The Shop Blog | Swerve Customs

’80 kz750 | mono-shock conversion

: Let’s convert this fucker.

: I started by cleaning up the swing arm. I cut off some tabs and took it down to bare metal.

: I made a plate to reinforce the swing arm where I will be attaching the shock and the swing arm braces.

: Reinforcement in place.

: With the swing arm prepped, the old subframe had to go.

: I figured out where the top shock mount needed be and tacked it in.

: Since it was never intended to have a mono-shock. I wanted to make sure the swing arm legs were reinforced as well.

: I bent up some 1″ tube, and welded into place.

: Now for the bottom shock mount. I made a cradle where the shock will sit.

: I added a piece of 1″ tube under the cradle to disburse the load more evenly.

: Here’s another angle.

: Originally there was one long bolt attaching the bottom of the shock. The new design would not allow that.

: So, I turned out a piece that would make it possible to mount the bottom of the shock.

: The new piece is threaded so I can run two shorter bolts instead of one long one.

: It worked out great!!

: The conversion is complete!

: Left side.

: Right side.

: I still need to add some gussets to strengthen the top shock mount, but she is standing on her own. The suspension cycles nicely as well.

: I added the gussets. Two to reinforce the main hoop.

: And two to reinforce the top shock mount.

I knew I wanted to change the ride height, and I had a mono-shock lying around so, why not?

I like the way it came out! It cycles smooth and look cool as fuck!!

’78 KZ650 | rear set correction

: Front view of left side rear set.

: Front view of right side rear set.

: Time to start chopping!

: Here is the new stock to be used for the outline of the mesh. I weld the ends of the stock to a piece of scrap.

: Next I cut 1/8″ grooves along the new stock. The mesh will sit in the groove.

: Here you can see after I cut the grooves I bent the stock into the shape I need.

: The grooves stay intact and hold the mesh nicely! This is the front.

: Here is a inside view.

: Before and after.

: It was mainly the inside of the piece that was bothering me. I didn’t like seeing all those tack welds.

: Here is the inside of the left rear set.

: And this is the inside of the right rear set.

: Front of the right rear set.

: Front of the left rear set. The rear sets aren’t completely finished, but are %100 better than before.

So, I was working on the frame and just was not happy with the mesh accents on the rear sets. I like the look, but was never really satisfied with the way I had attached the mesh. The tack welds on the inside of the rear sets demanded too much attention.

I chopped off the old and set out to make a cleaner way of attaching the mesh. Now the mesh is basically framed in, instead of welded in. It makes for an much cleaner look inside and out. I was so hyped on the way the second attempt turned out!!

’58 panhead | clutch release arm

: I started by cutting off the piece I needed from the old clutch arm.

: I attached it to a fresh piece of 1/2″ round stock.

: After it’s attached, I make the bends necessary to clear the top of the transmission.

: Here you can see the bends.

: I cut down the excess stock to where it needs to be.

: All thats left is to drill the hole for the linkage, and the arm is finished.

: I started the linkage by uing a 1/4″ bolt on the clutch arm side.

: I turned down the edges, just for looks.

: The linkage is pretty simple. A bolt end on the clutch side, and a heim joint on the foot control side.

The clutch release arm that came with my bike was bent, and hit the top of the transmission as a result. So I set out to make a new one. I reused the end of the original arm, and made the rest up as I went along. The clutch throw feels great, and the arm no longer contacts the transmission.

’58 harley davidson | the mids

: So how do I attach to the frame? I welded one side of each tab to a piece of 1″ solid stock, then heat and bend.

: The 1″ stock has the same radius as the frame rails I’m attaching to.

: I end up with two nice radiuses on my mounting tabs.

: They hug the frame perfectly.

: I made some threaded slug inserts to bolt my new tabs to.

: This is a photo of a slug insert welded in.

: Now, what am I going to put my feet on? I started by bending up some 3/4″ solid stock.

: At this point I have the tab bolted to the frame. I am going back and forth from the bike to the vise, making one bend at a time.

: This is what I end up with. I made each bend contouring to the motor as well as ending up where I think my feet nee to be.

: I am always a fan of reusing parts. I think these were passenger pegs off a sportster.

: I just needed the ends, and the pegs.

: These are some of the pieces I machined for the moving parts.

: Here are all those small parts assembled and attached to the base. Also I used another tab to mount the rear master cylinder.

: I then fabricate and add the rear bake foot control and brake linkage.

: On to the left side. I decided to mount this tab on top of the tube, to clear the primary pully.

: Using the same process as before, I bend up a base. I have to contour to the motor, align with the other side, and clear the primary pulley.

: The second one is always harder then the first.

: At this stage, I make sure everything alined.

: Now that my base is in, I machine the moving parts for the left side.

: I turn down an area for the clutch pedal to pivot on.

: I trim down my base and fit up the new piece.

: Here you can see the shiny part is where the clutch pedal will pivot.

: I weld on the peg end and attach it to the base. Now for the clutch linkage and foot control.

: I formed a tab over a piece of 1″ stock. The clutch linkage will attach to this.

: I burn in a piece of 1/4″ stock and thread the end. The clutch linkage will bolt right up.

: Lastly, I modified the pegs to better fit the foot grips I bought.

: Here is the left side, clutch side, mid-control.

: Here is the right side, brake side, mid-control.

I never really liked forward controls. So I set out to build some mid-controls. After letting it stew for about a week, I had a rough idea of how I wanted to attack “THE MIDS”.

I have to say, I am more than pleased with the result!! The foot controls feel so good!

(check out the photos for a full write up)

’58 Harley Davidson | rear fender

: I started out with a used fender off some kind of Harley. Then I chopped it, but something seemed unbalenced still. The fender struts!!

: So I chopped them too!! I also added 1/4″ round stock to the edge of the fender, for aesthetics.

: I attached the fender using these steel bungs that I cut, taped, and threaded out of 1/2″ round stock.

: I was really stoked on the way the fender came out.

This is the fender I came up with for the ’58 Pan-Head. Reworking the struts was a good decision! I like how it still has a nostalgic Harley Davison feel, with a custom twist.