http://www.davmomoto.com/work daily 1.0 2025-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526607542520-Y3KLTQAPB2MEOW84M26E/IMG_3590.JPG THE BIKES A 1975 Honda CB500T built into a brat-style daily rider for Denton Moto co-founder, Fabian Campos. This is the bike I customized for Fabian as a showpiece for our fledgeling business, and in exchange for the CB160 that became “The Seven” bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526423056545-0P471WNMJCU4I3XPFYSC/IMG_2601.JPG THE BIKES My buddy Brian Hunt commissioned this bike to be ridden in events with The World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi, a group of Elvis impersonators on minibkes. Built from a CRF50 frame and engine, the rear of the frame underwent a bit of chopping and addition of a new subframe top loop with stunt pegs. The engine is bored out to 88cc’s, with heavy duty autoclutch, high volume oil pump, race cam, a 20mm carb and a lighting stator. Brian wanted a super white bike with BMW livery, number plates, a larger and softer seat modified from a CR85 donor (to avoid the dreaded “fiddy-butt”,) and dual exhaust. Keeping the vintage Z50 vibe, metal bodywork including a 1988 z50 tank, fenders, and number plates were used. The stock brake pedal was lengthened, a KX140 kickstand used, extended front forks and heavy duty springs, and an aluminum swingarm finish out the chassis. Because the Elvi sometimes ride in Parade of Light events, LED ground effects and riding lights were added. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443129200490-TUU15WKZ5I36NX42YJMH/DSC02430.JPG THE BIKES An early custom mini done in the 1969 Z50 paint scheme. 88cc 4 speed manual clutch engine from a Honda SL70. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527191728258-5RR3D7RUFKGI2YDBP98Z/IMG_7615.JPG THE BIKES A 1980 Suzuki GS750, and a 1978 Suzuki GS550 with a 750 engine belonging to Brothers Justin and Austin Nall. Both wanted more compact seats, updated controls, handlebars, instruments, exhaust, bodywork and paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1525135717892-PLLS1D0753NUABFCNR2R/IMG_0998.JPG THE BIKES A 1974 Honda MT250 Elsinore made into a flat tracker. Andrew Campo of Meta Motorcycle Lifestyle and Culture Magazine put the donor bike in the hands of Dentonmoto and said to “just do something cool with it” shortly after meeting him in Denver. Another build for skateboard legend Steve Caballero, the “Cabracer 360,” was underway at the shop, and gave us the opportunity to make Steve part of its story. The bike had been ridden by Andrew and his friends in Denver and was a spirited ride with the 2-Stroke acceleration, huge tires, and a wider CB450 front fork set-up and wheel (minus the brake.) To continue its story, the decision was made to keep it as a dirt-track bike with some modifications. The bike was given a complete make-over with a glass tracker seat, chopped gas tank, shortened rear frame loop, Fastway pegs, Renthal bars, motionPro throttle and cables, and Pro Taper grips. Racetech supplied their Gold Valve emulators and new springs for the shortened MT250 front forks, and G3-S shocks custom built to rider specs. Buchanan Spokes hooked us up with their heavy duty spoke sets and some Sun alloy rims. Engine bore-up was with a Wiseco forged piston and rod bearings, and a Mikuni D28 flat-slide carb does the breathing. The engine was assembled by John Green of RotaJG bikes. A Horween leather seat cover was made by Clint Wilkinson of Wilkinson TX. in Denton, Texas. The wings on the tank and the number plates were painted by Wade O. Wilson of Mansfield, Tx. The second part of the BrotherBike story was to keep passing it on to other riders to share, enjoy and race. Steve was chosen as the first recipient, with a year to ride until it is passed on to the next brother (or sister, for that matter.) When the bike got out to California, Steve found a rear Dunlop K180 at Roland Sand’s shop, and a front one at a buddy’s to make a proper tracker tire set-up. Steve has already given it a good shake-down, busting off a peg in practice, getting it re-attached by Go Takamine, and competing at Perris Raceway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526502550887-VLDRU4WK5CTLQQSYJMGT/IMG_7381.JPG THE BIKES A 1993 Honda CB750 Nighthawk custom. Referred to as a “convertible” because of a special feature allowing the seat to be lengthened from a solo seat to one long enough to take a passenger along. The entire rear frame was rebuilt and a custom seat and tail added. A 70’s CB750K tank was fitted with a paint scheme borrowing from mid 70’s CB360 tanks. The front forks and brakes are from a Yamaha R1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526657209670-08D3ZC9MS91ESAM0RXCC/IMG_5414.JPG THE BIKES Before and after of a 1969 CL350 sympathetic restoration. The original paint was kept on the fork uppers and tank. Original chrome was used where practical, with NOS and quality used pieces used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542051448932-48RX5GACQSRQIWF1FFUM/IMG_3261.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564152483010-J56CDYBF21BSJM6VV7T8/IMG_6434.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564344834213-D5VZ7OIA5K7SG0DSF3VP/CAB16474.jpeg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564507076640-BJDKYV9WYLLLZMDUOWZY/IMG_0595.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564597695351-2DLVF5OPD9CWLAFP1IF6/CT117_024.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1585154467871-L4652S9PK8P0IZO58XA8/IMG_8120.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526446555229-1VN459D64CQWPXR3C86A/IMG_5643.JPG THE BIKES This 1972 Honda K3 Z50 was transformed with all new bodywork, engine, wheels, and controls. The World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi group of which I am a member, commissioned the build for our leader, Bobby Ornelas, and surprised him with it July 4 of 2016. Solid alloy wheels, extended swingarm and rear shocks, Takegawa front fork damper and forged side stand, stainless exhaust, and custom seat and rear rack. All-new fenders, tank, side covers, headlight, and front fairing painted in a George Barris Batmobile tribute. There is even a secret side compartment to store valuables with a dedication inscription barely visible on its backside. Power is by a 108cc Stroker built and dressed-up by two fellow Elvi Jay Clark and Clint Jakab. Some of the parades and events the bike was built for are at night, so there is an elaborate LED ground effect set-up and custom control panel. There is also a set of Supernova LED turn signals and brake light set-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617562135550-AW5BSGCYM3B4K77C5NWM/IMG_3055.JPG THE BIKES The 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer is complete. It has been a long road to this point, with a number of changes on the way. What was supposed to be a mild custom ended up being a completely restored custom with an engine re-build. The head was worked over with new threads machined for the exhaust spigots, new valves and springs, the cylinders were bored .020 over, a Mikuni single carb set-up was added, an Alton electric starter installed, and all new ignition components were used, including a Tri-spark electronic ignition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619456517164-0CL9F034M1TOEGX3ACFN/IMG_9568.JPG THE BIKES Started in 2020, this bike came to me as a true basket case. While the engine was in the bike, the pistons were missing and the cylinder and head just laid on top. Coffee cans of disassembled parts were labeled and fairly well organized, but the condition of a lot of parts was rough, and in many cases, unusable. A full restoration with modifications like aluminum body kit and wheel rims, competition folding pegs, Ekins style high pipes, custom handlebars, a Ceriani front fork, and a totally rebuilt engine. These images will be updated as the build progresses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624157692580-I0C8PJ6NLL74XS08HHH0/IMG_3529.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1650312848773-GOYG8SXS7EY7P186ZU2H/B17F1161-2CB3-4AD5-8BF6-7587F13BD742.jpeg THE BIKES Pictures shot outside Dan’s Silverleaf, a longtime Denton favorite. Photo: RWB Visuals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1662304378495-7TB37FHV9SBX32Z7XRS2/ADF24BF7-7F26-4825-8409-7D74EE742645.jpeg THE BIKES A 1980 Honda CB50S, also known as the AC-02. The bike came to the shop in poor shape, ridden hard, and painted orange on just about every body part. A complete restoration was done in 2015, with a number of modifications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1625532054618-JWJ47HZ1V58QV28TO3S4/IMG_3694.JPG THE BIKES A friend gave me a junked-out 1972 Honda Z50 frame and engine for helping him build up his 1978 Z50. The tank was full of holes on the bottom, but there was something about the faded gold that caught my interest. As with a number of builds around here, a single part, in this case, the cut-down tank, was the impetus for the build. The frame was modified with a new solid swingarm pivot instead of the stock one, known for deforming, and the lower frame was lengthened to mount the rear sets. The pipe is a modified stainless Kawasaki KLX110 unit with a cut-down BBR D-section muffler. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443024446551-UYZA5JDWSX6MILQOLW3A/IMG_0765.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1661908977693-O62PNSQDMKHNHMQUWWAJ/3E35660D-20BF-41C9-9830-F43852C81486.jpeg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1684031359284-BDE82RVC1GPPVYD1FDS0/5407DE4B-A230-4FC3-B106-9AF904E8EDD8.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1684032504246-3GMQK2LUG2C8JU128OAE/8AD3F3A4-A758-49A3-808E-6A99F8B79B82.jpeg THE BIKES Finished off in classic Norton gray and Napa leather, despite the crazy combination of frame and motor, a sense of elegance was still strived for in the custom build. The rear wheel hub and brake are from a Vincent Black Lightning, a super rare bike of which only 32 were said to have been built. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686670358352-XCCF209P4GQ7I3GZ6M75/A19ACB99-9C3A-4E75-94AC-D2228C30B596.jpeg THE BIKES This 1967 Triumph Tiger Cub, also known as the Mountain Cub was customized and restored in 2023. A complete rebuild of the engine, forks, and wheels with custom fenders, tail light, and seat brought what was a tired barn find back to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1562034026889-7ZEC9R0SYFOZBOEH91DL/IMG_6137.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1718243935391-SR03A7V3CT7FAVODRXLF/B3FA8B7F-28CF-466E-90C9-C00889A4CBDD.jpeg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1751393251832-6EYPVTCNI9KM7AIP2ILH/B15F48AD-A16F-4D29-80D2-D65C402160A6.jpeg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442539858047-LK1RZZZSHKPMWTTPUEOP/50_Magnum_016_R.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442604106839-A0TUR1JL8CVCZM66CVLD/IMG_2742.jpg THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442562581243-WF5XTYG1JXJ6XOJJD6EQ/IMG_1168.JPG THE BIKES https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442604691888-FIE213GVY2ZID07FYINO/IMG_3739.jpg THE BIKES http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog daily 0.75 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442957875419-K34CGIQY4K41T5JQU9GV/IMG_6579.JPG THE BLOG http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2025/7/17/1980-honda-z50r-chrome-custom-electrical-upgrade monthly 0.5 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/99dc469d-77f6-48fe-893e-53701cce25ca/F7CE4DE1-F11B-4867-9B4D-427984C756AE.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The mounting plate was made from .090 aluminum, and riveted onto the left number plate bracket. The part of the bracket on the right end was added to conceal the electrical parts, and keep wheel spray off them. It fit snugly to the back of the number plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/dc99ce13-f86d-4c93-aab3-960313169bad/DE6730E0-3253-4DC9-B606-7D059E940C7B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The rear view shows how the mounting bracket conceals the rectifier. A Takegawa forged aluminum kickstand was fitted to the bike. About a quarter of an inch was shaved off the bottom of the foot, to help with the lean, and a thin washer placed in the yoke to tighten up the fit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ed59030e-c128-4060-a9be-fd65f010440c/F154B95C-E47C-46F9-B9C1-E3BFCF373BB3.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The original stator was wrapped with magnet wire and the output was changed to a two-wire “floating stator” type. It would have been faster changing the output of the Ricky stator to this configuration, but when experimenting with a new system, I like to leave the option to return back to original if the experiment is not successful. The 20 gauge OEM Honda key switch wires, laid next to the 18 gauge output wires of the stator are clearly smaller. The handlebar switches are rated for a headlight, but my experience with these unbranded aftermarket switches is that they produce heat, and sometimes fail because of it. With the small gauge key switch wiring and the handlebar switch issues, it was decided to use a relay system that passes current in a circuit parallel to the switched power key circuit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4e711211-0e7d-4e4c-98cb-f6bd7916036e/67233251-CF66-4327-8DCA-5B44856F9C23.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out With the seat on, the battery is all but invisible. The electrical component arrangement always looks so simple when it is done, but it took a bit of time to get everything rubber mounted and arranged to fit.At this point, the relays for the lights are on the left, and the CDI box on the right. Below them, a short segment of wire is the pigtail from the stator and battery, waiting on the rectifier panel to be installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/806ddec1-5f28-426c-953f-b6a7d125a668/7BC128D4-D5FC-4CD1-882A-31A805148A39.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The ripped up bracket after removal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b9573b29-5e60-4b2b-9457-946d96eedbd8/8D5B487C-39F2-47EB-8CA4-34A43FBDD49D.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The added electrical parts are well hidden, and the Takegawa kick stand looks much better than the original. With electrical mostly done, the next thought is exploring the possibility of a speedo and tach… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c0bc5497-33f4-4c54-8f8f-56235824b349/4BE1A367-2DEF-430B-800C-16C66D4AD409.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out While adjusting the right number plate, the tiny spot welds on the bracket gave way. This was an aftermarket bracket I had chromed. Next time, they will get some preventative re-welding. The left number plate was chopped and re-welded to match the mounting tabs on the 1979-81 frames. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5704c3cc-773b-435c-8d2d-59fa7de73dae/DDA42651-C3B8-45DC-97CD-FC726E78E02D.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out At this point, the tray is in place, and the only remaining wiring is to hook up a full-wave rectifier. The plate made to mount the CDI box and relays conceals a horn, mounted on the backside of the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c3bf1e0f-adc6-48cb-8f6c-972f2f7cef04/F2189E2F-E942-4CF6-AE3B-1F60A4045EAA.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The mounting screws of the battery tray were counterset to keep the already tight space big enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fdd1ec5b-6a48-4892-86fc-7e49ba70474e/1117BFDE-07D9-4ACF-9F16-3537E7FB7628.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out The solution that solved the problems was an aluminum mounting ring. The key switch was made to fit tightly with some wedges behind the plastic prongs that hold it in place.The key switch is now firmly held, and the ugly spot is covered up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1aed0deb-bd7e-43b9-8966-a9328ce4df1f/840AE13B-8331-4C4E-8452-3B382A519EA6.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out One of the reasons the particular key switch was used was because it fits into the hole in the left engine mount. Although it clicks into the hole, it pops out easily, and spins freely. In past builds, I have welded a plate to the inside of the engine mount that has the right thickness and cut-outs to lock it in tight. The frame hole would then be drilled out to allow the switch to sit recessed within the hole. This pushed the switch a little further back, but was otherwise a good mod. Since the frame had already been chrome plated, welding on the bracket would present some problems. A second problem was the factory clip for the ignition pigtail, adjacent to the hole. It had been badly damaged during the plating process, and was not being used. The rusty spot in the picture is where it once was, with a couple spot welds still visible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9dad7ddc-5320-4621-8178-571dba2160fb/A2A5DCD2-50F6-424D-AB06-72BDE3EB7E0A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out With the plate polished, the wire harness lengthened and sheathed, the dangling rectifier is ready for mounting. The stock kick stand was not cutting it, and the chrome shop seriously altered the mounting plate, making it much thinner than original. The thinness made for a loose fit, and angling back toward the chain. The lean on the bike was also a bit much, and could use some help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7569ad0c-6948-4dcf-a362-9850878a3193/871927DA-6DF7-434A-A5F2-F29A276BA6C2.jpeg THE BLOG - 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom Electrical Upgrade. - Make it stand out Just a small change, but the number plate fits a lot better up against the muffler. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2025/7/9/1962-honda-cb77cl72-race-bike-completion monthly 0.5 2025-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e3506f71-62e1-4c1f-8829-c5f03e8df089/4482B4FD-B2D3-45E0-9C87-8DCAFE8C2C7F.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Some of the parts that came with the bike were salvageable, but it took some re-welding and machining to make them like new again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/eb788419-4861-4574-90e2-70d65827f253/406FFA27-EBD9-4004-A228-2D0FEC8D74FC.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Some of the parts before polishing and prep for zinc plating. The plated parts go through a multi step process, with hot ultrasound degreasing, vapor honing, de-burring, sanding and then wire wheel burnishing before being sent off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a595e5b0-1c19-472c-8cdc-957c3425129a/059F2484-0334-406D-A4AE-BAFC72B9A92F.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The front fairing support was rubber mounted, and lowered an inch and a quarter to get the fit on everything just right. Some of the fairing support bracket and tachometer mount can be seen from this angle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d64cc50b-04a9-4977-b045-b664f7a1c0f9/AF8B2725-D410-4C66-BC1D-60293CA05441.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out One of the only pictures I got of the stainless cable stays. They keep the cables well away from the tires. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1509f778-ef03-4044-ba41-b1b2a5dd25f6/EBD2002C-3194-4AD2-9CEC-995766D716CE.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out It took some research to determine that the windshield was from a 1983-85 Suzuki GS750. Unfortunately, the only vendor that is selling an all clear version was in Poland. It took a little while to get it, but it looks excellent! All new mounting hardware and rubber was used to mount get it mounted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7b369cf2-88a5-41de-89ef-f70ee116d34a/B2FC9BA1-AD88-4688-8836-E1B226CB7914.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Even though these welds look somewhat passable, grinding them out revealed porosity under this surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a5846761-ef37-4222-8398-d4d9e4574ced/0A1550F4-BB04-4968-8008-7A41CCD03D73.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The unique water buffalo brake lever with two cables. The hardware on the clip-on handlebars were a mix of head sizes, so some OEM Honda hardware made for a CRF150R was substituted.The steering damper can be seen below the lever. It was painted and mounted using original hardware and rubber. Kind of cool that this was a factory part. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/55119870-5744-4321-8b6e-21c0a03f368c/0AEBB052-1F03-4FA0-93E9-85981A5A70FD.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Some of the aluminum polishing pile before.After machine polishing, the parts will be given a going over by hand with some cream polish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d1595aff-396d-4215-8982-d26f33619b44/E3615763-4114-434C-84EE-0594EAFF4416.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d0cb6df7-e291-4c72-97b6-5833ffad01a1/9E8EB65E-3693-44B7-99EF-82D54F295185.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The Suzuki GT750 front wheel hub all done up. After narrowing a total of 1 1/8”, and hardware re-plating, the front wheel looks pretty happy with these forks. Custom brake panel stays were built, along with stainless steel cable stays to keep the cables in place. The fork lowers were stripped, ground, and painted, then finished off with Ceriani style dust covers and clamps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ed0e98e1-e89c-48e9-8b7b-cdd7371a5dc0/59492D2D-B181-4D75-AA6F-7044B86FBF4B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The Suzuki GT750 “Water Buffalo” front wheel hub with two sets of twin leading shoe brakes. They had to be machined 9/16” on each brake panel to fit the Honda forks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2b2a4576-10f9-49a9-a3ef-ac45ae19998e/5EDEA3A4-FA1C-4296-93E3-BAEA589681AA.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The belly pan for the fairing was made from .060” 6061 aluminum. It was hand formed and smoothed on the English wheel, and then high polished to match the rest of the body kit. The fork opening of the fairing was in need of trimming. New chrome, black,, and clear edging was applied to all the openings and edges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6f7870d8-eeae-4ae4-b049-1e66c4123d19/F4FC377F-9041-4936-817D-8AD2354430AC.