Can the Monster Chopper Hill Climb?

Grind Hard Plumbing Co
10 May 202440:14

Summary

TLDRIn this exhilarating video, the creator takes on the challenge of enhancing a monster chopper's off-road capabilities beyond expectations. The week's project involves addressing the chopper's shortcomings by installing headlights, attempting hill climbs, and even considering a jump. The script details the process of crafting chain guides from UHMW plastic, designing and fabricating custom parts, and the trials of cutting out a second chain tensioner. The chopper's performance is tested with new radiator fans, and the discovery that the original radiator may not be suitable leads to a creative solution with a thermos switch. Aesthetic and functional lighting placements are considered, and the chopper's unique 'cyber steampunk' style is highlighted with the addition of LED pods and an airplane-shaped bracket for the headlights. Despite a few setbacks, including a chain coming off during a drift, the builder remains committed to refining the chopper's performance through adjustments in tire pressure, shock settings, and gearing. The video concludes with a successful test drive, showcasing the chopper's improved handling and the builder's excitement for future on-road and off-road adventures.

Takeaways

  • 🔧 The monster Chopper has impressive off-road capabilities that exceeded expectations, prompting a series of upgrades and fixes.
  • 🛠️ Major improvements included installing headlights, addressing chain issues, and testing hill climbing and jumping capabilities.
  • 🏍️ Custom chain guides were made from UHMW plastic to prevent the chain from popping off and to protect the swing arm.
  • 🔩 The Chopper had an extensive number of custom parts, with two files dedicated to its components, indicating a high level of modification.
  • 🔩 A second chain tensioner was designed and installed to handle the torque and prevent the chain from coming loose.
  • 💡 Radiator fans from a KTM were tested and found to work effectively once a thermos switch was adapted to control them.
  • 💡 Aesthetic and functional lighting was added, with the front featuring an airplane-shaped bracket to hold the LED lights.
  • 🛤️ Tire pressure was reduced for better traction and handling, with further adjustments made after testing for optimal performance.
  • 🔄 The rear shock was swapped out for an older version with more damping to reduce bouncing during rides.
  • 🔩 A new chain tensioner was designed using CAD and a custom turnbuckle was fabricated for better chain management.
  • 🚴‍♂️ The Chopper was tested extensively, with modifications made based on rider feedback and performance outcomes, highlighting a focus on continuous improvement.

Q & A

  • What was the primary goal of the modifications made to the monster Chopper?

    -The primary goal was to address the Chopper's major downfalls, install headlights, and test its offroad capabilities, including hill climbing and jumping.

  • Why did the chain on the Chopper need a guide?

    -The chain needed a guide to prevent it from popping off and to protect the swing arm from the chain slapping against it.

  • What material was used to make the initial chain guides?

    -The initial chain guides were made using UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) plastic.

  • What custom part was designed to fix the issue with the radiator fans?

    -A custom thermos switch adapter was designed to provide a switched ground for the radiator fans to operate properly.

  • What was the issue with the original radiator fans?

    -The original radiator fans were small and did not activate as expected, possibly due to missing a thermos switch or incorrect wiring to the ECU.

  • How did the builder address the need for better lighting on the Chopper?

    -The builder designed and installed custom LED headlights and additional aesthetic lights on the swing arm for better visibility and a unique look.

  • What was the outcome of the first test drive after the modifications?

    -The first test drive showed that the chain guides worked effectively without any signs of the chain throwing off. However, the radiator fans did not activate as expected.

  • Why did the builder decide to change the sprocket size on the Chopper?

    -The builder decided to change the sprocket size to allow for lower RPM cruising and to provide better clearance for the chain.

  • What adjustments were made to the Chopper's suspension system?

    -The builder added a new rear shock with adjustable damping, let out air from the shock to soften it, and reduced the tire pressure for better handling.

  • What was the final test conducted on the Chopper?

    -The final test involved a night-time drive to check the functionality of the newly installed headlights and to assess the overall performance of the Chopper after all modifications.

  • What was the overall conclusion of the builder regarding the Chopper's performance after the modifications?

    -The builder concluded that the modifications were extremely successful, with improvements in the chain system, gearing, bar risers, headlights, and tire pressure. However, some minor adjustments and further testing were still needed before considering the project complete.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Chopper Offroad Performance and Upgrades

The video begins with the host discussing the impressive offroad capabilities of the monster Chopper. They plan to address its shortcomings by installing headlights and testing its hill climbing abilities. There's also a mention of a potential jump attempt. The host discovers Ethan's chain and decides to create chain guides using UHMW plastic to prevent the chain from popping off. They also discuss the complexity of the chopper's custom parts and the process of cutting out a second chain tensioner from truck metal. A successful test of the chain guides with a burnout confirms their effectiveness.

