Quad Build.

[HellSpawn]

So I decided its been awhile since I've built something from scratch, and a majority of my buddies have quads and atvs, so I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon, but instead of buying one I'd build a kickass ride that'll outrun everything they have.

I've got my eyes set on an old RM465 for my powerplant, probably going to go with dub a-arms up front and a single swing-arm in the rear, and I will most likely be reusing the aluminum swing-arm from the RM, I'll probably just machine some mounts to spread the pillow blocks I will be using a bit further apart to distribute weight on the axle a bit better.

I won't be going by any plans as I am pretty good at just improvising as I build and figuring it all out myself.

I'm still undecided on wall thickness, but I will be using a mixture of round and square. So any thoughts on that will be appreciated.

I won't be starting the build for a few days/maybe a week. but I figured I'd start the build log already.

 

[chevy_cow]

sounds like a good idea i was going to build an atv a while ago but never did (i just bought one) i will be interested to see how i turns out good luck!
also what kind of atvs are u trying to out run?

 

[newrider3]

Build an ATV the man way: three wheels. You could even re-use the front fork tubes, and just build a wider set of trees to make room for a wide front tire.

 

[anderkart]

a kickass ride that'll outrun everything they have.

I've got my eyes set on an old RM465 for my powerplant

So any thoughts on that will be appreciated.

My thoughts are:

That a leaving that RM465 as a 2-wheeled motocross bike should outrun most any quad in most any riding situations except possibly in deep mud or at the sand dunes.

The RM465 wouldnt handle as well as a newer dirt bike, but they were pretty dam fine bikes that should kick most any quads butt in most any type race.

I realise quads are cool and that's what your Buddy's ride, but motocross bikes are lighter and more nimble, and with a good rider they should almost always be faster than a quad with the same engine.

I kept on riding my motocross bikes when my buddy's all sold theirs and switched over to 3-wheelers and quads. I always kicked their butt in races, and when they bagged on me for still riding a 2-wheeler, I just made fun of them saying quads/3-wheelers were just made for tards that didn't have the coordination to learn how to ride a bicycle as a kid...

 

[HellSpawn]

My thoughts are:

That a leaving that RM465 as a 2-wheeled motocross bike should outrun most any quad in most any riding situations except possibly in deep mud or at the sand dunes.

The RM465 wouldnt handle as well as a newer dirt bike, but they were pretty dam fine bikes that should kick most any quads butt in most any type race.

I realise quads are cool and that's what your Buddy's ride, but motocross bikes are lighter and more nimble, and with a good rider they should almost always be faster than a quad with the same engine.

I kept on riding my motocross bikes when my buddy's all sold theirs and switched over to 3-wheelers and quads. I always kicked their butt in races, and when they bagged on me for still riding a 2-wheeler, I just made fun of them saying quads/3-wheelers were just made for tards that didn't have the coordination to learn how to ride a bicycle as a kid...

I completely agree with you on keeping the RM as a bike, however I had the thing when I was younger, sold it, and just recently got it back, and the guy that I sold it to beat the thing to death. There are multiple stress cracks in crucial areas on the frame.. that I just don't feel like dealing with.

I may just keep looking for a road crashed motorcycle as a donor, but very seldom do running motors come into the scrapyard here.

 

[anderkart]

Cool,

 

[chevy_cow]

when i was thinking about building one i was looking at crotch rockets for engines around where i live in the classifieds there was a 1000 cc bike with front end damage it was like a 2003 only like 600-900bucks - and i absolutely without a doubt guarantee that would smoke anything that moves
might want a long swinger though lol but definatly i think you should go 4 wheels!

 

[HellSpawn]

progress for the night...

todo:
1)make an a-arm jig and whip 4 of those up.
2)brace,brace,brace,gusset,gusset, ect ect! (lots of that **** to do) But I just have been focusing on the essentials for the time being as my supply of steel is not large.
3) Devise a way to mount some kind of bearing holders to the aluminum swingarm.
4) find a motor! (decided not to use the RM, however I stuck with the dirtbike swing-arm idea as I had a spare around)

Some of my welds are pretty spotty atm, and most of it is actually just spot-welded. I also didn't take a lot of time squaring everything up, but I did use magnetic squares for about every joint so this got it pretty close without having to strive for perfection.

 

[bighead]

First thoughts are longer swingarm. And the wheel base looks like it will be really short. If you are drag racing your buddies I would make a very long swingarm.

Can't wait to see how this turns out. I have an Banshee rear fenders (blue) you can have if you pay shipping.

Engines that crossed my mind without thinking of over powering.

The old Yamaha RD350 and RD400. This is the old school street bike version of the Yamaha 350 Banshee. Legends for making power

Or even better the RZ350 Yamaha. Legends for making power and would scream like a banshee.


Any of the old Kawasaki tripples. (You would kill yourself for sure) enough said.

The smaller 250 Ninja motors. Small engine with big power.

