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| Perfection |
Monday 30 August 2010
Sunday 29 August 2010
Engine Check /Dry Build/ Mock up
Lo Boy
I have sent the oil tank off to be nickel plated today. I thought it would look different and a bit more classy than the usual paint job. Have fitted the motor just to make sure there’s no hitches later when I install it permanently on the freshly painted frame. I had to remove the heads to get it into the frame. (god its heavy!). I was missing some fender fastenings and spacers too, so these are being sent from Southern Motorcycles, Ive also decided to fit a rear fender support (round bar) this will give an ‘old school’ look, and I will also get this plated. It will give more support if I decide to fit a pillion pad and get Fran on the back!
Have Ebayed my tank bib. Its black stitched leather (will run around the fuel filler and down the tank) to match the seat. A tank bib is basically a protector to stop scratches, but most of all I think they look cool. Ive also located some tyre valve caps with the Harley logo.
I have sent the oil tank off to be nickel plated today. I thought it would look different and a bit more classy than the usual paint job. Have fitted the motor just to make sure there’s no hitches later when I install it permanently on the freshly painted frame. I had to remove the heads to get it into the frame. (god its heavy!). I was missing some fender fastenings and spacers too, so these are being sent from Southern Motorcycles, Ive also decided to fit a rear fender support (round bar) this will give an ‘old school’ look, and I will also get this plated. It will give more support if I decide to fit a pillion pad and get Fran on the back!
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| Started bolting a few bits on the Tranny |
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| Got the engine in ( temporary)......so I can start mocking up the rear end |
Have Ebayed my tank bib. Its black stitched leather (will run around the fuel filler and down the tank) to match the seat. A tank bib is basically a protector to stop scratches, but most of all I think they look cool. Ive also located some tyre valve caps with the Harley logo.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Some Welding Required!
Lo Boy
The bikes nicely secured on the bench now, and some padded chocks help with security. Tony is dropping off the welder so Ive set up the fuel tank brackets and also the solo seat tabs to be welded on. (see pics). Have finally decided (after 2 months!) on colours, (see pic of Harley Rocker below). Going for an 'Aqua blue' frame and tins, with some 'off white' ghosted flame details (hardly noticeable) and some other pinstrip decors around the tank, badge, and back fender. A black leather / stiched tank bib (ebay!) will be also added to match the seat. Its a new bike, and these colours are more modern and make a change from the black or red bobbers usually seen with black powder coated frames.
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Set Up!
Lo Boy
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| Fran... pedals missing!! |
Have sorted out all the parts.... fitted the tyres on the wheels...just missing the Speedo, they are going to send this tomorrow....started setting up the bikes standing positions tonight, I have to also weld on some solo seat brackets and two steel lugs for the tank brackets, and will then send the frame off to be powder coated.
The Parts Arrive From The States
Lo Boy
Today was the big day when the parts arrived from SMW Inc. The goods showed up at lunch time. All of the parts arrived on two pallets, and the packaging was excellent. Everything was secure in the boxes. The unpacking started in the garden with the help from Fran. We had everything out of the boxes and on the bench in a few hours. We both marveled at the massive amounts of parts and pieces. Gulp!!..........
Today was the big day when the parts arrived from SMW Inc. The goods showed up at lunch time. All of the parts arrived on two pallets, and the packaging was excellent. Everything was secure in the boxes. The unpacking started in the garden with the help from Fran. We had everything out of the boxes and on the bench in a few hours. We both marveled at the massive amounts of parts and pieces. Gulp!!..........
Monday 23 August 2010
Building a Bobber on a budget
Lo Boy
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| Got this book in the shed...full of great ideas.. |
This book is what us Teknikka guys are all about. Turning the bike that you have been considering for a couple years into a rumbling reality. In “How To Build A Budget Bobber”, Jose de Miguel of Caribbean Custom Cycles shows us some of the best practices to get your vision on the road for a reasonable price in a reasonable amount of time. Chapter after chapter he comes through to slap you out of your daydreaming of building a bike out of unobtainium and pushing you to get close enough and on the road. After all, what good is a pile of expensive parts sitting in a garage on that perfect spring day? You would be better off mowing the lawn on that perfect day. (And what a sad statement that is!).Planning is one of the most important parts of building a custom bike, and Jose spends a significant amount of space explaining his ideas and procedures prior to turning the first bolt on a donor bike. One would assume that much of what he says is common sense, but if you look at the number of basket case projects around and what others have tried to do, you then realize that sense ain’t so common. Again, the emphasis goes to doing what is realistic: his key points are to know your budget and identify what can be used to build the bike for that budget. Do you have classic Harley desires and a mid-80’s Yamaha budget? This is the time in the project to deal with that situation. Each chapter explains, in a mentor-like style, how to approach each phase of your budget build in a realistic fashion. You are also given lots of little tips for working in the garage, things to be careful of and finding all those unique items for your ride. This really works out to a cliffs notes of 15 years experience of putting custom bikes on the road. It’s definitely worth reading through prior to your first project. Ever wonder where do all those cool looking knobs on jockey shifters come from? They don’t come from Custom Chrome or the Harley dealership. You’ll have to read the book to find out.