05:04

🌡️ Radiator Fans and Thermostat Switch Issues

The host encounters problems with the radiator fans not activating. After testing, they find that the fans work but are connected to the ECU and not the original radiator's thermo switch. They deduce that grounding the green wires will activate the fans. The host then fabricates an adapter for the thermo switch, which fits after some adjustments. The fans are tested again and work as expected, staying on until the radiator cools down. The host also contemplates lighting placements for improved aesthetics and functionality, and they construct a unique airplane-shaped bracket for the headlights.

10:07

🏍️ Chopper Aesthetics and Functionality

The host refines the positioning of the lights on the chopper for both aesthetic and functional reasons. They redesign a more robust airplane bracket with hexagons for mounting the lights. The host also discusses the chopper's unique blend of cyberpunk and steampunk aesthetics. They celebrate a successful redesign and installation of the lights and share a surprise phone call with a winner of a welder and drift quad from their company, grindhard Plumbing Co.

15:11

🔩 Crafting a Chain Guard and Wiring the Bike

The host creates a chain guard from a pipe for added protection and aesthetic appeal. They also find affordable, handlebar-mounted power switches for the bike's power and headlights. The wiring is finalized with a two-step ignition process involving a secret switch and a handlebar switch for the high beams. The host also addresses the brake fluid reservoir mounting and considers tire pressure adjustments for improved ride quality.

20:25

🤸‍♂️ Testing and Chain Tension Challenges

During testing, the host experiences a chain issue where it comes off due to the lack of a proper tensioner. They decide to redesign the chain system with a new sprocket for lower RPM cruising and an adjustable roller guide to prevent derailment. The host also discusses the need for a CAD-designed tensioner and creates a makeshift turnbuckle for chain adjustment. They replace a stretched chain with a new one and test the new setup on a stand, noting improvements.

25:26

🚴‍♂️ Adjusting Suspension and Handling

The host makes adjustments to the suspension and tire pressure for better handling. They install new bar risers and levers with orange accents to enhance the bike's appearance. The host also swaps out the rear shock for an adjustable version to reduce bouncing. A test drive confirms the improvements in handling, and the host notes that the bike performs surprisingly well in the mud, despite not being ideal for such conditions.

30:26

🚦 Headlight Test and Future Testing Plans

As the day turns to night, the host conducts a headlights test. They reminisce about a past incident with a Tesla and a friend named Brady. Brady, a motorcycle enthusiast, arrives in Idaho and is given the opportunity to be the first guest rider of the chopper. Despite some initial difficulties, Brady's test ride is successful, although he notes the need to lean harder than on a regular motorcycle. The host reflects on the successful upgrades made to the bike and outlines plans for further testing on the street before painting.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Offroad

Offroad refers to the act of driving or riding a vehicle on unsurfaced or unpaved terrain, such as dirt, sand, or rocks. In the video, the monster Chopper is tested for its offroad capabilities, which is a central theme as the Chopper is found to perform better than expected on such terrain.

💡Chain Guides

Chain guides are components used on vehicles with chains to keep the chain properly aligned and prevent it from derailing. In the script, the builder creates custom chain guides out of UHMW plastic to prevent the chain from popping off, which is crucial for the Chopper's offroad performance and safety.

💡CAD

CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design, a tool used to create precise technical drawings and designs for manufacturing. The script mentions using CAD to design a plate for the Chopper, highlighting the technical and design aspects of the customization process.

💡Radiator Fans

Radiator fans are cooling devices that help maintain the temperature of an engine by forcing air through the radiator. In the video, the original KTM radiator fans are tested and eventually repurposed for the Chopper, showcasing the repurposing of parts and the importance of cooling in high-performance vehicles.

💡Headlights

Headlights are lighting devices used on vehicles to illuminate the road ahead. The script describes the installation and testing of headlights on the Chopper, emphasizing the importance of visibility for safety and functionality, especially when the Chopper might be used in low-light conditions.

💡Suspension

Suspension refers to the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. The script discusses adjustments made to the Chopper's suspension to improve ride quality and handling, which is a key aspect of offroad vehicle performance.

💡Chain Tensioner

A chain tensioner is a device that maintains the tension in a chain drive system. The video script describes the design and implementation of a chain tensioner to prevent the Chopper's chain from coming loose, which is a critical component for the reliability of the offroad vehicle.

💡Sprocket

A sprocket is a toothed wheel that transmits motion through a chain. The script mentions changing the size of the sprocket to improve the Chopper's gearing, which affects the vehicle's speed and torque, particularly useful for offroad applications.

💡Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is the amount of air inside a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). The video discusses adjusting tire pressure on the Chopper to improve handling and ride comfort, demonstrating the fine-tuning process necessary for offroad vehicles.

💡Mud Riding

Mud riding refers to the act of driving a vehicle through mud or wet, slippery conditions. The script describes the Chopper's performance in mud, noting that despite having mud tires, it is not ideal for such conditions. This highlights the limitations and intended use of the vehicle.

💡Customization

Customization is the process of modifying a vehicle or product to meet specific needs or preferences. The entire video script revolves around the customization of the Chopper, from its offroad capabilities to its aesthetic enhancements, illustrating the creative and technical aspects of building a custom offroad vehicle.

