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Custom bike build


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Today I did cardboard template for battery box,

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and after double checking for fit,

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cut the shape out of sheet metal.

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Now I need to trace the bend lines, do actual bending and fit it into the frame. I left some excess here and there just to be sure I won't end up with too little material, so some grinding will be necessary. It's easier to file down a bit than to add steel :D 

I thought about welding it to the frame, but decided to just fix it with couple screws. Welding thin sheet metal is a pain. 

  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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Since last time I posted:

I finished battery box, screwed it in place

I drilled holes for rear turn signals just behind rear shocks' mounts, made custom extra long nuts to fix blinkers in place

I made a custom airbox out of 100mm dia. chimney pipe and  some 1mm sheet metal for side covers, connected it with carb with piece of rubber elbow salvaged from old washing machine

I made brackets and sorted out positioning of electric stuff (coil, rectifier etc) under the tank, made an ignition switch bracket and welded it in place

I made supports and put muffler in place (I'm using Harley Sportster 883 muffler instead of stock one)

I shaped exhaust pipe from cylinder head to muffler, now I need to weld the pieces together

I sorted out shape and position of footpeg mounts and made them, now I need to weld them in place

 

For now I'm working on front mount and latch mechanizm for the seat (I will use battery box as a glove box). With this part done, I'll take the frame to work for last part of welding and then it will be ready for powder coating. 

 

Speaking of which - I decided to powder coat the frame because of durability. And I hope I will be happy with the customization done and won't be needing much more changes :) 

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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Engineering FTW!

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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And the other side - new location for kickstand and close-up of footpeg mount.

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And next thing - seat pan. Made of plywood, kerf-bent and laminated with some linen canvas.

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  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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Frame and some bits taken to the powder coating, and I'm playing MacGyver with painting the rest :)

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  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

AAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tank is done! 

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I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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Started putting the bike together, I'm ready for laying the new electrical harness.

Also, I built battery out of Li-Ion 18650 cells lying around. Seems valid. 

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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Spaghetti!

spaghetti.JPG.722d956bc4d4ac4f1d459bf45e8d167e.JPG

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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The bike starts to look like a bike (finally).

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  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

Upholstery is a pain :angry:

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

Seat is ready!

Embedded tail light looks better than I expected. I'm somehow proud of myself :) 

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  • Like 2

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

I know I'm spamming here, but...

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  • Like 2

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

Done and done! Now the bike is fully road-worthy.

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And here finished with ROMET logo. Romet was Polish bike/motorcycle maker years ago... now it is a company that imports Chinese machines and rebrands them. Also saddlebags I made from military pouches/utility bags from the '80s :D 

IMG_20210520_182910.thumb.jpg.99ea82daed5a71360dbf4f012a3e5ac0.jpg

  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

Half a year later, I have passed my driver's license test and now I own a '94 Honda CB500 twin. 

That being said, I haven't abandon my small cafe racer. The plan is, my wife will learn to ride so we can have some two-wheeled trips together.

 

BUT

 

From my experience, sporty position on a bike isn't good for learning. Messed center of gravity, too much weight supported by hands etc. Upright, relaxed position is way better - at least in the beginning. 

So, I have "scramblerized" my little cafe. Not much have been done tbh, but it changed the line and the handling drastically.

Removed bushings from front forks to regain that inch of height in the front, replaced clip-ons with original handlebars... and that's pretty much all.

 

But look at the difference!

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The best part - all changes are (this time) reversible, so if wife wants, I can make it cafe racer again. 

 

 

P.S.

Somewhere in between I added an oil cooler to help the engine in summer traffic and moved the saddlebags to the back, as they were interfering with my legs. Oh, and added extra blinkers on saddlebags, because "original" ones (tiny LED ones near shock mounts) are now covered by the bags.

  • Like 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

Link to comment

Got some bits powder coated. Headlight and rear fender brackets to be precise. 

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I'd say they look great.

 

And in whole beauty:

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The best part?

MY WIFE WANTS TO LEARN TO RIDE IT!!!

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  • Like 1
  • That's Metal 1

I absolutely CAN run on caffeine and hatred. But only with a dash of milk.

Challenges' status: 

Spoiler

Not gonna Challenge anymore for now. I took Steve's words and started thinking in days and years. Challenges are just short-term distractions. 

 

#16 | #15 (Xmas mini) |  #14 | #13 | #12 | #11 | #10 | #9 | #8 | #7 | #6 | #5 | #4 | #3 | #2 | #1

 

Other activities: Bike build

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