The ongoing saga of my motorcycle builds....

[Handsome Rob]

Things have progressed a little more. 

I fabbed my seat pan, contoured to the rear fender, & got it straight to the upholsterer.

Also installed my remote front brake master cylinder. Another head scratcher...

I also got the regulator/rectifier mounted under the frame & plumbed in the rear brake. 

Pretty much all that's left to do now is mount the battery tray & figure out a breaker panel (there's only 2), fabricate a license plate mount & then it can be stripped for powder coat & paint (hopefully) but that'll have to wait a few weeks until I'm back from Wyoming. Obviously, THAT'S the time when I figure it what I forgot, then go through the entire 'put it back together, fix it, strip it,  DAMMIT, put it back together, fix it, re-strip it, $@**%!!!ing THING!, put it back together, fix it, re-re-strip it' cycle of torture occurs. 

Edited October 11 by Handsome Rob

[gregintenn]

How do you like my new bagger, Rob?

[Capbyrd]

Rob’s out here building whole bikes and my plans for the winter are just to get new bars installed.   
 

 

 

[Handsome Rob]

Got m'seat back! 

Battery's mounted up, moved the reg/rec (I wasn't happy with it hanging below the frame) fabbed up the license plate mount, made a pair of correctly sized rear wheel spaces & started working on routing (mentally) my wiring. 

To do list: 

Mount up oil & neutral lights (micro leds)

License plate light

Front wheel spacers (and maybe a fork brace) 

Mock up front brake hose & routing

Re-route throttle & brake cable (I'm 99% sure I can get both in the handlebars) 

Mount ignition & light(?) breakers. 

Then I can pull it apart for paint & powder. I'm hoping to have all that done today (I'm still officially on vacation. Wyoming was a bust so I came home a week early) 

I still have to get all my stainless bits Tig welded (Handlebar risers, gear shift etc...I'm not good enough to do it myself) 

Edited November 1 by Handsome Rob

[Handsome Rob]

If anyone can suggest a reasonably priced chrome shop, I've got a few bits & bobs that I'd really like to have dipped.

[gregintenn]

I'm digging it, Rob! I don't know anyone who does chrome anymore, Nashville Auto Bumper used to be my go to, but I believe they are long gone. Just get gas grill paint. I thought you were anti chrome.

[Handsome Rob]

2 hours ago, gregintenn said:

I'm digging it, Rob! I don't know anyone who does chrome anymore, Nashville Auto Bumper used to be my go to, but I believe they are long gone. Just get gas grill paint. I thought you were anti chrome.

I am, I am...... but a few accents here & there are tolerable. 

[Johnny Rotten]

You cooler than this guy, with his flip flops

 

 

 

Edited November 1 by Johnny Rotten

[Handsome Rob]

1 hour ago, Johnny Rotten said:

You cooler than this guy, with his flip flops

 

 

 

You're not gonna believe this, but that's one of my best friends, Alex. He took the Black Bike out for a quick spin to Dolly G's and back while he was over here setting up tree stands! 

Happy Tails is my business!

[Johnny Rotten]

6 minutes ago, Handsome Rob said:

 

Happy Tails is my business!

I know 

 

[gregintenn]

Honestly, that could well be me, except there isn’t anybody in front of him slowing him down, and in that case, not many folks get behind me.

[RED333]

23 hours ago, Handsome Rob said:

If anyone can suggest a reasonably priced chrome shop, I've got a few bits & bobs that I'd really like to have dipped.

Have you thought about or looked into DIY kits? There are few out there.

https://caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/chrome-plating-kits/triple-chrome-plating-kits.html

https://www.eastwood.com/paints/electroplating.html

diy chrome plating, google comes up with a bunch.

[Handsome Rob]

2 hours ago, RED333 said:

Have you thought about or looked into DIY kits? There are few out there.

https://caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/chrome-plating-kits/triple-chrome-plating-kits.html

https://www.eastwood.com/paints/electroplating.html

diy chrome plating, google comes up with a bunch.

I'll let the pros do it this time. It's definitely going to be cheaper! 

[RED333]

1 minute ago, Handsome Rob said:

I'll let the pros do it this time. It's definitely going to be cheaper! 

That sounds like the voice of experience

[Handsome Rob]

3 minutes ago, RED333 said:

That sounds like the voice of experience

If they screw it up, I still only have to pay once

[Handsome Rob]

I DETEST this part of a build. 

Wanna play "How much can I second guess myself?"

Did I drill EVERY hole for the wiring, cables & hoses?

Are all the welds completed, sanded & blended? 

