Topic: 1972 CB750 Steampunk(ish) Bobber Thing

[Bankerdanny]

Ok, so I've started an Instagram up: https://www.instagram.com/atomic_contraptions/. Will probably take a while to populate it, but hopefully have everything there in one place over the next few weeks!

Awesome. I just added it to my followed accounts

[dave500]

don't forget your helmet has to be like one of those 1930s flying to mars movies or some #$%*?it just wouldn't look right otherwise.

[Henry McCann]

I know you're headed in a different direction now, and others really didn't like it, but it surprised me how much I liked the cream color on the bike.

Isabel and now Douglas put any other steam punk type motorcycles to shame. Superb work!

[Henry McCann]

Thanks calj737!

[Noddy78]

Heh, thanks guys! To be honest I really quite like the cream colour too, so it's not off the table yet. Otherwise no other major updates, got the cables all sorted, hopefully the electrics in the next few weeks, but still doing battle with the goddam motherf#$king tank...

[Noddy78]

Hokey Doke. Been a long time between drinks, but I have actually been quite busy. All the control cables are made and actually work! And I'm on the home stretch on the wiring now (not that it looks like it):





But most of my time has been spent trying to make the f$#king petrol tank. Turns out my old MIG set up just wasn't up to the task (neither was I really) so I had to get myself a new TIG for Xmas. It's been a long process of trial and error but I'm slowly getting there (will post up the first attempt when I actually get the final one completed). Goddam sheet metal is a cantankerous beast though! But, think I'm making some headway:









Now I'm getting to the bit where it's all got to be stuck together... fingers crossed on that one...

[Noddy78]

Where’s the finished welds before grinding them flat? 

Haha.. no one wants to see those...

A little help for you with your new TIG: even when tacking, run Argon over the tack as a postflow for several seconds. It will keep the tacks shiny and clean, reduce the heat affected zone in the metal (haz) and reduce distortion in the metal. Those blue rings around each tack will go away with proper postflow. If you use larger than a #5 cup, use a gas lens. #5 or smaller, a standard collet body works perfectly.

Thanks Cal. I have got the postflow set at 2 seconds. Maybe I've got the wrong cup and collet set up? I'm using a #7 with the standard collet.

[Noddy78]

So armed with my new gas lens and more postflow....





Not the best TIG brazing in the world, but I'm going with 'rustic'... Also I think the wiring loom looks great, probably just leave it like that...

[tshrey]

Holy #$%*!

[Stev-o]

A work of art!   It almost doesnt look real....absolutely incredible workmanship.

What do you lack to fire it up?

[Bankerdanny]

Not the best TIG brazing in the world, but I'm going with 'rustic'... Also I think the wiring loom looks great, probably just leave it like that...

Ooh, look at the pretty colors, just like a rainbow.   

[Noddy78]

What do you lack to fire it up?

Hmm... courage.. hope? Nah, mostly finishing electrics. But I'll be pulling it all down again so I can finish off the fabrication and get the powder-coating done. Once it's all back together and buttoned-up properly I'll actually try firing it up!

So apart from that, it's pretty much all there:










Also photoshopped a couple of colour options, but I think in the end I'll keep the tins raw and maybe patina them a bit, give it a bit of character. I think the white is just a bit too OTT?

[scunny]

Yep, raw looks better IMHO

[Stev-o]

Yep, raw looks better IMHO

+1

[Noddy78]

Agreed. Bare metal it is.

[kerryb]

Awesome accomplishment!  Truly inspiring.  And thank you to you and calj, I just got back from welding supply with silicon bronze filler to try it out with the new gas lens setup.  I love the look of your project.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Just like the Old Dirty Bastard said, "I like it raw!"

[nvr2old]

It looks cool all raw, and this bike is so beyond the skills of mere mortals to be sure..but..I can't..not..throw in my opinion to finish it off in the way it deserves..please paint the body parts.  No bike of the era it represents would be left bare metal.  Think of all those great looking steam locomotives and how beautifully they were all painted and festooned.  Left raw they would look terrible.  Not that I'm saying that about this..it's beautiful.  Maybe something subtle like this 2-tone..

knucklehead-engine-hardtail-mooneyes-japan-1200x801 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

[Stev-o]

It looks cool all raw, and this bike is so beyond the skills of mere mortals to be sure..but..I can't..not..throw in my opinion to finish it off in the way it deserves..please paint the body parts.  No bike of the era it represents would be left bare metal.  Think of all those great looking steam locomotives and how beautifully they were all painted and festooned.

You left out you are a painter, of course you would paint it!

Most locomotives stay out in the weather 24/7, I doubt this bike will. Apples/oranges.

[Henry McCann]

I still like the white, not white but a cream color. I'll join the chorus, wonderful work!

[dusterdude]

It looks cool all raw, and this bike is so beyond the skills of mere mortals to be sure..but..I can't..not..throw in my opinion to finish it off in the way it deserves..please paint the body parts.  No bike of the era it represents would be left bare metal.  Think of all those great looking steam locomotives and how beautifully they were all painted and festooned.  Left raw they would look terrible.  Not that I'm saying that about this..it's beautiful.  Maybe something subtle like this 2-tone..

knucklehead-engine-hardtail-mooneyes-japan-1200x801 by Larry Pearson, on Flickr

Badass knuckle

Sent from my LG-US601 using Tapatalk

[Noddy78]

Thanks for all the kind words folks. I love that Harley, and it does look fantastic, but I think I'm set on the raw finish. I'm not going for any kind of 'period-correct' style or anything, just 'inspired-by'. I'm thinking of trying to get the body work to match the steel on the headlight:



Though that light is probably 100 years old, so not sure how successful I'll be. I will clear coat it all when done, so it'll hopefully hold up to some weather. The headlight is currently clear coated with Penetrol, but it's too glossy ATM, so I'll be doing some experiments while the frame is off being powdercoated, both for patina and for clear coat, and see what I can come up with. Current thought is a few coats of Penetrol for protection, then go over with a matt/satin polyurethane to kill the gloss off.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I think the Steampunk look is more about bare metal than painted surfaces.

[nvr2old]

It looks cool all raw, and this bike is so beyond the skills of mere mortals to be sure..but..I can't..not..throw in my opinion to finish it off in the way it deserves..please paint the body parts.  No bike of the era it represents would be left bare metal.  Think of all those great looking steam locomotives and how beautifully they were all painted and festooned.

You left out you are a painter, of course you would paint it!

Most locomotives stay out in the weather 24/7, I doubt this bike will. Apples/oranges.

I am indeed a painter, so yes, I would paint it.  Just because the steam locomotives stayed out in the weather 24/7 doesn't negate the fact they were painted beautifully as were all the passenger cars they pulled.  Think Orient Express.  I also look back on all those early 20th century Indians, Harleys, and other brands that had great colors on them adorned with hand painted pin-stripes and maybe some gold leaf.  To me, the paint would compliment the copper and brass parts and make it stand out even more  I love this bike, maybe one of my favorites of all that have been featured on this site.  The amount of work and attention to detail is astounding.  This gentleman is entitled to do what he wants and it will be loved by all who see it..either way.

[Noddy78]

There's light at the end of the tunnel!