Highlights

The monster Chopper's off-road capabilities exceeded expectations.

A plan to fix the Chopper's major downfalls, including installing headlights and testing hill climbing abilities.

Ethan's chain was identified as a potential issue and a solution involving chain guides was proposed.

Use of UHMW plastic to create a chain guide and a CAD design for a plate to protect the swing arm.

The fabrication of a second chain tensioner from a truck metal plate.

Successful test of the chain guides after a burnout test showed no signs of the chain coming off.

Mounting of radiator fans and troubleshooting of the fan's power supply.

Adaptation of a thermos switch to control the radiator fans.

Design and installation of aesthetic and functional lighting for the Chopper.

Creation of a unique airplane-shaped bracket for the headlights.

Winner announcement of a giveaway including an arc welder, a Droid, and a drift quad.

Modifications to the front end of the Chopper for improved aesthetics and functionality.

Testing of the Chopper's performance with lowered tire pressure and shock adjustments.

Incident where the chain came off due to lack of a proper tensioner, leading to a design revision.

Introduction of a new sprocket for lower RPM cruising and increased chain clearance.

Design and fabrication of an adjustable roller chain tensioner to address chain maintenance issues.

Observation of the Chopper's shaft twisting under high torque, demonstrating the bike's power.

Finalizing of the chain tension system and testing of the new chain and sprockets.

Adjustments made to the handlebars with new bar risers and levers for improved ergonomics and aesthetics.

Suspension upgrade with a more advanced rear shock for better damping and ride quality.

Extensive testing of the Chopper's performance on various terrains and configurations.

Decision to hold off on painting until further street and dirt testing is conducted.

The Chopper's performance in mud was found to be challenging, confirming its design is not suited for such conditions.

A friend's test ride and the realization of the Chopper's unique handling characteristics compared to traditional motorcycles.

Transcripts

00:00

the monster Chopper is better Offroad

00:02

than we could have possibly imagined so

00:04

this week we're going to fix its major

00:06

downfalls install some headlights and

00:09

see if it can Hill Climb and maybe if

00:12

we're feeling it we're going to see if

00:14

it can

00:16

jump I can't believe it could do the

00:19

track that fast

00:24

[Music]

00:31

is this Ethan's chain yeah it looks like

00:34

it might

00:39

be I have to make some chain guides

00:42

because we can't

00:44

have that or you know the chain popping

00:47

off so I'm going to make a guide with

00:50

some of this here

00:51

uhmw plastic and you know do something

00:55

like that and then I'll do one on the

00:57

top section here too that one's more

00:59

just to protect the um swing arm from

01:03

the chain

01:08

slapping there's many tools that could

01:11

do this uh but you know what this is the

01:13

tool that's right here and it's very

01:18

satisfying check it out fany fany

01:21

looking chain guide now I'm just going

01:23

to design up a plate that goes

01:24

underneath it uh in CAD it'll weld right

01:27

to there and to there

01:33

[Music]

01:40

look at how many pieces are in this file

01:43

for the chopper and this isn't even

01:44

close to all of them cuz there's another

01:46

whole file called Chopper two that's a

01:49

lot of pieces a lot of custom

01:51

[Music]

01:56

parts two little bolt holes a bunch of

01:59

weight uction triangles

02:02

[Music]

02:12

mint time to cut out the second chain

02:15

tensioner and thanks to the Swindle

02:18

Brothers trying countless times to cut

02:21

out a wheel adapter that didn't work for

02:24

a project that will never see the light

02:26

of day I'm out an 8in plate that's not

02:28

painted so this is some fir truck metal

02:31

we'll get the cut started and then go

02:33

outside and not breathe it cuz that

02:34

stuff is

02:38

nasty nice look at that that came out

02:41

nice yeah so this one is going to be

02:45

bent into a u shape so this side here

02:47

will be bent up and that side will be

02:49

bent up

02:53

[Music]

03:01

and look at that a little loose but uh

03:04

should do the

03:06

trick getting it a little more snug a

03:09

dug that looks pretty nice yeah got to

03:13

sand off the rust and Tack it

03:16

[Music]

03:23

on you're just going to watch me

03:25

struggle yep that's the

03:28

plan here okay I can't take this

03:30

anymore

03:35

[Music]

03:40

thanks all right time to uh test out

03:43

these chain guides by doing another

03:45

burnout

04:01

well I think it's safe to say the chain

04:02

guides work yeah it seemed to do nice

04:05

yeah that was second gear burnouts and

04:07

didn't show any signs of throwing the

04:09

chain so I'll call that a win we

04:13

have these radiator fans right here and

04:16

uh those are the original KTM ones

04:18

they're very small but I imagine it

04:19

doesn't take much if these can cool that

04:22

engine on the bike that they came on I

04:24

could probably cool it on this

04:26

[Music]

