Another cafe racer........

[Zooks]

To attach anything fibreglass you should have a nutplate embedded deep within the glass.

Nutserts like this -

will pull out.

You need a nutplate like this -

to do the job properly. You can buy them from an engineers suppliers or make them yourself (if you can weld). I'd put a 1/4" hole in each corner (of each nutplate) so the resin can 'bite' into them and they definitely won't move around.

 

[Zooks]

Guys that do a lot of custom and vintage car work make their own nutplates and they often just tap a small piece of round bar with the required thread.

Like this -

If you have a panelbeater near you, ask them if they can help you out.




Edit: you do call them panelbeaters in the UK don't you? Not like those crazy 'mericans.

 

[yaddy]

Hey Zooks,

yeah i can weld, i'm an apprentice trained sheet metal worker but haven't done it for a while and don't have a workshop. I do have a mig, bottles and a tig though, i'll probably knock something up like those plates you showed me, that's a dead easy job and as you say, should work a treat. I have the "other" nutserts and i don't have much confidence in them lasting any length of time into fibreglass but with the plates as well, should be sound enough.


Cheers for the pics there, i was gonna go with the hook and strap method but that looks much easier to sort out and will be a better fit once done.

 

[snowbeard]

very nice work! I just saw the thread. while I like the fiberglass tank, I also like what you've done with the stocker.

a suggestion for your battery breather issue, I've heard of folk running the tube into a small vial of baking soda. neutralizes any acid that drips, and if you check it occasionally, you could simply hide that under the cowl with the battery and still not have acid down your tire, or a hose down your frame.

course you still have to route the brake lines, but it's a thought!

great job so far!

 

[Odinist]

you do call them panelbeaters in the UK don't you? Not like those crazy 'mericans.

WTF is a panelbeater?

 

[Zooks]

WTF is a panelbeater?

Can you use google?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_beater

 

[Bad Kaw]

Outstanding work! Keep on postin'!!!
-KR

 

[yaddy]

Here's a couple of pics of my tank mount. I made a plate, drilled a hole in it and welded a bolt through it, then i welded the plate to the bottom of the tank (to the original round mounting tabs), before laying three sheets of fine fibreglass mesh over everything to keep it looking smooth. The rubber mount is made from the two original rubber mountings that held the tank, i have also got two spare front rubber tank mounts which will be glued to the frame to take out any exaggerated sideways flex.

Cheers Zooks for the pointer which led me in this direction and thanks to all for the comments overall. Got some paint pics coming later too ray:

 

[yaddy]

Paint! Paint! Paint!

Paint! Paint! Paint!

Whooohoooo, another milestone passed.
It's not perfect, it does need a little cut n polish once it's fully cured but overall, i'm loving the scheme. I have some very early Suzuki tank stickers in the process of being reproduced, they didn't make it in time for the paint so i'll have to put them on top of the clear but it aint no biggie.


I didn't like the tank at first but with the extension and paint, i'm actually warming to it very quickly, thought i'd update the thread and hear your comments please? I do intend to put a glass tank on there but for now, this one will serve me well for the rest of the build process.

Thanks to all for getting me to this stage in what i consider a fairly quick time, i dismantled the bike in February and have invested most of my spare time since. Extra kudos points to Bribird who donated yet more parts! The master cylinder and clutch perch which he plastic coated and shipped over to me. And also, he suggested i should cover all my wiring and new cables with black braid, i'm on with that and love the little detail, cheers matey.

So here's the overall look, a katana / cafe / streetfighter / whatever else you want to call it.

 

[yaddy]

 

[Zooks]

Yaddy mate, I'd be more than proud to ride with you my friend. That is one horny mother f*#&er of a motorcycle. I absolutely love it. Very, very unique. :clap:

 

[Zooks]

One more tip (if I may?).

When you get the decals on, spend the extra time and effort and put a couple of coats of clear over the top of the whole lot. It will stop them from lifting and peeling and generally looking crappy in 12 months time. If you don't, the edges of the decals end up collecting little bits of dust and grit because they are sticky.