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The rear sets were gone through, repaired, and then sent out for chrome and zinc plating, before final installation. Original style footpeg rubber was sourced from Spain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0e406e13-9d24-4a39-8503-f5b51af4dc43/2F850115-4D0A-4404-A4F8-BB7058223C86.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Not taking any chances on scratches during the windshield install. The bottom of the windshield had to be trimmed, but it wasn’t too hard with the old windshield as a template. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cd2eef1a-caa9-412a-b8d6-92ae9cb4c721/4094FFBF-DE0F-4F86-A8AA-A29AE02B4745.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Not quite sure what it was made from, but parts of two different brake panels and a brake stay arm were put together to make the rear brake panel. After drilling venting holes, polishing, and getting the hardware plated, it looks a lot better. With the scoop facing the wrong direction to air flow, I felt the vent holes were needed to make it work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1ca58b59-fc90-4011-b87a-c23988f067db/C83773A2-5E9B-4CF8-B87C-B3D452744B13.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The 1962 Honda CB77 frame and CL72 engine, mated together with the Suzuki front brake and race fairing. The fairing was loosely attached, in need of trimming, and missing a belly pan. The windshield was badly fogged, the tank and seat were just sitting on the frame unattached, the rear sets components were in need of repair and installation, and the front wheel brake panels needed to be modified to fit the forks. There were other details, large and small, like the wiring harness that was built from scratch, brake cable joints machined from stainless steel, and tiny parts that needed to be refined and re-plated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8db0df0c-3338-465c-b695-b9f724083df5/AED8635D-A5C4-4AF4-A494-EFB556D57F5A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The wiring was in place enough to establish spark, but in need of a custom harness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f30af9d6-30a0-4871-851d-eee38480ddc8/44E4356B-6CC9-4F91-ACC4-2862D409E5ED.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Some of the small detail stuff like short seat mount bolts required attention. The foam was stripped off, and a new bracket welded up and installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a0128f22-e76a-466c-a032-3d617f963421/4010FAA1-2BEE-4EC9-8C4C-677A8D0D0BEF.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out So glad to find the clear windshield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/47c80cf3-530e-439e-a480-9b86d76b77a9/C1FD1943-525F-45FF-BE9C-A3A8DDECFFDB.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out A bracket to fit around the upper edge of the fairing was made to stabilize the fairing and allow the thin wings of the faring to be positioned in relation to the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d8cb6bff-9486-4a6c-b9a8-24a1f8a97bb1/C3649BA8-8061-4D38-85E0-53CB92E73A3A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out It looks fine now, but the rear brake panel came as a custom piece and was in need of some work to get it to be functional. The brake arm had to be cut and re-welded to get the geometry right, a stainless cable mounting yoke was made, and a custom set up to allow the cable end to fit in the brake panel mount. The rear brake cable is a stock NOS unit, sourced from the Netherlands. Vent holes were drilled, and the whole thing sanded and polished. The megaphone exhaust had been built without the two middle mounting brackets on each side, so those were added. The exhaust has a baked-on ceramic coating. The chrome shocks are an aftermarket set made for the Honda CB360. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4d091d51-a3b1-4e8b-99ee-a54746cd1967/F2B5FAA2-A94C-49E6-9BEA-8339FE266762.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out A power switch was tucked up next to the battery. The remainder of the harness was covered in black sheathing, and is all but invisible in comparison to its previous state. A Honda CB360 petcock made by Keihin was rebuilt along with new hoses and clamps to plumb the carbs. Just above the petcock, Suzuki-style mounting rubber can be seen, supporting the tank. The two middle mounts can be seen on the muffler, one at the back of the footpeg, and the other at the rear of the engine case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ab09ab2e-17d3-4c53-a6ba-76eb6795973d/64FF7EB4-D2D3-418C-8B91-D866247A45D6.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out After the tank was cushioned on the bottom, a simple loop over the rear hook secures the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1e7b2ee1-0aa3-4d19-90d9-8f7b837b81b2/A5777FAC-0316-43B6-8C02-0F020892738A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out An OEM left footpeg bracket was needed because of a missing muffler mounting tab, necessary because of the new middle muffler mounts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bd4bb40e-a836-470f-9701-060aad263a38/0D00EA09-5154-42CC-9722-8DAC82FD631C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out Steve had the seat cover made, and it is a beauty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4999d5cf-fb31-43fc-a37b-35b80a2f9d76/C3B17D9C-28C0-4CA6-9349-AEFD580ABDF8.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The badly fogged and scratched windshield and deteriorating rubber mounts, before repair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/422c5976-3453-42ee-a4ba-84aaaac5e014/0B2AEFE8-03D2-484B-B49A-491080813DDA.jpeg THE BLOG - 1962 Honda CB77/CL72 Race Bike Completion. - Make it stand out The Tomaselli clutch levers are so fine! A new cable bellows was found to finish it off, and the kill-switch body was high polished. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2025/7/1/the-1980-honda-z50r-chrome-custom-completion monthly 0.5 2025-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f3094d95-a1ec-4d8f-922d-206930accb0c/F2A018E2-AE6D-4E7D-8501-DF2BE8075DDB.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/52bc9973-66d2-4dfd-9a34-21df35080076/B15F48AD-A16F-4D29-80D2-D65C402160A6.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c2a33375-38f0-40fe-b38b-61a9c6a4f269/58A4DDD5-40CF-4EFE-B30B-B52158965938.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e589bc1d-9d03-4d91-8cd4-8dbbd46959bb/B5AAFA6C-6FD1-43DB-9B01-6BEA41A4BECC.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2071ba97-d07f-412d-80fa-6baaa8706b41/1E0D88FD-3A94-4466-B2C2-05D4B47ACC5F.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/30007f27-5adb-471a-be41-3a55b874fb77/FF2BF19F-0CCD-4312-BE85-CB7ADBA0D808.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/77829d57-3716-4935-ba91-ba73aef395db/F18BB718-06B6-477B-9087-FC498F2DD7C8.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ccf5cb74-8120-4a6b-aeca-5a5ba6788ad8/FBA19DA4-700D-4500-BD1E-7B47C8A07BBB.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cc51a435-f878-4e5f-b06e-cb597da89019/EB5DB598-7A78-4226-8E12-9573263570DC.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e37199eb-df7d-46cd-9fdf-6ebc75bacc39/E4C5B5CA-A124-4EA7-A817-FCE1B3BBCE6F.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8f269702-229e-4210-afea-2ada74e33b93/ABCB522C-68B5-48E6-9DD4-EC239DFBF675.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/328380ca-ad31-4b2e-ba36-a8c22cadacbe/C27D7C14-1FE8-4955-9280-3B232275E37E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a4943fd9-4b6a-4e3d-adfe-3e2f406beeef/F0EA0D8B-2816-45EE-8405-DB9DC7E7B9B2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom completion. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2025/6/21/the-1980-honda-z50r-chrome-custom-build-update monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/92903e84-96bb-4ec1-ba73-7844c55afd45/C8999555-A7D6-4011-B10E-301CE88F1CC2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out With the decals on the tank, it is starting to look like a finished bike.The polished kickstart and number plate have this side pretty much done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1484d82c-4a0d-4a36-a24e-985a67d35264/F0DC31F5-F11C-474B-BE2F-1C5E6B674ADB.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The little extra work makes a difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3c8257fa-6b5b-4a4f-8012-42c96840ef42/C7AD1DB1-4574-48F5-A37F-E7DECD15AFFB.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out High polish on the fairing! Because it was formed mostly by the English wheel, the surface was already burnished and smooth, and required only a little sanding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3f293af6-1208-4d05-81e7-95c48076a241/BC17BE60-EB13-465F-A535-1C7A027D5AB0.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The valve adjustment covers came out nice. All the stainless allen head screws were polished up as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3e7b2f97-8deb-4120-9b1a-dcaa1e709aed/28431F04-6F92-40AC-8E5A-F92A18E02C3E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The shorty levers will probably get sanded and polished out. Just need to take a couple days off from aluminum polishing. The red and blue anodized cable adjusters are from Takegawa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ace3d353-49e0-45cf-bc6b-8157913b0809/21C628AC-06B8-4C10-B79B-9B3EE7E19866.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out A bunch of pieces prior to sanding and polishing. The engine covers will be modified, with the cam chain cover getting trimmed, and the other covers smoothed and high polished. Some of the TB Parts pieces were shiny, but more a matte finish. The high polish finish will make them fit in with the rest of the parts better. Some of the marks from the English wheel are visible on the front fairing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7f8d2a04-7918-4a61-9fc0-16ef9abb67d8/36644661-5DDF-4180-9EE6-90C6E8048FE1.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out A set of Renthal Playbike bars was stripped of the shot-peen finish and polished out. The factory finish is quite durable, and was not easily removed. A set of reproduction Z50RD grips were sourced from NorthEast Vintage Cycle, as was the seat. A Takegawa magneto cover looks right at home without any additional polishing. The other engine covers need to be made to match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/44e5d723-2d1a-4fd7-9b7f-8b9f5a4a2f49/D6EEE5B9-EE2E-46F5-8F4F-B72DDBA60D9B.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The cam chain cover flange was rounded out, and everything high polished. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e630996d-dc91-4c67-9fd0-171bec5635a5/77757BAE-4927-4510-B77E-C63A80FB3936.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The gas cap looks so much better polished. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9226aa73-037e-498a-b1d1-6a608e2ecab9/43A69B15-9867-4F70-A150-A8A9DD154832.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The headlight is mounted from a single bottom post, and the existing fender and handlebar mounting points were used to secure the assembly that holds the headlight and fairing in place. The arrangement is a little unusual in the respect that the typical fork ears that a headlight mounts on were not used, and since that is also the usual fairing mounting point, it meant a great deal of force would be exerted on the headlight mount at the bottom of the bucket. A set of struts were made to go from the lower front fender mount for the headlight, up to the screws coming off the bottom of the handlebar clamps, and the fairing attached to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9100662a-b134-4ac8-86d6-d161a3c68a2f/AA968105-B32A-4BE3-BE18-BC645C6B397C.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out Other small details like filing the forging lines off the kickstart lever prior to high polish. The engine covers can be seen at top left. The stepped CNC finish is fine and probably dissipates heat a bit better, but the texture will be removed and the surface polished out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8b7722ba-f344-49d7-ac2e-8a81a57ed6be/4EBFD8A6-B17F-435F-8967-D6D510CA806F_1_201_a.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome custom build update. - Make it stand out The last batch of stuff for the chrome shop. The parts just behind the chain guard make up the headlight mount. when in place, the lower fender mount bolts will lock on the lower part of the mount, and the struts will provide support for the mount as well as the fairing mount. The fairing mount is at the top.of the picture. It will be interesting to see how the chain guard looks chromed. I thought about making it black to look like the original black plastic one, but I think it will look better shiny. Its a custom, after all. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2025/6/21/1980-honda-z50r-chrome-custom monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/01d84077-ca0f-445b-b48f-08981f6873f0/BC615DF5-7FC2-43A5-A750-DB0162B02208.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out Number plates made from .050 aluminum. They were made using a powered bead roller. High polishing will be next. It took a couple tries to dial in the size, but they are now exact matches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3965b885-3893-4bda-b0d1-b97ebfe66642/1EE664F0-BEA1-4776-B74C-B570BBBDBCAE.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out The TB Parts CDI was mounted on a custom plate made to fit behind the left number plate. A custom wire harness was worked out, using a 1972-1978 style harness, and some adaptors for the CDI box, and voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is tucked under the frame, just behind the coil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2c5bd7bc-6680-4a83-a20c-2000b9377064/EC314A2C-59D2-47FD-87F4-FD52EE4E5EA7.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a144a1e8-27f4-48df-ac9e-3edc8934ee8b/6BCD126D-7DAD-49F7-B66A-16AE1683DF9C.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out The wheels and muffler mounted and we have a roller. There will be a set of Renthal alloy bars coming soon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/945ca8f2-8c86-464c-ad95-c6d0ec4c684f/F7DAED66-2328-4BA1-82B4-A8C99270171F.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out Everything was stripped and blasted prior to going off for chrome.the mounting screws on the back of the muffler were leaking and subsequently brass brazed. The muffler is slightly larger than the original stock pipe. I have had some good performance from these aftermarket pipes, even though they are slightly smaller than the performance pipes sold for these bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d4779633-9876-4ba7-b5d6-521ea24df3e1/B2C50F11-24DE-4059-93BC-61BCEB18D437.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out New alloy rims, polished wheel hubs and brake panels from 1970-1979 Z50’s, along with some Takegawa reinforcement rings and polished stainless steel hardware make up the wheel set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ad77a688-5fb4-4d5a-8e3a-7e969ac38e5b/83A5E688-A1F5-4477-85B4-C1CCE8AAFFD4.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out A tail light was built using an existing lens. The final one will be red instead of amber (just using it for mock-up to keep the red one scratch free.) The shell and reflector are made of steel and will be chrome plated. There is an existing hole on each side of the frame that will allow a single long bolt to pass through, and secure the unit. Coming up: The next post will cover more details of the build including a bikini front fairing, and hopefully the bike being taken off the bench. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e0d2b44d-0bfe-4350-96e0-5db930e5c5eb/8FD75FF8-3DC0-4C21-B496-3AEA8E383740.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out The engine is mounted unready for finishing. The fenders, seat, shocks, and tank being placed on the bike make it start to look like something! The rear shocks are 305mm Kitaco brand. The original shocks were 280mm, but the added length is to compensate for the swingarm extension. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b5ed0803-3cd8-4e90-b4a3-9ac43ebb5543/B4F0E1A7-03C1-4474-935A-5B585A654223.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out With all the chrome on this bike, the cases have to be high polished to match. A lot of aluminum parts were polished out, including the wheels, handlebars and clamps, kickstarter, gas cap, number plates, front fairing, and of course, these cases. Buffing is a nasty job, but the bling is worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/21bfe9ff-c126-4a9e-be4f-75626ba82ffc/34E3C7C3-D2D7-4042-87B6-9F1463592647.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out The 2004 CRF50 engine was completely dismantled. A takegawa lightened stroker crank, a heavy duty clutch, high volume oil pump, 52mm cylinder and piston, rolling rocker head, four speed tranny, and lightened flywheel will make up the base engine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f97f327f-155c-46b0-9fdf-5a4b5ce502e7/18DA7B76-B4B7-4E43-B847-CDBA55A30AB7.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out A chain guard being made from steel. Because of the extended swingarm, a stock guard would not fit. Though the original was black plastic, this one will be chrome plated. The indentations on the side of the guard were made with a bead roller. Some of the parts of the indentations were worked with a ball end punch, and a coining punch on the backside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3cc7a514-e768-499d-8708-2c2dc0517fa7/DDE3B213-C863-4E16-BBBA-5B0E2746377C.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out Everything back from the chrome shop, waiting to be fitted together. The footpeg mount was from a CRF50. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/580fb719-b211-4442-9a40-c7303ea029aa/9866889E-40F0-4981-978D-BC93B5C0F162.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out A 90 Watt Ricky Stator was used to keep the light good and bright. This one was made for the CRF50, and has three wires coming off the pigtail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b19679fa-919a-460b-bca2-a83c0ed70e7f/E4A29402-5181-4EC1-8526-E1CC4482602C.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out New steering head bearings, fork internals and seals, and swingarm bushings were used to get the frame back together. A stock ignition coil was mounted in the stock location, but will be later switched out for a Takegawa 12 Volt unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/30cfa00f-6d07-4bf4-a146-a5af594efb91/E385E757-7291-4B97-87CA-B56936DEFB91.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out A stock swingarm was lengthened 55mm using a custom jig. .250” wall DOM steel tubing was used to make the extension slugs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aa2189e6-aa07-405e-956c-a0d8980a20a8/0C221960-DBBD-4752-9E80-F59EE1219C87.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out The flywheel was significantly lighten to allow the engine to spin up faster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4a505b70-a7ef-4008-9b8d-ffa4fbe8d8d9/D7FE5DAF-7882-49BD-A2B0-77A5AA9ED559.jpeg THE BLOG - A Tribute to the Z50RD. 1980 Honda Z50R Chrome Custom. - Make it stand out I bought some OEM Honda fenders a few years back, that are made to go on the Z50RD. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/12/20/1979-honda-z50r-restoration monthly 0.5 2025-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c7f6b006-688a-43fe-9d4b-2ad94faaa263/7E126EA0-C612-4391-9E4C-56DD70B13738.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The familiar flywheel from the earlier Z50A model and the four wire pigtail. Even without any plans for lighting, it is nice to know that with a few items like an early model wire harness and a couple of switches, that it is ready to go. This engine had obviously been exposed to some moisture, but nothing too bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4b9b65a2-2f81-49fa-9ee4-0ac36091319f/189664BB-C640-49EC-AE21-8C8B7DC6CB0B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The final product. She starts easy like a Honda should, and runs well. One of the give-aways that this is the early points ignition engine, is the magneto cover. The R model switched to a CDI ignition, using a CDI box, different flywheel, stator, and cover, in the early eighties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f03e0d69-3d2b-44e1-9bb4-2a7b24151c26/DC8442EC-BA0E-4119-88BD-B8834006776C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out A kickstand was made to replace the missing one. The footpeg mount and kickstand as well as the brake pedal are also holdovers from the earlier Z50A models. The one year only handlebar mounts were also common to other small Honda models, and allow for them to be switched out. A year later, the handlebars were fixed in place, and too low for adult riders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bd9184ff-77df-4c5b-a404-2c02bbdc253e/D6FCF432-0159-4982-950D-E5E506AA18E5.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out Everything is nice and fresh. All the original hardware was re-plated, and new OEM Honda hardware was used for any missing or mangled pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b89c2974-b3f5-4297-a6e5-39be9f7c3da3/A5FB1FD8-3A3E-4BC3-986F-9F040FECA195.