Topic: Finally... She's a Roller!!!

[chopstar500]

Finally got my 21" front wheel shipped in today - I mounted up the tire myself (quite easy with a 21" tube type tire). Here's a few pics:







You can probably make out the rear struts that I fabbed up this past week - 1/4" thick 6061 Aluminum - polished up very nice. I'm thinking about making a few sets for any of the "chop" guys who might be interested. I integrated the license plate mount into the strut on the left side (I have some pics too). They have more than enough strength to function well as "hardtail" struts. I modeled them after the fender struts that Flyrite Choppers uses on all of their bikes.

Overall I am VERY happy with the bike thusfar. The 21" up front really captured the look that I was hoping for. BTW - the pics were taken in the finished lower level of my house - it's not my bedroom - believe me, my financee would have my balls if that were the case. I've been doing all of my work in an unfinished section - it sure is nice to be able to work on a bike indoors during these $h&thole Michigan winters!!!

More coming soon...

[kghost]

Lookin good! 

[Sam Green Racing]

I can see this creation being a candidate for BOTM in the not to distant future.

Sam.

[sbc1320]

Lookin good, keep us updated.

[chopstar500]

I can see this creation being a candidate for BOTM in the not to distant future.

Sam.

Wow Sam! That is quite a compliment! God knows I have busted my ass on this bike. Thanks alot.

[Burke]

That looks great!

Is....that in your house ?

Your Single, aren't cha?

[mattcb350f]

Amazing attention to detail chopstar, and nice polish work 

...I'd put a coaster under that sidestand though 

 Matt.

[greenjeans]

More pics please.

Very very good stance on that...can't wai to see how this finishes up

[rbmgf7]

lovin the skinny up front and the phatty in the rear 

[eurban]

Looking very nice. . . . . Please forgive this one criticism but do you think that 1/4" aluminum bent and drilled as you have it is suitably strong for a rear strut? I certainly could be wrong but my instinct is that they might not be up to the task for what will be a pretty heavily stressed part that you would not want to fail. 

[jevfro]

Looking very nice. . . . . Please forgive this one criticism but do you think that 1/4" aluminum bent and drilled as you have it is suitably strong for a rear strut? I certainly could be wrong but my instinct is that they might not be up to the task for what will be a pretty heavily stressed part that you would not want to fail. 

+1

Looking slick!
Keep up the good work...  Is there something else holding up that swingarm?

[Ichiban 4]

Just wanted to add my compliments on the build you're doing..beautiful (from what I can tell from pics).  I love your attention to detail..which as retired dentist obviously I appreciate.

For whatever reason (maybe a little nostalgia..little appreciation for engineering) I think all SOHC 4 engines look great..in whatever chassis set up their in (well almost all).  Your mill is beautiful.

Please keep us updated w/photos.

Ichi

[chopstar500]

Thanks for all of the compliments - I'll keep the build updated with pics as I progress.

As for the rear "struts" - I fabbed them in my machine shop at work with some 1.5" wide (1/4" thick) 6061 Aluminum bar stock - they are suprisingly robust and failed to yield under my bench testing (jigged up in an arbor press) - you'd be suprised by the abuse they were subjected to. I f'ed with a few different thickness, but for now I am pretty pleased with the current set-up. I mounted them with brass bushings on both top and bottom + I hope not to take any 6" deep potholes any time soon. 6061 is pretty damn strong, so we'll just have to see - I'll keep my eye (and a set of digital calipers) on them just to be certain.

Just  for the record - this bike falls somewhere between what I would call show and weeknight/weekend cruiser. I won't be running a front brake, and it will have other elements of an old skool chop - which I guess in some ways makes it slightly "unsafe" compared to some of the stock or cafe modified bikes on this site. There's lot's of details (like the struts) that I'll keep my eye on and consider changing as the usage dictates. I can't tell you for certain if it will even have blinkers and the such!

[FunJimmy]

God knows I have busted my ass on this bike. Thanks alot.

And it shows!

That is an awesome candidate for BOTM. I second it.

Cheers
FJ

[voraciousc]

Just out of curiosity, what would you ask for a pair of those struts?

[chrislib]

Very nice! I love the lines and proportions.

[LoopsAndLogic]

I never liked choppers, but I must say....WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!

It looks GORGEOUS!!!
 
 More pictures please......that's once I stop drooling

LL

[garretcb750]

excellant... your bike is looking great and i love the 21" front tire. How about some more side shots and the bike. what kinda gas tank/seat are you going to use?

[old750]

Wow what a nice looking bike! Is the frame modified? Maybe the 21" wheel gives a different stance?

[magnus72]

beautiful job

[chopstar500]

excellant... your bike is looking great and i love the 21" front tire. How about some more side shots and the bike. what kinda gas tank/seat are you going to use?

Thanks again for all of the compliments.

I plan to use a Moto Carrera Laguna Seat:





In keeping with the loosely implied "Muscle Car" theme, I plan to do the seat pad in black vinyl (or leather) with a Houndstooth center.

I'll be using the stock tank - sans the emblems (smoothed sides). I haven't modified the frame whatsoever - I really wanted to keep everything intact so the bike could easily be taken back to stock if a future owner wished to do so.

I've got some really trick ideas for the last few finishing touches (seat, tank, exhaust, lighting) that are slightly on hold until I have the $$$ to do them right.

One thing to note - I do plan to sell the bike when I am finished. I'm ready for my next project: am early CB750 with a stock/retro mod flair - I already have tons of ideas for that bike too.

[andy750]

I won't be running a front brake, and it will have other elements of an old skool chop - which I guess in some ways makes it slightly "unsafe"

Great looking bike and its going to be interesting to see how addition of the headlight and tank affect some of those beautiful lines you have created. Particularly like the wheels - very nice!

One question though and you obviously recognize it - but have you ever rode a bike with no front brake before? If you have then cool, you likely know how to handle it, but if not you might want to reconsider the lack of front brake...if 70% of braking is done by the front, you wont be going too fast on this bike....thoughts?

cheers
Andy

[goon 1492]

man it looks hot brother! BOTM I fell for those tires first thing, I like the strut bar but like you said keep an eye on it many repeated blows from bumps could do alittle movement at a time, too little to notice, I cut aluminum all day on a gantry based cnc machine and what would really pop on that strut bar is some .375 or half inch 6061 with some thing engraved in to the center of the bar. But its just an opinion that still is a sweet machine!!

[chopstar500]

One question though and you obviously recognize it - but have you ever rode a bike with no front brake before? If you have then cool, you likely know how to handle it, but if not you might want to reconsider the lack of front brake...if 70% of braking is done by the front, you wont be going too fast on this bike....thoughts?

cheers
Andy

Yes - I've run a chop without a front brake & oh yes... big diff vs. having front brake. This bike is a total bar hopper/ cruiser - so no issues here.

[garretcb750]

 I think i might have to make a set of those struts for my F. Also i have a CB500 with a turbo kit, i now know what road i'm going to take. thanks for the inspiration.