's been done.



All the bolts are Titanium, made in house. All with period correct HRC hexagon sizes and shape.



The customer requested the Ohlins shock.
The pics will come quickly next week, its moved a little further on since i took these! I'll get updates during the week.
Hopefully, she'll be on her wheels and rolling by Wednesday

Stevie

wow. gorgeous!

Love this already... pity about the twin shocker though!

This build just keeps getting better

My God it’s going to be trick!

liking the rear suspension parts!

Got the motor in and the forks and wheels in.



This is my favourite part of the build so far. The swingarm spindle is Titanium. (Made in house. Heat treated and shot peened) We modified the frame so the head is captive. This was done on the factory bikes of the time but it didn't reach production bikes till '88!



Titanium bolts through out.



Titanium bearing adjuster nut and stem top nut.


Adjustable billet brake trq arm.



I'll get some more detail pics in the next few days once it's fully rolling.

Stevie

Some pics of the billet linkage set up, we made for it. Modified 88 bearing set, a pair of 89 seals and we fit CRF450 lower shock bearing to all our links.

what a build, wow. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Un...freaking...believable.....duuuuuuuude…...

This must be a build where the client said I don’t care what it costs just do it.
Absolutely brilliant execution sparing nothing.

I would be greatly indebted to know if one wanted something similar what to expect roughly cost wise and already having a host bike.

Over $30,000.00?

Even more impressive if he intends to ride this regularly.

Great post for guys who dream of being able to craft at this level.

TooOld4WFO wrote:

This must be a build where the client said I don’t care what it costs just do it.
Absolutely brilliant execution sparing nothing.

I would be greatly indebted to know if one wanted something similar what to expect roughly cost wise and already having a host bike.

Over $30,000.00?

Even more impressive if he intends to ride this regularly.

Great post for guys who dream of being able to craft at this level.

Pretty much. The client basically said "I want this", and sent us pictures of Daryl Shultz's 1982 RC480.

He already has one our our 1980 CR250's and originally wanted a 480 version to "match". Sadly there is no class for them in France. As we had already done the motor, wheels and forks, (we had a 1980 frame modified as well, but we will be using that on another build instead) it was pretty easy to swap it all over to an 83 RC480 build.

When someone asks for a build like this it actually makes it way easier for me. I don't like it when I have to compromise, and I can just get on and build it exactly how I want to! ?

Although, on the this one the motor is virtually standard. We make gear sets and billet clutch baskets for the 480, but they haven't been fitted.

The squish has been recut to stop detention. We also remove the cylinder head studs and use bolts, there are steel inserts in the barrel so the threads don't get distroyed! We also add dowels so the head locates accurately.
When the 480 motor is fitted on to the 1980 chassis you can't take the top end off with the motor in the frame when the head studs are left in... It's a real pain in the ass! Swapping to bolts gets around that. This had already been done before the change to a STD 83 480 frame.

Wow. Incredible but par for the course Stevie

Before and after of the mods to the linkage mounts. (Ok, the before pic is a different 480 frame...)
You can see how much further forward the the new link mounts




The offset collars we brazed into the frame for the new mount. We made them so they have the same outer width as the original mounting point, so the original bolt can be used.

This build is incredible. Sorry if I missed it, but where did that swing arm come from? It looks very much like a factory arm from back in the day with that weld going down the middle the length of it. Great job!

outerlimits wrote:

This build is incredible. Sorry if I missed it, but where did that swing arm come from? It looks very much like a factory arm from back in the day with that weld going down the middle the length of it. Great job!

The arm and tank came from Bormi parts in Italy. It's beautiful workmanship.

All the wiring is now done. New connectors and sleeving through out. Freshly refurbished CDI box and Ti bolts holding it all together.

Looks very, very nice!!! Somebody is going to be happy when they get their hands on it.

Awesome build man, way to go!

Boris sent me these teaser pics through this afternoon....

Oh my god!! I can't wait to get this fitted up!! We can finish the exhaust system up with the sub frame fitted then.... it's first start up time!! ?????

Wow!!!!!!!

who is going to be the first one to get this thing dirty ?

If I had the chance to ride this, or Jenna Jameson, I’d choose this!!!

This thing is simply insane. Amazing workmanship!

Superdave19 wrote:

If I had the chance to ride this, or Jenna Jameson, I’d choose this!!!

+1 here! At least you know the bike is fresh and clean. Jenna Jameson not so much I'm thinking

Richard Tease II wrote: The swingarm spindle is Titanium. (Made in house. Heat treated and shot peened)
Why shot peen and heat treat the titanium? I would of guessed it would of been strong enough?
Sweet build and props for the craftmanship

They are heat treated so we know they are all The same hardness/strength. And the shot peening stress relieves them.

Been off it for a few days as we've had a new mill delivered a couple of weeks ago and it's been absolute chaos,l. We've had to completely rearrange the entire workshop. It's still a complete mess, but we're slowly getting organized!

I managed to get the sub-frame/airbox bolted up yesterday, and made a start on the pipe, once the pipes sorted were gonna fire her up! Then the tank and airbox assembly can go out for paint