Another cafe racer........

[yaddy]

True enough Zooks,

I had my rims blasted by the pc guy, but i picked them up and gave the inside a good rub down and took them to a near polished finish before "roughing" them back up and taking them for coating. I wasn't aware that it was a bit "hit n miss" with the tubeless tyres, i just noticed a fair amount of pitting on the mating surfaces so i thought i'd best sort that out before the powder went on.

I checked the pressures periodically in the two weeks after having the tyres put on and eveything was fine, a slight variation in pressure but that's to be expected, no leaks though

 

[oshanac]

Zooks-I've already hunted. It seems the 50-50 rule applies and I'm trying to see if I can edge the scale in favor old "it's safe to use tubless tires on tube style rims". Is it because of the type of aluminum or because of the bead, or valve or what?

 

[DMorris]

Latest pix

Latest pix

Yaddy,

We haven't seen any more progress pictures. I'd love to see your bike in it's finished (I know they are never finished) condition.

Don

 

[Beaver]

Hey, I have just spend 40 min going through your build thread. It was inspirational. I love the amount of input you have received as well, and it has sent me off looking in places for parts for my own bike I never would have imagined. I can see something as simple as choosing a tail light isn't simple at all...

Keep up the good work!!

 

[yaddy]

I thank you for taking the time to read this thread from start to finish, and also for leaving comments too.
I have read it through a few times myself and do enjoy the feedback i've had. I actually have a printed version of this thread which sits in my "very comprehensive" build folder. That's a bit sad i know, but i like to keep records and the comments and advice i recieved all played a part in shaping the bike and getting it to this point, in what i would call a short time (for me at least!).

Finished????Lol!

I've just fabbed up a numberplate bracket and i'm waiting for a plate lamp to arrive before i can fit it. I've got a couple more pics to take of the bike with the Marshall pipe fitted, braided brake lines and indicators, all will be added at the weekend. Since as you ask though, i've a couple of pics of the plate bracket here, it's 5mm aluminium and i went to a fab shop today to ask them to bend it for me, he won't touch it cos he says it will crack at the bend point if he does! I've worked with metal for many years as a "young un", i'm actually an apprentice trained sheet metal worker so i'll figure out a way to fab a little metal former and do the job myself at the weekend. The trick with bending thick aluminium is to let it radius a little at the bend point, too tight a fold and the outside edge won't stretch properly, causing fractures. You could add heat of course.....
Then it wants polishing to a mirror finish and clearcoat for added protection.

 

[yaddy]

 

[Bribird]

Hey Yaddy, looks good buddy!! Your metal guy is...well...wrong. Set it up in the brake and only bend it like 45 max... then loosen the hold clamps and move it out a bit.. then bend another 45. You just cant take all 90 from the same spot. My old boss back in Va had a late model stock car that I helped out making fenders and the like for him out of aluminum from time to time. If he is really concerned about the thickness...he can make the 90 out of like 4 smaller bends on the brake..

Looks good man!! Keep it up!!

Cheers!!

 

[Charlie G]

Yaddy,

Really enjoy watching the progress. Keep it up.

cg

 

[landshark]

****, im gunna have to read this whole thing!ray:

 

[Zooks]

Zooks-I've already hunted. It seems the 50-50 rule applies and I'm trying to see if I can edge the scale in favor old "it's safe to use tubless tires on tube style rims". Is it because of the type of aluminum or because of the bead, or valve or what?

I'm sorry my friend but I'm losing it in the translation.

Without being rude - WTF??

 

[nvr2old]

When I took the old tires off my S to replace them with a new set of Continentals, the front wheel was tubeless and the rear had a tube. The front wheel constantly went flat. Just would not hold air. I wanted to try and go tubeless on the new set, but found I had to change the valve stem, which to get the correct one, meant drilling the hole slightly larger. Before doing that I went in search of new valve stems. Suzuki dealer first..where I found that the stock wheels are supposed to have tubes. That was good enough for me. The wheels are designed to have tubes, so I went with tubes. I do not want these babies to let go at high speed when they get good and warm, or to constantly have slow leaks..just not worth it.

