Fixed Steer FX-1 ?

[shawn_NJ]

Fixing a busted coil today on my X2, and it got me thinking. What do you think of a fixed steer FX-1 conversion? I love the FX, but I dont see myself becoming a fulltime pole rider. The stock hood almost looks like its the perfect height to attach a X2 UMI system. Obviously it would need some glasswork and steering engineering, but it doesnt look impossible. Would also have to think of a way to remove the hood with a steering cable attached to it. I dont think you could do a blaster type forward pivot too easily. Just throwing it out there for some thoughts. It might be a fun winter project and a REAL fun ski, if it was done right.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The way we did my 650SX was to attach the handlepole to the hood,the hood just swings up,it dosen't come off anymore,I just hook a tiedown strap to it and pull the hood up out of the way when i am working on it.I stopped modding the hood when Flat Brap put the 650SX race hood up for sale,I should be retrieving it in a couple of weeks and start building my new hood,Madscientist is getting this hood back,so there will be two conversion skis then.

 

[damnthathurt2]

okay this concept just boggles my mind other than something different to do with an old ski.

what is the point??? just by an x-2

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The point is compared to an X2 its much lighter and more controllable,you can do tricks that are harder or not even possible on a standup,do yourself a big favor and do not pass judgment till you ride one.

 

[WaveDemon]

okay this concept just boggles my mind other than something different to do with an old ski.

what is the point??? just by an x-2

the point is it's better and x-2's suck.

my superjet:

 

[damnthathurt2]

Wedo ...not passing judgement at all. it just seems strange to me but as said I havent rode one so not sure of the possibilities.
but realistically what does the fixed steer enable you to do that you cant already do on a standup? Demon enlighten me here.. and yours looks sweet as shiite BTW , never really ever seen one before

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Most of the motorcycle freestyle tricks are possible with the fixed steering,just add big steel balls!

 

[damnthathurt2]

Most of the motorcycle freestyle tricks are possible with the fixed steering,just add big steel balls!

guess that makes more sense the more i think about it..
now where do you order the big steel balls from I cant find them anywhere online LOL

 

[madscientist]

their an item on

pullitfromyourthroat.com in the for sale section


i will never give up fixed steering

 

[WFO Speedracer]

After riding my ghettoed out version for a while I don't really understand why the Superjet concept failed.I know price was one thing,that hood was ridiculously high end and was priced as such.I started looking at options and one fell right into my lap,the 650SX.They can be had for dirt cheap,they are reasonably light weight once you ditch the heavy ass handlepole,750-800 motors are a direct bolt in,750 props and be easliy modded to fit into the pumps,and the handling difference between a handlepole and fixed steering is amazing on that ski.Thanks to Flat Brap I have access to a SX race hood ,my plan is to convert that hood for freestyle usage first and pop a mold off of that,then mod it further for fixed steering and pop a mold for that as well.Carbon fiber is probably totally out for this project but a lightweight fiberglass fixed steering hood is completely doable,this would put a fixed steering ski well within reach of anyone that wants one without having to take out a second mortgage on your house.If it flops then it flops,nothing ventured ,nothing gained is what I say.

 

[shawn_NJ]

okay this concept just boggles my mind other than something different to do with an old ski.

what is the point??? just by an x-2

The FX1 rides NOTHING like an X2 at all. Its shorter and narrower. If you could get a sj pump in a lightweight FX1 with fixed steer... It would have the best parts of all the SJ, X2, and FX.

but realistically what does the fixed steer enable you to do that you cant already do on a standup?

Its also just a personal preference. I dont enjoy riding a hand pole ski much after logging years on X2's, but I see the benefit that comes with the yamaha hulls and drivetrain. Just looking to try something new with this project if I decide to do it.

 

[shawn_NJ]

After riding my ghettoed out version for a while I don't really understand why the Superjet concept failed.I know price was one thing,that hood was ridiculously high end and was priced as such.I started looking at options and one fell right into my lap,the 650SX.They can be had for dirt cheap,they are reasonably light weight once you ditch the heavy ass handlepole,750-800 motors are a direct bolt in,750 props and be easliy modded to fit into the pumps,and the handling difference between a handlepole and fixed steering is amazing on that ski.Thanks to Flat Brap I have access to a SX race hood ,my plan is to convert that hood for freestyle usage first and pop a mold off of that,then mod it further for fixed steering and pop a mold for that as well.Carbon fiber is probably totally out for this project but a lightweight fiberglass fixed steering hood is completely doable,this would put a fixed steering ski well within reach of anyone that wants one without having to take out a second mortgage on your house.If it flops then it flops,nothing ventured ,nothing gained is what I say.