It will be hard to beat your friends in say a motocross style track or ridding if they are on 250r's and banshee's. I would build this as a drag machine style. This way you can pack a huge motor and leave no doughts.

PS, Mount your engine forward as far as you can. Also I could be wrong. But I always thought thatyour swingarm pivit point has to be level with the engines PTO/Sprocket. If not your chain will do funky stuff. So at first thought I am thinking you have to move your swing arm up. Here are some pics of my little dirt bike. See how the swing arm is level with the engines sprocket. Slap me if I am wrong. But just wanted to bring that up. Also spend a chunk of your budget on really good front and rear shocks.

Just thinking out loud trying to help.

 

[bighead]

http://bemidji.craigslist.org/mcy/2325844059.html

http://stcloud.craigslist.org/rvs/2314235998.html

Here is a cool kart on your local CL

http://stcloud.craigslist.org/rvs/2311474710.html

 

[HellSpawn]

some progress for the night... Decided to go with single a-arms for now, however the pivot mounts are still there incase I want to upgrade.

 

[HellSpawn]

First thoughts are longer swingarm. And the wheel base looks like it will be really short. If you are drag racing your buddies I would make a very long swingarm.

Can't wait to see how this turns out. I have an Banshee rear fenders (blue) you can have if you pay shipping.

Engines that crossed my mind without thinking of over powering.

The old Yamaha RD350 and RD400. This is the old school street bike version of the Yamaha 350 Banshee. Legends for making power

Or even better the RZ350 Yamaha. Legends for making power and would scream like a banshee.


Any of the old Kawasaki tripples. (You would kill yourself for sure) enough said.

The smaller 250 Ninja motors. Small engine with big power.

It will be hard to beat your friends in say a motocross style track or ridding if they are on 250r's and banshee's. I would build this as a drag machine style. This way you can pack a huge motor and leave no doughts.

PS, Mount your engine forward as far as you can. Also I could be wrong. But I always thought thatyour swingarm pivit point has to be level with the engines PTO/Sprocket. If not your chain will do funky stuff. So at first thought I am thinking you have to move your swing arm up. Here are some pics of my little dirt bike. See how the swing arm is level with the engines sprocket. Slap me if I am wrong. But just wanted to bring that up. Also spend a chunk of your budget on really good front and rear shocks.

Just thinking out loud trying to help.

At this point, Im just waiting to see what comes into the local scrapyard, I'd prefer a newer bike motor, but I'll take what I can get. And seeing as my old man works at said scrapyard, I pretty much get dibs on anything cool that comes in.

On note of the swing-arm, you are correct, however its not that big of an issue as the swing-arm has built in nylon chain guides and I will be doing a tensioner setup aswell. However, if I'm wrong, worst case scenario I just move it up a bit.

 

[bighead]

At this point, Im just waiting to see what comes into the local scrapyard, I'd prefer a newer bike motor, but I'll take what I can get. And seeing as my old man works at said scrapyard, I pretty much get dibs on anything cool that comes in.

On note of the swing-arm, you are correct, however its not that big of an issue as the swing-arm has built in nylon chain guides and I will be doing a tensioner setup aswell. However, if I'm wrong, worst case scenario I just move it up a bit.

Let other's confirm it but if the pivit is not in line with the sprocket you can snap chains all day long. I would think you would have a really lose or really tight chain at full suspension.

 

[chevy_cow]

if you go with a engine bigger than 200cc dual a-arms are a must IMHO

 

[HellSpawn]

if you go with a engine bigger than 200cc dual a-arms are a must IMHO

Nah, you'll see alot of the higher-end ATV's (ie a sportsman 500) have single front a-arms. But they are pretty beefy, which is something I still have yet to do is beef them up.

 

[chevy_cow]

my dad has a sportsman 500 and i actualy broke cv joint and the front a arm accidentally riding in the woods so you dont have to but if it were me i would.

 

[HellSpawn]

Found a nice little "scrap" kart that somebody built @ the scrapyard today, managed to rob some goodies off it, 1" axle (haven't measured it yet but its about the right length for the quad) and x2 4 bolt hubs for the 1" axle. Also found a bucket of smaller tie rods, and tie rod ends.

Should have the thing into a roller by tonight, unless I get lazy.

 

[HellSpawn]

And he said... let there be progress!

made my own swingarm, some bearing hanger mounts, and decided to use some non-keyed 1" shaft as the other axle I found was a bit.. yuck. (tards welded on it)

I have yet to put my hubs on it, and I could only find one of my bushing style 1" I.D. wheels, so we're 3 wheelin' for now. but she rolls, very smoothly. lots of travel in the rear aswell.

 

[chevy_cow]

looking good where are you going to be riding this?

 

[HellSpawn]

looking good where are you going to be riding this?

Thank you, and mostly through some of the wooded trails and ditches around here (it'll be a ditch banger for the most part)