 

[DMorris]

More nice clean work, Yaddy! I'll be watching for the latest pix of the whole bike.
It occured to me that part of what draws me to your bike is the relative proportions of the parts. I have been drooling over cafe bikes since the early 70's and have noticed some trends. Seems like some of the early cafe bikes I saw had larger fuel tanks than standard. Seems that if someone was going to build a solo bike anyway more space could be alloted to fuel. I remember seeing bikes and articles about bikes that had 6 and 7 gallon tanks.
While you did not expand the capacity of your tank, the extension gives that impression and I like the look and the concept. You can also see the look on some of the period race bikes from the 50', 60's and early 70's.
Any way, while objectively your build is not special in the technology you have incorporated (no usd forks or monoshock etc.) it is a very fine example of quality design work -- it has a "look". It could just as easily be mistaken for a factory special. It just looks "right". I might change a detail or two if it were mine but not much.

Props on a tight and tasty design.

Maybe I could talk you into sending me a couple of hi-res shots of the bike when it's all together.

Best, Don

P.S. I once saw an article in a hot rog mag by Lil John Buttera describing how he got a fine matt finish on his aluminum parts with WD-40 and red scotchbrite pads.

 

[yaddy]

set it up in the brake

Brake press? Hahah
Manual folder more like!
I was telling him how to adjust the blade settings so that it would have a gap between them, this would allow the alloy to bend in a radius rather than a sharp corner, I only want 62? according to my angle setter. He wouldn't let me at it though, said it would "upset" his folder, it's only set for 22 gauge at the minute so would deffo of cracked in one fold attempt. I suggested he make the fold in 3 stages but no, not having any of it. Waste of time, some people eh?..... i'll knock a simple folder up using my trolly jack, a piece of pipe for the "push" and two 50x50 angles to push against. Done it before and it works, just thought i'd go the "easy" route this time..................

Really enjoy watching the progress. Keep it up.

Thanks dude, i really enjoy making progress too.

****, im gunna have to read this whole thing!ray:

Lol, knock yourself out buddy, let me know what you think, cheers

 

[DMorris]

Yaddy,
Couldn't you get the bend and the radius using 3 1/4 inch dowels and a press?

One dowel taped to the inside of the bend and two bracketing the bend on the outside of the bend. Put the whole works in a press and squeeze.

just a thought....

Don

 

[yaddy]

while objectively your build is not special in the technology you have incorporated (no usd forks or monoshock etc.) it is a very fine example of quality design work -- it has a "look". It could just as easily be mistaken for a factory special. It just looks "right". I might change a detail or two if it were mine but not much.

Thanks again Don, valued comments indeed. Factory special eh? I wouldn't go that far but thanks all the same. Going for usd's, monoshock etc is all very cool, but not for me on this particular project. I will be considering a bobber or semi chop project next, with changed out forks etc. This build was never meant to be what it has turned into, all i wanted to do was slap some ace bars and a seat n tank on and have done with it!

Sure buddy, "proper" pics once finished is no problem. I'll trade you for some of your own project .

The whole reason for sharing the project on the forum was for inspiration and advice from others, what would you change if it were your bike? I just might like what you think and go with that instead. If i'm honest, i have a couple of things i'm not "happy" with myself.......i think that's a given with every build and they are all "working progress", heheee

 

[yaddy]

Yaddy,
Couldn't you get the bend and the radius using 3 1/4 inch dowels and a press?

One dowel taped to the inside of the bend and two bracketing the bend on the outside of the bend. Put the whole works in a press and squeeze.

just a thought....

Don

Sounds very similar to the way i intend to do it, i'll be using a trolley jack as the press.

 

[DMorris]

Yaddy, since you asked....

I would remove the thing on the front of your headlight and once I found the proper fit for your bars, I would have a set made so that the bars looked cleaner.

Like I said, pal, very minor details.

I'm just getting back into bikes but as soon as I have a project going, I will definitely share.

Best, Don

 

[yaddy]

Yaddy, since you asked....

I would remove the thing on the front of your headlight and once I found the proper fit for your bars, I would have a set made so that the bars looked cleaner.

Lol! I've been trying to find an 8 or even 9 inch headlight for the last six weeks and as for bars, i bought a brand new set of "clubmans" but they won't fit without bashing into the clocks so i removed them. I think they are actually "junior clubmans" or something, not very wide at all. Might have to scrap them and find another set or as you say, make some myself perhaps....

So if anyone wants a set of brand new clubman type bars that won't fit a standard set of clocks, i'll trade for a front lighthouse!


Edit:
Just thought, the reason they don't fit could be because i dropped my clocks down on the yokes?

 

[DMorris]

Yaddy,

There are a couple of bike breakers near me. I'll give them a check if you'd like...

Don

 

[yaddy]

Yaddy,

There are a couple of bike breakers near me. I'll give them a check if you'd like...

Don

That would be cool buddy, thanks in advance for any help you can give with this, much appreciated.