first let me show some of the good manners my parents try to give me when i was a kid and introduce me in a proper way....my name is Ronald, 39 years of age and live in Holland where we run a small shop in which we try to sell cafe-racer parts. I´ve had several bikes in the past, most of them yamaha´s sr500 and xs650´s..although there have been some tr1´s among them also. Some weeks ago i sold my xs650 and started looking around for some other bike which i would like to turn in a cafe racer. I´m heavily charmed about the bikes sepp koch makes, espcially the feahterbed framed ones of course..but then again obtaining a roadlegal feahterbed frame is something of an mission impossible overhere i´m afraid. So, i guess have to settle for an original framed one...not a bad thing neither of course. But to be honest...compared to an featherbed or any other tubular frame....it´s not a frame that could win any beauty contest, at least that´s my humble opinion in this matter. Mister Koch however has found a nice solution for this problem and made a nice "see through" frame out of it. I looked at my TR1 i have standing here now and found out that there is no solid connection from the upper part of the frame to the lower part where the swing arm has found it´s place. Is there anyone here who could inform me in this matter? Iwould like to do a similair operation to my TR1, i know it´s not original but it´s better to use someone else´s good idea than mess up the lot with your own i guess :-?

OK, since no one has posted a reply, I will jump in.  Hi, I am Rick, and I live in Dallas, Texas, USA.  My example is a shaft-drive (Virago), but the process is similar for your TR1.  The places to cut are approximately here:




The result looks like this:



You will want to weld a steel plate on top of the swingarm mounting bracket to maintain rigidity, and also on the underside of the upper frame (cannot see in this photo):



You can see I also modified the rear sub-frame to eliminate the tubes down to the footpeg bracket.  This adds to the 'clear view' effect.

If you wish to retain the factory air filter location (some put a round filter here) make the top cuts lower.  I converted to a single carburetor with a filter attached directly to the carb.

Here is result in my case: Virago on the left ???? on the right:



I hope that gives you an idea where to start.  Good luck!

Ok, thanks a lot, i took the engine out of the frame last week and came to the same conclusion as you did. Only problem might be that when you remove the engine you have to support the frame since the engine will be the connecting thing between the upper and the lower frame. Anyway thanks a lot for going through the trouble to inform me in this matter, appreciate it :)

Hi Ronald, I already modifided a tr1 frame, and it was'nt difficult. Your welcome to take look for your self.
If i find the time, i will send you some pics of the modifications and sub frame construction.

Every info is welcome, pics especially off course :)

i´m holding every option open but i just contacted a guy here in Holland here who gave me an other very interesting option which i would like to investigate a little further. It´s nothing yamaha but more in the italian region  (no, it´s not ducati) i have a similair frame lying around here, complete with papers so i can get it roadlegal. An other friend of mine who is in the chopperbussines and builds his own frames ofered me to help me installing the enigine in the frame and altering the rear wheel. I searched the internet and for my needs a GS550 rear spokewheel with drum brakens would suit this project best considering axle diameter and availability of sprockets and chainsize....and i have one of those also in a corner of my shed. The guy i contacted has build a similair bike already so when he´s returning from holiday i will visit him and make some pictures and (try to) post them here

Ik zie dat je alles te koop heb staan op m.p.