Day One - New Project

[Dale]

Max,
I have looked for a good picture of my mini chain guard and could only find a couple of it in action and nothing close up. Being aluminum, it was really beat up so I retired it to the garbage can when I took it off. Here are a couple of pictures of my bike on a great day of riding...

Note the amount of mud and grass at the mini chain guard!

Just because... Here is Tommy Croft posing with my ride on Bad Rock 2014.

[hodakamax]

Thanks Dale, it does look like you had a good time!

Max

[hodakamax]

Hey Gang, We're back to the graphics and it's about ready to go to the vinyl cutter. Notice I can now shift on both sides.

Max

[viclioce]

I like the right side chain drive Max!!! ; D Victor

[matt glascock]

Goes twice as fast!

[tvrc18]

Looks really good except for the front fender. Looks wrong on the bike but just my opinion.
Terry

[viclioce]

It just looks too large for the front wheel & front forks. Maybe trimming it back 6-8" and adding a small mudflap would make it look more proportionate? Max???

[taber hodaka]

I think the car hood distorts the view. I think it would have to out by its self to visualize. Kinda matches the rear finder and looks a little modern and mean. --------------Clarence

[---]

Looks like a new PP MX fender. I looked at them but consider them way too long for a 21" front tire. It may look similar to newer designs but I can't think of one offhand. Just looks like a full sized fender on a mini bike. I prefer the looks of the Super Combat style although they are a bit short on coverage. My original PP Baja fender is just right. Longer and wider than the SC but same radius.

[hodakamax]

Well I have to admit it's slightly large probably because the project has a 19'' front wheel and a 21'' fender. I walk by It several times a day and it's starting to grow on me in that it's starting to look like some voracious insect. Think Mantis or giant weevil. Jury's out on this one. Easy to change, just what I had in stock!

Max

[---]

My Preston Petty Baja is 25" from tip to tip, 4 1/2 wide, and has a 6" rise. The closest I have seen lately is the Preston Petty Mini Mudder, which apparently is out of production.

The new MX fenders are 30" tip to tip, 6" wide in the front, 4 3/4" wide in the back, and have a 9 1/4" rise. They do cover more area than the older style, but the radius of the fender is noticeably longer than older styles. Most of the extra length in the fender is biased to the front, so they do tend to project forward.

The I.B. Mudder is a bit longer at 31 1/2", uniform in width at 4 3/4", and has a rise of 8".

Perhaps some of the visual effect is attributable to the 19" front tire. There is a Wombat in the background with an orange fender which appears to balance well against the tire. Is the orange fender a different style and size? If it is the same style fender as your new white one but on a 21" front end, then I would agree that the fender blends better on the larger tire.

[hodakamax]

Greg, the foreground is a UFO and the back one is an original Preston Petty and the wheel is a 21''. Measuring diagonal tip to tip they are both 30 inches.

Max

[viclioce]

Maybe something for a smaller sized bike like the 85-100 series? I was looking for sonething from UFO on Amazon, where I got my green one for the RT..... ; D Victor

[dirty_rat]

Hey Max,

In reference to those shocks you got, I read a post about them. The guy says that sometimes they come with the wrong nitrogen pressure in them and sometimes they aren't bleed right from the factory. In the post he explains some of the things you can do to fix them (only if the aren't working properly). He will also rebuild them if you need it. The site is : http://chrislivengood.net/wp/rfy-shocks ... d-service/
Hopefully your shocks are fine and won't need anything, but just in case you can check there.

[hodakamax]

Ah thanks DR, I just checked it out and looks to be all good info.

Max

[hodakamax]

I see the project has been moved to page 2 on the Forum which means it's time for some kind of report. Recent discussions about chain guards got me started on prototyping an idea that's better than nothing. Since the chain is almost touching the tire I had to forego a back side on the guard which will only be partly effective for mud and at least it adds a safety factor for the front part of the chain. Now the problem is designing the brackets to bolt it to the swing arm with the two available bolts. I'll have to think on that for a while but I'm somewhat enthused in that this might actually work.

A partial report! (on a partial guard.)

Max

[bobwhitman]

Hey Max, stylish young women pay extra to have jeans that have that appearance...
Bob

[viclioce]

I'm liking the minimal look of that guard! Are you going to add a mounting tab to the swing arm for it? I like the holes drilled in it. I think the opposite end needs a set too! ; D Victor

[taber hodaka]

Max the guard looks cool. I don't know but it may be able to come a little further forward. If the chain brakes I think the whip effect is what wipes the end and damages the case?? I to like the holes and simplicity. -------------Clarence

[hodakamax]

Hey Gang, thanks for the input. (Even yours Bob.) Part of the problem with this minimal guard is all of the close tolerances. There's no room for fasteners to protrude inside the guard. I'll probably use (or try) countersunk fasteners coming from inside bolting to a plate of sorts for stiffness. Max is not very visual when it comes to design so I have to do mock-ups to figure things out. At least I've started on it.

Clarence, I had the guard closer to the case but as the swing arm pivots the front comes down on the chain. There will have to be a compromise somewhere. And Victor, there will be more holes in it once I figure out the mounting and where the mud might squirt in or out.

Anyway, kinda fun trying new things and solving problems. I'm also open to suggestions.

Maxie

PS--I finally did get all the graphics on yesterday. The vinyl guys did a good job. Also, the seat Guy showed up and took some measurements to mock-up the saddle. I told him to be creative.

[taber hodaka]

I do like your number and how the 3 & 2 go together. I always like"d the 2 & 7 and that was mine. To really appreciate your project, one should go back and look at post # 1. What a transformation ! The graphics are great--------------------Clarence

[hodakamax]

Thanks Clarence, I've been #32 for so long I even have it on my house so people know where #32 lives. Only my old friends get it!

Maxie

[bobwhitman]

Wow! Most of us would have had to employ a professional graphics designer. Amazing that you could work up such cool designs at home...(maybe not quite alone?)
Bob

[hodakamax]

Looks as if the chain guard is going to work. Even though the back side is open it looks as if the guard is at least going to wipe most of the mud off rather than the chain. Maybe a few more changes but I think I'm almost there. I can see where to improve a few details but that's all the materials I had to work with over the week-end. Suggestions?

Max

PS--And it should keep your cuff from being nibbled on.

[Bullfrog]

Maxie,

I thought you'd come up with some nifty ideas on the chain guard . . . and you did not disappoint! Nice guard!

Ed