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The engine carnage included a busted transmission gear, A seized output shaft bearing, a stripped oil pump drive sprocket, and a broken shift arm. The broken gear-selector arm was a new defect for me to find. Even with somewhere around seventy-five total engine restorations, you can still see something new every once in a while. A good used gear and gear selector arm were pulled from my bins, as well as a side cover for the head. The head covers change slightly over the early model years, and Honda only used the one for this bike for a couple years. I had probably two dozen of the earl style cover, and fortunately, a good correct one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/61eee05f-a7cd-4236-894c-2105e6b6058e/7BAD13C8-E4B7-4551-AA49-B8754AF31F6C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out Zooming forward, the engine has been rebuilt to stock specifications, and aftermarket tank, fenders, fork legs, shocks, and seat from HondaTB Parts were used. A good used OEM air filter assembly is yet to be added, sitting in a tray in the right lower corner of the picture. The frame was painted with two-stage PPG paint, aquired from Marble Motors, in the Tahitian Red color used on the first couple years of the R model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/db9be40e-89af-4752-8e8f-0158780175e7/0775C218-43FC-41D8-A851-96511A315C8F.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The one year only muffler and heat shields getting ready for paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2dfbe363-0837-4e33-977d-74489fc4115f/1AC4A47F-C76C-4520-9586-F70751721072.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The HondaTB Parts fenders and tank match the Tahitian red fairly well. The handle bar cross bar was slightly loose and bent, and had to be straightened and re-brazed prior to powder coating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1cecc7a3-d3e5-406e-8489-81775095333b/9E704ED5-9145-4422-9A53-6FAA17F0F117.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The frame was in fairly good shape, but some chain rash on the swingarm had to be repaired. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b4c800e1-af77-4c62-9676-b14f073fc6ae/B2C64FE9-ECEF-4B9D-91CC-3F4FE4F3A6E9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out A previous owner had switched out the tank for a 1978 model. The seat and fenders were trashed, kickstand and chain guard missing, and the engine had yet to reveal some of its ugliness. A later model Z50R might have been something I would pass on doing a restoration, but this first year model is a favorite of mine in stock condition. It is one of the more rideable minis for an adult, with its tall bars. The 1979 also retained the larger 4- hole wheel hubs and rims from the earlier model Z50A, as well as the lighting stator, making it easy to add lights to this unit.It was also the first Honda Z50 with plastic fenders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a8b84f9d-eec6-4249-af88-cf16bcf33c8e/12853308-A58E-42DB-9F8B-1C7A9422077E.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out New coils, plugs,and wiring were used to get the stator plate back to new condition. The store kit and ignition coil are also HondaTB Parts pieces, and come with everything needed, even the seal for the crankshaft and stator plate rim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d5e7b76c-de95-45c4-8803-de8a401fb9c5/6777C715-4441-47D5-8FB1-1EB0A785D3D8.jpeg THE BLOG - 1979 Honda Z50R Restoration. - Make it stand out The 1979 model also had a unique muffler and heat shield, and the number plate was not used on the right side. The muffler is the same as the Z50J model, but with a larger diameter header and tail pipe. The muffler canister on this bike was showing signs of rot, so a good used one was substituted. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/12/1/td3jhoznhw3bbrr05r1lbs7mvs88s7 monthly 0.5 2024-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/48a01682-eda9-4604-8bef-9fc385ae81e3/4BDD32A6-3A6B-476B-8252-045D3193F5BA.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Everything starting to go together. The forks were completely rebuilt, with the top fork caps once again requiring three different sets purchased till the “right” ones were found. I say” right” ones, because while one threaded easily, the other one took three hours to fit into the tops. The threads were not quite right, probably as a result of the chrome plating process, and had to be cleaned before a smooth fit was achieved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0be41fae-a2ae-47d2-812b-4de2b09c601f/C9E822E8-A9A0-4302-A991-BAFF702A34DE.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The original side cover and tail-light mount pieces were in decent shape and were polished up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/716aa9eb-575b-41eb-aaf0-875a8f51522f/38171141-1400-472B-BB1F-0270379ABC69.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Stainless steel rims and spokes were sourced from Devon Rims in the UK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e75f1c3c-bbb9-4efb-8960-ed1b70e162ef/44F17883-6D59-431D-97D2-FF7E01B167CE.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The primary cover was said to be NOS when purchased online, but it had a dent in need of some persuasion. The dent was carefully tapped out, followed by a good polishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bdbe9690-c012-40f3-88c8-1e28fc9828e3/CAA34BF4-D1EF-4BE6-BB63-17906BBCB188.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The new Lucas stator and fresh cadmium plated hardware have the primary cover looking done, but the factory sheathing on the pigtail, beside being imprinted with white lettering, is oversized, and does not fit through the exit hole. A smaller unmarked sheathing was found, and the original wires were fished through it. Thinking the larger sheathing is not an issue on other larger bikes.The cub has Triumph ET ignition, also found on larger bikes. The new sheathing can be seen in the pictures of the finished bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/012fdbd0-e7d9-41a0-b17c-3e6f458db5b5/676BBFCA-5CA4-4FEC-9DAC-E5AD3B823AED.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Have always appreciated the beauty of these engines designed by Ed Turner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1f36ea1a-5457-457f-baec-dfd30a3cca09/E4944B63-45B9-43BA-AA8F-421588AA9E62.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The aforementioned points plate. In retrospect, I should have known it was bogus, given the skill level of the last person to work on this. In the end, a used plate was sourced from Klemph’s British Parts, along with the correct set of points. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b19b2b60-cd23-413a-a1dd-2f619901de4c/9C62C758-F359-4617-8358-7F0466D6660A.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The hole in the oil line was small, but with the oil pump’s pressure, it was a squirt gun. Prior to re-plating, there was no significant rust on the outside of the pipes, suggesting it rusted from the inside out. Kind of unusual, but given the rust in the engine, it now makes sense. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a6e596a0-d20c-4bbc-aad1-ad23f858586f/EB3E3EF3-D618-473C-92B6-A22B4EF424F2.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out A lot of small details go into a restoration. New badges had to have the tank colors painted into them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4b12e384-27db-492e-b07f-fb0acfe4c678/45ADCD28-0480-4F65-BB29-C4D94D914184.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Getting the timing worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7d9b7ac1-2e94-4fe6-811c-554bf6204177/8FF1C30A-48A5-4E05-901B-54112CA2EB9F.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Three miles on the odometer, the bike has been started, ridden, and is going through several heat cycles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/386e5055-4e51-4c22-91b2-6c3100bd5a58/38EE8AB3-5490-4310-BF3C-B894562F6BC3.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Big change from the before pictures seen in the last post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/97d79ba2-df22-4320-8592-109d07b5cc4b/1E6AACB1-768B-4D43-AC3B-CA43E4DAB950.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out …at Big D Cycles! Here in their parking lot, after my buddy’s first ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fb1bc647-dea1-4aa3-a053-d5b2e85756de/51A2412F-12CE-4485-8796-4637B47D544B.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out With the cam and timing gear in place, ithe engine is just waiting on the push-rod tube, and the head can be torqued down, and the side covers put on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f4b7eecd-55dc-41a6-8fce-cd40409d7a0e/5D09CA26-2F52-4AB0-85BD-CF8DBC3E75B1.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The finished bike. The oil stains on the concrete were from the first start-up. Yet another curveball, a pinhole revealed itself in the steel oil pipe coming out of the oil pump. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f7b33cde-4e35-4968-8ce7-f0be1802ddb4/27D0A030-2E14-453C-A70C-A625043915B3.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out To paint the tank badge recesses, they had to be masked a couple times: once to scuff them up, and a second time for paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/38fd0943-923e-43ca-bb63-90b16648404c/AFED2CE1-614E-4A34-AEF1-47B412D49340.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out One of the curveballs in the build was misalignment of the rear frame. In this picture, the difference is being worked out using a spacer on the left side. the subframe was taken off and straightened a little bit, allowing the fender to line up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e3095f6d-5097-40d6-9f5b-a0c9b44a8a8e/DC6D9C96-FBD7-4F25-845B-1F165E27A1FE.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The entire headlight assembly was missing, and was built from an aftermarket shell, and a lot of NOS Lucas Electric parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/03a11a13-dc5e-43f4-817f-caf627aa3587/A11340C8-88B4-4DBC-BC70-F233DF145EBE.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The finished Badges, re-plated cap, and kneepads have the tank looking done. The paint was done by Jason Small, of Dallas, Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6cfac101-a878-4c88-8394-6208276151fe/tempImagevqJ1gH.jpg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out The bike being put together to make it a roller at Big D Cycles in Dallas, Tx. prior to the rebuild. The journey began at Big D, and ended…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/82256d07-e5d3-4bbd-9232-4ef600cc1846/34E846BE-E547-4A1E-9BEF-3250542CC675.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration - Make it stand out Ready for fall. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/10/7/ptizr8pwsjmgy9h144rdb8scexl3rs monthly 0.5 2024-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d93f7078-6be0-4d0a-8234-5b0f12c25eaf/9D4E1E41-55D6-4624-9EDC-3A16BE63B8B7.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Quite a bit of work to get to this point. The frame parts and front wheel hub were sent to Triad Specialty Coating in Lewisville, Texas for the gloss black powder coat. There was also a second batch of powder coat done later in the build after a rear wheel hub was found, and some fender brackets fabricated. The painted parts will be done by Jason Small, and the hardware sent off for plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3ae54a3d-b64b-486e-961b-e6839bd18a66/F6D1720F-B420-4C5C-9B3B-441758A4A319.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out After return from Delta Cams in Spokane, Washington, The welded and re-ground lobes look great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2bd10aa3-3eb1-49cb-afd6-2596f43f60c8/DB367DDE-41E5-450D-81F6-E5DFC799CFB6.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out A fresh tray of cad plated hardware is so satisfying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4759dcb8-12e4-4fdb-b594-07a94bf042af/EA282619-D4C5-45A2-A3EC-5A8AD07BC810.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out After some welding and brass brazing, it looks a lot better. Some additional touch-up was done on the steel, and then off to powder coat. On the bottom right, the other frame member can be seen after the extra holes were welded up, and the brass along the brazed joints cleaned up. Behind the fenders, the front fender screws hole repair can be seen peeking over the edge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9de57b36-bde7-46dd-8929-cde1b82fd1b7/53F91528-0BB1-4020-A0AB-E9A6A84B30AD.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Another repair was necessary on the rear brake panel due to gouging from the sprocket screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f0dd3bc6-b3cd-425e-ad99-e48207cd80d8/B25387A6-1886-4B1D-AC92-70AEA95B4AC8.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The cushions for the clutch hub were replaced. They were somewhat difficult to source, which is what I have come to expect from a Cub restoration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f8ed58ae-57cc-4c41-88d0-d3a2634522c0/0D8034C2-9EB2-41C1-BDB9-62E8D04E91CA.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out After some clean-up, sludge trap replacement, and a new crankshaft pin placed in, the crank was re-assembled, and aligned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c9dcdd35-7676-4dcd-8758-2e9c0574e5b2/tempImageqULr0Y.jpg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out As the bike came to me. Most of it is there, but the missing headlight, carb, and oil feed were costly or difficult to find. I had seen an ad online from Big D Cycles, offering the bike in pieces, and stating it would be taken to the Barber Vintage Motorcycle swap meet, if no taker was found. I thought about it a week or so, and called them, only to find it already on the road to Barber. I told them if it came back, I wanted it, and they said they would call if that was the case. Three weeks later, I walked into Big D Cycles for another unrelated bike, and they told me the cub had returned from Barber unsold only a few hours before! A deal including an NOS coil was made, and the build was begun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4cf0f3e1-2962-4535-8634-e19e85294bd9/C104E48F-5891-421D-A298-EC0E28B6122F.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Fortunately, the crank ends were pristine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f90d24a9-f175-4807-af68-81a74c9b3793/680F65CE-946D-4FE7-BC1A-30E4543B3829.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Everything after degreasing, prior to paint stripping. The parts are then run through the vapor hone machine prior to repair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a9da2609-81a0-4eb3-b480-800d2ddb1ba8/14C65636-4F9C-486C-9DD7-A9DBBE77CAF2.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out An NOS head was found in pristine condition. The guides were already pressed in and reamed, and the new valves slipped in perfectly. The exhaust spigot had never been mounted, and needed sone tapping out. Lacking the proper tap, another spigot was fashioned into a tap by some notching. It took a bit if time, but in the end, it worked just fine. All new springs, valves, clips, and retainers were used in the assembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/40d65c21-6b92-44ba-8555-e4f21af49e4a/71EA010D-4A2A-424B-8B0A-8095D63CF993.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The original hardware before stripping. After a hot degreaser ultrasound bath, they are vapor honed, burnished on a wire wheel, and then cadmium plated at Texas Precision Plating in Garland, Texas. There were quite a few missing, damaged, and incorrect replacement nuts, washers, screws, and bolts. I actually did two batches of stuff because it took a while to find some parts, and I didn't want to delay the build waiting till everything was collected. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bb45c55a-079d-42e6-a7d7-7cc1443b1e04/F1E33813-7CD4-4689-B2C7-0550D486873D.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out With the engine locked up, it took more than a few hours to break it down to this point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4bc6109e-a4a0-4c56-a076-3f203da82417/tempImage4RFfJp.jpg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The entire rear wheel aside from the repaired brake panel was scrapped. The bosses for the sprocket were chipped up, and drilled out, with through bolts holding the sprocket on. Definitely a hardware store fix. Finding a new hub was a little challenging, but after finding one, a second in even better shape was found. The shocks were shot and were replaced with Hagon brand units with NOS springs added by Mitch Klemph of Klemph’s British Parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d8d510e5-8261-458e-aeeb-e537e4f89b0c/B0BDE178-DB4C-4FA2-8893-DFBDFF158551.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The inside of the engine shows how water coming through a removed valve cover went down the pushrod tube and onto the timing gears and cam. The timing gears were replaced with NOS pieces, and all bushings bearings and seals were renewed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5b3107ec-966e-433c-9b95-375f648086b6/tempImageYFb4PV.jpg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out One end of the frame member supporting the kickstand and brake lever was ripped, where it had been welded to the swingarm bolt and frame sub member. The frame member was replaced with a decent used one. The brake pedal was badly bent, and was heated and re-formed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/da81f65a-1333-44bb-a059-1784f8fcd2cf/E6E6C272-8F9A-45CC-9625-EC28848139AA.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out After repair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/89cc023b-96c3-4021-b676-249af167062f/8FD22922-89DA-45E2-9C53-68715134F4F0.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Things look a lot better with all the new parts. A new layshaft and two gears, shift plate, quadrant pawls, and selector rod were put in along with the new oil pump. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/84b719d9-2994-4515-bca6-e1e63f83addd/2777D131-3328-4513-9D01-93A7FA2432B8.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The cam was badly pitted, and the lack of a replacement forced other options to be considered. A shop in the North West of the country was found that could recondition it and the followers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/98032c39-6c51-4e46-975c-f2de4b4d652f/C4DFAC65-E238-42B1-A5FA-C074ECB0C254.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The tail light assembly had been whacked at some point, denting the fender, and bending and tearing this plate. The bends were easy enough to smooth out, and the tears were aligned and welded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5ffd5de6-52f7-458f-b88b-5cee6d887dca/tempImageNbN3oW.jpg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Everything was well worn and some things downright abused. As bad as it all looks, the muffler, brake pedal, and airbox in this pic were all usable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c6c54595-64e5-4e49-88c0-cd25795da03c/9BEB334A-FF0E-435F-8F67-5EAC6AACA32C.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The finished tail light face after welding. It will get sanded a little smoother and then sent off for powder coat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9385ab7d-8e2f-4977-991d-aca4f405a499/7660CB23-706C-421F-A10D-912D7884446A.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The sub-frame where it had been welded. This was obviously a bush fix by someone inexperienced. The brass in the joints will make for weld contamination, and porous wells. It also looked like some of the brass was melted out by the heat of the weld. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f5f704a7-a6b6-4f36-9d53-4ae3094079b8/0C56234D-96DE-445A-A89F-C9FC2EB5C9D7.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out Some serious water vapor damage. The rusty standing waterline can be seen on the inside of the side cover. Luckily, the water level never reached the crank shaft or transmission shafts, but some of the vapor caused some pitting. Most all of the primary was rebuilt, with the clutch basket and hub rebuilt, and all new chain, plates, springs, cushions, posts, bearings, and outer pressure plate. The ignition stator was replaced with a new Lucas brand unit, made for Triumph ET ignition systems.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/407f1ba5-4ab8-4852-8ae3-8d241dc3a4cf/8A03B010-7B00-4854-B182-8F4DF3E143FA.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The head was also in such poor shape, it was scrapped. The valves were so thoroughly stuck, that two different valve compressors were bent trying to press them out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a7662192-3866-4b12-ae35-75c74de53620/BA83ABF3-2C4E-4EA3-8C99-5DFD7D879304.jpeg THE BLOG - Another 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop - Make it stand out The used replacement member had some extra holes drilled through the tube, and some brass around all the brazed joints. The front fender stay also needed some repair on the screw hole. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/9/24/8yfifvbwf2di2ql8n9w3006on5z8f3 monthly 0.5 2024-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bd16d915-47b5-47d6-bc99-0a6cf2c0918f/C0F976F5-E545-4EDD-B472-5148D142D769.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out She always has that look like she's headed somewhere... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/70239996-e41a-45f6-921b-28b05d2e6433/E0CFD6D0-8C16-46EA-84D2-1AF7E6D48746.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Laquita finally had a little shine put on her. During building, one of the guidelines was to not do any polishing. The exhaust and rear turn signal assembly were found used, and were not even cleaned before they were put on. For the show, I finally decided to hand polish the chrome, Even polished up, there is still enough patina present to keep the spirit of the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/041db987-f4c3-4fdd-a4a1-27300eb00ed5/C5DEC06B-D48E-41F6-B811-47188AC997E3.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out The trike and Flaquita in the club were one of three pictures I took the entire day. Guess its a good show when you are too busy to pull out the camera. The Tijuana Trike was a late entry for the show line-up. Originally thinking four bikes were enough and the trike might be too much, the space said otherwise, and the trike was brought along. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/860dd217-5c8b-46dd-ae26-cf2d9c8d4d05/1B3E0A94-767C-4430-A675-EDA3CCC1DB66.