first real customer for bike build of old school hardtail bobber.

[Rasputin]

I know you put a lot of hard work into this bike and you also had restraints from your customer.
Take everything I say with a grain of salt simply cause you should. I do not particularily care for the way the tractor or dirt bike style tires, many do just not me.
I also think the right front fork looks totally out of place with the brake attachments or whatever in place. A quick grind and polish would have knocked them off and look much better.
The battery looks like it was an after thought rather than being essential to the bike. Oh yeah and just seeing header wrap makes me cringe.
I am not yet certain if I like the tank or not, something is bugging me about the way it follows the frame but does not work with the engine.
I do like the way you have made the fuel level work and that is pretty cool.
As I say it is just not my style but many will Love it. Nice job that you are able to do all that you have shown and please do not take my criticisms the wrong way. I am jealous of your abilities.
When it is painted etc it may change how it looks as anyone who watches a chopper build show will know. The final product is yet to be seen.
Congrats on getting it done.

[Nightengale]

been busy

so i have been busy with work and finally got to finish the bike. the paint job is just primer black, the owner is going to paint it himself. but here is is my creation. i will post more pics once he paints it.



what do you guys think?

[mikubuilder]

cool build, as I'm a part time welder/fabricator I enjoy looking at other people's projects...that sissy bar calls for some monster ape hangers IMHO

[fredintoon]

I did use cardboard when I built my bike, and started a fire. So now I use the welding blanket.

Hi Nightengale,
um, damp cardboard?
OTOH, it's amazing what'll catch fire that you'd think wouldn't.
Steel wool for instance. Had me a great fiery tapdance on that one.
These days I'm real careful to sweep up all around before I switch on Mr. Sparky.
BTW, scary tale:- Ed Olson had no feeling in his legs after he got sick but insisted helping out around the shop.
Had to quit welding after he set his boots on fire and didn't notice.
Only minor burns but still, not a good thing.

[crazy steve]

I did use cardboard when I built my bike, and started a fire. So now I use the welding blanket.

Yeah, don't put carpet on your garage floor either... my oldest kid almost burned down his house....

[Nightengale]

cardboard

I did use cardboard when I built my bike, and started a fire. So now I use the welding blanket.

[Nightengale]

Harbor Freight

Hi Nightingale,
it's that my son had just paid an appalling amount of money for a piece of glass cloth hardly big enough to make a real man a shirt and I'm, well, I'd say frugal but my wife says cheapskate.
Thus to see what appeared to be ~$100 worth of glass cloth used as a disposable debris shield came as a shock to me.
But to own a genuine welding blanket rather than using old cardboard? Ooh, that's posh!

I'm the same way too, I got the welding blanket. From Harbor Freight for under $10.

[fredintoon]

that is my welding blanket it is being used to cover the bike up when i am welding to protect the rest of the bike.

Hi Nightingale,
it's that my son had just paid an appalling amount of money for a piece of glass cloth hardly big enough to make a real man a shirt and I'm, well, I'd say frugal but my wife says cheapskate.
Thus to see what appeared to be ~$100 worth of glass cloth used as a disposable debris shield came as a shock to me.
But to own a genuine welding blanket rather than using old cardboard? Ooh, that's posh!

[Nightengale]

Hi Nightengale,
nice job. The latest photos prompt me to ask, what are you using for a dust sheet?
several of the photos show you using what seems to be Fiberglass cloth for that purpose.
Do you know how expensive that stuff is these days? And how little debris it takes to make it unusable?

that is my welding blanket it is being used to cover the bike up when i am welding to protect the rest of the bike.

[fredintoon]

worked on the sissy bar today - - - almost there just a few more things to button up and she will be ready for paint then the road.

Hi Nightengale,
nice job. The latest photos prompt me to ask, what are you using for a dust sheet?
several of the photos show you using what seems to be Fiberglass cloth for that purpose.
Do you know how expensive that stuff is these days? And how little debris it takes to make it unusable?

[Nightengale]

sissy bar

worked on the sissy bar today had to take the one that my customer bought and make it work on the bike. first i had to cut the sissy bar at the point where it would fasten to the fender and weld on a piece of 1/2inch bar to be able to run a bolt through to attach to the fender. i then attached a length of square stock with a coupling nut to the bottom so that i could attach the sissy bar to the frame. i used a coupling nut at the base so that i could bolt it from the tire side, so as to give myself enough clearance at the sprocket. here is a pic of it attached but not bolted in, i still need to drill the holes in the fender, also i will cut the fender back a little so that it just sticks out past the sissy bar only a few inches. here is how it looks so far.




almost there just a few more things to button up and she will be ready for paint then the road.

[motoman]

Mostly thinking out loud but did you put any rubber type material on the bottom of the battery box or fit any to the top clamp to help dampen vibration? That will extend battery life on a bike a lot.

A big +! on that Rasputin! Something commonly overlooked with lead acid batteries. Added vibration flakes off the zinc plates building up in battery bottom till material level reaches plates, and results in shorted cells. This is a normal occurrance, but reducing that WILL extend battery life. My Honda ST's Exite battery is on its eighth year, and the XS's Interstate battery was replaced with new Interstate two years ago after 7+ years. Although it still load tested at reccomended load test specs, murphy's law says it would be fine............unless two hundred miles from no-where! BTW, no battery tenders allowed in this man-cave!.......just sayin'.

[daveyg]

Great progress! I love wild builds like this!

[Nightengale]

not yet

Mostly thinking out loud but did you put any rubber type material on the bottom of the battery box or fit any to the top clamp to help dampen vibration? That will extend battery life on a bike a lot.

its not on there now but when i built it i left room to put rubber on the bottom and top just for that reason. i know from my bike that with the hardtail you really need it.

[Nightengale]

good news

just got some really good news today from my buddy that i am building this bike for. he has been showing all of the update pics that i have been sending him (he is out of the country right now), to all of his friends. and one of his friends wants me to build him a bike as soon as i finish this one.