Frame Maker
New member
- Joined
- May 8, 2011
- Location
- Livermore
- Moto(s)
- sportbikes, dirtbikes, and some odd bikes that I've built myself.
- Name
- Julian
Part 1, the inspiration and beginning design process:
This story begins back about 20 years ago when I built a small batch of road racing frames that were powered by EX500 engines. These bikes, dubbed the AK-1s, were very successful in AFM 500cc Twins racing and won numerous races including a championship in 2002. Shortly after the success of the AK-1s began to get some public recognition (a 4-page feature in RoadRacing World magazine helped) I began getting inquires from a few folks asking if I could build similar frames for an RZ350. The answer was always an enthusiastic "yes", but the conversations always seamed to fizzle out.
Over the past 10 years or so I continued to have similar conversations, only with the added discussion about how thanks to the use of aftermarket Banshee parts, the little RZ350 could now be made into fire breathing monsters easily making 80, 90, 100hp or more. Again, the answer was still an enthusiastic "yes". And again the conversations always fizzled out.
Fast forward to 2018 and I finally said to myself "fuck it, I'm going to build one for myself and if anyone else decides they want a copy, then so be it". Game on! Let the design process begin.
I would use the AK-1s as my benchmark for the basic geometry... 54" wheelbase, 21 degree rake, use the longest possible swingarm and move the engine as far forward as possible. This combination (at least with the AK-1s) resulted in a bike with amazing handling. I like to use the word "telepathic". I'll never forget the first test ride at ButtonWillow Raceway getting up to speed and hitting the first set of esses and the bike seamed to know what to do before I could provide the input. It was an amazing experience that I hoped to replicate with the RZ350 frames.
I've spent most of my career (I work as a consumer product designer/engineer) commuting to San Francisco or locations in the south bay so I spend a lot of time on trains. I always have a sketch book with me, so the beginnings of the RZ frame project began as little "ideation" sketches. Eventually these would be referenced as the design process migrated into CAD. This would be the start of the RZ350 frames.
Prototype AK-1 frame...
AK1.p4 by andbike, on Flickr
AK-1s at Laguna Seca for AMA/World Superbike. Both bikes, ridden by Tom Dorsey and Shawn Reilly, competed in AMA ProThunder Class. Our goal was to not come in last place... which we achieved.
DSCN0090 by andbike, on Flickr
Tom Dorsey at Sears Point doing what the AK-1s do best... get around corners fast!
AK-1 race_2 by andbike, on Flickr
Early ideation sketches for the RZ frame project...
20190303_182704 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_182636 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_181020 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_181127 by andbike, on Flickr
I would also come across this bike here on BARF in some very old "for sale" posts. It has also served as inspiration for the RZ frame project. Some of you may recognize the bike, or even know the owner...
DSC_0368 by andbike, on Flickr
And then the CAD process begins. I start with the very basic components in place first and connect from there...
20190311 image 1.05 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
One of the goals with the new frames is to allow as much possible space for expansion chamber routing under the chassis. My good friend Brian Turfrey has always recommended TZR250 3XV swingarms for RZ project bikes as the TZR has the shock and linkage located fairly high leaving optimal space for fatty pipes. So I decided to use a TZR swingarm, or at least replicate the geometry...
20190311 image 1.1 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
CAD is starting to look like a motorcycle...
201905019 image 1.1 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
201906011image 1.5 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
201906016mage 1.0 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
Stay tuned for more coming soon
This story begins back about 20 years ago when I built a small batch of road racing frames that were powered by EX500 engines. These bikes, dubbed the AK-1s, were very successful in AFM 500cc Twins racing and won numerous races including a championship in 2002. Shortly after the success of the AK-1s began to get some public recognition (a 4-page feature in RoadRacing World magazine helped) I began getting inquires from a few folks asking if I could build similar frames for an RZ350. The answer was always an enthusiastic "yes", but the conversations always seamed to fizzle out.
Over the past 10 years or so I continued to have similar conversations, only with the added discussion about how thanks to the use of aftermarket Banshee parts, the little RZ350 could now be made into fire breathing monsters easily making 80, 90, 100hp or more. Again, the answer was still an enthusiastic "yes". And again the conversations always fizzled out.
Fast forward to 2018 and I finally said to myself "fuck it, I'm going to build one for myself and if anyone else decides they want a copy, then so be it". Game on! Let the design process begin.
I would use the AK-1s as my benchmark for the basic geometry... 54" wheelbase, 21 degree rake, use the longest possible swingarm and move the engine as far forward as possible. This combination (at least with the AK-1s) resulted in a bike with amazing handling. I like to use the word "telepathic". I'll never forget the first test ride at ButtonWillow Raceway getting up to speed and hitting the first set of esses and the bike seamed to know what to do before I could provide the input. It was an amazing experience that I hoped to replicate with the RZ350 frames.
I've spent most of my career (I work as a consumer product designer/engineer) commuting to San Francisco or locations in the south bay so I spend a lot of time on trains. I always have a sketch book with me, so the beginnings of the RZ frame project began as little "ideation" sketches. Eventually these would be referenced as the design process migrated into CAD. This would be the start of the RZ350 frames.
Prototype AK-1 frame...
AK1.p4 by andbike, on Flickr
AK-1s at Laguna Seca for AMA/World Superbike. Both bikes, ridden by Tom Dorsey and Shawn Reilly, competed in AMA ProThunder Class. Our goal was to not come in last place... which we achieved.
DSCN0090 by andbike, on Flickr
Tom Dorsey at Sears Point doing what the AK-1s do best... get around corners fast!
AK-1 race_2 by andbike, on Flickr
Early ideation sketches for the RZ frame project...
20190303_182704 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_182636 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_181020 by andbike, on Flickr
20190303_181127 by andbike, on Flickr
I would also come across this bike here on BARF in some very old "for sale" posts. It has also served as inspiration for the RZ frame project. Some of you may recognize the bike, or even know the owner...
DSC_0368 by andbike, on Flickr
And then the CAD process begins. I start with the very basic components in place first and connect from there...
20190311 image 1.05 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
One of the goals with the new frames is to allow as much possible space for expansion chamber routing under the chassis. My good friend Brian Turfrey has always recommended TZR250 3XV swingarms for RZ project bikes as the TZR has the shock and linkage located fairly high leaving optimal space for fatty pipes. So I decided to use a TZR swingarm, or at least replicate the geometry...
20190311 image 1.1 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
CAD is starting to look like a motorcycle...
201905019 image 1.1 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
201906011image 1.5 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
201906016mage 1.0 rz350 frame assembly 2019 by andbike, on Flickr
Stay tuned for more coming soon