Ninja Scrambler

[tanman2003]

So I've been deciding what I want to do with my pile.

I'm leaning towards turning it into a scrambler. I was trying to do a cafe style bike, but I think for my interests, a bike that can do some extremely mild off-road conditions (gravel/dirt roads, fire roads) and adventure type rides would fit me better.

I'm looking to style it after a triumph scrambler (but likely without the high-pipes due to luggage issues). I've looked into the specs on the two bikes, and it appears the ninja actually has slightly more suspension travel. I probably would have to stiffen the springs more. but the rake and trail arent vastly different either, so i would expect them to handle similarly. Plus the ninja weighs less.

So as it is now, plans include:

1.Dual sport tires, which are hard to find for 16" rims, but I've found some.
2.Stiffer springs (or forks from a dirtbike if i can find an easy swap)
3.Some kind of skid plate
4.Triumph Bonneville seat, or similar
5.Maybe a new tank

Here is a pick of my bike now.







I have been searching and have found some stuff, but anyone else know any ninjas that have been modified for mild offroading?

[Bosgarage57]

Wow that bike looks sexy the way it is!

[Timon]

First off, awesome looking bike. I like the simplicity of it. If you don't do a tank swap, I'd recommend shaving/filling the holes to make it flow a little better.

According to one ride report, http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82710, you don't need ANY modification for off-road capabilities .

[tanman2003]

So i got bored, and made this tail fairing.



I also picked up this seat off an old yamaha, id have to cut the frame and provide a flat mount, but you get the idea.



what do ya'll think?

[Racer x]

I love it . The thinking out of the box is great.
I know it would be very expencive. But a scrambler has a high side exhaust. Maybe another project. But the bike looks great.

[JeffM]

Originally Posted by tanman2003

1.Dual sport tires, which are hard to find for 16" rims, but I've found some.

Were they these? http://www.durobike.com/products/mot...res/hf-904.php

Oh, and I really like what you are trying with your bike.

Duro HF-904. They come in 110/90-16 and 130/90S16 sizes.

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by JeffM

Were they these? http://www.durobike.com/products/mot...res/hf-904.php

Oh, and I really like what you are trying with your bike.

Duro HF-904. They come in 110/90-16 and 130/90S16 sizes.

thanks for the heads up, i didn't see where it said if it was a front or rear tire.

what i found is two different tires.
Front
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ront-Tire.aspx



Rear

https://www.denniskirk.com/bridgesto...prd/651741.sku

[tanman2003]

Please excuse the dumb question, but has anyone ever reshaped their gas tank using epoxy putty such as sonic weld, JB weld?

i like the overall shape of the tank, but if i change the seat from stock, there will be indentations left where the stock seat fits. Im thinking of filling this in with the epoxy putty, then using body filler to smooth it out.

any thoughts?

[Racer x]

Try mat fiberglass. Then body filler to finish it off

[kcaja1]

Bikes looks great! I was thinking of the same thing but for the new gen.

[FrugalNinja250]

Originally Posted by tanman2003

Please excuse the dumb question, but has anyone ever reshaped their gas tank using epoxy putty such as sonic weld, JB weld?

i like the overall shape of the tank, but if i change the seat from stock, there will be indentations left where the stock seat fits. Im thinking of filling this in with the epoxy putty, then using body filler to smooth it out.

any thoughts?

This is a one-way trip, beware...

Get regular polyester body filler, Bondo is one brand but seek out a local autobody paint supply house or go online with http://www.autobodytoolmart.com (extremely recommended by moi). Sand with 180 or so all nooks and crannies where filler will be applied, mix per instructions and apply. Shape with a "cheese grater" type body filler rasp while still soft, or spend extra effort while applying. Once it's shaped and sanded to your preferences top off with good quality primer then paint.

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by FrugalNinja250

This is a one-way trip, beware...

Get regular polyester body filler, Bondo is one brand but seek out a local autobody paint supply house or go online with http://www.autobodytoolmart.com (extremely recommended by moi). Sand with 180 or so all nooks and crannies where filler will be applied, mix per instructions and apply. Shape with a "cheese grater" type body filler rasp while still soft, or spend extra effort while applying. Once it's shaped and sanded to your preferences top off with good quality primer then paint.

Im no expert, but is bondo stable enough in that quantity? usually you just use a skim coat. I need to fill in a large amount.

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by Timon

First off, awesome looking bike. I like the simplicity of it. If you don't do a tank swap, I'd recommend shaving/filling the holes to make it flow a little better.

According to one ride report, http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82710, you don't need ANY modification for off-road capabilities .

What do you mean ONE ride report? All of mine are like that!

[Skippii]

Oh, Progressive Springs makes springs for the Pregen that work great for off-road work, and also work much better than stock for on-road riding.

[tanman2003]

I mounted a trunk which consisted of a Rubbermaid Action Packer. I got the idea from Ninja250.org I have also since changed the tail light, as seen in the photos.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Tail_bag

[bob138]

Originally Posted by tanman2003

Please excuse the dumb question, but has anyone ever reshaped their gas tank using epoxy putty such as sonic weld, JB weld?

i like the overall shape of the tank, but if i change the seat from stock, there will be indentations left where the stock seat fits. Im thinking of filling this in with the epoxy putty, then using body filler to smooth it out.

any thoughts?

I filled the bulk of a dent with jbweld putty stick and then bondo'd over that. I used the jbweld putty in hopes that it won't be as effected by vibrations seeing as I had to fill a lot to get it to smooth out. It's on the tank so hopefully the rubber dampers will help cancel out the vibes.