 

[yaddy]

Hey Zooks,

praise indeed my friend.
The whole objective here has always been to make something of a one-off, i just love the old cafe racers but this one's curving away from that now, i'm trying to keep the references in there, with the paint colours etc. But i think the direction the bikes going is a good one, and certainly shaped by the input and comments from the good folks on here, i'd be honoured to ride with each and every one of you guys. Comments whether good or bad, are taken as intended and i value every one that takes the time to say what they think.

It's much appreciated and as this is my first build that involved anything other than a stock resto, any advice is good advice, cheers to all.

 

[nvr2old]

Very nice bike. I like the way it looks, especially the back w/o a chain. The shaft drive looks really clean, almost like it disappeared. What kind of tail light are you going to use, and where will it mount? Side covers, or open? It's a treat watching these builds. Great site for that.

 

[posplayr]

I like it

I like it

Wonderful attention to detail, as well as a melding of various sub-era's of "old school".

That is kinda what I am doing with my GSXR street fighter. I did put a Ducati headlamp fairing on, but the idea is to capture the essence of various looks without necessarily copying any of them exactly while molding the bike into something that will be useful/practical. It is all of them but at the same none of them.

Great work.

Pos

 

[Odinist]

WOW!!! She's looking amazing!!!



(Oh, and Zooks, of course I could have Googled it, but I'm a lazy American. )

 

[Bribird]

Hey there Yaddy, your bike is looking great!! Good job on the paint!! I really like the way you laid the silver pin stripping. It is totally gonna be a hot bike. Laying the decals on under a coat of clear would be best long term, but is not a necessity if they are high quality decals. The most important part of putting decals on is the prep work(as far as making them stick long term).. Before you put the decals on you will of course want it all wet sanded&buffed out and very smooth... and dont use any wax that contains silicone...(it is a bi*ch to get it all off) it will cause problems with your decals sticking...long term , and if you plan on clearing over the top of them, will affect the clear coat too..... unless you like the fisheye look.. I use meguirs tan bottle cut/wax for fresh paints, and it is paintable which is nice.


looks great man!! looks like its about time to jump on building them carbs!!:dancing:

 

[yaddy]

Thanks Guy's.

Pos:
That fighter of yours is a cool ride, i love the lighthouse strapped to the front, i'd like a 9" lamp or even an 8" for mine, both are very hard to find though.

nvr2old:
I was hesitant about using a shaftie for this project at the beginning but it does keep the back end clear of clutter and works quite well. No side covers on this one matey. That damn tail-light? Well, i've bought 4 already but once i have them in my hand, i don't like em! I want it on the flat part of the tail section but i just don't know what sort of lamp to put on there, i think that 2 round ones might be cool but i honestly can't decide on that yet, maybe a little poll might be the best idea, to see what style of light people can suggest?

BriBird:
So to lay the decals under a coat of clear, i would need to wetsand to a glass finish first, would i then buff it up to a shine? I know i'd need a sanded clear finish to get the top clear to stick to it wouldn't i?
And yeah, those carbs and a zaust are next on my list buddy, then we'll see if it actually runs, heheeeee

Thanks to all for looking, if you have a cool rear light assembly in mind, i'm open to suggestions, cheers.

 

[Zooks]

.....(Oh, and Zooks, of course I could have Googled it, but I'm a lazy American. )

No wuckas mate.


(you'll have to use google if you want to translate that one)

 

[Zooks]

......... That damn tail-light? Well, i've bought 4 already but once i have them in my hand, i don't like em! I want it on the flat part of the tail section but i just don't know what sort of lamp to put on there, i think that 2 round ones might be cool but i honestly can't decide on that yet, maybe a little poll might be the best idea, to see what style of light people can suggest?
........Thanks to all for looking, if you have a cool rear light assembly in mind, i'm open to suggestions, cheers.

The most popular style of tail light for Hot Rods -

1928-32 era replica Ford model 'A' taillight. I have one on my 'cafe pig' and love it. Dozens of replica sellers on ebay.