The old 24/7 version was sweet, but after you throw in a UMI system and time to build I understand why they cost alot. I think if you made a affordable one for the SJ it would actually sell well. The price was the major holdback that stopped the SJ one from being popular. Being a kawi guy, I like your SX version alot, but you know how many ppl ride SX's. If you are looking to sell them, you are starting off with a limited market.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The old 24/7 version was sweet, but after you throw in a UMI system and time to build I understand why they cost alot. I think if you made a affordable one for the SJ it would actually sell well. The price was the major holdback that stopped the SJ one from being popular. Being a kawi guy, I like your SX version alot, but you know how many ppl ride SX's. If you are looking to sell them, you are starting off with a limited market.

I say its time to create a market then,thats what Chris tried to do with the original conversion hood,even if the hood could be made much cheaper for the SJ and surely it can,that is still a large outlay on someones part to ride a fixed steering craft,looking at it from a financial standpoint the SX is the y way to go becasue of the dirt cheap parts involved and the sheer numbers of them available,even with the stock 650 engine and a pipe mod my ski is still quite fun and reasonably fast,add a 750-800 and it will be off the hook! Much faster and way more fun than a stock X2!

 

[dbrutherford]

Wedo, it was Chris Maros the original 24-7 owner that came up with the fixed steer system and idea.

Long term, I want to buy a Trinity SXR hull and hopefully by then Bobby will be making a conversion hood for the SXR.

After seeing the thread where he plans on making an 800 X2 hull, I initially wanted one of them. But it makes more sense to have a stand up with a conversion hood. That way all you have to do is take off the hood and put on the handpole. You get an X2 like ski but a stand up as well. If it is all on a light weight hull, it is an SXR that is just as good as any SJ. It is a win win situatuion!


Shawn, after riding all of the SJ's that people have down here in AL own, I must say I see exactly where you are coming from! YZ250FPilot's "White Power Ski" simply rips of the bottome end. It makes a stock 701 SJ feel weeak. It is just a stock 701, B Pipe, ADA head, and a little LPW porting. I really wish I had power like that in my X2!

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Wedo, it was Chris Maros the original 24-7 owner that came up with the fixed steer system and idea.

Long term, I want to buy a Trinity SXR hull and hopefully by then Bobby will be making a conversion hood for the SXR.

After seeing the thread where he plans on making an 800 X2 hull, I initially wanted one of them. But it makes more sense to have a stand up with a conversion hood. That way all you have to do is take off the hood and put on the handpole. You get an X2 like ski but a stand up as well. If it is all on a light weight hull, it is an SXR that is just as good as any SJ. It is a win win situatuion!


Shawn, after riding all of the SJ's that people have down here in AL own, I must say I see exactly where you are coming from! YZ250FPilot's "White Power Ski" simply rips of the bottome end. It makes a stock 701 SJ feel weeak. It is just a stock 701, B Pipe, ADA head, and a little LPW porting. I really wish I had power like that in my X2!

You know actually I knew that but I slipped up when I typed it,thanks, I fixed it.

 

[dbrutherford]

Good deal Terry, we need to get those plates made to swap engines. I have been lazy though. YZ has three Yamaha sitting around and I have two Kawasaki engines. You think I might actually engineer one up... lol

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Good deal Terry, we need to get those plates made to swap engines. I have been lazy though. YZ has three Yamaha sitting around and I have two Kawasaki engines. You think I might actually engineer one up... lol

I have been sitting on go on those plates since I brought it up John on the other hand has been dragging his feet,I have yet to get a single undrilled plate which is all I needed.As they say no good deed goes unpunished .

 

[butti]

just for the record..the chris maros built 24-7 fixed steering hood included the steering system in the sale price.base price for a glass hood was 1500.00$

i would be very surprised if any other reputable builder will ever produce one any cheaper than that.in fact i would expect to pay more in the future.

 

[shawn_NJ]

Butti or Demon,

You guys have any pics of the steering system under the hood? I never got a chance to really look over the ones Mark had laying around. Is it an off the shelf cable? On top of looking into a fixed steer FX, I need to redo the steering for my lightweight and I'm very interested what you guys are running. I am running an 89 X2 direct steer right now. While it actually works awesome, it has to be reinforced or it will break (like mine is now). And its not an easy to find part.

 

[dbrutherford]

Shawn, the japanese guys have a direct steering cable setup for X2's. They use a long cable like a stand up. Then they use the Maekawa brace. There is then a clamp they attaches to that brace that holds the steering cable in place. There is also a longer steering arm like on the Accusteer. Here is the Jet Wave ad. I also attached pictures of the Maekawa Engineering 650 X2 hull. I believe they quit making them. I remember on their website once that they said they were done making fiberglass parts.