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Always a favorite color scheme, black, white and red can’t be beat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/633e2460-0156-428d-ae34-5e527605e8b9/DD7AC80A-6544-4A11-BE82-9F40092483B9.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Here is the crew upon return from the show. The oldest of the bunch is the Scorpion bike in the foreground, originally put together in 2005. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d390a5eb-7353-46f6-9bc9-2f1c6fb1a42a/AA6F0956-7CCE-4123-ACCC-C82BE33CE370.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Th El Scorpion bike was stripped of some parade gear and a shameful amount of dust. This ride has seen hundreds of parade miles with The World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi, but has sat dormant while other bikes (and the trike) have taken its place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a981e2bf-3ac4-4cc3-8afd-d33c4122e4ae/FE5A00A6-6E8D-4889-BB30-E3960874D52A.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out The before, with cup holder, handlebar pouch, and an unseen saddle bag on the left side of the bike, and a thick layer of dust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/32d98893-0c14-40ef-98ff-a3106d11ef4c/E2651319-C427-4B8D-9C20-2AC96418AA03.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Since it is a chopper show, I picked out bikes I thought would fit the theme. The 1969 Honda Z50 Chopper on the far left is the closest thing to a chopper in the shop, but long handlebars, seats and sissy bars on three others fit the look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/110c1aa3-a054-4030-a85d-b79170c400f9/E87F2DA1-6D97-4414-B6F9-1D77FA74A00C.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Fall color collection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b5fd5a07-5c77-4450-a80c-8206ce0efb23/49E5F7DF-9C10-478D-B553-0BCF9E386625.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out The Takegawa Special clutch, rolling rocker head, stroker crank, and close ratio gearbox are just a few of features on this 110cc racer. Seeing the rest of the polished chrome makes me think its time to polish these or get another set (the front could use an inch of lift, in my opinion.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c3452ad6-83f9-4bc6-99dc-35ec64cbecfc/93F38225-46F4-423B-BB3E-2C8623A2AB10.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Not to be mistaken for a chopper, but the CRFU50, built in 2015 is full custom all the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a3aaf621-dafe-4703-94c2-c5586fc04d4b/EC7C267C-0469-4DE0-91A9-5CC3123597A4.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Built in 2006-2007, the 1969 Honda Z50A chopper was one of the earliest full custom bikes I did. Previous customs had hand made parts, but the frames and forks were left largely stock. This bike was made to resemble the original 1969 livery, with similar paint, wheels, fenders, handlebars, and exhaust. Even the seat is a smaller version of the originals (with seat springs to take away some of the hardtail harshness.) For the show, the bike was relieved of more than a little dust, and the front fender removed. Just thought it looked better that way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aa816404-23bb-42b3-9c05-96ec43655163/6C45901F-4D15-4B84-B07B-127BEAC83AA4.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out Getting the chrome and aluminum polished out brought this girl back to life! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d668a6fe-1ce6-4095-b7d7-4efda82dc444/6B084E57-7E0C-4D35-A0D1-430224CA065F.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Denton Texas Burnouts Custom Motorcycle Show. - Make it stand out After a good cleaning. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/8/26/1963-ducati-diana-mark-lll-completion monthly 0.5 2024-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6a8659b0-f78f-4109-828b-e516c81e8b9b/tempImagePaypyE.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The speedo is from another model, and only goes to 80MPH. The original one is hard to find, and goes up to 110MPH. Once again, the Ducati styling of this era was just classically beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8ecb8508-c97f-4dcf-a3cf-920cef327507/02AAD85B-ECAF-4FD9-ACAD-543667D78274.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The front number plate/windscreen showed up in the Berliner advertisements, but it is unclear if this was a factory part. This one was made from aluminum and Lexan, and modeled from the Berliner brochure images. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ebc67680-abf2-48fb-8046-54f028107c37/tempImagersZOTi.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out After replacing and re-plating hardware, some cleaning and polishing and a bunch of new parts, the beauty of this Ducati design shines through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5ea1d428-035d-403d-b56e-1ec3116571d3/tempImageRjasIa.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out A photo prior to the front number plate and correct hand grips being placed on the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ab95df00-4410-4650-82ca-60e6d1089927/tempImageZfNwlc.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The beautiful Dell Orto SS1 27mm carb and velocity stack. Everything was polite, re-plated, and missing parts replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ba145392-27f5-4b0d-87e5-e9ec7ca6443b/tempImageKTzWPQ.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out While similar to the Mark III seat, the front mounting bracket needed modification to fit with the tank and frame. The seat had been re-covered at some point, and a number of extra holes drilled into the side bars of the seat frame, to mount rivets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/64b99647-ef7c-4703-b417-45d9cb639c53/B32C4FBC-0F6D-40B1-8C17-1588576751EB.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out On display at its final destination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f1a8d0c5-7726-4b3d-b763-d30ec7e38668/24E1DE4B-1AD7-4310-B8F7-FEEC97B42B41.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out A 1963 (1964?) Ducati Diana Mark III 250 came through the shop a while back. It was partially restored, and needed to have the last bit of the job done. The bike was owned at one point by Jason Small, who also painted it. During the research and restoration, some of the information suggested it was a Mark III model, a US version imported by Berliner with a competition set-up. With that in mind, it was modeled as closely to the specs of the original, with the exception of the muffler. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b364dbf8-5888-48a5-b277-7bb323956bef/84175147-5FE5-4EF7-AFDB-23BF443C3C27.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The bike as I found it. Paint had been done, but a bunch of parts were missing, and the everything needed cleaning and detailing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/818dcaf4-6b81-49a3-927a-383d21e9c615/72845A6C-91B3-4DE6-9264-AAB4A2C8F331.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The engine was loosely bolted in, and in need of some work, but was said to be in running condition prior to tear-down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/92c37786-cac4-4ad1-a7b0-c90c9c5b50d8/tempImageOQPjDZ.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out A badly worn seat came with the bike, but did not fit properly, and did not resemble the original seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ea388605-2565-4894-92df-529da90a2e0b/tempImagejcEr7k.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The design of the original seat is unusual in that it has a thin layer of foam sewed into the seat cover, and laid over a spring frame. The original foam was falling to pieces, so a duplicate was made from high density close cell foam. In this picture, the seat assembly was getting ready to go to the upholstery shop ( Xtreme Upholstery in Denton, TX,) where the seat cover was made and sewed through the foam. The other detail that had to be worked out was the pointed tail of the seat. Since there was no original seat to model from, it was based on pictures from brochures and other bikes. A close-cell foam form was made and placed at the rear, but the fact that the rear panel on the seat is not supported by any frame at the bottom, it floats somewhat, and was difficult to support. I was very happy with the final result. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0bf0714b-d2b9-405f-ab5f-ab86ee6fd1f1/95ADED41-57CC-4C73-891F-17AD9E3E6B15.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out Even the tail light was kept small to minimize weight, but still satisfy racing categories that require stock unmodified bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5bed4fff-7ead-4ee0-8f54-11a91036203c/tempImageQ7KvtS.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out Classic Ducati styling from a great era of motorcycle styling and building. Touted as a ready to race factory model, The Mark III was stripped down, and fitted with performance parts. A larger competition type Dell Orto carb and velocity stack, twin tank petcock feeds, free flowing exhaust, and other mods produced a reported 30 horsepower from the 250cc engine! The competition tachometer, clip-on handlebars, passenger peg delete, and battery-less ignition rounded out the package. Items found on other Diana models like side covers, air, tool, and battery boxes were also stripped off to save weight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7a0043f8-7f68-4dbf-babb-5d25fe6ebc91/CF836A75-FBBD-486F-B6CB-CAD39CF042A9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out After the seat frame was modified, the holes were welded up on the side rails, and it was painted. Andy at Xtreme Upholstery did a phenomenal job on the cover, even adding the canvas underside. I added the special front mounting tabs, seat strap and badge, and the mounting side rivets to finish it off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1f1182d8-36e2-4dbb-8395-aa5c71c966f1/A21A4590-56B8-4DFD-AC2A-D79C9E32BA6E.jpeg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out The original Berliner spec sheet. The five-speed gearbox on this bike suggests it could be a 1964 model, as the four speed was a four-speed. The serial number, however, suggest a late 1963. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e8c22658-5ed8-4dfe-b15b-e244e3260ad3/tempImagegHl3E7.jpg THE BLOG - 1963 Ducati Diana 250 Mark III completion - Make it stand out A failed tank liner was stripped from the tank, and it was re-lined with POR-15 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/6/11/iqdfk85l1xv03g7n6scspd8ec5rudb monthly 0.5 2024-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/65637758-7d3a-48e6-8027-6e859c398bb4/116CC621-4629-44F2-8BF1-C10C5CE67EAF.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out …the Dino scoop is also forward facing. In the case of both designs, I can find no other similar examples online. This scoop attaches to the stock air box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0e9818da-e529-4b1a-ba0a-7f606e360afd/2F31F5A2-3EFA-4AC5-85D5-5421A8B96EC7.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/69ceaed4-8cb3-40aa-98d5-39da940ea46e/D240EB6A-D5C4-4C06-9FFA-7E5859E76A17.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/841aec7c-889e-48b7-97a5-65367a52d156/4C422355-2DFA-46C3-9F8F-D70A10627C3C.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/739bdc5e-cd79-4297-8a07-98eebb09ab44/CD7A77EF-8AEA-4F13-BE28-515C78473332.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Just showing some of the similarities in the designing for these bikes. A forward facing scoop on the CT117 was one of the signature features… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4e56eead-808f-42de-95eb-e1715f8aa13a/7BC849F4-C7EF-4F2E-A33E-B7312F7D3741.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b555db08-f764-472d-8888-509fa05f025c/B29CFFAE-6D98-45B6-B836-F20919CF79BB.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out The source of a great deal of grief. When I went to start the engine, it would only run at high RPM, and carburetor adjustments, jet changes, and an entirely new carb had little effect on the running. After several weeks waiting on the carb parts, checking the wiring, coil, and engine valve timing and clearances, searching for intake air leaks, fuel starvation, and a load of other stuff, I finally remembered a similar engine starting problem. It reminded me of a similar problem getting the Cabracer 360 bike started. In that case, an aftermarket ignition set-up was misaligned, and scored the rotor. A quick check under the flywheel showed a score line on the flywheel. In the case of both engines, they would fire intermittently, but could only be kept running at high RPM, and were transformed to normal starting and running with new flywheels. This engine has a 12 Volt conversion with CDI ignition, which uses the magnet position to sense flywheel location., as was the one on the Cabracer 360 engine. My theory is that the score line produces a slight bit of magnetism in the aluminum portions of the flywheel, and confuses the sensing enough it cannot run right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fe52ae10-70e4-4bf6-a423-b465a492373f/E369000D-79E1-4154-963A-4AF3207425DD.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Another unique feature was the rear hinge on the seat, and the gas cap poking through the front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/df4e1f17-5a86-44e5-ad96-8f46e08bc757/3ECE0252-F471-413B-A439-65DE7C195757.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Even though the exhaust looks similar to the original, the heat shield was arched to make it thinner, and the canister was formed to match. The shield was also turned around and given a hidden hook bracket to secure the rear portion tight to the canister. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/61960116-0b46-40ad-8bec-a99e5727cfc7/A36559F3-483A-46D7-BAAD-686D8984FB79.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out The LED tail light was made to echo the rectangular headlight. The green neutral light can be seen glowing on the speedometer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a3817891-476f-4cc4-be91-801a65141792/2C405F88-C4D5-4D05-B210-5647307FBFFF.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7941739f-9732-42d9-a4dc-27949d37fc2d/583080E6-82A7-49B7-8C94-C420B413FD75.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out With the long swingarm, the lowered shock mounts and shortened front fork tubes were necessary to keep the stance right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ea264a7d-1a2d-4c1c-9294-7f2f6432b7bd/538686C4-A15A-4A13-9016-21F1B09930A1.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out A similar aluminum sconce fits around the Dino gas cap, and uses the same front thumb screws to secure the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/31c99b9e-b05a-4af0-a082-bb9f59476f45/81E64EAE-A9AC-433D-B18B-24F962C290A8.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out The Dino with the CT117, the inspiration for this build. Built thirteen years apart, the Dino has a lot more hand formed parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3dd153bb-6207-4c38-9c37-ba868e58e87a/630AAA7B-8AC8-46B6-8A09-CF92FC359347.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax "Dino" custom. - Make it stand out All systems are go…and stop. The front disc brake grabs nicely, and the left hand brake for the rear works well with the pedal. The brake light is hooked to all three actuators. The amber headlight and tail light are turned on with the key switch in the third position, and engine is running. The bike idled patiently while the picture were taken. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2024/1/29/detailing-out-the-1974-ct70-dax-custom monthly 0.5 2024-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f45b8600-34af-4154-abf5-16a435679c39/9360259C-14A3-43DB-8450-07D59990E40A.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Always close to the end, the badging has to be done. There are two locations on the sides of the bikes, where the original foil sticks went, that are perfect for some badges, This is on the right side, largely concealed behind the muffler. The logo at the top was made like the badges on the CT117, piercing the metal plate to make the letters. The rest was done with simple letter stamps. A more refined one was made for the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1e482c3d-683a-4587-9720-227d375a5734/79D8A339-08D7-450D-9AA4-114A67B40172.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Another detail that needed attention was the battery box. With the engine’s electrical system being changed over to 12 Volt, a larger battery was needed. The closest size was slightly too large, so the box was bent and cut to accommodate the larger size, plus some cushioning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/45fab8c0-987f-4b06-b278-25ff8d31aadf/0A88FBFA-36C0-442C-A477-80D0DC726ADE.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out The corners of the box were rounded off on an anvil, making it wider, side to side, and longer on the bottom. The mounting brackets were also re-formed to make the wider box fit inside the frame. The overall effect was to lower the battery 3/4”, to clear the seat pan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/151779f1-b436-4463-8ef9-2ae883b8fa0c/9DE82C8D-1A8B-4A5F-BC9A-031B6F91E12F.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out The first look at the seat cover. Still some fine tuning to get it just right, but liking the overall look. The gray color is an optical illusion from the lighting. It is actually a traditional black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0869d161-5eb1-4507-811b-09466a46b70b/65B8DB3C-9A50-44F6-BE92-3ECE124D5156.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Always interesting to see the color scheme playing out. Trying to find the right balance between chrome, black, wild cherry, and gold colors was challenging. There is part of me that would like to see the gold stripe on the fairing and tail section, but it might make things a little too busy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8c7a2d78-9273-4823-b3e1-db9f163cb6ef/tempImageaw7d3l.jpg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out The design of the scoop was influenced by the curves of the frame. Though the angle of the scoop opening looks a little sharp and angular, it appears to be more vertical from the front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/65ab9439-ddeb-461e-8cb5-e19c9802a905/1AA70603-78F4-4EB8-AFD4-6FAE4E72660C.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Just needing the front fairing to be complete up front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1a6e7933-cd6f-4f4e-aef9-88d101603d2b/6AB2758E-AF3D-4CCD-83C1-A99B0D7DFCA9.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out The shot from above shows the smooth transition between the body and seat lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d4d87a6f-6609-4e1e-9e71-ec12ca4f8ba8/DD4011F9-9CC2-4A67-9E0F-CD1FF8F1B088.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Another detail from the CT117, the filler neck of the tank, poking through the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5093195c-c978-4ff5-8705-ca586912700f/44F31ED6-6D38-44B2-AD1E-E67AD81FD69D.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out A brass insert with mesh filter was added to complete the design. It is a friction fit and can be removed easily. once again, a little more of the gold color to accent some of the darkness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ccbc7c6d-223a-4fc6-b586-ccb4ae395e5e/E143A745-596F-4861-A385-30002DC156A5.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out This badge was done by Master Engaver, Wade Oliver Wilson of Mansfield, Texas. He has done engraving for quite a few of my builds, and always knocks the ball out of the park. The “Dino” script is from the Ferrari model by the same name, but meant as a nod to the owner of the bike who goes by Dino. The purple paint matching Dino the Dinosaur’s color was a coincidence, but it works! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f6bca3bc-c9a4-4309-bc65-3939a4da62b9/tempImageWrUjcr.jpg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out A scoop on the side of the stock airbox was a last-minute addition. Using another component reminiscent of the CT117 build was part of the reasoning, but the truth is I have been thinking about this mod for years, just didn’t have the right bike to try it out till now. The CT70 is a challenging bike to customize, in my opinion, because of the unique frame, swingarm, and oversize tires.There are clearances with the chain, rear fender and wheel that do not allow too much variation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0383e441-edef-49e6-b659-268feabb8bc1/tempImageY6Kb53.jpg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Prior to going to the chrome shop. The scoop fits tightly with the screw from the center of the airbox, and the bracket that goes to the usual airbox mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6da193a4-3575-4c35-8576-ca2826f0a3a8/B7F4FA58-4D08-410A-9B6C-D6ECB1F50433.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom - Make it stand out Some of the more mundane parts of the build, the rubber packing in the original carb needed to be replaced. This is a common place for leakage. Glad to catch it now. The rest of the carb was cleaned with ultrasound and vapor honing. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/12/29/painting-the-1974-honda-ct70-dax-chapter-two monthly 0.5 2024-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8aaf62d5-0172-49ac-b2d1-77eedb4267d1/tempImageg8z2Ei.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out At least it all came off uniformly. At this point, the guys at the paint store were advising to take off the base coat layer, and spray again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0df77d20-e9d7-452e-8d01-46e9f291e78d/tempImagesl4jZs.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out Here, the remainders of the sealer coat, tinted pink from the base coat, is seen. Every bit of it was sanded off before the black epoxy sealer was applied. