Thanks Harry! I think there are some others that have me beat but I sincerely appreciate the compliment!
My first build: 1912 Indian
- Thread starter Bugthunder
- Start date
Thanks for the info JTS!
I ordered the Motobecane AV88 Rear Wheel Hub and a 59 tooth sprocket. I'll have to recalculate my jackshaft gears but I have leeway there. This hub has a 99mm drum; it's a little taller than the standard drum but the width is the same. More stopping power I guess but fewer options for sprockets
I ordered the Motobecane AV88 Rear Wheel Hub and a 59 tooth sprocket. I'll have to recalculate my jackshaft gears but I have leeway there. This hub has a 99mm drum; it's a little taller than the standard drum but the width is the same. More stopping power I guess but fewer options for sprockets
I mounted a kill switch on the right side under the tank where it is not obvious but can be reached in a hurry. On the other side is the High/low beam switch for the headlight, also easily reached but mostly out of sight. I plan to run the wire through the frame later.
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I fired it up and took it for its first test ride! The carburetor malfunctioned and the bike took off like a rocket! The kill switch came in handy; tricky business with only a front brake at this point. I put a new Mikuni carburetor on yesterday and it runs very well!
You can see the copper coil fuel line in the side view. I put sand in the line and twisted it around a spray paint can for the initial curves, then used smaller cans to finish the smaller curves. The coil serves to dampen vibration that could crack the copper line.
You can see the copper coil fuel line in the side view. I put sand in the line and twisted it around a spray paint can for the initial curves, then used smaller cans to finish the smaller curves. The coil serves to dampen vibration that could crack the copper line.
I kept the electric start, but hid the start button in the tool kit box in front of the rear wheel. The box has a lock and there will be a secondary kill switch next to the start button so the bike can't be kick started by anyone without the keys.
Looks great, what did you put your feet on for the ride? Have you thought about changing the seat to more of a motorcycle pan style like a Messinger?
Thanks JTS!
I put my feet on the chain stays for a quick ride around the neighborhood. I'm fabbing up foot peg mounts today. I found some simple aluminum foot pegs that look a little like the old style foot pegs.
Yes I am considering a Messinger style seat, the one I put on is not so comfortable and I think the pan style will look much better.
I put my feet on the chain stays for a quick ride around the neighborhood. I'm fabbing up foot peg mounts today. I found some simple aluminum foot pegs that look a little like the old style foot pegs.
Yes I am considering a Messinger style seat, the one I put on is not so comfortable and I think the pan style will look much better.
I think both you and your bum would appreciate a larger pan style seat. Not to mention they're so easy to make, it took all of 15 minutes to make my pan, I still have to cover it, but I don't think it will be too difficult.
Big smiles are in order here. I see yours in the photos. The bike is looking great and I bet is sounds good, too. Pretty cool to hear the motor fire up for the first time and to ride off into the sunset on a bike you made yourself. It doesn't get much better than that. Woohoo!
SB
SB
OK... Now we need a video! I wanna here what that bad boy sounds like with the shorty pipe 
Well done! If you dont want to make your own seat just swapping out a diffrent vintage style without the big nose spring would probably make the boys happier...
Well done! If you dont want to make your own seat just swapping out a diffrent vintage style without the big nose spring would probably make the boys happier...JT, here are the latest photos. I was inspired by your seat fabrication and built this one. It looks much better. I plan to follow your example covering the seat.
Took it out on the road yesterday and checked counter steering, cornering at speed, checked how it handled with no hands (hands hovering over bars just in case) and checked front suspension over pot holes and speed bumps. It handled very nice! It seems the designers in the early 1900s knew a thing or two about frame geometry. I have to finish lights, horn, speedometer, and then it's ready for tear down and paint! After that I go for DOT inspection to license it.
That looks so much beter than the bicycle seat from before, once you put a little padding and cover it, it'll probably be more comfortable too.
I just used vinyl, it's readily available at most places that stock upholstery materials and is a lot less expensive than leather. I decided to try vinyl first to see how it came out and maybe make another with leather later. The vinyl worked better than I expected and is easier to work with than the small pieces of leather I was practicing on.