04:30

I think I'm going to mount the fans

04:31

there um but before I get too carried

04:33

away with mounting them uh I'm going to

04:35

test and make sure that they work so I'm

04:37

just going to let it idle until it gets

04:38

warm and see if they kick on all the

04:40

temp sensors and stuff should still be

04:42

there but it's untested so you know got

04:44

to find

04:48

out if it's going to be running I might

04:51

as well be riding it right

04:59

a

05:03

[Music]

05:30

[Music]

05:33

well I heard you revving it up did those

05:35

fans ever kick on no um they did

05:41

not and I tested I

05:47

mean I mean they very much work I don't

05:50

know I don't think I have the original

05:51

radiator anymore it may have had a

05:52

thermos switch on it for the

05:54

fans but then why do these wires go to

05:57

the ECU

05:59

[Music]

06:08

I've done a little testing and I've

06:09

determined that there's already power at

06:13

the white wires here and the green wires

06:15

just have to

06:17

be grounded to run so if I can find a

06:20

thermos switch that can I can plug into

06:21

the

06:22

radiator um the radiator should be

06:24

grounded wait why do you need a thermal

06:27

switch if well because it needs to be a

06:28

switched ground the power is off on the

06:30

bike right now in both ways and it still

06:35

has right yeah so the radiator is

06:40

grounded so I just need a thermos switch

06:42

here I'm not 100% sure if this is a

06:44

thermos switch or a temperature gauge I

06:47

heated it up and tested it with the

06:50

testers and it seemed to connect it was

06:53

disconnected completely at cold and then

06:55

it made a beep noise when it warmed up

06:58

so um I'll just plug that in does it fit

07:03

uh no it doesn't quite fit the threads

07:05

annoyingly it's a little too small

07:07

special find right there I'm just going

07:10

to take this random aend fitting drill

07:13

it out and then tap it to 8in pipe

07:16

thread which is threads on the thermos

07:19

switch and then the other side of it is

07:22

already the threads that are in the

07:23

radiator so it's just a little thermos

07:25

switch adapter

07:27

[Music]

07:31

look at

07:33

that like it was made for

07:37

[Music]

07:48

it no Ked on look at

07:53

that nice

08:00

yeah that's what we

08:03

W now I can hear the fans

08:07

yeah and the the they'll stay on until

08:09

the radiator cools

08:12

off which is a little Annoying it'd be

08:15

nice if they shut off when bike shut off

08:19

but oh

08:20

[Music]

08:25

well still thinking about some lighting

08:28

placements yeah these ones up here are

08:30

going to be purely aesthetic like I mean

08:32

they'll eliminate some things but like I

08:34

just think it'll look really cool with

08:36

them there the ones down on the swing

08:37

arm are the ones they're going to do the

08:38

actual eliminating but it really doesn't

08:41

matter cuz I don't anticipate driving

08:42

this thing at night very often that'll

08:44

look awesome though with the double up

08:46

here yeah that's what I'm thinking

08:48

something like that the front here has

08:49

always felt a little empty to me like

08:51

where the shock is looks really cool but

08:53

this kind of area is just kind of

08:56

missing cuz normally there is a

08:57

headlight on a bike there so even though

08:58

it doesn't make sense

09:00

for lighting purposes it'll make sense

09:05

[Music]

09:18

visually I have made an

09:21

aeroplane that's

09:23

cool so it looks really weird but in

09:26

theory if all my measurements are

09:28

correct but wings of the airplane here

09:30

will be

09:31

folded that way and those will bolt

09:34

straight to these

09:35

[Music]

09:44

lights I'm really bad at making airplane

09:46

noises but it really does look like an

09:48

airplane let's go see if I can bend it

09:50

up and uh make it

09:53

[Music]

09:54

work I mean it's a little bit tweaked

09:57

but I'll straighten it out sometime the

09:58

moment of the moment of truth if all of

10:01

my measurements line

10:02

up I mean so far it's looking pretty

10:06

good look at that oh yeah so this super

10:12

worked first try uh all the measurements

10:15

were good I just kind of guesstimated

10:18

how far forward I wanted the lower light

10:20

and ended up being farther forward than

10:22

like I just there's a lot of empty space

10:24

behind it so I'm going to design a new

10:26

version that's got this like an inch or

10:28

two back back from where it is so it's

10:30

closer to this one and then also I'm

10:32

going to add in a little bit of gusting

10:33

in between these so that it's stronger

10:35

and looks less empty time to redesign

10:39

the airplane

10:40

[Music]

10:47

bracket little airplane bracket Mark I

10:50

uh I think it's going to look a lot

10:51

better and be a little sturdier and uh

10:53

generally just improved because it has

10:55

hexagons this time I don't know what I

10:57

was thinking something just an insanity

11:00

came over me and I didn't put hexagons

11:01

in it so that's been

11:10

fixed I think the Swindle brothers are

11:13

scheming I hear you guys scheming what

11:15

are you scheming out there we don't want

11:18

to get in the way of your camera but

11:19

we're just saying that the chain is

11:21

going to go everywhere with four-wheel

11:23

drive we're talking about places we

11:26

could go don't you think it could go up

11:27

these rocks I don't know

11:35

[Music]

