As you could probably guess by the title, I have yet to ride on a hardtail, so I have to get over the hurdle if I'm ever going to make the change. That said, the roads around here suck. To get a feel for a hardtail without making the initial chop would strut rods (solid rods that bolt in place of the rear shocks/springs) be a viable way to see how I like it? If so, are there any dimensions that should be sought after or avoided? I'll probably weld them up myself, but just don't know what size rod works best or what length would be best for that matter.
I'm going to guess, by your screen name, you've got a Sportster?
Struts could certainly give you an idea of what it would feel like, provided you have it set up as you would a HT, with a sprung seat (if you so chose). I'll tell you now, that my '73 IH Chop was easier on my back than my '92 XL with Shorty Shocks. I had a sprung seat on the '73 and it absorbed a good amount of the road where the '92 has a rigid mounted seat and shocks that are barely there.
Also keep in mind that, you're going to try and miss a lot of the pot holes and shitty road conditions, if you're smart.
For me, riding a Rigid Chop is about the style of it, and not to just ride a rigid. I haven't ridden my '76 Honda Chop yet, but it's going to be hell with a Rigid Frame AND a rigid mounted Seat, but again, I dig it for the looks, not the comfort.
What kind of bike are we talking about?
If you're that concerned about it, don't try it.
Struts are fucking lame too.
If you have a bike that has a suspension, what are your reasons for ditching it?
If you have or are building a bike with a rigid frame, quit being a pussy and just ride it.
Solid rod? Use some tube stock. Stronger and easier to work with. I ride in michigan any we've got some pretty shit ass roads. Rode a hardtail honda for a few years, with a spring seat and mids its not so bad. Solid mounted seat and forwards kinda suck though. Its all about your own tolerance for ass pain i guess. Some of the more nasty pot holes will send a shockwave through your spine.
Also, struts are for homos. If its gonna ride like a ridgid, it might as well be one.
Last edited by Slayer63; 06-05-2012 at 5:05 PM.
Reason: im drunk
this is just my opinion as well as experience. i rode my buddies sporty with the biltwell struts and it rode like shit. he had a hd solo seat on it and it was brutal......i think if the geometry of the hardtail and the seat placement with springs etc it can ride pretty good. my cb750 hardtail rode better than my factory xl....stop being a vagina and cut that mother.....
I'm going to guess, by your screen name, you've got a Sportster?
Struts could certainly give you an idea of what it would feel like, provided you have it set up as you would a HT, with a sprung seat (if you so chose). I'll tell you now, that my '73 IH Chop was easier on my back than my '92 XL with Shorty Shocks. I had a sprung seat on the '73 and it absorbed a good amount of the road where the '92 has a rigid mounted seat and shocks that are barely there.
Also keep in mind that, you're going to try and miss a lot of the pot holes and shitty road conditions, if you're smart.
For me, riding a Rigid Chop is about the style of it, and not to just ride a rigid. I haven't ridden my '76 Honda Chop yet, but it's going to be hell with a Rigid Frame AND a rigid mounted Seat, but again, I dig it for the looks, not the comfort.
You guessed right...I have a '96 XLH883. Thanks for insight on the sprung seat...that is the direction I will be heading shortly. And yes, I want the style of a rigid chop, something I craft myself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Comingapart
What kind of bike are we talking about?
If you're that concerned about it, don't try it.
Struts are fucking lame too.
If you have a bike that has a suspension, what are your reasons for ditching it?
If you have or are building a bike with a rigid frame, quit being a pussy and just ride it.
It's not so much that I'm 'that concerned about it', but rather that it's something I've never done before and I wanted to see if it was something I wanted to drop the money into. The same would be true for my car...if I were to do a major restructuring in adding an aftermarket setup I'd like to hear from people what they think about it. I just picked up the bike a couple weeks ago, and want to plan out the build instead of buying something only to replace it later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slayer63
Solid rod? Use some tube stock. Stronger and easier to work with. I ride in michigan any we've got some pretty shit ass roads. Rode a hardtail honda for a few years, with a spring seat and mids its not so bad. Solid mounted seat and forwards kinda suck though. Its all about your own tolerance for ass pain i guess. Some of the more nasty pot holes will send a shockwave through your spine.
