THE END!! Last VOSA test

Well its all over.... i finally got my MOT, no more tests for 3 years... YIPEEEE!

Check out the mufflers I borrowed to get it through the noice test!!! .... nearly time to hit the open road!

Time to put her back to her original spec!

Cool as! not..... strange country we live in... the Yanks must be laughing thier heads off!

I probably wont be posting to much more on my blog about my bike now shes finished, but all you guys building Lo Boys feel free to post, email me anytime and I will add to the site..... Who knows it might be time to build something else in 6 months time... arrivederci

My Sporty

Here are some better pics of my Ironhead up for sale and going on Ebay shortly.....

Harley Davidson WLA 1945

I would love a go on this!!

Different Regs in the States!!

Moe in South Carolina says............Just a few updates.... got everything titled (without horn, turn signal, speedo and loud drag pipes) no inspections in SC! Added a white strip to the rear finder. What do you think, not sure if I want to add anything to the tank? By the way I went and got an eight inch rear fender over the six incer that came with the kit. My daughter doesn't like me to fire it up "its to loud". Yours is looking very sexy keep up the good work and be safe people on bikes are invisible to others in cars it would seem!

Hey bud its nick again finally figured out a color scheme gonna go lime green and and white with those white walls... let me know what u think? how much did u pay for ur paint if u dont mind me asking..thanks again Nick

My Ironheads for Sale £3000

Well ive got my Sportster back and have deceided to sell it and use the money for another project.

Anyone whos interested drop me an email. I will take £3000.

The engines been completeley rebuilt by Hawg Haven in Norwich...... so she will need running in.

Just to give you an idea, they have rebuilt all the bottom end (and fitted) and overhauled i.e: Oil pump, gear box, re shimmed the cams. Replacing all the necessary seals, retaining clips etc....

 

The top end: Honed the bores for piston clearance and gapped the rings. They also replaced valve guides and rocker seals etc... plus reseating exhaust and inlet valves. A new battery, front tyre and some electrics too.

 

Shes a kick start and sounds lovely... cant beat the sound of the ironhead engine. (1000cc).

 

Shes has a new MOT, and is taxed for 6 months. Cost £120 to insure for 12 months.. plus cheap Tax.

 

The bikes very original and very clean for a 1970, but, it would also make a fantastic doner bike for a bobber.

 

 

I always fancied hard tailing the bike and going for this Street Bobber look!

 



Taken last summer before the engine re-build



Think id change the colour if i kept it.



When it was in California



 



Complete engine rebuild.... dont ask how much!!



 

VOSA test 2

I have carried out most of the failure items picked up by VOSA. I have now mounted the tail light on the back mud guard along with the indicators.... ive also mounted a parking light on the front. My Ironhead Sportsters back next week so i will borrow the mirrors off that to get it through the test. The exhaust noice im still working on.!!!!!!

I had to remove the sissy bar to work the indicators... but it will be going back on!

Small 12 Volt parking light.... dont think ill ever use it!

Moes Bike

Moe in South Carolina has finished his Bike and it looks Fantastic.

VOSA test day

I took the bike down to the VOSA test station in Norwich yesterday and as suspected she failed on a number of items:

First was the exhaust noise, im going to have to fit bigger baffles to get round this one... i think 99 decibels is the max and i was up to 120!!

Next was my new mirrors! They are to small so I will buy a Harley set.. they have to contain a 78mm disc.

Next was the rear indicators, they have to be within 300mm of the back wheel.. i can fix this easily for the retest.

Next was the side mount tail light and number plate holder... they don’t like anything that sticks out!.. this will have to be refitted to the rear fender for my return.

O yes ...last was a white parking light (don’t ask me why...) its an easy fix, i will buy a small white light and micro switch and mount it under the front forks. Strange because i dont plan on leaving the bike outside in the dark with a light on!!

Anyway, that was it… the guy who did the test was a good chap... he was happy with the design and the construction, breaks, speedo, horn, headlamp, emissions etc and the bike ran really well on the day. The test took about an hour and you have to go on a roller for the break and speedo test. Overall not to bad, I now know what to fix before a retest probably in about a month.

