Old Guys Simplex moto-peddle bike

[indian22]

Thanks Tony. I was really overthinking the term, but already using the concept on my Grubee hybrid wih gas throttle on the right and "reverse" e-throttle on the left. So regen throttle/reverse throttle asked and answered.

Your bike especially photographs well from that front quarter panel view. Maybe a lights on at night perspective?

Rick C.

 

[Tony01]

Tough one. I’ve tried. But the lights are just too damn bright. The headlight is actually way brighter than I expected. They sell a 42w one in the same style which I will use on my next build. I shut it off even at night when riding slow in the neighborhood to not blind pedestrians.

Speaking of the next build, my harbor freight is all out of 212s. Can’t believe it. I was ready to be shaving the head and machining motor mounts tomorrow.

 

[indian22]

Tony I spent most of my cycling life trying to get better lights and now they are too bright and I seldom ride at night.

Bummer on the 212 issue, but glad to see you've not completely abandoned us gear heads. You've a lot of knowledge building with IC engines too.

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

I made the decision to go with black Worksman wheels, both front and rear, and drum brake hubs. Pat's going to lace up the rear hub with the drum he uses on some of his Sportsman 200 bikes. I thinking that they will do fine coupled with regen braking of the non freewheeling direct drive motor.

I purchased a small lathe 7"x14" and this will help offset my reliance on using others equipment during the pandemic. I don't feel good about asking for time in their shops while they are shut down. I have one order in, locally for plasma cut plates and once those are in hand I'll just wait till the health crisis lightens up. On the bright side my many deliveries seem to arrive about the same as before the shutdown. Makes me wonder how many shops are in some kind of health code violations just to keep their heads above water.

Rick C.

 

[curtisfox]

Rick my son works at a stamping outfit they make parts for Polaris, John Deer both are shut down, but he is still working 6 hours a day 4 days a week With the stim money they are paid for 40 hours. So it maybe what is helping, must be others doing close to the same......Curt

 

[indian22]

Hi Curt and yes all this helps families and our country, but a lot of small operations that have debt service and ongoing obligations were already struggling to make it work before the huge complications that Corona adds to the mix. Many won't make it very long without closing for good, some already have. I know several in my hometown & at retirement age have said they won't reopen for business at all.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

Same here in Alnwick, Rick. Strolled to the Post Office in the town centre yesterday and while virtually every shop is closed for business, a couple of stores were completely empty, having cleared out altogether since I last looked. Could be they are taking this downtime as an opportunity to redecorate, but I'm betting not. Realistically, this is the scenario that'll be happening on a grand scale worldwide. Thankful I'm not having to run a business. Never thought being a retiree and fast becoming a virtual recluse had many advantages, but right now it sure feels like it does.

 

[indian22]

Same here in Alnwick, Rick. Strolled to the Post Office in the town centre yesterday and while virtually every shop is closed for business, a couple of stores were completely empty, having cleared out altogether since I last looked. Could be they are taking this downtime as an opportunity to redecorate, but I'm betting not. Realistically, this is the scenario that'll be happening on a grand scale worldwide. Thankful I'm not having to run a business. Never thought being a retiree and fast becoming a virtual recluse had many advantages, but right now it sure feels like it does.

Pete I spoke with a friend in Lansing Michigan last evening and the stuff going on there is crazy town. When crap hits the fan small town, rural life is a blessing. The metroplex's can quickly resemble a poorly run zoo with the Howler monkeys in charge. Though I miss my simple social activities; I'm still able to take walks and ride a bit and those coupled with phone and internet connections serves me well.

I too feel very fortunate in retirement and not faced with laying people off. The burden is heavy when you know it's an entire family you're putting on the rolls with small opportunity to find replacement work.

Rick C.

 

[curtisfox]

Yes it all depends on your governor, each state is a bit different. I think ours see some heat and are opening a lot starting Monday, with bars 1st of June. I have been out and about re roofing a shed, most come from big box store.........Curt

 

[indian22]

Yes Curt we also saw a few business types open up here as well. Tattoo parlors and nail salons are two that seemed important enough to open first. Lol. I'm not kidding!

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

Productive day yesterday brilliant weather that and also forecast for today.

I'll move the bike outside for fitting up of bits. I fabricated a wide pedal axle yesterday, not a big job just an important one. Since I'm not using the bottom bracket as a jack shaft for the reduction gear no need for an elaborate setup to mount my wide, shop built pedals. I do however need a wide axle & wide pedal levers to clear all on bikes pedal drive side. Nothing on the market that satisfied my requirements so I chopped and welded what I had laying about and that allows me to mount my wide, J.A.P. taper levers without excessive pedal lever stick out on the motor drive side of case.

Also have the made that allow mounting the battery charge plug under the fuel cap...where it belongs; all without welding or gluing the bung in place or drilling holes in the tank for fasteners. All parts are rattle free & yet quickly removable.

