 | |  | |  |
This started with a spare frame for a Benelli 250 Phantom 2-stroke.
It had the classic three-tube backbone level with the seat but was of course a double cradle..
I had always admired the Benelli 4 cyl bikes and thought I might do a replica; somewhat updated..
This is just an example. Not Mine! | | This all started with a perfectly good 250 Benelli Phantom 2-stroke bought from Darrell Dick who did a nice job assembling it; pretty much original. | | No, I wouldn't have cut up the good one; it came with this spare frame. |
|
 | |  | |  |
| Classic design with the three-tube 'backbone' but of course double cradle. | | I've always admired the little four-cylinder Benellis; Mike Gontesky's 250 comes to mind; originalsand replicas.. Those were of course the old 2-valve air cooled.. so if Benelli had carried on with the in-line 4 cyl., what would they be like? | | My high-tech two-dimensional transposition apparatus. |
|
 | |  | |  |
| 'Transposed', and it fits! Well, mostly, and plenty will have to go. | | Cut tubes sprung; stayed in line but were obviously sprung out before welding.. or did the welding create the tension? | | Cut out. Downtubes were cut shorter and will be cut back more for cross-tubes out to the side mounts on the head. |
|
 | |  | |  |
| Sitting in place; head will be up to backbone tubes and carbs may be tight but manageable. | | The headstock area will be braced to the side mounting bosses on the head as well as the front lower motor mounts. | | Wide, but no worse than any of the old air-cooled motors. |
|
 | |  | |  |
| The rear upper mount looks to line up with the rear downtubes so there will probably be tubular mounts inserted. | | The lower rear mounts line up nicely for tubular mounts as well. The swingarm pivot sits close to the casing joint; even with the countershaft. | | One challenge; the countershaft sprocket sits outboard of the existing frame tubes; obviously a new swingarm and some jiggery-pokery needed. |
|
 | |  | |  |
So here it sits, I wanted to take it this far to assess the feasibility but there are other projects and heaven forbid; work, so it may wait a while. Picture a long skinny tank and 4-into-4 swoopy pipes.. have to try that hydro-forming..
Updates when I get back to it. | | Just for scale, this is the stock tank and seat on it. | | Most likely will have a road race tank, but still looks cool.. |
|
 | |  | |  |
| Not bad proportions. | | For reference; the stock frame with the 2-stroke. | | Ok, project gets put away for now; clean out the carbs on the smoker and go for a ride. ;-) |
|
