Great weekend

Just had an awesome 3 day weekend, downhill biking all day Friday with an uplift, at Antur Stiniog in North Wales with a great bunch of mates.
And today I had a great ride out to the Back Street Hero's custom show at Doington Race circuit. 2 hrs there and back through the peaks in some lovely weather, wearing my old leather and jeans, not a waterproof textile (that I seem to have to have to wear to and from work all week) in sight glorious, although I did have a numb bum by the time I got home. Think the foam in my 1200 bandit seat is past its best at 13 years old.

The show was OK but not worth the £14 entry I felt. I know these things dont put themselves together but still I felt it was a bit steep.

Anyway, here's some pics.

The latest incarnation of Chris Ireland's Indian that was on the BBC documentary "Speed dreams" (its on youtube go watch it if you haven't seen it) the only thing that's off the original bike is the engine which has now been supercharged. He's taking it back out to Bonneville in 2014.

Destiny cycles, pure art.

This is a 125cc Harley. Lucifer customs. I loved this little bike.

520 KTM engined bobber, different and nice.

Lovely royal Enfield, would have loved to take this home.

Krazy horse customs

Krazy horse customs

Krazy horse customs

Well derserved prize winner with a beer barrel side car.

Hard up choppers cafe racer - well nice.

Lamb engineering - pure art work this one.

Hope mine turns out this nice

One of the new V twin JAP engines that Lamb Engineering have helped develop.

American Experiances

A little slice of history

I've bought a little slice of history, as a die hard mountain biker this was an ebay find I couldn't let slip'

Very clean and almost 100% original Muddy Fox Courier circa early to mid 80's, I cant believe the condition its in, so well looked after and as far as I can make out, never been offroad, hence the original chainset,

Obviously the lights, mud guards, seat pack, pump and possibly the slicks will be going.

Quiet but not idle

So there's been a bit of a break since the last post, but  I've not been idle. I've kept up my Tuesday night project night and have been hard at work mocking up the rear sub frame.

Its taken a while and a few attempts and lots of measuring and a scale drawing here and there at critical points.

Basically I've been trying to determine the size and shape of the rear seat rails to keep everything as small and compact as possible yet make sure the sizes are right so I can fit the battery/cdi/fusebox behind the seat and mount twin shocks.

I also had to see what it would actually look like.

This is the first mock up of the seat hump once I was happy with the shape of the board replicating the seat rails.

I didn't like this, the seat hump looked far too big and out of proportion, so I made the change below, the idea being that the hump will sit inside the rear hoop. It looks a bit wierd but I'm hoping that with round tubing making the rear hoop it'll look fine, that and the fact that the hump wont be made out of duct tape.

Bit of progress

Managed to get a bit done over the bank holiday weekend, the tubing hasn't appeared yet due to technological cock up, I sent a text which definitely sent and definitely didn't arrive.
First up was helping Craig D get the engine out of his Vento, it took longer than planned but we won in the end, RESULT.
Next up was starting to make a new rear Light/indicator/number plate bracket for the new monkey light, I'd already done some prep and had a card template cut out with some markings on for sizes and where to drill holes to fit the light. The indicators haven't arrived yet so completion will have to wait until then, its easier to drill holes in a flat plate.

Finally got the tank pretty much finished 

 Unwanted side tabs chopped off 

 Original tap mounting point chopped of and patch welded in 

Braised over the patched area once I'd ground it back just to make sure it was all properly sealed, then braised on a strengthening plate for re mounting the tap tube that I've re attached with braise again.




















Tunnel heated and beaten to get rid of the cable recess so it will sit low enough on the frame





















Also made up a little wooden stand to lift the bike up off the ground and its on a little dolly so it can be moved about easily. Front wheel is off and all the fork bolts loosened ready for removing from the bike so I can do the fork seals.