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b2612609-3422-471d-bec4-27a09b3f0473/tempImagebcviYw.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out “Feels like deja-vu all over again.” Another couple layers of clear, and it will be on to cut and buff! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/16e9f9dd-a054-4d1d-8601-35385690446c/tempImageA37RuH.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out The gold and a couple layers of clear were blocked out before the Wimbledon white trim was added to the lettering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c4992ac0-319f-4c21-a889-f686a3bfb0c8/tempImageMg4aQL.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out The black epoxy sealer was given extra time to cure before topcoat, with the cool weather we have been having here in Denton. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8e155faa-aae3-4206-aeab-aead65dfe939/tempImageMbcWxe.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out Fortunately, the other pieces look fine after their re-paint. They were also tested with tape for any lifting, and passed. These pieces have had a couple weeks to cure in the heated upstairs room of the shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d20ebc02-6041-467b-bae6-c690148c7879/tempImagepfHOuy.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out The amount of time that went into blocking out the clear three times, only to rip it off still smarts a little, but it had to be done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2e47ae19-9fa8-4ffd-b7b1-67bd55919139/tempImagemDEmCA.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out A closer inspection shows some of the pink that penetrated through the original gray sealer to the primer. Out toward the edges, the black of the sealer can be seen, where it was adhered to the primer layer. The remainder of the paint was tested with tape, and this seemed to be the only place the paint peeled off. Nevertheless, it was stripped down, and re-sealed one more time. While stripping it down, the remainder of the paint was confirmed to be well adhered. Why it peeled in this area only is still a mystery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8cb960e4-aadc-4419-a055-8a2b03e748bc/tempImage7e43rN.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out The separation was between the candy red and black base coats. Everything peeled off in a similar fashion on all the pieces, leading me to believe the incompatibility of the base coats, and too much reducer in the candy layers could be the culprit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/08bc7add-f9b2-46e5-aff3-2f5ca9e03bd3/tempImage6HTz6x.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out This is early December. The graphics are done, and getting the body ready for the final coat of clear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d973660b-8af2-42e5-a357-c99140333c89/tempImagekjWOTA.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out The front fender, also dyed pink. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bcd63769-c27a-4aef-8052-13367d8ef6ea/tempImageTvLSX8.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out When the bike was painted the second time, the black base coat was switched from PPG to a House of Kolor black base coat, to reduce the chance of interaction. After the sealer (black epoxy,) base coats and a couple layers of clear were applied for the second time, it was blocked out to start on the graphics. While peeling some masking off, an area below peeled off, all the way to the old primer.…sigh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/eea7264c-e813-4481-bccf-b6436b392cba/tempImagetEUyxx.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out This time, every last bit of pink was sanded off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/42e60fc0-0f9e-4f36-ba12-8c44d6eedf55/tempImage5kle9Y.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out Still in need of some detailing. After a lot of hand sanding, there were places where the sealer was sanded through, so I thought it best to re-seal the parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/57ac9d6d-1a6b-446d-8466-aba2e6bae779/tempImageagfwFC.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out After color and some clear, here is the third round of graphics getting underway. The graphics are all done by hand, and take some time. Hopefully, the third time is the charm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9fa6a51e-bd4d-446c-b8e0-5bd0328fd537/tempImagei1HDly.jpg THE BLOG - Painting the 1974 Honda CT70 Dax. Chapter two. - Make it stand out We’ve been here before. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/11/23/the-1974-honda-ct70-dax-custom-gets-painted monthly 0.5 2023-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d79c3c18-58cb-4ad5-854e-00308540872c/tempImagecn1sgr.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out When the sun shines directly on the paint, it takes on more red to pink shades. The metal flake in the candy coat really pops out as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d0f1b8f3-ea2f-4565-96af-291f344844b0/tempImagemKriUB.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3b9f5008-ec77-4795-9faf-db52285c79fc/tempImagek1fSwO.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out In lower light, the color goes to a dark wine color, even looking black in some instances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3e579500-7eee-48f6-8704-e3191e4b0684/tempImageXEoVRp.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f85643f2-ce40-401e-9d96-c7636928bd94/tempImage4ZkSnp.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out With a single coat of clear, it looks a little less rich. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/be77b94e-ef3c-4a26-9f58-63f970459b0f/tempImagelSnaXI.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out The color really accents some of the contour nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/67570d3d-f3e3-4be3-91dc-e19b705b8ebe/tempImage0pf3Km.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out The paint chip was ever present, to keep the match as close as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fb85aa74-4b89-4872-b0e9-080f152c54d6/tempImageCMsWbh.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax custom gets painted. - Make it stand out A little orange peel on the first clear coat. Each layer is blocked out smooth before the next coat goes on. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/10/29/wb9i5y83yceig2jkh68bazc0pxcwi3 monthly 0.5 2023-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d73b4344-cad0-4615-9f72-5b0181cfeae9/tempImageU432LT.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Several sets of shocks are on hand to find the best match with all the final finishes. The yellowing gold reservoir shocks used in mock-up could still get the nod, but I am leaning toward the chrome ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/726dbf56-8315-4fa9-86bd-df58f1915a2f/tempImageKX58SL.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Another 330mm shock, this DNM brand set will be an interesting one to try. More an off-road shock than street, it will probably end up on another build. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/85045dc6-d8f7-4408-b7bd-70d27df0cbd6/tempImage2kyC9Z.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Inching a little close every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4e254e67-a11c-4611-8553-2d175be2e02e/tempImageQwAii1.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out A set of Heidenau K-38 tires and some Michelin S-83 tires were considered for the build. I have used the Heidenau tires on multiple builds, and love their performance and looks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/02062933-9497-4b84-97d0-987f7eaa8523/tempImageHSHWXq.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Another sub-assembly getting attention was the handlebars and fork top clamp. The headlight assembly uses the bolts coming from the bottom of the handlebar clamp to hold the top of the bracket in place. The throttle was rebuilt using all new parts from Honda. A set of aluminum knobs were used in place of the original rubber ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4bf43788-103e-40e2-9bb6-c4316f4a48b3/tempImageNPrbK1.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Honda makes a part that holds the top of the fork gaiters, but they are made to be used with fork covers. Without fork covers, they do not look quite right, or at least they don’t look as clean as these pieces do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/21962380-09ca-4550-9e0a-69d5179fddac/tempImage80sGLL.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Most all of the aluminum polishing is done, the parts are back from chrome and zinc platers as well as the black powder coated parts. One of the jewels are the chrome plated thumb screws for the seat hold down. The muffler was painted with high heat ceramic paint, and looks really sharp with the fresh chrome plating on the heat shield. The heat shield was attached with Honda screws and heat insulating washers. Even though the bike is anything but stock, when it comes to assembly of these parts, a lot of care goes into using as much of the original style hardware as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3c23d8db-5883-4248-a7c2-4362d0e3312b/tempImagekLMV5u.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out The finished product, safety-wired on with stainless wire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b2e9c18a-3eb6-40d3-80a1-b50bd5061f95/tempImagen2xzq4.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out In other news, some brass covers were made for the horns on the Tijuana Trike. With all the stuff going on on the front of the trike, it was more about safety than the need for another ornament. Brass discs were punched, domed, and soldered together to make the balls, and a simple cone was made from the same sheet, and soldered to the balls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/38041b63-9dc7-4aaf-bb27-70953a8fa8a0/tempImagehebq16.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out It was hard not to pick the Heidenau’s. They look great with the assembled wheel rims and hubs. Even though there are stainless steel fasteners used on other parts of the build, I went with new OEM hardware when it came time to mount the hubs to the rims. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bcacbf5b-5484-4d77-a89b-0c53e9afe24a/tempImage8wF7pp.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out The fire scale and excess solder were left alone for the patina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/629e0df4-133b-4512-910b-02ae20ebf57c/tempImageAXjxVf.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out The chrome plated wheel rims are from TB Parts, and look perfect! I tried out the aluminum rims, but the polish on those rims was nowhere as nice as these chrome ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e7722ea8-1b1e-4321-b01b-c8c44cb60cc4/tempImage7q1rR8.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out All ready for assembly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bca5326c-bedf-4b92-b308-3e274bc25cc5/tempImageAI972E.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out The spring cups were turned out of aluminum, and in addition to being a place for the top of the spring to rest, it has a groove that secures the top of the fork gaiters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3d4dddcf-12a4-4269-9cc8-d6974f5ba732/tempImageiiARAJ.jpg THE BLOG - New chrome, powder coat, zinc plate and custom parts for the 1974 CT70 Dax Custom. - Make it stand out Some of the Honda bags, saved and photographed to keep track of supplies. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/10/12/rfz3ti5253hgirpdfg5cx7o22htlts monthly 0.5 2023-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/eb55eadb-b457-415b-ab38-894e3cd8d338/tempImagebQBme7.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out A lot of work to get to this point, the center cases were extensively cleaned and polished, using hot ultrasonic degreasing done three times, to get the built-up sludge and polishing compound removed. Although it is hard for cast aluminum to take on a shine equal to chrome, it is shiny enough to see your reflection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ee2613aa-df7e-4a5a-bd50-63e5bc0a676d/8AE3D6C1-576D-4D7C-9452-9D2E279CFD33.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Without a doubt, the dirtiest oil filter I have ever seen on over sixty rebuilds of these small Honda horizontals. Normally, this screen is see-through, and often with little or no debris even on high milage engines. This almost impenetrable screen would have been starving out the clutch and head portion of the engine…good thing they were replaced. This kind of debris is likely to be gasket scrapings, left inside after previous work done on the engine. The center case of the engine had an aftermarket gasket, and the clutch had been removed as well, indicating the engine was completely split open at some point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f401bdfc-92df-4303-8161-cf9217c9d24f/tempImageFJAMuG.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out The engine case halves starting to be reassembled. They are sitting on the engine board, a tool for assembly and disassembly, made to hold the parts securely, with minimal marring. Some of the internal wear parts replaced were the transmission ball bearings, and shift pins. A replaced kick-start shaft was substituted at this time, as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8322b465-01ca-4d9d-a8c1-ed80dbbda04c/F140576F-CF02-4308-8059-4ADE3E046552.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Everything on this bike had been thoroughly painted, and required stripping. The engine was no exception, having a thick, partly peeling clear coat-base coat job. Normally, the case halves are unpainted from the factory, and the side covers are painted. The glued-in neutral contact switch can be seen in the upper left corner of the picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ff11adc0-a729-4cd9-a9fb-a4f1b7b17d33/tempImageqNafXP.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out The HondaTB Race head is similar to the original domed head of the 1974 CT70, but the cam upgrades make it superior. The cam cover is like the later Honda type, with different castings that allow the use of a two-hole cam sprocket. There are round ones like the original, but this type head allows use of this cool finned one still available from Honda. A correct pristine magneto inspection cover was found to replace the one that came with the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/425821ce-5759-449a-a24c-6de72272235e/15926FF4-762A-4515-BA71-F37A6B9E7355.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Some more of the ugly. This is the oil slinger inside the clutch, packed with debris. The clutch uses centrifugal force to push impurities to the side recesses of the center cup, which are full in this picture. The clutch nut is chewed up by removal with a hammer and screwdriver…certainly not indicating it was work well done. The new clutch has stronger springs and heavier weights on the centrifugal clutch, for improved hook-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6b6c6236-27c1-46fd-8775-f27d9ae521b3/tempImagemZB83b.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Adding to the polished parts on the “Bling Table.” Some aftermarket Webco-style valve inspection covers were used. In addition to dissipating more heat, they can be removed by hand or with the socket head on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a0ff1f16-48ba-43fc-9f7d-f46484b3c27d/tempImageHFXJmW.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out All the take-off parts. With the oil starvation to the head, there is a chance the cam bearing surfaces and valve guides received excess wear, making it suspect for use without complete reconditioning. In the end, the new head is cheaper, and uses a ball bearing on the cam ends, an improvement on the flat journals molded into the aluminum on the original head. There were other small surprises, like a glued-in neutral contact switch, and a busted c-clip on the kick start shaft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bc3813b5-399f-4b87-9ab3-e7f6f2b0d283/tempImagez6tXQj.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Other busy work. Stainless steel hardware for the body parts were high-polished after sanding off the numbering on the bolt tops. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6a4ddde5-40f0-42c1-b979-faa23f597b60/tempImagebfeObT.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out The 88cc big bore kit and race head are from Hondatrailbikes.com, as are the heavy duty clutch and high volume oil pump. The chromed clutch and magneto covers were ones I had saved for a personal build, but decided to let go for this one. With the black of the brush guard, chain guard, footpeg assembly, and exhaust, and the deep dark tone of the paint, something was needed to balance it out. The heat shields on the muffler and brush guard are being chromed as well, to keep the dark colors from dominating too much. The extra wires coming out of the engine harness are for the CDI module. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fc6f3152-f018-4d58-ae47-4082ea054925/tempImageRl06qn.jpg THE BLOG - The 1974 Honda CT70 Dax Custom gets an engine rebuild. - Make it stand out Just waiting on body parts to be painted. A lot of times, I build linearly, stopping at various points to do the polishing or engine building. It is nice to have these jobs done and waiting. Hopefully, final assembly will be quicker because of it. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/10/7/i4mas10eedgvjkmwdyif0two6osi6h monthly 0.5 2023-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7f2fe793-75e8-45ec-a267-cdfb3642dee2/213FA78A-621B-45F6-A9A9-6A12DA719D9C.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out Packed in tight and strapped down well, headed for East Texas. This time, heading out with the 1970 Trident, 1967 Mountain Cub, the trike, and of course, the 1999 Z50, known as the” Hater.” There have been various plans to build out the interior of the van, but getting all these bikes in comfortably make me reluctant to add any partitions that would keep it from hauling as many. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/405e108c-649c-4eda-9e4b-7d87b1c0df49/tempImageP0iFsC.jpg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out In the field events, the trike bent the rules slightly, as the requirement for eligibility in the slow race was “anything on two wheels.” We took the gold medal on this one, but it was based more on pity than performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aae07326-fcbf-4900-90dc-984d818d77d6/12EBF373-9212-4152-BB78-DC791A2E8962.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out The Tijuana Trike took top honors in the Minibike class. For a club dedicated to Norton Motorcycles, we have a plethora of minibikes showing up for our meet. The bike show was held down near the main stage in a huge grassy bowl, with the cabins and restaurant on the edges of the upper rim. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a143b56c-41bd-4553-a657-e224eee1e5c5/D70BFEEB-8D45-4465-9595-DD847931DF82.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out My buddy Chris, riding in the distance, letting loose of the checkered flag and his hat, on his victory lap following his drag race win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7009f824-a2de-4332-9325-b32039f9636f/CC692861-03BB-4743-85A0-0E2701B94E97.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out The famous pinstriper, Alton Gillespie, was camped next to me in the trees, on the road I dubbed “introvert’s lane” (by next to me, I mean a good thirty feet apart.) Alton is an old friend, and laid down the missing stars on the red, white and blue panel of the trike. My intention was always to place stars in this space, just didn’t think they would look as nice if I did them. When Alton offered Sunday morning, I delayed leaving for home by some hours, to take the rare opportunity. The job was cut short halfway into the process, by an emergency call to pick up a trailer and driver from his company with a dead truck turbo, stuck on the side of the road. Alton and I reconnected a few days later, and he finished the job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fed863a8-a912-4096-85c1-54762c8e336b/tempImage244Tix.jpg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8fd603c7-4b28-4197-8b05-8a7b228d09e0/792863D5-5373-4EA5-952A-7F413D19957A.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out The 1970 Trident drew some looks, but no prizes. There was a single category for Triumphs in the bike show this year, opposed to the four or five of previous meets, and it was well represented. There were a couple “Bathtub” 350’s in the show, one of which won first place in the category. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3a2bd9c4-d459-450e-9418-df9d527f99af/75FE2962-F25D-4BB1-99C9-4F8E05A35D37.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out Getting four bikes in the van was a new thing. So happy with the longer, larger space. This was the before picture. The van was even more full on return, with swap meet finds filling all the empty spaces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/94ec4ff2-e590-4bc6-8e14-cbdaa6ca81a2/F99D8174-8ED8-4CC7-B8C2-6A9AAB5C8AE6.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out …And the biggest surprise to me was the Peoples Choice Prize, awarded to the 1967 Mountain Cub. The trike winning would have surprised me less. I was honored to receive it, especially given the quality of entrants. Perhaps the small, light nature of the bike is what people find appealing, but whatever the reason, thanks to everyone who voted for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6e18c7bc-c9a8-46fd-adfa-46eaa93e42d2/tempImageBXxU3f.jpg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out One of the last details done on the Cub before the show was the seat logo stenciling on the back. My buddy, Mobtown Mike Smith’s custom seat cover was well appreciated, keeping some of the vintage British vibe with the color scheme of the original seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9b300aa8-db3e-4082-8b13-ce20f7ca1b58/A09CB59F-DFA6-40F7-B524-57996ABBDC5C.