Lots of small details being sorted, boring to do let alone pontificate upon so I won't, but the bottom bracket and charge port were fun.

I'd like to say the bike stays outside, but that's not yet the case. I've some "creative staring" yet to complete.

All in all I'll take the build where it's at and be glad of it.

Rick C

 

[indian22]

I'm starting to think of this e-V twin as the Ol' Crow and not because it's driving me to drink the Kentucky bourbon of that name. It does however remind me of a dry lake, drop tank streamliner & Bonneville competitor that runs under that moniker.

Old guy's Ol' Crow!

Rick C.

 

[sportscarpat]

Seen the Old Crow belly tank many times in it's proper environment on the salt flats. It really is cool. My first visit was in 2012 before I started racing. Didn't really know much about these machines. I happened to walk by it in the pits and no one was around. I was so impressed with it that I ran back and dragged my brother over to look at it. It's a newer build in a sense. Its wasn't built back in the late 40's or early 50's, and has all the modern safety equipment to race in our modern era, but looking at and it's level of patina and attention to all the vintage details it really is an exceptional machine. I believe it is also built from a real P38 tank..

 

[Ralph hop]

Those fuel tanks can still be found at small islands and sand bars washed ashore. I watched a video of a guy hauling one home with a small watercraft just the other day. He found it with a drone would be my guess or just by exploring maybe.

 

[PeteMcP]

Yes Curt we also saw a few business types open up here as well. Tattoo parlors and nail salons are two that seemed important enough to open first. Lol. I'm not kidding!

Rick C.

Jeez. Getting desperate for the day when barber shops re-open. Sporting a beard and 'tache now for the first time in two decades. My hair's now as long as it was in 1970 - just a lot greyer. I can tell Jen looks at me and hasn't a clue who I am. I knew things had sunk to an all time low yesterday when I found myself looking for one of Jen's scrunchies, contemplating a man-bun to keep my hair out of my face when working on the bike. Whilst buzzing my beard yesterday I had to fight off the urge to buzz-cut my entire mane.

 

[indian22]

Seen the Old Crow belly tank many times in it's proper environment on the salt flats. It really is cool. My first visit was in 2012 before I started racing. Didn't really know much about these machines. I happened to walk by it in the pits and no one was around. I was so impressed with it that I ran back and dragged my brother over to look at it. It's a newer build in a sense. Its wasn't built back in the late 40's or early 50's, and has all the modern safety equipment to race in our modern era, but looking at and it's level of patina and attention to all the vintage details it really is an exceptional machine. I believe it is also built from a real P38 tank..

I thought you might have heard of it but that's a treat to know you saw it on the flats. My recollection was it used the P-38 drop tank, but I'd not swear I'm correct in that. I thought it was a fifties build so I'm glad to learn they built a worthy tribute car with upgrades. It is a beauty!

As a boy in the fifties I loved the look of drop tank speed cars, many with flathead Ford V-8 engines and a few with the flathead modified with overhead valves by Ardun. I invested a lot of hours looking at photos of this type racer from Bonneville and Lake Mirage. I have twin cousins that ran their '32 3 window coupe at Mirage and it had a flathead V-8 too. I have memories of cruising East L.A. with Bob & Bill as a pre-teen and how cool I thought they were and still do. I must admit to feeling pretty cool hanging with the big kids.

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

Those fuel tanks can still be found at small islands and sand bars washed ashore. I watched a video of a guy hauling one home with a small watercraft just the other day. He found it with a drone would be my guess or just by exploring maybe.

I used to see belly tanks at swap meets, but not in this century, and wondered how they managed to look so good after being dropped. Over water works for me. Of course hydro/forming reshaping is probable as well.

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

Pete the hair and beard thing bothers me. I'm jealous of having hair on top my head and probably should grow a beard to cover up some ugly.

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

I recognize there's a lack of photos posted recently, but most of what I'm working on deals with details of fit and strength that are requiring alteration of alterations to get right. I decided to add a bobbed steel rear fender that Pat runs on his Bonneville bikes etc. and that makes the frame (truss fork excepted) and all sheet metal Sportsman flyer fabrication pieces and I'm pleased with that. I've stated in the past that Pat's bikes please me and that I would be proud to own and ride any of his Flyers so I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and feel it's well spent. It will be proudly badged as a Sportsman Flyer as well.

My contribution is financing and motor case & that works out for me as well.

Rick C.

 

[indian22]

The controller box is large & fits the frame perfectly and has cooling vents on the bottom. Sturdy hinges and precut for wiring and locking switch. Nice one inch tube clamps and mounting hardware for a controller & the box. Nice setup with room for all the excess hookups that might one day find a use and a junction box to safely house the bolt up wiring.

Rick C.