Topic: Custom Frame

[sohc4]

+1, Rob!  A direct and stiff connection between steering head and swingarm pivot is the key to a good frame concept.

Too bad Eckert only made a few...

Best season's greetings!

Axl

[Matt Hubbell]

 Maxacceleration , can I ask where you found the swing arm and what wast the price? Thanks

[DollarBill]

There are replicas here: http://www.ohiocaferacers.com/partsexp1.html for $1100

[Matt Hubbell]

Wow, those are nice, but out of my range.

[simon#42]

http://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/index.php   offered me the same bimota replica arm last week for £500  , the way the pound is to the dollar it may be worth a look

[kayaker43]

I love this thread,... I have toyed with making frames as well but found through several other attempts at manufacturing that people  want to buy craftsmanship at mass produced prices. Anyone thinking of selling a decent frame for $1000-1500 is insane. Sadly that $1100 swingarm is pretty realistic for what you need to pay for a hand bulit part. There's always someone willing to work for slave wages doing something fun for a while, but it gets old fast. Anyone with real skills doesn't need to work for minimum wage and won't do it for long.

A decent cafe/race frame is far different than a chopper frame made from a few pieces of thick walled tubing. Putting costs aside everyone has a different vision of the perfect frame. I think simplicity is the key, whether its a trellis or spine frame. Connect the critical points with straight load paths when possible. Definitely offer it in bare steel and let the customer paint/powdercoat or plate it.

Another big issue is whether to make it vintage inspired with modern geometry, suspension and brakes, or accurate with all the period flaws? I love these old pictures, but its funny how each frame has some feature I like and something I hate??

[goon 1492]

In most places you cant legally put numbers on another frame,
unlees..
 the state allows this, AND orignal frame is handed in and destroyed..

But seeing as you have already mass produced frames, you should be able to supply Manufacturers Statement of Origin.

A guy I worked with(got laid off ) has a brother here in kc that builds bikes hardcore customs I think is the name and he build his bike from scratch. He stated that when building a frame you can get it titled BUT you have to keep track of every reciept and it all has to be laid our for visual inspection by the highway patrol when you go to get it titled.

Hope this helped, but like 754 said your mass producing so that base is probably covered already.....

[754]

That is usually how it works, you have to prove that you own the parts before they assign registration.

Putting stock numbers on a custom frame wont go very far with a officer that Knows Honda, never made anything like it. I think there are more than a few that know what a CB 750 looks like..

[kayaker43]

Here's another good book on custom frames http://www.powells.com/biblio/4-9781845841300-0

[simon#42]

not sure if anyone has mentioned this book but its the best i have ever seen on the subject , by a long way
http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Motorcycle-Technical-Guide-Constructors/dp/0951292927
this one is mostly theory , the second one is more practical , even i managed to build a few frames after reading these [ about a 100 times ]

[voxonda]

not sure if anyone has mentioned this book but its the best i have ever seen on the subject , by a long way
http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Motorcycle-Technical-Guide-Constructors/dp/0951292927
this one is mostly theory , the second one is more practical , even i managed to build a few frames after reading these [ about a 100 times ]

Hi #42,

That is very interesting, do you perhaps have any pic's of your frames?

Cheers, Rob

[simon#42]

i built 5 of these to replace the ones i managed to destroy ! they were built for forgotten era racing in the uk and are a direct copy of the waddon frame . i have 2 of them left along with 2 originals

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[sohc4]

Speaking of books on the subject, Tony Foale also has a excellent book on chassis design: http://www.tonyfoale.com/

John Bradley's books are available here: http://www.broadlandleisure.com/howto.htm

@simon#42: Is there yet another frame I haven't listed on my site (www.satanicmechanic.org)?

Cheers,
Axl

[simon#42]

hi axl, no this isn't a honda frame that you have missed, although looking at your brilliant web site it would appear there are a few i didnt know about ! the frames i made were for the rotax tandem twin engine. and if i ever work out how to post a picture properly i will !!

[Maxacceleration]

Maxacceleration , can I ask where you found the swing arm and what wast the price? Thanks

motocicli veloci.
Some 600 Euros which worked out to less than $900 shipped to my door.
I received it faster than any american product!

[Duke McDukiedook]

So... is that Bimoto frame stronger and/or lighter than the standard 750 cradle frame?
Or is it just the cool factor working? It looks pretty cool to me 

[KB02]

So... is that Bimoto frame stronger and/or lighter than the standard 750 cradle frame?
Or is it just the cool factor working? It looks pretty cool to me 

Well, that "Cool" Factor does add at least 5mph to the top speed and at least, I think, 3 bhp. I could be slightly off on those numbers, but they're something like that anyway...   

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Here is another link to a frame builder. http://www.cycleonemanufacturing.com/. Super folks. I made a side trip to their shop in Regina, SK, Canada 2 years ago while wandering through Canada. Red has developed his soft tail frame which is what I plan on going with eventually unless someone comes up with something better/cheaper. I'm glad they are headed south of the border and will be somewhat close to my home.

[sohc4]

@simon42: Thanks for the picture - it was probably too large to be attached here. I squeezed it down a bit and attached it here. It's a nice frame - the key is a stiff connection between the steering head and the swingarm pivot, which is done very well and literally straightforward here.

Cheers,
Axl

[voxonda]

Trelis frame

??
I've got limited experience with different frames, do you have a pic you could share of a good example?
Sounds interesting though.


l8r

One of the members here owns this.

That would be me, and it is actually for sale!

[simon#42]

thanks for posting that for me axel , i should forget about bikes and learn about computers !
and voxonda thats a dirty trick tempting me with that martin !   well you might as well tell us all how much you want for it then !

[voxonda]

thanks for posting that for me axel , i should forget about bikes and learn about computers !
and voxonda thats a dirty trick tempting me with that martin !   well you might as well tell us all how much you want for it then !

Hey simon, no dirty trick just mention it. It is like on the photo, no engine. Will throw in a very nice WP shock.


If you interested, PM for price.

Cheers,

Rob

[Ricky_Racer]

If anyone is considering building custom frames, free frame jig plans are at http://64.172.168.34/neatstuff/welding-jigs-1.htm. 

And if you're gonna build frames, you might consider doing doing yourself a favor and getting a copy of The Chopper Builder's Handbook at http://64.172.168.34/neatstuff/cds-1.htm.  Lot's of helpful stuff in there.  RR

[starshiplazyboy]

It would be nice just to have someone put a stock cb550 frame together for me out of a lighter metal (chrome moly and aluminum were mentioned earlier).  I think the bike is fine the way it is, but if I could shed some weight it would make it even more fun. 

I suppose if I wanted a mono shocked swingarm etc etc I'd just buy a modern bike.  What fun is that? 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Hey von,

You looked into doing a repro of that Bimota frame? Cost?