1. Before You Start
2. Getting Started
3. Sheet Metal £11..Click to buy this book
4. Engine & Transmission
5. Pre-Assembly Mock Up
6. Disassembly
7. Paint
8. Final Assembly
9. Ready to Start
The Bench........
Lo Boy
Given the option to buy a standard motorcycle bench for about £250, I decided to go the more economical route and build a bench (out of timber) that would suit my needs. I probably have £50 in the bench. This means I can use it as a heavy duty garage bench in the future, or Fran can use it up the horse paddocks. Homemade bench, got to be the way to go.......hmmm not a tough decision. As you can see im building the bike in my front room!
Given the option to buy a standard motorcycle bench for about £250, I decided to go the more economical route and build a bench (out of timber) that would suit my needs. I probably have £50 in the bench. This means I can use it as a heavy duty garage bench in the future, or Fran can use it up the horse paddocks. Homemade bench, got to be the way to go.......hmmm not a tough decision. As you can see im building the bike in my front room!
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| Hmmm nice ...... Bobber !!! |
Saturday 21 August 2010
The Kits arrived in the Uk!!
Lo Boy
Had the phone call from Fed Ex today, the kits arrived in Stanstead and should be delivered on Monday.
Really like the tank on this Bobber.
Had the phone call from Fed Ex today, the kits arrived in Stanstead and should be delivered on Monday.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Another cool vid!
http://www.southern-mc.com/
Take a look at this clip- and see some more of the 'Lo Boy' painted red...........still not sure what colour to paint mine!!
Lo Boy
Francesca on my Ironhead Sporty
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| This ones in bits at the moment...thought it was just piston rings!!! wrong!! |
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| Should be up and running again by the time the bobbers finished in spring (2011). |
History of the Bobber
What is a Bobber Motorcycle? 
A bobber is a motorcycle that usually has had the front fender removed and the rear fender “bobbed” or made smaller. This style of custom motorcycle took shape in the 1950s and continues to be built today. Bobbers are related to choppers in that they both represent a minimalist approach where everything is stripped from a bike that is not readily needed. This includes the characteristic rigid frame and shortened rear fender. A modern slant on this are the bobber style motorcycle kits that are becoming extremely popular. You can now combine the styling of a bobber, but with modern high tech motorcycle parts. The Lo Boy motorcycle kit is a great example of this synergy.The bobber motorcycle came before any other type of custom motorcycle that we see today. When servicemen started returning to the United States from overseas after World War II, they wanted bikes more like the European bikes they had seen. Also, the men had learned many mechanical skills that they wanted to start putting to use. The men started forming biker clubs and eventually started tearing into their bikes and removing the fenders to make them seem lighter like the European bikes. Before there were any such thing as a chopper or even a chopper bobber there was a simple bike, the bobber. These bikes became very custom and said a lot about the owner of the bike because they were the one doing the work on the bike. Usually the backyard mechanic started by taking off the fenders. As we know today the first customization of the bobber came from the average person and the WW II vets. Today there are many companies that will do the work for you and create beautiful choppers. They will also cost you more money than doing the work yourself.There is controversy over the true look of a bobber. Some say a true bobber must have small fatbobs, floorboards, a bobbed stock rear fender (usually cut at the rear fender hinge), stock exhaust, and stock handle bars—anything that is called a bobber that doesn’t follow these standards is determined to be a short chop or custom motorcycle, not a bobber. |
| The real thing! |
Wednesday 18 August 2010
About the bike
2010 SMW, Inc. OLD SCHOOL Bobber Motorcycle Bike Kit
USA MADE BOBBER STYLE FRAME WITH A TOTAL OF 30 DEGREES OF RAKE, STOCK DOWNTUBES and STOCK BACKBONE WITH A BARREL OIL TANK
CHROME +2" OVER STOCK SPRINGER FRONT END
CHROME STRETCHED HEADLIGHT
21x2.15 FRONT AND AN 16x3.5 REAR CHROME 40 SPOKE WHEELS WITH A 150 WHITE WALL AVON REAR TIRE AND 90/90/21 WHITE WALL AVON FRONT TIRE
HAWG HAULTER CHROME BRAKING SYSTEM
A NATURAL AND CHROME SMW 100" SERIES MOTOR WITH A POLISHED S&S SUPER G CARB
ULTIMA 6 SPEED TRANSMISSIONSANTEE EXHAUST SYSTEM
3" OPEN USA MADE BDL BELT DRIVE
HI TORQ. 1.5 KW CHROME STARTER
BOBBER STYLE GAS TANK WITH FLUSH MOUNT CAP
STRUTLESS REAR FENDER
DOSS REAR TAG LIGHT AND BRACKET
FACTORY MSO TITLE, BILL OF SALE, AND VIN
September 2010 The Project Begins!
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