11:41

maybe I just had to take a little bit

11:43

off the back and a little bit off of the

11:44

front of the bolt so that it fits inside

11:47

there and then that goes

11:51

on

11:56

there mint

12:00

yeah that's more like it that looks

12:02

great nice and

12:08

solid it's going to illuminate the

12:10

ground in front of you when you're

12:10

turning when you're going straight it's

12:12

just going to illuminate your tire but

12:13

that's

12:17

okay the age-old game of will they

12:19

answer a random number from

12:21

Idaho you never know you never know you

12:24

never

12:27

know hi is this Nick

12:31

y this is Edwin Ethan and Will from

12:35

grindhard Plumbing

12:38

Co no way yes it is yeah you won the arc

12:42

Droid the welder and the drift

12:46

quad no

12:49

way yeah we just selected this morning

12:51

we just put everything in random and you

12:55

showed up

12:56

congratulations that's amazing oh he

12:58

bought a premium hat yep

13:01

ni that was a good deal kind of adoped

13:04

it into my uh vocabulary

13:08

here

13:09

nice it doesn't feel real how are you

13:12

guys' projects very cool Chang

13:17

Chang all right guys you made my mon

13:21

just turned 40 so happy birthday

13:27

[Music]

13:38

[Applause]

13:45

well I think that turned out both uh

13:47

functional and aesthetically pleasing I

13:50

think these kind of you know modern

13:52

squarish LED pods really kind of fit the

13:54

weird vibe of this

13:56

thing like it's got a lot of different

13:59

things going on but kind of a

14:02

cyber steampunk

14:05

Vibe halfway between cyber Punk and

14:08

steampunk that's a good way to describe

14:10

this yeah right I mean like the tank is

14:13

kind of Steampunk but then like the

14:15

tires and the the lights and stuff and

14:18

the engine are kind of more like cyber

14:20

Punky modery stuff and the wheels maybe

14:23

I don't know it's cool okay and I like

14:27

it and the headlights are

14:30

sweet some friends stopped by so we got

14:33

to show off the chopper real quick and

14:34

do a quick test drive once I get the

14:36

lights all wired up we're going to see

14:38

if we can do the hill climb and maybe

14:40

hit a

14:55

[Music]

14:58

jump see that tire hop dude yeah that

15:01

looks different look at the gaps between

15:03

it dude let's hop hop hop 3 ft hop 4

15:11

[Music]

15:14

feet making a little teeny tiny bracket

15:17

that I can weld on to hold the uh all

15:20

the cables onto the swing arms the like

15:21

brake lines and and light wires and

15:24

stuff like that

15:26

[Music]

15:33

you literally just blend in with the

15:37

[Music]

15:40

slag that's definitely the tiniest part

15:43

I've ever seen you make Oh by

15:45

far yeah these things are ity

15:49

[Applause]

15:57

bitty it's so small Target pH oh no I

16:00

hope that's not what she said

16:08

[Music]

16:14

[Applause]

16:21

[Music]

16:32

making myself a chain guard here out of

16:34

another chunk of this pipe I'm going to

16:36

just clean up the outside and then make

16:38

it a little bit thinner so there's a

16:40

little more clearance on the inside yeah

16:42

and obviously I'm going to cut it in

16:43

half so it's just half of a circle you

16:45

know I'll flatten it out and it'll so

16:46

it'll it'll wrap around the front here

16:48

and then come back a little ways on the

16:50

top and bottom I think it'll look cool

16:51

and then I'll cut like a little

16:53

tapered on that

16:57

[Music]

17:04

so it'll be flush with this side and

17:07

then this will sit on top of it and

17:09

that'll give it just the right amount of

17:10

space and I'll just do like three of

17:19

[Music]

17:20

[Applause]

17:23

those I found these little switches on

17:27

the little internet they're like 12s a

17:29

piece and they're nice little like

17:30

handlebar mount lighted power switches

17:33

so I'm use one for the bike power and

17:36

then one for the headlights and then

17:38

should be done with the

17:40

[Music]

17:44

wiring when you turn on this switch down

17:46

here secret switch it powers on this

17:50

switch the drls in the headlight and the

17:55

uh power to the radiator fan um so

17:58

that's that's effectively the ignition

18:00

switch it's a two-step process to start

18:01

the bike you turn on that switch and

18:03

this

18:05

switch and it'll start and then this

18:08

switch on the left bar here turns on all

18:10

four of the high

18:12

beams plenty of light I'm also finishing

18:17

up odds and ends here mounting this

18:19

brake fluid reservoir I cut out this

18:21

little tabby tab here we'll

18:25

go something like that

18:36

you going to let some air out of these

18:37

tires and see how it affects the ride

18:39

quality I had them at like 20 psi um

18:43

just kind of arbitrarily cuz I wanted

18:45

them to be nice and round but I'm going

18:46

to let out as much as I can I'm down

18:48

close to 10 psi right now I'm going to

18:49

go for like eight or something and as

18:52

long as they stay pretty round that's

18:54

all that matters because obviously if I

18:55

let too much out they'll get flat and

18:57

it'll be harder to Corner since I got

18:59

all the other stuff wrapped up I want to

19:01

you know do a little bit of testing

19:02

before I move on to the next bit

19:07

[Music]

