bobber style build

[Jon_P]

another frame and engine came my way. i have a swing arm, engine and trans and frame loop. not much other than that. couple of odds and ends. so after staring at it with a adult beverage in hand i formed a plan to make a bobber taking styling cues from the 1920's thru mid 1930's frames. i am also going to take some cues from the zero style choppers from japan. have another HD spring on order with front wheel. i already have a rear wheel and couple of other parts needed. so next step is build a frame jig so when i start cutting the frame wont pop or move on me.

not going to touch the drive line, going to leave that stock length and work around that.

i know pixs! when i get rolling on it more that trimming the frame to what i need i will get some up.

[steve hawkins]

Jon,

What is the fixation with springer front ends?

No idea what they are like on the road, just not really my cup of tea asthetically :-?

Why not stick with Tele's or go for a girder front end?

This from a brit who just does not understand.......

Cheers

Steve

[Jon_P]

springers are cheap, i would really perfer a girder and may end up building one this next winter. the thing with a girder is they have to be set up and kind of built around the bike it is going on. all other front supensions are kind of bolt a go type.

girders are really the way to go, they are lighter, stronger and can be tuned for the riding easy. plus they are so darn cool looking.

[steve hawkins]

Jon,

I was just curious as I do not have a 'Harley background' so springers are quirky and unusual to me.  

There is only so much you can do and you have to keep an eye on cost.  

Next thing we'll be discussing the Defazio hub centre steering set-ups!

Oh, remember the Bimota Tesi?

keep it simple!

Cheers

Steve H

[awaffa2003]

DUDE! i was thinkin about your bike and this crazy idea came to me. how about a suicide shift on this new one. now i know....what's this crazy kid thinkin right. but check this out. put on the right side, you're gonna have to make some crazy rod and pivot point contraption and take your hand off the gas and fromt brake, right. put it on the left side, you won't be able to pull in your clutch, right. WRONG! put it on the left side with a vertical clutch lever in front of the knob! that would look soooooo cool man!  

[Jon_P]

you crack me up awaffa! though the thought of apes has been running around a little. they wouldnt be the type where my knuckles are over my head or anything maybe something closer or just below shoulder hieght.

suicide shifter! it would be just that, i would end up killing myself trying to ride that. i may be able to build it, but ride it? i dont have the cordination to get it into first gear  

i am looking at trying to take a mountain bike rear shock and make a mount like the older solo beemers so it would have some give in it so my back doesnt yell at me after a couple of hours of riding. i will have to make a cam and a pivot mount so as the seat goes down the shock will travel at a right angle to it.

[Jon_P]

i have been playing with this a little more. the frame is nearly done except i am covering the welds with jb weld. i am doing that cuz the guy who will powder coat the frame told me to use it in stead of the powder coat filler stuff. alot cheaper and it flows out really nice.

i can seem to load pixs into my photobucket account from home on my mac so you all will have to wait till i get back into work to use the pc.

steve, i was out looking at plans for a girder.   i will use the springer this year and then go to building one this winter. nothing to crazy on building one and it will look so much better with one over a springer.

hope to get the final sanding done over the long week end it off to powder coater this week. should be riding in about two or three weeks i figure.

[steve hawkins]

I would like to doff my cap to you Sir.

I can only dream of doing such things.

I am planning to 'freshen up' my Cafe Racer this winter.  I have had a couple of niggles with it for a while that I would finally like to get sorted.

1.  I feel that I need to overhaul my sprung drive shaft as there is a bit of slack(take-up) in it when I set off.  

2.  I need to replace the single disk I have up front as it has gone the way of the other Grimeca disk and warped.  I can feel the pulsing through front brake and it will not pass another MOT although it is okay at the moment.

3.  I need to replace the rear hub as I have a crack in the brake lining.  Although I am happy to see out the current tyre I have on it, I will not be fitting another.  Its a continental tk44 and is lasting a very long time!

4.  I have to repair the tank damage that occured when the bike fell over as a result of the side stand giving way.

5.  Finally, I have never been that happy with the frame powder coating - which has degenerated and faded/cracked/wrinkled etc over the years as a result of being put on too thickly by a bunch of clowns.  

So time for a full strip down - but at least it will come apart in big lumps.

Time also for a new colour.......'Dove Grey' for both the frame and tank.  I will also add a colourful 'flash' to the tank, but as yet am undecided on what form this will take - but it will probably be red.....

I will continue to run it for the summer and perhaps start sourcing some of the bits I need.

Cheers

[Jon_P]

your thinking grey!! so am i   that is kind of scary. before i start on the girder i promised my 5 year old i would start on a side car. i planned it out and have the tabs already welded on the frame so they look kind of stupid with nothing bolted on to them now. the frame for the side car is easy enough, just have to make up my mind on how to make the compartment to ride in or i might leave it open and build a roll cage looking set up, plus momma would feel better if the tot looks all safe in a steel cage.

[steve hawkins]

Jon,

The strip down will also give me the chance to cut off that last few mounting points from the sub/frame that I no longer need - centre stand mounts and a couple of others......

I will also take the opportunity to polish a couple of bits up and perhaps make the RAASK rear sets more presentable....

Might have to change the seat back to a dual seat so that I can give the kids a ride now and again.  Not sure how I am going to do this yet, as i will have to make it myself.

Almost bought an old Suzuki GS550 on the weekend (same age as my r65) but eventually saw sense.  It was a project bike andwould have only distracted me and my money from the true path.......Even though the 550 was my first 'big' bike.  

Fondly remembered

Steve H

[Jon_P]

well i was a little side tracked with summer riding, activities and house work. i have been slipping out to the shop now and again working and planning. i nearly finished up the frame, still need to make a battery mount/box and a rear brake mount. i ended up removing the stock rear brake arm and found a straight arm in my pile of parts for one of my yz-250's along with the arm for the pedal, i may redo the pedal not sure yet. i also found some old cam shafts that i am going to use for foot pegs, a power steering pump resevoir that i am going to plumb for the crank case breather. still need a couple of parts like rear brake/marker and handle bar risers of some sort (might make those).

still cant seem to load pixs into photobucket from my mac??? so i will have to take my camera into work and load the pixs there so i can post them. sorry, this week i promise to get some up so everyone can see what i am up to.

[msbuck]

No pictures are loading...  What's up with that?  Would love to see them if you can figure it out.  

[Jon_P]

now everyone should be able to see.

[msbuck]

Yea! Picture's showing!
So what's the big black canister hanging off the rear frame?  

[Jon_P]

i am going to run a copper line from the crank case breather to that can for the over flow and and have a vent to let it breathe. i may not use that one and may make a smaller one but i do like the look. it is really a poweer steering resevoir from a semi truck that i had laying around in the shop. i had an idea for using it as a oil resevoir like a harley, truimph, bsa when i had a truimph. i also have a small camo can that i am going to put the battery and some of the electronics in on the other side to help balance the look and weight.