I helped clearance mine with a café/brat cut in the rear frame don't know the actual numbers fro clearance but looks like it should be a good clear and fit the other thing to look and watch for is your chain contact and if your going to mess with the sprocket size for better trail/highway rpm and use.
pbr206 would be cool to hook up for a ride once both are done to compare ride and design share thoughts and wisdom as these seem to be a rare build here and also the same to you bmaster how much stiffer is the ride I wonder?
@Ethanl Totally! I plan on heading down to Bend/Sisters in early June, and I'm hoping to have my bike ready by then (barring any major problems, and of course I just doomed myself by saying that...).
I will say that at the moment, I am sick of looking at tires, it appears that my only options for a tubeless rear tire is by switching to an 17inch+ rear rim, then I have to worry about clearance, rubbing, width etc. etc. etc... This is starting to become a headache.
Considering I have the stock 16inch spoked rear, will any old rim work on this bike as long as there is clearance? My concern is I dont know shit about motorcycle rims, I have drum brakes and it seems like I am stuck with stock, and therefore non-dual sport tires...
Also I am planning to remove the rear fender and minimize (i.e. tuck in/or remove completely) the rear splash guard. I am hesitant to chop anything yet, and moving forward, I plan to use this bike as a camping/touring bike, so it would seem that chopping the rear might negate my ability to have panniers or luggage, or even a sissy bar style rear stay.
I have the stock "stepped" seat, and going 8000+ miles sitting on the frame does not sound appealing, so I don't think I will be installing any cafe/tracker style hoop seats.
you seem to be comfortable chopping things, is that 100% necessary for clearance to have larger knobby tires?
and to be clear, I dont care if the tires are larger or smaller, or look funny or whatever, I am just interested in performance something like 60/40 street/dirt.
This is what I will be riding on/around (not for the whole trip, but for a good portion through Baja):
It's sand mostly, some areas are gravelly...
EDIT: By the way, Beautiful Bike!