19:25

[Music]

19:35

oh

19:42

[Music]

19:48

[Music]

20:00

[Music]

20:24

[Music]

20:28

w

20:38

yeaha oh no the chain oh it didn't break

20:41

it just came off I think so I should

20:44

have put a chain tensioner somewhere in

20:45

the system an actual tensioner cuz it

20:47

just it's just going to keep getting

20:49

looser and looser because it's taking

20:51

like four times the torque it should oh

20:53

I see because it's got the the Jack

20:55

shaft there and and it's just such a

20:57

long chain but if I if I roll onto the

20:59

throttle instead of you know whacking it

21:01

open it's not really a problem it's this

21:04

last drift that I did is what knocked it

21:05

off yeah definitely I mean as you can

21:08

guess it is way better the lower tire

21:11

pressure lower tire pressure yeah I

21:13

aired up this shock a little bit which

21:15

helped too so it doesn't bounce quite as

21:17

bad I can't believe it could do the

21:20

track that fast and I can't believe you

21:22

already have the confidence to jump it

21:25

it felt good you know I had to try

21:34

[Music]

21:57

well I the a lot of fun some more

22:00

revisions are required for chain

22:02

survival this time the chain just

22:04

actually gave up right at the

22:06

masterlink Airing down the tires made a

22:08

huge difference it's still a little

22:09

bouncy I might even go a little lower

22:11

pressure on the rear and also maybe swap

22:13

out the shock I have this one here cuz

22:15

it's a little softer but this one this

22:18

style has a little more damping and that

22:20

might help keep the bounce down a little

22:22

bit Yeah change up a few things do some

22:24

more testing

22:27

[Music]

22:32

I've been doing a little bit of thinking

22:33

and I'm going to do a couple of things

22:35

one with this size of sprocket there's

22:37

very minimal clearance for the chain

22:40

here and here so I have a 15 to sprocket

22:43

I'll just have to cut this one off the

22:44

Hub and weld this one on this is a 13 so

22:48

two teeth bigger there and this will

22:49

just make it so I can cruise at lower

22:51

RPM um it's really not about top speed

22:53

because I doubt I'll ever really mess

22:55

with that very much but um

22:59

well let's be honest that's a lie I'll

23:00

find out what the we got to get this to

23:02

the Salt Flat exactly I'm going to

23:04

probably delete this chain guide and

23:07

just add in a um adjustable roller down

23:10

here it's stretching out faster than I

23:12

expected the chain instead of this

23:14

plastic guide I'll just add this roller

23:16

and make it you know have a little bit

23:18

of adjustment to it and that will serve

23:20

the same purpose of keeping it from uh

23:22

derailing off this sprocket especially

23:23

if I put it f farther back here that's

23:25

the plan keep adjusting modifying fine

23:28

tuning and

23:31

[Music]

23:53

[Applause]

23:53

[Music]

23:56

testing unsurprisingly

23:59

the chain did not

24:00

clear the chain guard cuz I didn't plan

24:03

for it to have a bigger Sprocket in

24:04

there so uh I'm going to cut that off

24:07

and remount it

24:12

[Music]

24:17

buzzing I was just over here trying to

24:19

like figure out what I want to do about

24:20

chain tension and I was just kind of

24:23

looking at stuff trying to figure out

24:25

look at

24:26

this a twisted oh that shaft by like 10

24:31

15° oh my I don't know how wellow that's

24:33

showing up on camera but I can see it

24:35

that's an insane amount of torque oh my

24:37

yeah okay you can see it on camera yeah

24:40

wao it just Twisted it nothing's solid

24:44

too isn't it yeah inch and a quar solid

24:48

hexagon all those people who didn't

24:50

think this bike would have enough

24:51

power right twisting that solid

24:55

hexagonal shaft hexagonal hexagonal you

24:58

say that not with an o oh no I've been

25:02

spending a little bit too much time with

25:03

Ed will

25:04

ah

25:08

see I can't believe how twisted that is

25:10

that is just yeah wild actually

25:13

bananas bananas cuz it's bent like a

25:16

banana exactly so I think for my

25:18

tensioner here I'm going to start

25:19

designing it up in CAD I'm basically

25:21

going to do um a couple of tabs off the

25:25

bottom of this uh here with with a bolt

25:28

through it and then I'll design some

25:31

side

25:31

plates uh that'll bolt through with this

25:34

um sprocket

25:38

[Music]

25:58

looking pretty sweet huh yeah that looks

26:01

nice now I need to make a gusset for the

26:03

bottom of it

26:07

[Music]

26:15

[Applause]

26:18

[Music]