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out In addition to the Cub, the Norsaki 1955 Norton/Kawasaki 400 was there for the bike show. In the same “Custom Street” category as the Mountain Cub, they placed first and second, with the Norsaki taking the top spot. I was really satisfied with the result, but there was more to come… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fd7ca02c-1318-45b4-bbd8-df0f0eae8b69/418DA6DF-FF38-4CB1-903F-744D5728357D.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out An old friend, the “Red Baron” bike showed up for the fun. Owned by my buddy, Ben, it was in good form, and the perfect bike show pit bike. The 1999 Z50 Hater is nearby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/87e2da17-3ec5-44df-8b5f-8524ce0e995d/tempImageYoLc5t.jpg THE BLOG - Back from the North Texas Norton Owners Land of the Pines Motorcycle Rally - Make it stand out The finished product is a real throw of the eye, making the stars appear to rise out of the background. Amazing work! This seat is another Mobtown Mike creation. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/9/20/cked3qccxhqypxt2saz6vyo04k7vqi monthly 0.5 2023-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7d5dbd38-4a42-41ba-b94c-39b9e7e63568/60CF13EE-B337-458B-8853-8BA5E5E98691.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out After machine polishing, everything gets a hand polish with some Mothers brand polish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0d09639f-e3d8-4831-a151-1941febf295a/79CF24B2-1447-47E7-9CB3-CD09CA652942.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out The fork leg on the left has just started to undergo the first polishing steps. The bungs on the upper part of the forks for the front fender mount will be ground down a little, to make them more rounded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2e6d46ad-db72-4aa6-9f55-0ccc08f6ae2d/9067860D-89E8-4EF5-A7AA-5564E6EE2FFA.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out The after on the wheel hub. The parts all were cleaned in a hot ultrasonic tank after polishing. The steel brake lining was also freshened up on the lathe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d29eb2d4-7a48-4ae4-a037-91cbc6ff9721/C129911D-1F61-4106-8A10-B9A845227FAA.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out Also sorting hardware to take to the zinc platers, and the parts for the chrome platers. All the hardware will be stripped and wire-wheeled before plating. There is a fair amount of stainless hardware that came with the bike that will get polished and re-used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ee090813-260f-44ac-b0fa-268c49a83ab9/477E78F8-7E8B-436D-A3E8-D8726CC0C947.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out The recesses took a lot of effort. Sometimes they look okay until you start buffing, and realize there is an oxide layer that needs removal. A combination of wet sanding, rotary abrasive wheels, and polishing wheels of all different sizes were used to get them done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/388fd665-97d4-45f7-82fc-b92bc8abf109/9104A654-0B11-454C-BFF1-CE721B14BBCD.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out With the sprue stubs removed, they look a lot cleaner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7cddac38-6e44-46fa-935d-cf8c70a0e648/8E06FFD7-803B-47C3-B688-BF855697AFEE.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out The rear hub used during mock-up is a one-piece type, and did not match the front wheel very well, so an original CT70 hub was sourced in decent shape. The other big plus with the original hub is that it has a steel tube cast into the hub for the rear sprocket retainer ring to fit into, opposed to the one on the one-piece wheel, which is machined out of the aluminum wheel casting. While not something you might think would be subject to much force, side to side, the rubber cush drive the sprocket tabs fit in will push outward on hard acceleration and braking. If the thin lip of cast aluminum holding the retainer C-clip in fails, the sprocket can come loose from the hub! I have seen one case of this exact wheel failing in this manner on an online forum. Since this one matches the front style, it gets the nod. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fe2e6dce-ad50-4507-ba2c-85eeac84d096/6D448712-AEF4-46C8-AAF8-ECDB4ED7E338.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out All the shiny parts…when you are staring at the same set of parts prior to finishing, there is a slight feeling of dread, as the process is a lot of messy work. Nice to be on this side of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f06c5798-eedb-406d-be64-c9061c018c25/tempImagep14rCe.jpg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out Thanks, Mike! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a53fd749-babe-4486-b55b-f864b1a86347/08B3ED6C-DE54-47D5-ABF7-A4CA2E60A49D.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out Stripping paint off is the first of many steps. After this, bearings will be removed, and the sanding and refinement will be done. There are small stubs around the nut recess on the tips of each spoke, that will be removed. They are a remnant of the casting process, and serve no purpose as far as I can tell. The finished wheel looks better without them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/113af9ee-15ea-4cf9-b1a7-c88ed845c305/tempImageeOebN5.jpg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out Getting excited to see these tins getting done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/49f6e5dd-96f4-4343-91bc-7758d5fd8fbb/tempImagegdNCJF.jpg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out My buddy “Mobtown” Mikey Smith is smoothing out the tins and laying primer down. There is some thought being put into making some molds off these parts for fiberglass reproductions. Mike and I have worked together in the past, doing some silicone mold making on a “Dragula” clone coffin body, being made for a Munster’s star. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5db3d9cb-4b1f-46f2-a14f-fcd723cd1bcb/5014986E-FACC-404A-8527-1CBD0652F2C8.jpeg THE BLOG - Polishing aluminum parts for the 1974 Honda CT70 /Dax custom. - Make it stand out A House of Kolor paint color called “Wild Cherry” that matches the bike owner’s vintage Ford Bronco, was chosen for the finish. The bike will also have the white lower section, similar to the Honda CT117. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/8/23/wrapping-up-fabrication-on-the-1974-honda-ct70-custom monthly 0.5 2023-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/79a76fe1-b8cc-4d76-8ff8-15ca595e7811/C757E7B4-229D-41F3-B1C8-048A7841CAE4.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out A final addition to the fuel neck yoke was this extension, that covers the top trim strip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/743cfe6c-c727-4c7c-b806-7d9bd78331d1/944FB4AF-DA4E-4604-90D4-B0EC8F68692F.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out With a new custom plate welded in, this, along with the spacer, will strengthen the lower body in the critical motor mount/swingarm pivot area. The boxing plate is similar to the Honda ST90, which has a very similar frame, with the external swingarm pivot. The rear frame channel looks better with the fender mounts stripped out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/28485a31-2cdb-4b83-98c3-8591c31564bb/C9A54454-2F13-4411-97C1-F72F59CAF58C.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out In addition to the seat frame and seat pan, a third component, a seat pan for the upholstery was finished. The mounting bolts pass through to the back of the seat frame, sandwiching the seat pan in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5fafd851-a085-4214-a914-ec6390981052/4CF46075-E469-4DB2-AA6B-BD57EC0FDE60.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Even parts that look stock are not. This is an early fuel neck yoke, from the first couple years of the CT70. It was used because it does not have the longer front portion that extends over the seat mounting holes, under the seat hinge. Since the hinge is now in back, that portion of the sheet metal was not needed. The problem was that the early yoke fits the plastic tank, with its smaller filler neck, and the bike now has a metal one with the larger neck. The hole and ring that the grommet mounts on were enlarged to the correct portions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b1904c51-7e25-416f-8d8c-db059306520e/E158333D-2D73-4736-87BF-E8BB0887878B.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The mounting ears of the swingarm, with one before, and the other after grinding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/759342b7-6797-4845-9574-3e5feb5ecfb1/894B06E5-683B-4DB5-BBDA-2BC3C836D9A0.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The openings in the seat frame were enlarged primarily to get rid of extra weight, but the visual effect is better as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7df01d89-c41c-42ef-983e-a108c121f6f9/3A285A47-15A1-4212-B5DB-B3EB095EC864.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The parts table is filling up with finished parts, waiting to go on to finishes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/04bc5b8d-bcad-43ff-ae07-10c1451efd93/DE6E9367-E9BB-4BE0-A3FD-0DF97B6F92CF.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out There were a lot of small repairs made on parts like the brake pedal. This looks like some deep riding gouges on the underside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d92a72ff-a72b-48ec-8d8d-bd8241faece0/A387D9AF-68E2-4C06-815E-4FD9435ACAD4.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out All the pieces going to paint are done. Starting to sort and prep the parts for chrome and powder coat. When you are looking at a pile of flat sheet metal, some paper patterns, and your ideas, this table full of finished parts seems like its miles away. Very satisfying to be here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e0dd85a2-89d1-4c60-9373-8d3f791f1215/523FC7B5-CA43-4FA8-9F43-42996A580DEA.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The handlebars after some smoothing and filling. Some unneeded holes were filled. The bottom of the seat pan and the rod on the edge can be seen below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/37283dc9-1a70-479e-9068-3cc653638b34/17734EAD-768D-4733-807B-1E33E18152F4.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The gouges were ground out, welded back up, and… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8a8ff6b1-70cd-4e9b-8c7b-77d6c7c8fabb/651DDE95-ABA1-49CB-A6D7-40B75B763811.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out …all that time to make it look like you never touched it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4649d3a1-0ba8-4018-8b1a-d715edd11c21/183F93E5-82E5-4CD0-ACDE-25CA38851922.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out A little bit of brass is visible around the edges of the side plaques on the swingarm. Brass was chosen for its ability to flow out nicely, and its ease of finishing. Shaving down the ears of the swinger also made a big difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/76bb6ff8-86da-4e78-a6d8-1083e3131dc8/4F78C700-CE22-4A2D-8245-59C7FE58FC5B.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out A few rounds of stripper were needed to get through to bare metal. Only one dent is apparent. The rear fender mounts will need removed, the forks stop repaired, a spacer welded in for the swingarm pivot, and the lower frame boxed in around the pivot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/156f801b-ecb3-4fe4-8de9-64bf4359b739/7B13A8B6-E549-4221-971D-88D2AEA8D982.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Breaking out the small files and tons of emery cloth to get a nice smooth transition on all the welds. There were cracks on the rear of the engine cradle, near where it bolts to the bottom of the engine. Some previous repair booger welds were ground out, and the repairs made to both sides of the cradle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1d018888-24a1-412d-a3b5-865018991bb7/24B2E207-E991-4B60-87C5-EE594C82F3E4.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The rod being added to the fairing edges, with only the bottom edge left to finish. All of the new body parts had some 1/8” rod welded to the edge. Besides stiffening up the piece, it makes it safer, and less prone to chipping. Sort of tedious to get all the bends just right, but it looks so good once it is done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c0b44a1f-3c50-41e3-88d8-83cfb36c85a6/73123D15-EEC2-4529-A4CA-3AED0CD160CD.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Finishing up the brass brazing. It takes a few rounds of brazing to get the brass flowed into all the joints just right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fbe73724-602c-4fac-8836-90e67aebca8b/68ACB0DC-7549-4CCC-B61B-8FB0E857D3F9.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The foam has been formed for the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0b2d7476-eba6-4a32-9cd8-7e1359eac5c1/E250F8FE-DCF4-4C06-8A6C-ACBCF6D59AB0.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out A thin line of brass is also visible along the edges of the swingarm. The brass is soft and makes a very nice fillet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/724b8f41-3260-4b3b-858f-234946cf5b33/A88C3E94-91C8-410B-BCE0-60ABED31A8B0.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out A badly gouged fork stop before… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8be01803-0aef-43f0-8c14-22ea87c2b986/2DCD49CE-03DA-455B-BFDD-227509744E28.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out In addition to getting the edges of the rear fender done, the mounting system attaching it to the swingarm was worked out. The screws holding it are hidden underneath. A lot of attention went to the swingarm, getting everything brazed on, smoothed out and thinned down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bf4752c1-e5a6-4fde-abd1-7bb0126b607f/16AFE29E-4D70-4EA0-9AB0-869C5C12AFA4.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out …and after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b2c212dd-1f2a-44f0-8022-a0dd26c6af2e/878D87E3-00F9-40AB-B762-2C60CB205618.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out All bead blasted and ready for powder coating. The exhaust will be painted with high-heat ceramic paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aa69be4f-332e-4885-813b-55c6bdad0216/E08D6632-516D-475E-8DD9-8D023AC710DA.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out There was only one bondo-filled dent on the body. Burn marks are barely visible around the edges of its former location. It was pulled out with weld-on posts and a slide hammer. On the upper part of the frame, the holes for the helmet holder lock have been filled, and new holes for a side grab handle have been drilled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/25fe2111-2953-472f-a560-ca06831a4649/2F8BD60F-4434-491A-A96A-46D5EFC259EE.jpeg THE BLOG - Breakdown and Refinement on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The mounting screws underneath the rear fender were one of the last jobs I did during the fabrication stage of this build. With no significant injuries during the process to that point, a broken tap delivered a nasty little slice to my thumb tip. A reminder of how dangerous all this metal cutting, drilling, and grinding can be. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/8/8/7096xk68tw4d32gvtporhr8h3jemx6 monthly 0.5 2023-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/eb999064-bb64-4fc6-96da-8a942d7369ce/834E1A57-A5A0-4542-B65C-D1F30BD9E63F.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Getting close to done on the big stuff, but a lot of small details remain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/761b0b6f-3baf-4541-987b-8b63f62f0295/268A8A0C-EDA7-4207-B8D7-D46211614FD7.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Two cones of .030” steel, and the narrowed heat shield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8eba0021-fde3-4a22-8eff-b14d1a2b091d/EAA4734C-5F61-4561-9FE4-D3F0E2FA3981.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Getting some details worked out on the 1974 Honda CT70 custom build. A front fairing, exhaust system, engine cradle, and the rear brake assembly were finished, and the front fender was mounted, along with a footpeg assembly. Soon, the bike will be broken down for final welding and then go on to finishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4d2f028b-2f54-49fc-b461-2e586a09da4a/8E02A975-6AC2-45D2-B892-A2EEFF96BB49.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out My version of the CT70 K0 muffler. Using a thinned-down stock heat shield, the rest of the system was fabricated to resemble the original, but with a slimmed-down muffler can. The stock mounting points were used. The early model muffler and shield has always been a favorite of mine. The slits in the heat shield match the lower shield on the brush guard, and it all fits well with the rectangular touches on the build. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/de383496-b558-48ea-9ceb-ca3c7ad7ab17/FC5F93A0-A331-49CC-8EEA-3762BDD2F639.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Still in need of some finish welding, the engine cradle/brushguard was modified to give it a “wishbone” shape, and a new yoke. The lower heat shield was reshaped slightly to accommodate the larger exhaust pipe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/813f96bb-d760-4092-a20c-4138f3975769/7E6972CA-99B2-471D-849F-6A77175F6D84.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Detail of gas filler neck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a2494316-da50-4a51-a8b2-9c4e7c63e7bd/0386785B-F16D-4C65-8B7F-7047415C6F23.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out An internal baffle to tame some of the noise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e9f1ca47-d902-4d1c-a307-7e2241fdbd44/DEBC2284-DD9F-4416-8622-F271BD0A80F3.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out With the front fender mounted, and front fairing built, the body kit is complete. The fairing is made from a single piece of .050” steel. The footpeg assembly is from a Honda CRF50. The kickstand was lengthened an inch and a half. The CRF50 assembly was chosen because of the folding pegs. The original CT70 pegs fold upward, while the CRF50 style folds backward…a better design should your peg ever catch on something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1fc41b95-7c33-4080-a6c0-b969208926f3/D005B0AE-1566-4103-9BE4-6436FC6AD588.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out The original brake arm was modified to clear the swingarm. A brake stay and brake rod were also made up to finish the job. The lower edge of the rear seat shows some of the “whittling” of the lines: slowly removing excess to please the eye. Sometimes, instead of drawing a simple cut line, the excess part will get inked in with black marker to make it disappear. The new line will not be cut until it has been looked at for a while, usually several days. Getting the original design was done with paper forms, which can only go so far in representing the final form. The lower line of the rear seat was drawn to echo the rounded tail of the frame, but when formed, the more geometric flat rear panel and shaved lower line were more pleasing. The picture below is with the mods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b7d5a7e7-ff11-4464-8400-c36f86953374/159B461D-4AB6-44FF-BB8A-F99E0DF1318A.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing Fabrication on the 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/7/22/1974-honda-ct70-custom-build-begins monthly 0.5 2023-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e58db23e-e5ea-48ed-9092-5b2233040f03/F640C065-EDF9-4F56-BC94-FBA77EBD1EB4.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out One of the first jobs was getting the stance right. The front fork tubes and springs were shortened about 45mm to get a similar height to the CT117. The handlebars were made from the stock bars. With the bars in place, a round headlight just looked wrong. It was either too high or too far forward to fit in. I had a rectangular signal light from a big rig, and it made the front come together. Don’t know if the amber lens is going to stay, but it looks pretty cool. The headlight is mounted on a custom tubular steel bracket that utilizes existing mounting holes. Without headlight ears the fork tubes stay clean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6633811b-4b0d-4517-90b6-01597e002709/013FFD14-8EF1-410F-BDBC-143DDC58FC67.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out After the panel was worked on the hammer, form, a second rectangle was added to the backside to hold the brake light lens. This is the snap-on reflector and bulb assembly, and the access hole to reach it once the panel is welded in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a681e029-1c17-4d42-afee-6e6f0a48bea0/60480928-E8C4-4FC9-A318-5F4CEADCE601.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out A hydraulic front disc brake came on the bike, but shorter, more compact levers and master cylinder were needed to fit the build. The master cylinder is just resting loosely until things like speedo placement and a fairing are figured out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8dac707e-9f58-4ac0-a50e-ff6ced135f32/33E285E2-7B74-45CC-A9CE-2F0EFC167D33.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The front forks will have to get some machining on the mounting screw bosses to mount the custom front fender and fork brace. The brace is hidden beneath the fender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4f38d7e3-3dd8-4a39-8b47-d6f4c88ec931/73806ED9-6D48-49F9-9B19-E10C817075F9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The thumbscrews in place. After chrome plating, they will go nicely with the gas cap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/977e5187-2cfd-4745-b44d-f04ca3b3f994/B11F2CC5-12D4-48CA-843F-2B17AEF4AAFD.