Kink frame

[MickeyMoto]

Hi,

Anybody know when the 'kinked' frame came about?

thanks,

Mike.

[norbert]

I think the knik frame came with the first K-Model in 1979

ciao norbert

[MickeyMoto]

Grazie Norbert,

mFg

Mike

[EVguru]

My understanding is that the kink was introduced to make removal of the front head easier on the 500 engine. Although 350 and 500 frames are different, that's mostly at the rear and the front loops are essentially the same.

[norbert]

My understanding is that the kink was introduced to make removal of the front head easier on the 500 engine. Although 350 and 500 frames are different, that's mostly at the rear and the front loops are essentially the same.

That will have bee the reason for changing the design of the frame. Although it´s proved that you can take of the front head of a a 501 in the old 350 frame as well as in the 350 knick frame. 500 I never tried, the cilinders are about 5 mm higher. Is it possible to take of a 500 rear head in a 500 frame without turning the motor down?

norbert

[tobydmv]

What does the kink look like? I have a strada at home with a top tube that looks different that my early strada. I was thinking my frame was bent although there are no other signs of a bent frame(like bent gussets).

[EVguru]

If the engine plates look like this;



Then it's a kink frame.

[tobydmv]

If the engine plates look like this;



Then it's a kink frame.

Paul, i'll have a look tonight. I cant remember if they match up but my front plates are bizarre. There is a secondary plate on the bottom of the front plates to connect the horrible LH shift for US markets. My early strada was also LH shift but didnt have the extra plate up front.
Thanks!

[tobydmv]

Top Tube pic

toptube.small.jpg (245.64 KiB) Viewed 13342 times

Looks bent to me, what do you think?

[EVguru]

Oh, that's bent all right!

The intentionally kinked downtubes bend in the opposite direction and the top tube is straight.

[norbert]

this frame really is bended! Iwould say it is scrap metal

This is an old frame from ´74, without the knick. It´s modified, but you can see the two front downtubes are straight:

k-IM000417.JPG (54.57 KiB) Viewed 13336 times

Meanwhile this is a knick frame, the two downtubes are slightly bended (the frame was also modified to build a racer):

chasis_pintado_003.jpg (92.56 KiB) Viewed 13336 times

the engine plates of the older models without a knick look like this

k-IM000596.JPG (55.12 KiB) Viewed 13336 times

The engine plates are diferent in sizes, you can not use the old plates with a knick frame or reversed.

I´m not absolutely sure but believe that only on the old frames the fuel tank is fixed at the stearing head with screws meanwhile on the knick frames it is fixed at the front on theses rubber things (don´t know the right word for it )

ciao norbert

[hendre]

toptube.small.jpg

Looks bent to me, what do you think?

"crash victim alert"
it is going to be pretty tough (not to say impossible) to get this on straight again...
(if it is going to the scrappers but the frame still got all the paperwork I might be interested in the frame number plate under the battery tray and docs have a german 3 1/2 without paperwork)

[tobydmv]

Hendre, I dont have a title and i'm in the states. The bike was bought as a parts bike with a decent motor that turned over w 70psi. I think a friend of mine has a spare frame. If not there is one on ebay. I'm not sure the frame plate would help you without any kind of title.

Its funny, I think this bike might actually run. The ignition system looks really good and the stator OHM's are within spec. I'm tempted to get it sorted to hear it run and have a ride around the block.