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.

[fonz]

Not that it was necessarily the smartest thing to do, but I rode my '74 with just the rear drum for 15k miles or so. Sure, there were some hairy situations, but it's doable. At least you didn't put a 12"-over springer on the front or something!
The bike looks great, though. The stance is balls-on.

[Ichiban 4]

Chopstar..

I was also thinking about lack of front brake on your build..as Andy 750 was mentioning..

My 550K rear brake is woefully inadequate by itself..for quick stops. Having the front disk..which is about twice as effective..has gotten me out of some sticky situations.

I'm also old enough to remember riding old-school choppers with no front brake.  Would have to literally lock-up the rear wheel to get it to stop in emergency situations.  Not the best in terms of safety or controllability.

Seems like if you added front disk..that was drilled (with same meticulous attention to detail you've shown thus far)..and maybe with some sort of tricked-out caliper..that could look quite #$%*'n too??

Just a thought..suggestion or two.

Ichi

[fuzzybutt]

amazing look you have there, i pop in and look at the pics of your project when i need inspiration to get off my backside and work on my 750k

[chopstar500]

New pic - kinda crappy, but you get the idea. Tank is almost finished - basecoat (silver flake) & artwork (my own original 500 FourPack logo design) are done - ready for clear. New headlight is on too!

I obviously eliminated the tank emblems and filled the indentations. Paint has been flawless thus far (fingers crossed) - I was lucky to have a near mint tank to start with.

Thoughts???

[scunny]

it still looks sleek, as others said nice stance

[Ichiban 4]

New pic - kinda crappy, but you get the idea. Tank is almost finished - basecoat (silver flake) & artwork (my own original 500 FourPack logo design) are done - ready for clear. New headlight is on too!

I obviously eliminated the tank emblems and filled the indentations. Paint has been flawless thus far (fingers crossed) - I was lucky to have a near mint tank to start with.

Thoughts???

Chopstar..

Was wondering if you've given the addition of front brake any further consideration?

Bike looks wonderful..and your one-off logos, etc. add a real nice touch!

Ichi

[andy750]

Its looking good! I think I would put some silver tank trim along the bottom of the tank...I think it would add to the bling you already have. Its kind of hard to comment on the tank logo since the pic is not so good. Im not so sure of the colour...but hey better photos will get more comments 

Its going to be interesting with the seat on it!!

good luck in finishing it up.
cheers
Andy

[mustangcar]

super cool,what size rear wheel/tire?did you buff out the entire engine case? i was thinking about doing that now that i have the engine out, keep the pics rolling,,looks super great

[chopstar500]

Rear wheel/tire is: Harley 16x3.5 rim & 140/90-16. Plenty of clearance but had to move the brake arm to the outboard mounting point on the swingarm & use a brass bushing/spacer on the brake plate (hub) end.

[greenjeans]

Too nice....lightened up you photo a bit.  Hope you don't mind.   Well done.

[Ichiban 4]

Chopstar..

Looking over your pics..threads again..just have to compliment you on your rebuild, etc.

If you ever want to sell (keep within 4 figures) let me know.
Still would like to see your post on a cool, drilled, custom "chopstar" version of front disc brake!

Ichi

[chopstar500]

Chopstar..

Looking over your pics..threads again..just have to compliment you on your rebuild, etc.

If you ever want to sell (keep within 4 figures) let me know.
Still would like to see your post on a cool, drilled, custom "chopstar" version of front disc brake!

Ichi

Hey Ichi - thanks again for the compliments. I don't know if you noticed, but I did post an update: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=33210.msg343191#msg343191

Oh yeah... I've planned on selling this bike since day one. I can never keep anything... I just enjoy doing the work. Look for it on the block early this summer - I'm hoping for the $4000 range. And possibly, you'll see a front disc up there!!!

[Ichiban 4]

Chopstar..

Looking over your pics..threads again..just have to compliment you on your rebuild, etc.

If you ever want to sell (keep within 4 figures) let me know.
Still would like to see your post on a cool, drilled, custom "chopstar" version of front disc brake!

Ichi

Hey Ichi - thanks again for the compliments. I don't know if you noticed, but I did post an update: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=33210.msg343191#msg343191

Oh yeah... I've planned on selling this bike since day one. I can never keep anything... I just enjoy doing the work. Look for it on the block early this summer - I'm hoping for the $4000 range. And possibly, you'll see a front disc up there!!!

Chopstar..

Maybe I missed it somewhere..but what's in the engine as far as mods?  Any?  I just started to thinking that with a 550 that looks that good..it should also be relatively fast. (like a 3/4 cam, ignition, etc.).

Ichi

[scunny]

putting a seat on that is going to be hard
my 2p..........how about a single saddle then finish it off with a nice old chrome fender