The Beatdown!!!

**OldschoolJ** · 12-16-2009, 07:04 PM

Hey guys, I'm a newbie here and wanted to start my build thread. Enjoy.

I picked up this 2001 Honda Rebel 250 yesterday. Needs some luv but it was a great deal. Gonna spend as little as possible on it. Nothing crazy. Should be fun.

The fun begins..... This is the next day.

More to come...

JunkyardDog · 12-16-2009, 08:29 PM

I'd just finish painting it black, maybe hang some stuff on it. It would make a nice rat. That is not a put down, I love rat bikes, and have owned a couple of them. Someday I will have another, if I can find a beat up looking bike that is still in good mechanical condition. Jerry.

**Henryinva** · 12-16-2009, 08:30 PM

An explanation of what your goal, look or a general idea of direction would probably be helpfull.

Are ya going to bob it, chop it, brat bike it, street fighter, cafe or turn it into a lawnmower?

Inquiring minds would like a clue!

**Fridgitator** · 12-17-2009, 02:41 AM

Lots of potential to do anything you want. Keep us posted with your progress!

**OldschoolJ** · 12-17-2009, 11:06 AM

Thanks guys. Well first off I chose the name beatdown cuz it will be all blue and black when I'm done. I'm gonna keep the shocks so no hardtail on this one. Sporty tank after some mods, bobber rear fender, clip on bars, and I'm sure a few others. Don't wanna give away to much.

**OldschoolJ** · 12-23-2009, 01:21 AM

Was doing a little messin around today trying to figure out my new look.
More to come...

**Henryinva** · 12-23-2009, 12:44 PM

Frisco the tank? Never cared for that look myself, but thats a taste thing. Looking forward to seeing how ya end up laying this out!

**flitecontrol** · 12-23-2009, 01:34 PM

I want a bike lift like that!

**Shadow Shack** · 12-23-2009, 11:52 PM

Cool peanut tank, digging the 'Frisco look! Is that rear fender a front fender off another bike? I only ask as a 1500A Vulcan front fender fits almost like that, yours looks a little wider (side to side) though.

Realize that by lowering the front like you have, if this is a permanent thing (you mentioned clip ons so I presume this to be the case), is going to throw off your trail dimension. The Rebel doesn't have a lot of trail to play with (4.3"), so shortening it like that can cause some ill handling effects depending on how far you go. 3" is within the realm of safe and sane and I wouldn't foresee that drop to lower the trail below that figure, but without a tape measure, plumb line, and the actual bike in question atmy disposal, I can't make that call...go too short on the trail and the bike will become unstable at higher speeds.

More importantly, whether the trail is safe or not, the bike is now in a leaned-forward stance. This is dangerous for braking, since momentum gets thrown forward during braking thus causing weight to get thrown onto the front tire...you're already in that stance so you'll be more prone to locking up the front brake as such.

Solution: longer fork tubes to compensate for the needed clip-on length up top (fork extensions will not work here, the seam must be between the triple trees for extensions to be safe and sane), or lower the rear to the same extent as you did with the front.