Kat's V7 850 Special - Wannabe Racer

[GoodKat]

But ya have your CAD done already! Carboard Aided Design LOL

I was making fun in the past that I am using CAD - Cardboard Aided Design...little I knew I was going to learn (slowly) real CAD.

Indeed I have it, but I don't have the aluminum sheet where to cut it from. There is this guy who is working at a metal laser cutting workshop and for a small fee he will cut for me any design I send to him, using his own material from scraps. So, I'm hitting two birds with one stone. Getting someone to perfectly cut it for me using his material for a fraction of the cost of what buying an entire sheet of aluminum.

 

[GoodKat]

Today I’ve got my hands on the first batch of stainless steel cuts.

Some other pieces soon to come so I can finish my version of tail tidy.



The triangular and rectangular pieces are composing the number plate holder.

They serve also as a turn signal holder and number plate light holder. They join together via the square holes in the middle…I’ve tried to replicate the Lego design somehow. Need some small welds and they are ready to go.




I’m pretty happy on how they turned out. Still need to do some small adjustments but happy overall.

The lollipop thing was cut out of 8 mm thick stainless steel plate and after some swearing I’ve managed to center it in the 3 jaw lathe chuck. Being a square section was a pain in the bottom, but in the end I’ve managed to turn the rod to a 6mm and the lollipop plate to 3 mm. Threaded the rod and made myself a fancy cat-eye reflector out of some scrap aluminum and an aliexpress reflector lense, and it mounts on the bottom right shock mount.

 

[GoodKat]

today I did this tail light out of a block of solid aluminum. Took me a good amount of time to shave all the aluminum.

I can still shave a bit more out of it, but for the moment I’ll leave it like this.

100 grams heavier than the standard plastic casing.

 

[Raven]

It's worth the extra weight, it looks gorgeous.

 

[DeadEye]

Aluminium, it weights nothing

 

[GoodKat]

It's worth the extra weight, it looks gorgeous.

Thank you, sir!!

 

[GoodKat]

Aluminium, it weights nothing

360 grams including electronics. I’m sure I can shave 100 more, making it the same as the plastic standard one.

 

[GoodKat]

Ok, so the tail light now weighs about 260 grams including electronics, 100 grams less than I said…I think I could do more but meh…not gonnna risk to ruin it since it took me a good chunk of my time and a big aluminum billet.

Now, I nees to source the right wires and connectors to start building the electric harness for the rear end.

 

[kildareman]

How are you going to attach it?

 

[GoodKat]

How are you going to attach it?

This is a very good question. There are three possibilities, at this moment.

1. A neat stainless steel strap that will go around it in the middle section and will be bolt-mounted by the licence plate holder.

2. Some kind of a ‘lolipop’ shaped bracket that will be bolted by the back of the tail ligh and the thin end will be welded by the number plate holder

3. Either a bracket welded under the tail light.


Will decide once the arm that holds the number plate and the undertray are done.

 

[DeadEye]

Personally , i would vote for the Lollypop mount to keep the clean look of the cylinder

 

[GoodKat]

Personally , i would vote for the Lollypop mount to keep the clean look of the cylinder

Yep! This is the way I am going.

Shaved a bit more weight today and check the results:

Standard casing



My version:


And I still have a bit more to shave

 

[Mindis]

Shaved a bit more weight

Well... if ya make it from carbon fiber.... ya know....

 

[GoodKat]

Well... if ya make it from carbon fiber.... ya know....

don’t tempt me, man!!!

 

[GoodKat]

Another day, another ‘something’ done to my Goose.

Wasn’t happy with the shape of the Mistral exhaust brackets, therefore I’ve decided to make my own.

Fits better because of the rounded shape, and both exhausts are always at the same height.





Just look at this sexy booty!!



Also, the postman brought the aliexpress special handlebar clamps. Removed the standard clamps with the mirror mounts to get a more cleaner look…and replaced the bolts with stainless ones.

 

[GoodKat]

Today did some more work and I’m nearly “there”.

1. Because I’ve made new exhaust brackets, a centerstand stop had to be made…therefore I’ve made one and looks like this:


2. I didn’t like the undertray I was making, wasn’t fully convinced about the design, plus there should have been some aluminum welding involved and I don’t have a TIG machine. Therefore, I’ve switched the plans a bit:

Went back to the rear fender and made a nice mount for the tail light, so it fits the curvature of the fender.




3. The turn signals / number plate light and number plate support, I’ve made a small stainless unit to hold them all:









Now I was thinking about painting the rear fender in the same colors as the fuel tank…

 

[davethewelder]

Good Kay, you can weld aluminum with a stick welder, not pretty but works. You will need to grind and polish the welds.

 

[GoodKat]

Good Kay, you can weld aluminum with a stick welder, not pretty but works. You will need to grind and polish the welds.

Hey, Dave! I’ve tried in the past and it didn’t work. I couldn’t ignite the arc. Maybe my stick welder doesn’t have the properties for aluminum welding. I have a Telwin inverter, something cheap, nothing fancy.

But I said to myself that I’m going to get a TIG welder and learn it myself since I’m not doing any structural welding.

 

[GoodKat]

It seems that the mirrors-saga got to an end…FINALLY! I wasn’t happy with any of the market options for mirrors. Either shit build or odd shapes, or very expensive.

THEREFORE…

Had a look in my parts bin and found some stainless tube, stainless bar, and some bar-end mirrors from China. Here’s the deal. The mirror itself is very nicely built and the glass is convex, offering a very large field of view.

So…I’ve built my own version of bar mounted mirrors. I really like the look, very solid, minimalistic and very light. And they fit the style of the bike. More than this, I’m planning on also making a bar-end mirror version, just to switch between them when I want that.












Weight comparison:

 

[GoodKat]

Today, after the office hours, I took a break from the world and installed some fat grips because the standard grips are a joke for my shovel-like hands.

…and because I was there, I made some bar ends to fit the style. Brushed aluminum look.