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complete frame 8up 4 out 42 degree1

It's all about choice, and these days we have more to choose from than ever before.Some truly talented people are creating original, mind blowing frame products. Aaron Green's Softrigid, Roger Goldammer's BTR3 frame that's now available in a production rigid (cheers from #4)and Maximum Metal works are just a few that really stand out in the crowd.

And then of course, another of my personal favorites and not just because I designed it…the Empire right side drive frame for large tire sizes.

The motor and transmission mount in the stock location and with use of a Baker right side drive transmission a 230 up to 280mm tire can be run and with a Baker off-set pulley or sprocket in the appropriate widths so a 300 to 360mm can also be used. Ofcourse we do widen the swing arm according to tire preference but not the frames seat side rails, the maximum outside width of 11.5 inches provides a narrower than usual seat area.

The final drive runs outside of the frame uprights and the swing arm allows for quick belt changes without having to drop the tire or remove the swing arm.

An integral type neck with machined in fork stop tang is cool but if the tang is damaged in anyway it can be a nightmare attempting repair and replacement means cutting out the neck so with that in mind We choose to run a cup type neck and supply a polished and heat treated 17 4 ph cup set with internal fork stops. The lower cup is easily replaceable in the unlikely event of damage to the fork stop tang. We also include polished stainless paint savers that press into a machined relief on the inside of the swingarm's axle plates to protect valuable paint or chrome from being damaged by wheel spacers.

I suppose we could have designed the frame to be both left and right side final drive and by the time your reading this someone else may have done just that, but in my opinion for the 280mm and larger tires running a left side final drive just doesn't cut it. It requires either a Jack Shaft (not that there's anything wrong with that) or one hell of an off-set in the transmission and/or extended main shaft and main drive gear.

I'll stick with Bert's Transmission thanks.

The Double Barrel frame was still trying to come to life on our development table when Joe Pinette Jr.owner of Fat Cat cycles in Bristol, Connecticut dropped in to check out our wide tire swing arms for stock bikes and was the first to see the Double Barrel frame. By the time he went home it was agreed that the Fat Cats team would be building a bike using Empire frame number 001, “Thanks Joe. ”

The boys agreed to let me take pictures of them doin what they love,but some of the names may have been change to protect the guilty!

The ” Double O' 1-inch build went something like this…

complete frame 8up 4 out 42 degree1
Mark Giroux has positioned the neck at the predetermined measurements for stretch and rake preference and is fittingThe down tube. The Double Barrel down tube is mated 1.5-inch o.d., d.o.m. (drawn over mandrel) .120 wall seamless tube.

A seat post-less frame has to do more than just look clean for showespecially with today's high out put motors providing the “GO”We used a doubled tube cross over for strength in this critical area of the frame.

# 02 Robbie RD table build - guy welding
Robbie Richard is welding in the rear tranny mount assemblyand photo left you can see we've matched the angle of the down tube/swith the lower frame rails for a smoother looking profile. Depending on backbone stretch the lower frame rail bends just below the front motor mount will change if only slightly for each differently configured frame we build. It takes a little more time but it's worth it.

pic # 4 Clyde notching1
That's Clyde Mileto and his great tat lending an experienced hand notching a motor mount support between technical and sales calls. The tube notcher insures a tight fit. it does take a little longer to do but we won't put our tungsten in if it ain't tight!

# 5 Cross over rear mtr and frt trans mnts1
The seat side rails are fit to the back bone and Doubled tube uprights. The excess backbone will be trimmed and fit with a ¼-inch seat plate box for support.The top motor mount, vibe tube and neck gusset are then fit and welded into position.

EMI Rigid front for C4 by Campo1
With the front section of the frame built we're ready to tackle the oil tank and swing armbut that'll have to wait for next time as C4 by Campo's owner Mike Campo former O.C.C. sheet metal specialist just called to ask if we could cram a years worth of development into a five pound bag and create something special for his debut solo machine.

Having jumped the fence from an unsatisfactory position myself …but that's another story.We all welcomed the chance to encourage his efforts.

Connection:

Empire Mfg.doublebarrel@bellnet.ca

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