Once I was finished with that, I moved on to making new chain adjuster blocks that fit a 25mm axle. As I said in an earlier post the bearings I got to adapt the wheel to the suzuki 28mm axle just weren't gonna hold up. So I decided to convert the swing arm to a 25mm axle. After a little searching I found the length of a factory Aprilia axle. It's 318.5mm long. Just a hair too short to use on the TL arm. So where can I find 15mm that previously didn't exist? Make the chain adjuster blocks thinner! Took about 1/2 an hour of number crunching and another 20 min to program the cnc mill and here's what I came up with.
The ID is 25mm and there is a protrusion with a 28mm OD that will fit in the oval hole in the TL arm so there is minimal vertical play in the 25mm axle. The flat side will be facing out. The thickness of the flat part of both pieces together is almost 15mm thinner that the thickness of both factory adjuster blocks together. This time I think I finally have the rear wheel situation solved! Just have to wait for the Aprilia axle to show up in the mail.
During all the time I haven't been working in the bike, I've been thinking about how I want to paint it. At first I was thinking factory style paint job, but as I started looking around I found a few paint jobs I really like. Here's a few in no particular order. Feel free to share your opinions if there's one you love or one you hate.
1. This is a bad picture but you've all seen this one I'm sure. This is certainly my favorite of the stock paint options.
2. I really like the colors in this one. It's on a CB750 tank but you get the idea.
3. Another CB but damn is that a good lookin combo. Not sold on the number plate/headlight combo but it's certainly different.
4. This one might be my favorite. Only thing I'd change is the gold leafing wouldn't have that rainbow effect on it and it'd be engine turned with black or maybe white edging. Also the rat rod pin striping would have to go. Otherwise I love the green metalflake.
