Messages

Don't be so hard on yourself, you are doing a great job with this project! I'm always excited to see an update on your bike, but understand these custom jobs take some time. Working on my own custom R5 and it's hard to find a balance of project progression and other life responsibilities.

SoCal250 - if you could help with the images again that would be great. I resized them to be 750x750 or smaller and they still aren't working correctly. Maybe it has to due with me using a Macbook?

MotoLanna swingarm is here. I have been struggling to find a proper swingarm pivot bushing. MotoLanna was out of stock on the pivot bushing they make. Ordered one off of ebay from a XT500 and it is too long but also gulled up pretty good. Reached out to MotoLanna on when they'll be making more.

I'll also have to do something about the rear axle as it is a larger diameter than the Duke 390 takes.

Duke 390 wheel mounted. Got a killer deal on two basically new duke rims. Seller claimed only 5 miles and based on the looks I believe it! Only downside is the color--- they'll eventually be power-coated

Front fender likely not to stay

IIRC, you can use your RD bushing (assuming you have it)

I guess I was going off the details in this thread.

https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=415.msg2782#msg2782

I'll test out the stock bushing tube.

MotoLanna swingarm arrived! I'll try to post pictures up this weekend. Currently struggling to find a SR500/400 pivot bushing

MotoLanna is on order. Went with SuperTuff machined shock mounts and black powder coating. 2-8 week estimate on delivery.

Front fender on order. Bar clamps on order. Apparently KTM puts 26mm bars on the smaller single bore duke bikes. Converting to 28.6mm (1-1/8") gives me more options.

About the Beta, glad to see so many Beta fans here. I'm in good company! Unfortunately it might go up for sale this summer. I also have a KTM 500exc-f that just gets used more. Also have a 4y/o that I want to get into riding. I'm thinking of selling the Beta to pickup two trials bike for us. A Beta Evo for me and a Kuberg Start for the little one. We'll see... the wife says I have too many bikes. I think she is crazy

Have you considered MotoLanna? Some members here have used them.
MotoLanna SuperTuff swingarm
MotoLanna SuperLite swingarm

https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=415.msg2782#msg2782
https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=4211.msg36419#msg36419

Thanks for the tip! Looks like that could save me ~$800 and avoid the 5+month lead times people have seen with tracdynamics.

Any idea on tire widths people have fit on the MotoLanna? The Ninja ex250 swinger just measured ~225mm vs the MotoLannas 218mm width at wheel axle location. MotoLanna is ~50mm longer ~25mm wider than the R5 so I'm guessing I could make the ex250 wheels work.

Very little progress lately.

Took a gamble and ordered a 2012 Ninja ex250 swingarm. It would need to be milled slightly narrower on the pivot width. The more I look at it though, the less enthusiastic I'm about converting to monoshock.

Can anyone provide be feedback on current tracdynamic swingarms? I'd like to run twin shocks but still convert to disc rear. Thinking of also using either the Duke 390 wheels or the new gen ninja 250 wheels. Ninja is a little narrower as it fits a 140 rear.

Looks great! Love the classic kawi green/blue color combo

You're in the right place!  Excellent bones to start with.  I bought mine as a basement queen, where it had sat for 30 years, according to its license plate.

Here's mine, as bought and current state.

Where did you find the tank emblems?


What swingarm are you running?

Nice bike!

I am not a purist, by any means. And it seems like a cool concept. But its just sad seeing another unmolested classic reduced to a half modern bike. I am not hating, just thinking out loud. Look forward to seeing the progress!

Understood. I thought hard and long before deciding to make it a custom. When I first saw the pictures I thought for sure it was too nice to play with. After getting it home and giving it a good look over I changed directions.

there they are. cool and all.... but i have beta envy. swingarms going to be tricky and (obviously) the ktm one wont work, so hoping you have the ability to do lathe work, going to be necessary to get the ktm wheel in there on any swingarm you wind up using.

The Beta is a hoot to ride! I have it plated for both trail and road. Kind of needed in my area as bikes aren't allowed on all trail sections so you have to hit the black top to bypass those sections sometimes.

Yeah I was able to get measurements on the duke swingarm. 235mm width at the pivot so it's too wide. I'm still looking around. Might do a slightly extended tracdynamics or metmachex. Cost of both of those are sky high though when comparing against a conversion swingarm purchased off of eBay. Still hunting around.

I cant see any of the images. 

They are attached.

Stripped it Down

Sourced a Duke 390 front end and converted with All Balls Racing conversion.

Now I need to find a swing arm. I'd really like to run the duke/rc390 rims so I'll need to keep this in mind when sourcing a swing arm.

Anyone have any suggestions on a swing arm? At this point I don't mind keeping twin rear shocks or converting to a mono-shock.