26:34

put a bolt through there with like a

26:36

little

26:38

adjustable thing there I'm making myself

26:40

a teeny tiny little turn buckle with

26:42

these little um himim joints and I don't

26:45

have a reverse thread tap but I do have

26:48

a couple extra reverse threaded nuts so

26:50

I'm just going to take this little piece

26:52

of solid drill it out so that these

26:54

threads can fit through it and then weld

26:56

the nut onto the end

27:02

sh

27:05

[Music]

27:30

now that is a better chain

27:35

tensioner look at that that's just

27:37

that's just tight with my finger on the

27:39

turn buckle here finger tight I'm going

27:41

to make a little delin spacer that goes

27:43

here cuz I need a spacer in between

27:45

there anyway so it doesn't crush and

27:46

then that way if the chain is a little

27:49

looser here it'll rub on that on this

27:52

side

27:56

[Music]

28:01

looking pretty crispy eh yeah that looks

28:04

nice looks like it's going to work

28:06

really nice

28:09

too all right we got some new chain

28:12

today and some half links so I'm going

28:16

to measure this out against the old one

28:17

and make sure I cut the right amount of

28:19

links and put a fresh chain on there

28:22

that's pretty wild it's stretched almost

28:24

half a link

28:30

[Music]

28:34

all right now that this uh new chain and

28:36

sprockets on there let's uh I'm not

28:39

going to drive it just yet I'm just

28:40

going to do a test on the stand here and

28:42

see how much smoother it looks with um

28:45

the new new situations

29:02

[Applause]

29:06

[Music]

29:12

just got to increase the uh diameter of

29:15

this a little

29:21

bit and now these also showed up look at

29:25

these bar risers that are nice and

29:29

orange um so I'm going to replace these

29:32

bar clamps with these they're just a

29:33

smidge and taller uh which will get the

29:36

bars up and help clear the tank and I

29:37

think they also move it forward a little

29:39

bit

29:40

[Music]

29:43

more dang those look very nice I've got

29:47

some new uh levers on the way cuz this

29:49

one's broken and this one's ugly and I

29:51

drilled holes in it back in the day so

29:53

I've got some new levers with another

29:54

accent of orange and we got this little

29:56

bit of orange here here just I think it

29:58

really makes it pop next up on my list

30:01

of uh things to fiddle with before I

30:04

drive drive this thing again is the rear

30:06

shock so I originally had one of these

30:10

uh Timber sled air shocks on there I

30:13

mean this is the same thing but it's an

30:15

older version without the damping

30:17

adjuster here and this one has a lot

30:19

more damping in it and it's adjustable

30:22

and the rear tends to bounce a bit so

30:24

I'm going to swap it back to this one

30:26

and see how it rides

30:32

[Music]

30:35

so I think it's about time for another

30:36

test drive to test my uh suspension

30:39

adjustments and uh all the other stuff I

30:42

let a little bit of air out of this

30:43

shock make the front a little softer uh

30:45

and I'm going to try it at the firmest

30:48

damping setting and then also I'm

30:50

letting even more air out of the tires

30:51

the gauge I was using the other day was

30:54

not very accurate the other gauge red

30:56

five this one's more like 10 psi so I'm

30:59

going to live them down to actually 5

31:01

PSI and see how that changes the

31:03

handling you know a lot of the things

31:04

that we've built I'll test it pretty

31:06

briefly and then tear it down and paint

31:07

it but this one given how much time I've

31:10

spent on everything else I want to do a

31:12

lot of testing and just really take the

31:14

time to finish everything before I tear

31:16

it down because it's really a bummer

31:18

when you get it all painted up and then

31:20

you find something you need to add or

31:22

modify and then you have to mess up the

31:25

paint yeah more testing which means more

31:29

riding and more

31:55

[Music]

31:56

jumping help sp's better overall it

32:00

looks better lower tire pressure is Good

32:03

Shocks feel better and uh gearing's a

32:06

little better too it's not meaningfully

32:08

faster this enough that first gear is a

32:11

little more usable

32:20

now I can't believe he's jumping this

32:22

thing I know he said he never would and

32:25

he already is

32:33

look he's in your Chang Lee territory I

32:36

know I was just Chang Le in there today

32:39

actually he's doing it a lot quicker

32:41

than me though I wouldn't want to go

32:43

lower with the tire pressure at this

32:45

pressure it's a little harder to lean

32:48

it's a little bit less responsive cuz

32:50

the tires are just a little flatter and

32:51

squishier but otherwise yeah it's a lot

32:53

better

33:05

yall

33:08

right yeah I'm going to need help

33:50

[Music]

33:56

all things considered it does okay in

33:58

the mud but I was stuck in a rut there

33:59

and it was impossible to get out and uh

34:02

now I am covered in mud and so is the

34:05

chopper it may have mud tires but I

34:08

don't really recommend it for riding in

34:10

mud it's not ideal that's okay though

34:12

that's not what it was built for the

34:13

fender works at really really low speeds

34:15

but once you get going even a little bit

34:17

then it just takes the mud here and

34:19

goes plop what AM my back oh yeah I may

34:25

have uh clipped a tree with this

34:26

headlight the light itself is fine it's

34:29

just the bracket that's all messed up oh

34:31

well easy fix chain tension system

34:33

worked great though way better than it

34:35

was and you know having it having the

34:38

primary sprocket not be all floppy

34:40

floppy helped a lot

34:43

[Music]

