Quote:
Originally Posted by jkv45
Yes.
It's not advisable (or safe) to do that amount of structural removal/replacement without having fixtures securing the critical mounting points in their correct (pre-crash) positions.
If you were to remove that much, you'd never get the geometry correct IMO, plus some of the tubing you'd need to replace would be difficult to duplicate because of its shape and difficult to weld and splice properly because of its location.
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the critical mounting points are: 4 engine bolt locations, sprocket alignment and swingarm alignment, steering tube offset from swingarm pivot, and steering tube rake.
why could you not weld up a box jig to create the correct wheelbase and rake and neck offset, cut away everything damaged, and rebuild identical pieces in line with the jig at the 5 points that it connects to the frame?... with the engine in, maybe even forks, and wheels in place depending on how you build the jig?
if it is welded properly and collared and reinforced with gussets on the corner joins, it should not be any weaker than a normal tube section, no? how much weaker would two jointed tubes with a collar inside be compared to a single tube? it seems like the extra internal steel at and beyond the join from the collar would add quite a bit to the strength of the tube.