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The thumbscrews for the seat are ready for brazing here. They are machined to press fit together with a thick head washer underneath used as the base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e879dc88-7fe5-4f4b-ba00-6007ac741fe4/3871369F-C89F-47E4-A1C6-9824A3BE21FC.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out In order to make a uniform recess on the rear seat panel for the tail light, a hammer-form was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/779a9d8e-1301-4a20-a6b6-74934b06837a/728335B6-91F5-4208-AA50-74DEAE78FF4D.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out After some clean up, the rear panel is ready to weld to the seat pan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d79615ab-ee42-454e-aaca-079c6682ba9b/B9F1D5FF-9BBC-4964-926F-3C0221891D9F.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The shock lowering brackets were another part taken from the CT117. They allow the long swingarm to be used without really long shocks to keep the ride height right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b0248979-082b-4aa2-9913-dbc4ea6239d0/BA920D34-1D52-4FD8-A0DD-31FAACDC79EC.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The swingarm is from a Honda XR80, and has been lengthened to 16” There are custom covers on the sides of the swingarm to echo the frame body lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4df5a26c-b024-4050-aa75-3bf21ab9fc57/DE1A436B-B0AA-4FE3-9452-5601F21ACF4A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The rear fender base fits in the recess of the swingarm nicely. The swingarm used for this bike is significantly different from the stock one, in that it mounts to the outside of the frame, opposed to the inside recess, as the stock CT70 does. This is how the Honda ST90 is set up, basically. Some bracing and an inner spacer will need to be added once the bike is broken down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8cf2d323-c471-4a6d-bf6d-f2ae00cfaac2/4D7383F2-EB70-4432-AA39-2117E7BDE884.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out There are inner and outer springs as well as the fork tubes that had to be cut down. The fork tubes had to be re-threaded after they were cut down, for the top screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/84c445b2-8103-45e9-a16c-ecbb528d9855/33B28307-F44D-40AC-9C4E-EA4E318C0052.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The chain guard is a favorite of mine. The magneto cover will be opened up to reveal the counter sprocket. The original CT70/Dax frame is a beautiful piece of art. The design blends rounded organic curves with chiseled geometric lines, that I feel are often overlooked. When the original swingarm was replaced with the longer tubular one, the beauty of the original was apparent. This led to the side covers on the swingarm, that are meant to add some of that angular, curving lines back to the design. The chain guard and seat were designed with the same thought in mind. The lines of the rear fender echo the rear frame curves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/909164c1-67a4-4620-ab23-1d953a31e7bf/1628944B-FEDC-4321-97B9-6C55B0430062.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out After heating, the parts were brass brazed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a4bfd5b2-84d2-4efa-826d-9b87b83ffcfe/B75D42D6-4A0A-4F1B-A9A6-E7D9EDB1F013.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The seat assembly is a big part of the build, and has taken a good bit of time to get to this point. The design took a little time to form, but once decided, the seat pan was made first, with a seat frame and hinge then made to fit the pan, and finally the tail light assembly and aluminum sconce around the fuel tank cap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6d2748eb-26bd-4341-8e2f-8e1145baa392/0288AA07-F27A-496D-B51D-402ED183F98C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out Simple and clean, and goes perfectly with the front light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/71715463-ce40-40aa-9470-5303d127767a/993F2F64-4CED-4026-98D4-FC5545E456D2.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out The front fork brace can be seen at the top right. This picture represents the one hundred plus degree days we are experiencing in Texas, and my struggle to keep the sweat off them so they won’t rust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d8aecd06-fb96-44d2-bc58-0941166aa1c7/71621623-68FF-4781-94AA-91E852A65E1B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1974 Honda CT70/Dax Custom Build begins - Make it stand out More rectangles cut into the seat frame and hinge, mostly to lighten things up. Some Honda rubber bumpers fit in the smaller holes toward the rear of the seat frame, that rest on the stock frame tabs like the original seat. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/6/19/the-1967-triumph-mountain-cub-custom-before-and-after-photos monthly 0.5 2023-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686669585372-N38HCKXFS1WH8O7FCQTY/CD5E225F-5630-478D-BDE0-094BE042C39C.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686670358352-XCCF209P4GQ7I3GZ6M75/A19ACB99-9C3A-4E75-94AC-D2228C30B596.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686671753407-YVC5HRNFG5RXV93YY8RT/E92E4C65-5B12-49CA-84A6-9DB9A2943F98.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f2327004-757e-4830-9160-cdd6904c7f42/59AB8330-0AC4-43C0-BC1D-36BE7C1BEC42.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686670259699-HUJT1E9L4MYLOZGLAK9D/7C46C5C2-9B86-49BB-8378-CCDD54C546FD.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/73d84e73-4cb9-42e6-807e-5a40bfb8dbad/45719256-69B3-4F17-8D64-E2A9DE267FD4.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686671667889-ES1I8IL06E4O3DEV4LVN/DD699172-261E-4B3B-A79B-35F5EC1CAB2E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/95995b01-88f8-4b14-8575-55690bba53b1/DA516A77-1702-4B54-BDB8-88C725ED734B.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1782d3d5-5141-40e7-9ebc-c6bddf95ccfa/73FAB99D-6B78-4CEC-ABE5-A30DC10B8C14.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686671203927-MST18J6LY59661FBUMWU/D777B603-F75E-4112-AA66-38A4D2130C2E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/39436014-4678-423e-b8af-4f5e9adcf710/A72247F1-A1CF-4F2A-9282-7E3D2872B7C8.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686670027104-N42ZP40ZL069YY0WUQOX/0D641F21-3BA2-4BEF-B722-615A3A579B83.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686669538387-DQ28Z9C484JQXM47ZGGB/AA1D1003-CB72-4325-8689-89287951B8E1.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2d8159a8-6512-4075-8d89-da1dfa9ff338/E355DFD0-9575-412D-B61A-FC2A3BF8CAF1.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8b77de35-b1ae-42e4-99f7-c622f493e7f0/3B10DF02-D535-495E-99E9-13C496878A23.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1686669886916-J2TEYR514DYOOXSY0DFS/74C74A15-0B53-4C3A-A2D5-5DD9DC1B684A.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Custom before and after photos. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/5/13/upoatlqs4hye5azm44udcnmjmcqvy1 monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bab20f58-669b-498c-a239-34677ad8d7b0/A81B9E85-BEF2-437C-B07A-F04E916CCCB2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3189003d-328a-4cf7-89bd-7d751108165d/00DAB88E-8F94-4777-9C88-107FEA557C52.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/40ac0837-0670-4af0-8ef7-9eb9abcf0a05/B53C96EC-E92B-4E0C-9CF3-A2DF52C208D4.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bd94a375-7a10-4a3f-813a-67d31ac76e34/257B0771-AC0D-4185-9FC9-25260919CC42.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ad7b98e4-0ec8-4ff4-bc73-f953ae8d0c91/C90975D2-1587-4875-A196-214890B34B64.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/33d48755-5319-4154-9e0f-80818f9b78e7/D7ED796E-CF46-4BFD-B3AB-0D263255BC83.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ce518a18-babb-457d-a2d7-c5aa87df059a/45E60A76-0818-4F52-8E7F-70991EA01314.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/97d5380c-5c51-4b19-8b24-63a755db01d9/62C2F884-6AFF-4B5F-BBDE-84236076A7D6.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out The Norsaki bike has finally been started, heat cycled, and gone to a two-stroke tuner to get the carbs tuned. The airbox cover is out for paint, but the rest of the bike is done. After resurfacing of the cylinder and head mating surfaces, the heads are sealed. She starts easy, and sounds a little raspy, but needs smaller jets to get the top end dialed in. The rest of the post is the photo dump. Enjoy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6c76c1f9-0097-4411-818e-786f84c4ab1a/F2B99B7C-B5CB-4953-8582-00D6A51AC00F.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8732c3fd-b6da-4211-8851-0c970e8606ef/93A194AD-8E47-40A5-AEAC-9BF58CB75A6A.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/86cd2f77-0ce5-4794-ac81-72ca2933cd71/AF03FE4B-E827-437E-A299-CBA8F0F95AC9.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Dominator Norsaki build leaves the shop. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/5/6/a8dtumb0v07w31c5opjksjjqnnnx2r monthly 0.5 2023-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e658f4a7-b825-4a07-9d32-a99f8d8e94b2/953522CE-7103-498F-9E77-356E56F6E98E.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out Amazingly,a Kawasaki S3 airbox was located in one of my parts bins. It was given to me in a load of other parts by a mechanic friend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2f65383e-be6b-4f12-bf58-851c80945fa5/9758990B-6135-47FD-B2D5-8CBB030213E3.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The front fender and bracket in place. Cosentino Engineering upgrades for Norton Roadholder shocks were used to give a more modern ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6292bdf9-a6e1-421b-b5bc-37bdd40b9c5a/3D6AC15E-C900-4179-84A3-4EB0BAF23EA6.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out Tail view showing the brake light recess and exhaust pipe cut-out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/44d9683a-2358-483b-8f3f-fcfe865a8c53/E7CF100B-D8F7-4068-A537-6877D88EA1CB.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out More heat mitigation, some woven fiberglass insulation on the pipes under the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/44fa97ce-87cc-4086-8c19-2e0725eb5e07/5FEFD57D-3AC6-415F-87A9-564C07F7D02C.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The test rig. A test tank because the pipes have to be removed a few times during the engine break-in. The naked airbox can be seen tucked in there. Once the engine is tuned, and the outer airbox painted and mounted, It will be finished. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/971e991f-b872-4f51-a47b-35f0d2293e7f/BCA35DC0-AC26-4AEF-9226-C4FF38D97B74.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The box was cut apart, the mounting ears removed, and welded back together in a more compact configuration. Some mounting brackets and the stock rubber tubing then went on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c38acb1f-f6fc-4d64-9de8-31d026907517/3FAEA5A6-9AFA-45ED-9687-043E4E0EAF9C.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out First of all, the bike is running. It starts easily, and was taken through six heat cycles, keeping the revs low. Once that was done, it was taken out on a ride to push it a little more. That produced head gasket leakage on all three cylinders. While disassembling the top end, a welding goober was found, apparently burned into the head. Since the sealing surfaces are a little rough, they will get a light resurface, new copper gaskets, and some high-heat silicone on reassembly. Other defects were a lock washer substituted for a sealing washer on one of the head bolts, and a broken piston ring. There was some debris washed down into the middle cylinder and sump that kept the crank from turning completely. Since new head gaskets, head bolt sealing washers, and exhaust gaskets are going in, some ignition points were also ordered. After a check, the ones in the engine are just in spec. When dealing with an unknown engine, it is best to check out the basic stuff. In this particular case, it may be a better idea to just start over on some of this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/dbd5a1e0-d9d9-44c0-bbbd-2382bc17c1dd/7A658983-F5D0-4233-8219-4615D88489C6.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out A late idea added to the build (actually, the rest of the bike was already being painted at the time) was an airbox made from the original Norton oil tank and tool box. They were joined with the Kawasaki airbox made to fit inside, and the tail-end of the expansion chambers passing through a carved-out section on top. The unit may still be split down the middle after paint to make removal easier. The air filter can be changed by taking off the left side cover. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e34e64cb-d16a-4ba0-8edc-64952ab6a9cf/D43E8DE6-C0A7-4A1D-AEB6-E4BD2FD85236.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The body parts lined up, waiting to get to their final spot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fd1e2312-3ae8-4181-83e9-a37172f41eee/1BA6FE34-53A6-465F-AAD6-EBEBDA99548F.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out After resurfacing, the divot is barely visible, and burn marks are gone. The other two heads were given the same treatment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/acf61b3d-ae4a-4393-a387-92bac39866a6/364D22D2-5599-4255-B86C-D5E435775BA3.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out Early on in reassembly, the straight tank-seat line can be seen here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f2f9a2e6-5436-4307-ac5b-63592d106e30/5EC4153E-1B86-41FD-B371-A1688F1B9E88.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The left side cover was given a frenched-in place for the petcock, which was already passing through this spot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/41b0a010-0e9a-4cb9-849a-71868a0b6a36/226D753F-7647-4AB9-BFA0-27DA54A5229F.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out Achieving the flat’ straight body line on the seat and tank bottom was a little tricky on the Featherbed frame, requiring some elevation of both to overcome the dip in the center of the frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fa6945c8-1cf5-4094-9b05-e6ceb5d9bc64/E71055CA-31C9-478B-9A0E-2134218154E5.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The top cover was hammered out in the shop along with the retainer bolt. The air filter element is a generic one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8f28c8fe-7ed6-4d84-b277-dfe87bd87068/92FA18D0-1B22-47B4-B1C9-3B060E00BAE0.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out After just a couple passes, it is obvious there is slight warpage and leakage by the tell-tale black burn marks. Not too bad for something fifty years old. The welding goober was knocked out with the tip of a three-sided scraper. There is a small divot seen in the lower burn mark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1c45891b-27a1-4489-b074-11ac98903627/490CBA2A-AD62-4D6A-B50C-5643813DEF67.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out The Lucas light shell and custom parts filling all the holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5021b877-9d91-4cd8-afc2-5434459f22ae/9B3E860F-B597-4A05-AC2F-54FEFD9C3AAF.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out Too bad this lovely view will be obscured by the tank. The removable heat shield under the tank clears the center pipe by just a few millimeters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d68f128e-5471-4d4c-ae49-c3f3f5ec5ef5/11042C6F-1F0B-4E50-8240-D6EE246FEF13.jpeg THE BLOG - An Airbox, Painted body parts, and getting the engine started on the 1955 Norton Norsaki project - Make it stand out A box to hold a tiny lithium battery is tucked behind the engine. The fuse holder is seen on the side. The electrical system is completely functional. Now if we can only get the rest of the bike the same. As a side note, I was originally recruited for this project to build the seat. That of course led to designing the tank mounting/heat shield system and accompanying frame mods. The electrical system, plumbing, airbox, disassembly and final assembly, and most of all, engine start and tuning were mine by default, and not altogether expected. Not that I mind, as a good puzzle is always appealing to me, just a little out of the order I would have done things in, had I known. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/3/12/9gqkxwu2xyoqr90bn3s4hkq3v00ge1 monthly 0.5 2023-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/18dcebaf-4fc0-47d3-b221-f9001a961078/A87D5ABC-3A96-452F-89B1-E717BC0F678F.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The seat and strap were done in Napa leather. A stainless thumb screw was carved for the tank strap anchor. Black sheepskin is sewn underneath, where it contacts the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a4c00a2f-9db6-4dca-8890-fe7adf59f1bf/DDBDAA7E-1BE3-438A-A4E7-A2627F4396A5.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out A simple pattern was chosen for the seat cover. Can’t wait to see it on the seat pan. The cover was made by Xtreme Upholstery in Denton, Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ed3d53f4-aeaa-4509-a882-842903f406b0/9256C504-09C3-447A-9E2B-C651A932EA24.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out With everything mocked up, the lines are becoming a little more clear. The bike started life as a 1955 Dominator. When designing the custom parts, I tried to keep some of the original feel. The owner of the bike wanted a classic cafe racer style, with a straight tank-seat line, straight bars, and bobbed fenders (the original fenders are quite large and a little heavy.) Even with the cafe styling, the new seat is only slightly shorter than the original, retaining the ability to take a passenger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fbf26449-96f8-47b7-b2a8-5b080d4d87d1/1FFC58C5-0079-4E8D-97D3-1A7F30BE18B6.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The ammeter hole in the Lucas headlight shell needed filling, so this panel with original Lucas jewel indicator lights was machined from aluminum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/75f31d17-f8c2-43eb-a617-4e168b3b2903/CFFC10A0-8B2F-4FBD-A81A-EBAEB4609BEA.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The front fender mounts and lower stay were added to an un-drilled vintage fender. The front hub is said to be a Grimeca, with 4 leading shoe brake pads. It will have some stopping power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/64bffa9f-0ff3-491b-803b-7d4275d4c822/D662AAE2-ED2E-4AFF-BA53-3A4186303197.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out A special washer was made to mount the light switch, and another aluminum bezel was made for the ignition switch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ca44c0f5-c4a1-4803-a9cd-269cd67dfbfd/0797F003-CE44-49C4-A39F-68EC9928A470.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out Such a beautiful engine, designed by Edward Turner. In this picture, the engine is awaiting the points assembly, prior to installation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6b68374d-1861-4c0a-9346-b10f6dcb23af/BB553CE9-4728-4021-AE8D-5377291107ED.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The tail end is looking pretty tight. The large wheel T-nut seen on the left side, and the rest of the wheel hub are from a Vincent Black Lightning, a bike of which only thirty-some odd were made. The parts were found by Big D Cycles, in Dallas, who built up the wheels, shocks and handlebars. They decided to go with the hub to solve the brake/sprocket configuration, and because it was just so cool. There is also a brake panel stay that releases by a spring-loaded slide, making the rear wheel removable without tools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a520f5b2-0ec9-42f3-8230-1fcac2f52ec6/AED3F892-CF20-471F-A886-667A513AA33D.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The original Kawasaki S3 tach fit perfectly in the Lucas headlight shell, but finding a working one that was also presentable proved difficult. In the search, three seperate units were sourced (one was returned as defective,) and a single unit with a restorable bezel and an intact output shaft was built. There is also a custom face being printed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9906ad41-1004-4300-ac79-5f088cd314ad/4239FD41-A90D-4AE4-AA3F-A826E5A22CC1.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out I like this technique for concealing wires under the fender. A brass tube connected between the entrance and exit holes, with small plates on each end that utilize the existing fender mounting holes to keep it in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/189841da-568d-4b15-863b-7d6d74ca4758/697C84FB-14F2-4C4D-913D-D5AF925F121B.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out Some of the grief of trying to rebuild a vintage foreign bike. This is a picture of the muffler sent to me after a nearly four month wait. Obviously the wrong one, it cannot be made to fit, and looks to be made for a dual low-pipe set up. Of course the vendor is unresponsive to emails. When it arrived, the muffler was in a plastic bag, with more than a little bit of rusty water inside the bag, covering the muffler. A sign of attention to detail and competence…not! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8d11d6ac-d15b-4444-b5c6-b9eb358fc90c/144B4915-AD87-4507-918C-06E01B87E196.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The seat pan on the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub was made up. The lower bracket is made from 1/8” flat bar, with an aluminum pan made from .090 sheet. Mobtown Mike Smith will be taking care of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4affd1a6-9c0f-497a-b76e-ca8c6d547876/14880FCA-8D5B-40F8-AB5C-28F73128DEED.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out Some rear loops for the passenger pegs were made from 7/8” tube. Some old Harley Davidson pegs were the closest match to the rear-sets used in the front. Interestingly, they are made from some minibike handlebars, cut from the pullstart mini put together for Skratch’s Garage (seen in the December 31 post.