Did I forget to round over any edges? 

Am I even any good at welding? 

It's going to fall to pieces, isn't it? 

Jeez.... did I check the wheel alignment? 

Why am I even doing this? I hate bikes. I'm middle aged! Why did I want another hardtail? 

And then there's the ever present existential dead & sticker shock over whether I've settled on the perfect color scheme, the cost of paint & chrome plating! 

Seriously! $525-575 for this little pile, plus tax & return shipping!

God only knows how much the paint & gold leaf (SUCK IT GREG! ) is going to set me back! 

Edited November 19 by Handsome Rob

[Alleycat72]

So I welded a 1952 Studebaker together and put a 700 hp engine in it. I set up the fuel injection. Interfaced the computer that controlled the transmission with the computer thar ran the efi. Did all the tuning. Did all the body work. Setup the rear-end and front end. Took it out to see what it would do. The front end is what had me worried. At 130 mph the windshield wipers come off the glass and fluttered. I knew I was dead. I was disappointed my Wife was going to have lots of fun with her new boyfriend and my life insurance. 

The windshield wipers do it a the same speed every time. LOL

[Handsome Rob]

45 minutes ago, Alleycat72 said:

So I welded a 1952 Studebaker together and put a 700 hp engine in it. I set up the fuel injection. Interfaced the computer that controlled the transmission with the computer thar ran the efi. Did all the tuning. Did all the body work. Setup the rear-end and front end. Took it out to see what it would do. The front end is what had me worried. At 130 mph the windshield wipers come off the glass and fluttered. I knew I was dead. I was disappointed my Wife was going to have lots of fun with her new boyfriend and my life insurance. 

The windshield wipers do it a the same speed every time. LOL

But, to be fair, you're intelligent, talented & know exactly what you're doing. 

You've met me, right? 

[BigK]

17 hours ago, Handsome Rob said:

I DETEST this part of a build. 

Wanna play "How much can I second guess myself?"

Did I drill EVERY hole for the wiring, cables & hoses?

Are all the welds completed, sanded & blended? 

Did I forget to round over any edges? 

Am I even any good at welding? 

It's going to fall to pieces, isn't it? 

Jeez.... did I check the wheel alignment? 

Why am I even doing this? I hate bikes. I'm middle aged! Why did I want another hardtail? 

And then there's the ever present existential dead & sticker shock over whether I've settled on the perfect color scheme, the cost of paint & chrome plating! 

Seriously! $525-575 for this little pile, plus tax & return shipping!

God only knows how much the paint & gold leaf (SUCK IT GREG! ) is going to set me back! 

You could always just buy one instead, but then what would you do with all that free time?

[Handsome Rob]

I picked up my frame from the powdercoater yesterday! 

I'm running the tank, fender & oil tank off to the painter this afternoon. I shipped off my chromey bits a couple of weeks ago & they should be back late January or early February. Hopefully the painter can have my bits back around the same time. 

This is my draft of the paint scheme....

[Darrell]

I already had five bikes in the barn, and just bought another one. I'm not a "builder" like you, but I do have the sickness! My bikes tend to run more toward "go fast", but I've often thought of building a bare-bones Triumph hard-tail chopper. Maybe someday.

[Handsome Rob]

Welp....I went to the painter today. We had a long, meaningful conversation & he gave me a cost estimate. 

We then had a much shorter, more pointed conversation about how far up his a$$ his head was & if my boot would possibly help the situation.

THREE-AND-A-HALF FREAKING GRAND!!!! 

Seriously. To paint a 2½ gallon tank, oil tank & rear fender! I've literally had entire cars painted for less! 

Needless to say, I'm currently shopping around for painters who don't have a secret, 5 gram a day coke habit to support

I'm waiting on 2 estimates from a body shop in Tullahoma & another custom paint hobbyist in Murfreesboro. 

Edited December 6 by Handsome Rob

[RED333]

10 minutes ago, Handsome Rob said:

THREE-AND-A-HALF FREAKING GRAND!!!! 

His name wouldn't be Rembrandt would it?

[Handsome Rob]

Haha! I actually said "you know it's a bike, not an effing Chapel ceiling, right?!"

[Johnny Rotten]

12 hours ago, Handsome Rob said:

I picked up my frame from the powdercoater yesterday! 

I'm running the tank, fender & oil tank off to the painter this afternoon. I shipped off my chromey bits a couple of weeks ago & they should be back late January or early February. Hopefully the painter can have my bits back around the same time. 

This is my draft of the paint scheme....

who powder coated it?