Bob

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by bob138

I filled the bulk of a dent with jbweld putty stick and then bondo'd over that. I used the jbweld putty in hopes that it won't be as effected by vibrations seeing as I had to fill a lot to get it to smooth out. It's on the tank so hopefully the rubber dampers will help cancel out the vibes.

Bob

cool! got any pics?

[bob138]

Dent was about 3/4" deep at the center, trianguar. Tried popping it every way I could think of / find on the web. Gave up and puttied it up. Then bondo after this pic and primer. Can't see the dent anymore, just needs a bit more bondo work where I pulled the kawasaki decals.

Bob

[tanman2003]

I added some D-rings so i could attach a bungee net.

[Tony B]

I like the ideas here, don't like the old seat though. That would look great with perhaps a smaller tank and wide trail type bars. How about getting a new top yoke, (triple tree) made, and use risers to mount the bars, then you could experiment with all sorts of different bars ?

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by Tony B

I like the ideas here, don't like the old seat though. That would look great with perhaps a smaller tank and wide trail type bars. How about getting a new top yoke, (triple tree) made, and use risers to mount the bars, then you could experiment with all sorts of different bars ?

That sounds like spending more money than the bike is worth.

If i was gonna do the standard handlebar route, id probably just try and drill the existing triple tree.

[Tony B]

It's great to see something so different from the norm ...

[Mocha Man]

Looking good! Personally, I love the look of streetfighters. The tank could be replaced, I agree, but overall it looks really nice! I'm jealous!

[Klondike1020]

I did a crap prototype of handle bar clamps on my 08 to convert it to enduro or flat track bars . Made them bolt to the original bars location to avoid drilling my triples . They worked mint just my original cables and wires were to short.

Why don't you just take the cover off your original seat glue more foam to it then reshape it and recover it rather than swapping it out ?

It looks like a cool start Ive wanted to throw some kenda s on a bike and ammo boxes as saddle bags for a neat off road project

[Bosgarage57]

Questions:

1: How did you make the tail cowl?
2: What headlight is that?
3: What turn signals/bracket did you use?

I really want to turn mine into a streetfighter, and like the way your
headlight/turnsignals look. How about a shot from the front?

PS YOu need to come to the 250 rally in August.

[AlanDog]

Hey, just wanted to share my experiences with this tire. I have had a 130/90-16 on the back of my cx500 for about 500 miles. First off, it seals fine against my rim without a tube. I know it's not recommended, but I got this off a rider who said it would work on advrider.org... well, after measuring the rims and inspecting them, they looked pretty much the same, and so I mounted it without the tube and it seals up fine and has no problems after hundreds of miles... you don't want to go low pressure, obviously... the big benefit to no tube is you can patch it with a patch kit easily (vs taking off the wheel and tire to patch a tube). the bad news is that with half the contact patch air (ie, an aggressive knobby pattern) you start to feel the rear slide out MUCH sooner around turns. I'm up in the air about just giving up on the dual sport idea because of the reduced grip. A less aggressive pattern for just dirt roads would be fine with me, but for this size, I didn't find anything else... it's a little louder on the freeway vs a normal tire, but not that bad. I bought it at Dennis Kirk (btw, they have a great return policy, much better than most other places... no restocking fee).

[tanman2003]

So I took a new direction. I decided to go with the Supermoto look, I'm not done yet, going to cut the original fairing to smooth out the tank area.

[Rexbo]

haha man you have WAY too much time on your hands

[CynicalC]

I like it. How solid is that front fender mounted? Seems like it would generate lift the way it's positioned. I think it could be lowered a few inches and maybe pointed down a bit too. Or even make a bracket to mount it to the lowers and you can lower it as much as you want.

[CZroe]

Need some fork protectors.

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by CynicalC

I like it. How solid is that front fender mounted? Seems like it would generate lift the way it's positioned. I think it could be lowered a few inches and maybe pointed down a bit too. Or even make a bracket to mount it to the lowers and you can lower it as much as you want.

Its mounted really solid. I took it for a spin at about 50mph and it didn't vibrate much. I don't want to lower it any because it would go away from the look I'm going for, I may consider tilting the front down, we will see.

[tanman2003]

This is what I'm going for.

[CynicalC]

Yeah that bike is sickly sick. I'd say just point it down and maybe you can even shorten it bit and you won't even be able to tell them apart!

[choneofakind]

needs. custom. undertail. exhaust!!

(and dirtbike suspension)

[tanman2003]

Put new bar end mirrors on it.

[cuong-nutz]

A guy posted this picture in another forum:

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by cuong-nutz

A guy posted this picture in another forum:

Yeah I've seen that Im gonna cut my original fairings in a similar fashion. Its a shame though, they are in perfect condition.

Ghetto MS paint chop

[Jono]

Originally Posted by tanman2003

Put new bar end mirrors on it.

Where'd you get them mirrors? And do they work nicely? Are they 2in or 3in?

I am looking for cheapish bar end mirrors.

[jschatte]

Originally Posted by tanman2003

Yeah I've seen that Im gonna cut my original fairings in a similar fashion. Its a shame though, they are in perfect condition.

Ghetto MS paint chop
[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5NGPtdHtnhc/T5EC87ym-WI/AAAAAAAAANs/tR4CIqXl_Ig/s640/Ninja%2520Supermoto5.jpg[IMG]

Want to trade, My fairing is all busted up haha

[tanman2003]

Originally Posted by Jono

Where'd you get them mirrors? And do they work nicely? Are they 2in or 3in?

I am looking for cheapish bar end mirrors.

http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...ors/web1006842

on sale now for $34!! orig $69