Also, struts are for homos. If its gonna ride like a ridgid, it might as well be one.
I did mean tube stock, not solid rod...and I agree about the struts...the idea was just to put them on there on a VERY temporary basis to see how I liked the feel. Thanks for the added input on the sprung seat, too.
I think you should go for it Nick. I picked up a '98 883 in January and have been working on a hardtail project on it for a few months. If you want a certain look, a chopper kind of look, then I think hardtailing is the way to go. I think the hardtail struts just lock up your swingarm and don't necessarily give you a true hardtail ride. I had a hardtail made for me by Hammer in hand Cycles in Michigan. It has about a 5" stretch with about a 2" drop, it was 400 dollars. It came with a motor jig for alignment. I put it together and SyndicateChopper welded it up for me, he's a ChopCult member and did an awesome job. Anyway, whatever you decide is cool, let me know if you have any questions. Here are a few pics.
Good to know...I'm sure I'll have a number of questions as I go through the process.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitywerx
this is just my opinion as well as experience. i rode my buddies sporty with the biltwell struts and it rode like shit. he had a hd solo seat on it and it was brutal......i think if the geometry of the hardtail and the seat placement with springs etc it can ride pretty good. my cb750 hardtail rode better than my factory xl....stop being a vagina and cut that mother.....
Yeah, I think it's unanimous...I'm not even going to waste my time on the struts...just got to sell a few parts and such now!
Just chop it up, you won't regret it. Like everyone else says, struts are lame. My rigid Ironhead rides just as good, if not better, with 3" seat springs and mids as my '02 swing arm bike with a solid mount seat, forwards, and lowering shocks.
You all have sealed the fate of my bike...chopped up it will be! (which is why I joined this site to begin with...I pretty much new I would do it, but I guess I just needed the little nudge to make it happen) now I just need to come up with the money.
With the chop decided now, here's the next question...do I buy a kit or fab up my own setup? With this being my first chop I'm leaning towards a kit, but I'd like to hear some thoughts on this...
With the chop decided now, here's the next question...do I buy a kit or fab up my own setup? With this being my first chop I'm leaning towards a kit, but I'd like to hear some thoughts on this...
Can you weld and bend pipe? Do you have the time and a place to do it? If so id say fab it up yourself. Ive hardtailed two bikes and im workin on a third. Its not really that hard. All i went on was a couple how to articals. The last one i just came up with drinkin beer. Theres nothing like doin it yourself. I mean, thats what its all about right?
I cant speak for a kit but i can say I've thought about it a lot just to save time and aggrivation.
I chopped mine without EVER riding a hardtail. If you've ever ridden a lowered bike, its not much different. Strutted bikes ride worse and harder on the body then a rigid due to geometry. If you want comfort, buy a goldwing.
CTFS!
You won't regret it.
Can you weld and bend pipe? Do you have the time and a place to do it? If so id say fab it up yourself. Ive hardtailed two bikes and im workin on a third. Its not really that hard. All i went on was a couple how to articals. The last one i just came up with drinkin beer. Theres nothing like doin it yourself. I mean, thats what its all about right?
I cant speak for a kit but i can say I've thought about it a lot just to save time and aggrivation.
Do whatever best suits you. Its your bike!
Welding is not a problem...as far as bending, I don't have nearly the equipment I'd like to have, but that will slow me down more than it would stop me. I know the kits aren't that much, but then again neither is the tubing, and it wouldn't take me long to draw up some CAD plans...
Quote:
Originally Posted by WingNut
I chopped mine without EVER riding a hardtail. If you've ever ridden a lowered bike, its not much different. Strutted bikes ride worse and harder on the body then a rigid due to geometry. If you want comfort, buy a goldwing.
CTFS!
You won't regret it.
Yeah, the struts are definitely gone from all memory, and I don't really care about a 'comfy' ride...although my kidneys would probably be happier, I suppose the same could be said if I cut out all the stone-forming food completely...
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