Mirrors

I found a cool pair of mirrors for my bike off Ebay. Ive booked in my SVA (single vehicle approval scheme) MOT test at VOSA in Norwich for next Wednesday. They have told me to bring a full tank of petrol and my crash helmet. ( ill take the bike down in the back of the horse box).

Ive got a feeling they might fail my rear indicators (to far forward) exhaust noise!! (ive got my baffles in). Rear number plate (its a USA type) .... we will see!

Lo Boy

LoBoy Bobber Blog Complete Motorcycle Bike Kit

LoBoy Bobber Blog Complete Motorcycle Bike Kit

Jets!

The bike wasn't running perfectly....... so after reading the S&S manual I decided to change the intermediate jet in the carburettor. Its worth remembering they fit theses carbs as boxed to different sized engines so you should always check the jets sizes. Shes now purring like a kitten... and starts on the button.

LoBoy Bobber Blog Complete Motorcycle Bike Kit

Dans Lo Boy looks fantastic!

Dans bike in Canada is starting to look so cool... love the white timing cover.

Love the seat and the grips... and this Lo Boy has the bigger motor, gulp!!

Love it!!

Tuning Tips

My bikes still not ticking over quite right so i thought id check the jets in the carb today. Recommended jet sizes are 32 intermediate and a 74 main. My main was correct but for some reason i had a 0295 intermediate fitted so i have changed this. Hopefully this will stop the popping and backfiring through the air cleaner. I will run her up outside on the next dry day and report back.......



Intermediate jet



Painting the 'Tins' on Dans Lo Boy

Dan says:.......... Mitch at JusCuzCustoms working on the tank. http://juscuzcustoms.com/

Painted the timing cover white with old no 7 logo on it, to go with my black and white theme.

Thanks Steve for the info on the oil pressure gauge. I decided to use an oil pressure sensor to feed my Dakota digital 3016 gauge. It has a low pressure input that illuminates a light on low pressure. To help monitor the engine I decided to add another small bar mount gauge with a cylinder head temp reading.............

WATCH THIS SPACE............ this bikes going to look awesome!!

Dans Lo Boy in Canada

Dan Says............

 

I’m a big fan of that oil pressure gauge. Any details on how you mounted/installed that there? It looks like you have different heads than I do… probably because I went with the 127”, but I thought the heads would be the same. My rockers have a square hole instead of a round one.

Johnsons Lo Boy bike in New Zealand

LoBoy Bobber Blog Complete Motorcycle Bike Kit



The Start




Beautifull




Apes........ naaaaa!!




Look good in black



Vinces bike

Vince has almost done with the big stuff, then it's on to the wiring and little odds and ends!

My Bike.....outside for the first time.

LoBoy Bobber Blog Complete Motorcycle Bike Kit

Vinces Loboy

How are you going to get in the door Vince!!!

Vinces frame back from the powdercoater, ready for reassembly........ in the kitchen

Fire Her Up

I managed to get Frankie just to quickly film me running her for the first time. She ran great.....(apart from me remembering how to change gear!!). Theres so much more power than my Ironhead Sporty, you have to seriously hang on when you blip the throttle. The riding postions fine, and your so busy trying to stay on, you forget about the sprung forks and the solo seat!!

Tony came round tonight, and we decided to try and start the bike! We filled the fuel tank, bled the fuel through the carb and re-checked the timing. She fired up almost straight away. Everything seems to be fine......... apart from next door banging on the wall!!

The carb still needs setting... i will wait till i have a few miles on the bike, let the engine bed in, and there’s a few oil leaks to rectify.

I will wait for a dry day now and get her out the front of the house on the road, set the carb and check the clutch and the gears are working properly. Sounds amazing ####......... Loud as hell (new it would be).

I will document the trip to the test station next.

Time to get her off the bench!

Tony gave me a hand getting the bike off the bench yesterday, it wasnt to difficult with the two of us, a small bench and a car ramp. The bike looks great now its on the ground..... really low. Ive just got some small jobs to finish now, tidy wiring, bleed brakes, couple of oil leaks etc. Should be able to try and fire her up in a few days time.