34:50

[Music]

34:58

oh my God he just drifted that whole

35:01

Corner yeah it's pretty crazy isn't it

35:14

[Music]

35:26

[Music]

35:28

[Applause]

35:30

[Music]

35:32

so we're going to have to do a little

35:33

headlight test here as it's getting dark

35:36

because our friend Brady go fast don't

35:38

die if you watched years ago when we

35:40

flooded the Tesla Brady was there for

35:42

that it was all his

35:44

fault well you finally made it to Idaho

35:46

and Brady's uh much more of a motorcycle

35:49

guy than a Tesla

35:51

guy so you know you going to drive this

35:55

BR good Lord willing

35:58

if uh Derrick says I can and his best

36:01

Irish accent he can drive it he can

36:03

drive it he can drive it for

36:05

sure what do you think so far anybody

36:07

who's watching this on a on a video like

36:10

you cannot you have to come see this

36:13

thing cuz I've seen you build it like

36:14

you sent me photos and stuff then I

36:16

walked in and just like it's this tall

36:19

it's like so rowdy it's so loud it's so

36:22

gnarly Brady is going to be the first

36:25

person other than me to ever ride this

36:28

that's pretty suiting really yeah how do

36:30

you feel BR I'm honored dude I'm honored

36:34

I drove you I can't think of a better

36:35

person to be the first guest

36:38

Rider I'm a little nervous I'll be

36:40

honest you

37:00

you okay yeah I'm

37:03

good that went so well that's not even

37:06

the first time it's gone through this

37:07

section of fence dude I started going

37:09

the wrong way and I couldn't stop going

37:12

the wrong way I think the thing is you

37:13

just have to lean a lot harder than

37:15

you're used to yeah yeah am I the first

37:16

one to crash it other than me well yeah

37:20

the second one

37:28

[Music]

37:46

oh well now head lights are pointing at

37:47

the tree so that's probably not a good

37:49

[Music]

37:51

sign cuz I'm trying to counter steer it

37:54

yeah it will counter steer but you have

37:56

to go faster yeah

37:58

I feel like I should be riding on the

38:00

edge of that tire and like counter steer

38:03

but when I start to counter steer I'm

38:04

not leaning enough you have too much

38:06

experience riding a bike it's like

38:08

riding snow bikes have you ever been a

38:09

snow bike uh no people who ride bikes a

38:12

lot are really bad at riding snow bikes

38:14

because they expect it to perform like a

38:16

motorcycle and it really doesn't yeah it

38:19

just got warm I don't know why the fan

38:20

didn't kick on though that's interesting

38:22

[Music]

38:27

well unfortunately uh Brady had to leave

38:31

early in the morning and couldn't stick

38:32

around to successfully test drive this

38:35

thing it was kind of a eye opening for

38:37

me to see how much of a hard time he had

38:39

riding this thing cuz he rides bikes a

38:41

lot and possibly that's why because he's

38:44

expecting it to be a normal bike and

38:45

it's not a normal bike but all of the

38:47

upgrades uh were extremely successful

38:49

the new chain system is way better the

38:52

gearing is better the bar risers the

38:55

headlights work I mean we tested them it

38:56

was dark around in the dark we got the

38:58

tire pressure dialed in so it's very

39:02

very near to completion in fact you know

39:04

it kind of could be completed at this

39:06

stage but there's a few little things I

39:08

want to do I want to change up some uh

39:10

you know beef up this section of the

39:11

front swing arm here and add some tubing

39:14

there and few little odds and ends we're

39:16

not going to tear it apart to paint it

39:17

just yet because uh we want to take it

39:19

out and test it on the street before we

39:21

do because we haven't had it up to speed

39:23

yet so we don't really know how it is

39:25

and if I find that I need to make some

39:27

changes or I break something I want to

39:28

do more testing before before painting

39:30

it and it's already all welded so

39:33

doesn't need that but uh yeah next

39:35

episode we'll uh we'll take it out on

39:37

the streets and maybe I could get the

39:40

drive it on the dirt a little bit at

39:42

least so next episode you'll get to see

39:44

will try to ride this thing I'm actually

39:46

really curious cuz Brady is way more

39:49

experienced on bikes than I am I've

39:50

ridden a lot of street bikes but I've

39:53

never driven anything like this so I

39:55

really want to try it no one has no one

39:58

has but seeing Brady have a hard time

40:00

with it is like wow that's crazy this

40:02

has been this has been quite a fun

40:04

project and uh we couldn't do it without

40:07

all of you guys watching so thanks for

40:10

following along with this ridiculous

40:13

motorcycle build

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