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0be13323-f63b-4d39-97df-20318bae5271/377DDB43-DA74-4C2D-A450-B0B09CA56CDE.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The timing degree wheel along with the spark plug gauge, feeler gauge, and a test light are all you need to time the engine. I think the JapaneseHonda system is a lot less complicated, and more precise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3d7d34da-1c40-4de5-8c08-671db68eecbb/4E1AD6ED-B77F-44F8-814C-2EF8793615D9.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1955 Norton Norsaki and 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub builds nearing completion - Make it stand out The tail light unit was made from an old cymbal, a busted minibike tail light lens, and a brass plumbing fixture. The design was inspired by the iconic Sparto “Limp dick” tail light mount that was on the original bike. With the bobbed fender, there was little room for the original, and it looked out of place. This one is scaled down, and crosses over the rear frame loop. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2023/1/16/2ai8plzd6br30cqjbu09xsxxyh1vdr monthly 0.5 2023-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f744a246-d1eb-4424-8b6c-5ec8afbcad66/F3AD589C-7BF2-45CF-BF22-C2E73F8DFA9C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out Awaiting an oil level decal, and a final coat of clear on the oil tank. The air filter assembly and rear brake plate are ready to go. The air cleaner is another item that was different on the multiple Tiger Cub models. This one was also used on some pre-unit bikes. There are at least three different types used, as far as I can tell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4360d91a-16ca-407a-87f8-b4382ea12dc3/E466A512-297B-4F05-842A-221DA8DA5ED8.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out A transmission main shaft bushing is back ordered from the UK, and the right side covers can’t be put on without it. The rest of the engine block is assembled. The clutch hub bearings and rubber cushions were replaced. The primary drive installation is waiting on the transmission assembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2908b070-aeb8-446c-90ee-5662640a478e/BE6A8ECE-3D89-4869-9108-2AF7DA94FBED.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out Only a few of the black parts were painted: the headlight bucket, horn bracket, speedo mount, and oil tank. The powder coating was done by Triad Product finishing in Lewisville, Texas, and is the best job ever! Not just hyperbole, the masking was impeccable, there were no runs, sags or bare spots, and the thickness was just right. In the past, I have used the powder coating as a base coat, and cleared over it, but this job was so good there is no need. The difference between the powder and painted parts is indiscernible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c23847cc-b430-446f-9dd2-be0893a158ac/2E84F9BD-F956-470D-92A2-35CB4602B86A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out This tray was packed with hardware. As it dwindles in size, it makes me happier and happier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3f2c13b4-98ee-44bf-960d-9dadd5783c47/6EABCB21-9413-4AF5-B29A-ADF5E5B5CBBD.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out After the body work, the tank looks nice and smooth. It was primed and painted with rattle can enamel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/154e0b18-fa3c-4876-866f-f15178ec770c/980CFEBC-261F-4093-8E71-E4916790630C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out The wheel assemblies were taken down completely. The hubs and rear brake plate were powder coated, all the bearings were replaced, and the fresh hardware to finish it off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b2bfd267-04a9-4fbc-8b83-e6aa7231b7a0/6AE0C717-BF5E-48D7-98B2-DE03E0B71AD8.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out And finally. My Buddy, Clinton rode up from Dallas, trying to get some miles on a fresh engine rebuild on his Norton Commando 850. Such a beautiful bike! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f53d7e91-b65d-4d05-8d10-45c79da92534/D48E201F-E4B7-415B-B0E5-971385316E28.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out The crank shaft assembly was pressed together and then trued on a lathe. The roller bearing on the big end of the connecting rod ended up getting the nod after two successesive bronze bearings gave too much side play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d27067ce-763e-4aad-a619-41cf10ed1ede/ED1A60B2-C63F-42FB-8B16-254E0027A647.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out Getting a little farther into the assembly. The rear wheel has been a headache. The Triumph Tiger Cub is a little harder to figure some of the part numbers if you do not know the actual model you are dealing with. The Mountain Cub variety is even harder to figure out because there is not a parts catalogue specific to it (at least that I can find.) Perhaps this is because the model was produced at the very end of the Tiger Cub run, or because it was a US only model, but whatever the reason, there is some guessing that I have had to do. The bike came with a WM-3 wide wheel. After checking the latest Sports-model parts catalogue from 1965, there were two different wheel possibilities, but only one for a WM-3 width. After purchasing that specific wheel rim and lacing it multiple times, there was no way to get the spokes to fit correctly. After more research and hunting, the correct rim turned out to be the WM-2 width one. It appears the rims of both wheels were switched out at some point, and the WM-3 rim was substituted. Fortunately the wider rim can be used elsewhere, as it fits 63-70 650’s and other models. The front rim spoke nipples were way too small for the rim holes, and were swimming around in them. A new set of front and back stainless rims and spokes is on its way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9c2d5e5b-3f9c-4c38-bb23-f9065fd04bbe/2B0AA7A8-6479-45FD-94A5-768DF69AFDC1.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out Making a rubber washer for the high beam indicator light, using an arbor press and punches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b01c7f6d-e2d3-457a-bb48-e4bc6499d74c/575AA3EA-46FD-439E-B9E9-0277E4919D61.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out The thirty-over piston is in place with new gaskets. Still waiting on the head. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/17d76eff-431c-4ba9-b05d-559cdc8c5b68/25C87FE2-C96A-4D50-8FF4-98064960B564.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out Nothing like fresh finishes on everything. Still not decided on the tank paint, but that decision can wait till the front fender is made, as it will probably get some paint as well. All the switches were cleaned and greased, connections were freshened up, and the wiring harness was restored. Some new sheathing and some missing connectors were replaced. The handlebar switches were also restored, and the wiring hidden inside the bars. A mounting bracket for the horn is all but invisible hidden behind the headlight. It uses the handlebar mount bolts to secure it. Since the original bracket was absent, and pictures showing it look like it was made for a different horn than the one with the bike, I just made something that worked in the space allowed. The wiring harness was modified to have a single sheath of five wires passing from under the tank to the headlight. Usually, there are connectors from the horn and kill switch that pass separately along side the main wiring harness. Instead, the ignition wire was added to the harness bundle, and routed to the headlight, where the horn and kill switch connections were made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/23bba96f-1a14-4a5a-98d7-ae32cd6ad563/D4FDF532-26B9-44F2-ACF2-297FE94A578C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub restoration update - Make it stand out An example of the wiring harness condition. Poor connections were cleaned, and the wire ends were freshened and tinned with solder. Dielectric grease was used on unexposed terminals as well as the bullet wire connectors on the wiring harness. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/12/29/lgm4ckci25p32l4zo40blevnz6xbb9 monthly 0.5 2023-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a9674aee-ee23-4c77-b3e9-8ea3c03527d0/5381803D-65D8-4941-9CF7-00397499F1F7.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out Two Honda 1970 Z50 minibikes were in need of a carburetor. With as many minis as there are around here, it pays to have one ready. Eight original carbs were worked over, with six of them completed, and a couple still needing parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7eace879-e050-4a5a-8790-f99482e0317a/0A6F6FD9-80D8-4AF1-B4CC-EB0492F47ABA.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out Getting the keyed opening in the nylon turned out to be easier than anticipated. Drilling the center hole is easy enough, but getting the exact dimensions needed to make for a tight seal around the shaft of the choke lever took a little figuring. A piece of steel rod slightly smaller than the shaft was ground down on the sides to the same dimensions as the original shaft. The end of the shaft was tapered to help it center on the pilot hole in the center of the nylon plug. After heating to cherry red, the rod is plunged through the plug until it pops out the other side( I did this over a slightly open vise, that allowed the rod end to poke through the opening.) After a quick quench in water, the nylon is solid and the flashing can be trimmed off with a sharp blade. Keeping the plug on the rod while trimming makes for more crisp edges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8e3a3b04-3cf0-4461-82e1-43785314b6ba/C45AD5BE-30EF-44D8-85E3-A7B56277BB8C.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out All the parts ready for rebuild. The paper gaskets were replaced with new, and the nylon and rubber seals were replaced. The original paper gaskets are in remarkable shape for being over fifty years old, but the nylon and rubber sealing washers are cracked and need replaced.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d8415ac5-3163-4cc3-9fdf-613cf5306868/1DB6D809-FA2E-40A8-9A1B-2E50EE7721A4.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out This is a typical before picture. The choke assembly and any other steel parts have been stripped from the carb and sent out for zinc plating. The carb body is cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, with hot degreaser. Everything gets blown out, and put back together with new seals and gaskets. Some of these carbs were incomplete, missing floats, slides and fuel hose spigots. Replacements will be found, or they will stay as parts carbs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0742fd01-ddb7-45f9-a38e-12640378b430/33A52AF3-7625-4D5E-AA5D-C014BDA53472.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out An finally… This DoodleBug minibike came from the same family as the 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub. It was hanging around the shop over at Skratch’s Garage in Haltom City, Texas, and I took it to do some mods and maintenance. It is being given a little refresh, with new bars, a mini Whizzer style tank, straight exhaust pipe, tires, chain, cables, and hand controls. She is a runner and rider, with a pretty mild engine. There may be an engine upgrade in the future… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e99e5c2c-ed1d-434d-bc2d-53d78f1d8f19/32D2B5C7-CBF6-475C-B371-63A36E2523CD.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out The nylon washer on the left was the largest original I could find. The one on the right is one of the new ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8b409c6f-9aed-4d90-8be8-f0bd6d1af8fe/781AAE4A-F4BB-4FD5-BA61-B5AE54A63D46.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out The intake manifolds were bead blasted, and the studs and nuts were re-plated. New O-rings were used for the fuel drain needle, and manifold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c159b391-ce16-48f4-9bde-f591e1d0b457/7A79EB04-D118-4391-B7F0-6655D57C3367.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out Part of the way through the process. The bodies of the carbs were not refinished aside from the ultrasound cleaning. Some still had a fairly good original surface, but most were in some state of oxidation. Vapor honing gives a beautiful finish, that looks even better than original. That may be the way in the future, but for now, this will do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4f6c3925-44f0-4276-b7c8-8c3c9d5cd72c/3D224A93-8C53-4F27-BD9F-A104A32AB87C.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out The original plastic sealing washer on the choke lever is one of the impossible parts to find. Pictures of the part online look like it is made of natural nylon. The used washers, seen on the left, are somewhat puckered on the edges, suggesting they have shrunk after all the years, heat, and fuel. A piece of nylon rod was turned down on a lathe to a size slightly larger than the largest original one I could find (there were a total of ten measured to get the size.) Individual plugs were cut from that rod, with a 7/64” hole drilled in the center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/98fe1c79-5639-48d8-8eba-4d561f2e7547/6A2B8C60-F2B3-4328-AE34-E7B22F2924AC.jpeg THE BLOG - Rebuilding Honda Z50 Carburetors, and a pull start minibike for Skratch's Garage. - Make it stand out Small sections of Honda tubing were cut to replace the rubber seal on the shaft, another part that is impossible to find in new shape. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/12/6/lh59uexfbgt56w81jsxulmyj3dnxif monthly 0.5 2022-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aab955e4-5371-4f4d-b951-db733faef7b7/2340E1FA-AF78-4836-AF26-F6E789D302C7.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out A new Morgo oil pump went in.Extra time was spent making sure that all the oil passages were super clean in the engine block, crank, and tubing, and especially the oil tank. There are many stories circulating amongst British bike owners about crankshafts and cams ruined after a rebuild because of a a dirty tank or sludge trap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fa4a8bd1-e1f9-40fd-af19-b8117db81c46/46391F02-63BD-498E-9DCD-BBADFE63E3A3.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The replacement side cover was sanded and polished out. The case halves are clean, and all bushings and bearings have been replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bbca0ac2-9774-4fc1-af96-58b880da63b0/C06D80FE-46FB-416A-8F54-EA0D64E51D6B.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out I left the head with Big D Cycles in Dallas, Texas, for new valve guides and valves. Once again, with everything else getting restored, and all the smoke it produced, it seems like it has to be done. This is the first time using an ultrasonic cleaner with a heavy-duty degreaser to clean parts. The finish was in surprisingly good shape on the engine center cases, given all the oxidation and wear on the side covers. There is a skid plate that goes on the bottom of the frame, and evidently it does a good job protecting the bottom (the thick layer of grease probably didn’t hurt either.) The new main bearings for the crank and tranny are in place, along with all the bronze bushings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/143ce0b8-87ad-4f06-ba87-f5048b1eaac6/7DA166F0-14C7-4C0A-B052-5C1F0D9C936C.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The bead blasting is done, and any stubborn paint will be scraped or wire-brushed away prior to powder coating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/824214e4-caa2-4aec-b2cb-f0a3c137204f/437B9D1E-67FE-4C19-BA18-E989500B5FCC.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The frame parts all disassembled and degreased, awaiting bead blasting. Since acquiring an ultrasonic cleaner, the parts are cleaned in a water-based degreaser, opposed to the kerosene parts cleaner used in the past. The results are superior, and the process is less labor intensive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8e005994-eea0-49d3-b6c3-299e171e0281/E245645F-AFA1-48BB-AE20-B3D306BB074D.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The splines on the gear shift shaft were a little hammered. They worked, but look like a future failure waiting to happen. Baxter Cycle had a replacement for three bills, seen on the right. I was thinking a single-cylinder restoration might be a little less expensive than a twin or triple, but so far, that is not the case. A new shifter pedal will be used to keep everything as tight as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2699613b-321a-497f-9235-713d067e4bc5/47F32323-0D41-48DD-9C45-5F4BC559C297.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The original white steel fender on the bottom, and an aluminum one to replace it. The fender was a clearance model from Lowbrow, that was sitting on the shelf. A little hammering and English wheel, and the crown was raised to more closely match the deep original. When the bike starts to go back together, the plan is to make a custom aluminum front fender as well. The modifications to the bike are all reversible. The old seat, fenders and tail light will be preserved should anyone want to restore it to original in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/486bf330-a38f-4ab8-927a-b5b60205a63f/D459474C-613A-48EF-9DEA-EA9EAFFAAE82.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The rust on the wheel hub was superficial, without any pitting, and cleaned up nicely after ultrasound degreasing and bead blasting. New bearings will go into the hub rebuild. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/05b25631-afb3-449c-bc7c-ab94a8c02e0c/6CBE7E6C-C200-433F-AE7D-60223BDEFBAC.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The passenger pegs were removed by a previous owner, so the brackets were trimmed off to finish the job. The lug for the kickstand was kept, and a dome from the rear of a Norton feathered frame finishes off the end of the tube. There will be a solo seat on this bike, so the rear pegs are not needed. A new location for the brake light switch will have to be worked out. The location for the switch down low on the frame seemed a little vulnerable anyway, and could benefit from relocation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5de9ecf8-91dd-4e14-96b2-be31ac0659ca/D2675046-F18C-4D26-A304-55F542BA392A.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The factory brass-brazed frame joints are one of the cool things about Triumph frames. I have seen film of frames at the Meriden Triumph factory, where the frames are lying in a large bed of coals, being heated hot enough to apply the brass right there. While it seems a little crude, it is probably a pretty efficient way to get the job done. The frame was actually in very nice shape, without any significant alteration or distortion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c5e4f39e-5028-4313-b7a0-ac6205084027/EEFD836F-394D-4B30-B3A8-69A777CEEE27.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out New fork uppers are going on the bike along with new chrome locking collars, seals, gaiters, and bronze bushings. The restrictor cones are also being replaced, leaving the fork lowers, upper beauty rings, and tripletrees as the only original parts. Aside from the engine, suspension is one of the areas that I like to get worked out as well as possible, as it make so much difference in handling and comfort, and ultimately, safety. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c7ac39dc-659e-46bf-a919-0e0f54e7dec9/3758F8B6-62C5-40B6-A7AA-204EDEE09AC3.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out A couple of dents on the oil tank needed to be knocked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/62628401-234d-4dfa-a58d-df1f06a9f4c0/B584CDB1-D87D-48D6-9F01-93B4748DA9F2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out It’s a tedious process cleaning and working over the hardware prior to cadmium plating, but using the original hardware makes a big difference in the final product. Everything gets ultrasonic cleaning, degreasing, and wire brushing. Threads are chased and bends and nicks are repaired as well as possible Though there were some missing and incorrect pieces of hardware on the bike, a majority of the parts were there and in decent condition. The engine cheese-head Filson case screws had been boogered up a little, and were replaced with NOS ones. The heads of those original screws get hammered out enough to use again, but are still irregular enough to keep them out of this build. After all the prep, Texas Precision Plating in Garland, Texas does the cadmium plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e3373722-b531-493f-b856-02fabf9d0d0b/BA736C9C-5FA9-4BE1-A983-FC280B215F9F.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The crankshaft was disassembled, and it received a big-end roller-bearing conversion at some point. I have a new stock bearing and crank pin, but after disassembly, it seems the connecting rod is an early model with a small big-end bearing. A new rod has been ordered, with the bigger bearing found on the 1966-1967 engines. Given the copious smoke this engine produced when running, any non-stock parts are suspect as contributors, hence the conversion back to stock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a74e4b7b-8303-449d-8ba1-4b723922aa7d/4AF8C5B9-EBB3-4662-A8F3-55754AD7D3B5.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out The sludge trap on Triumph cranks has always been a source of frustration. It is quite common for them to be badly chewed-up from previous removal (or perhaps, only attempts.) This one was no exception, and had to be drilled out. A 1/2” drill bit left just enough room to preserve the threads. This is the last little bit of the plug, wrapped around the drill bit. Fortunately, the threads were untouched during the process. Baxter Cycles had the new sludge trap replacement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e6c9e028-153c-40e3-a5a3-7d49f097d629/CB2FA311-251C-453B-9B69-3464B9309C2E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub Restoration Begins. - Make it stand out Some mandrels pressing the dents from inside of the tank through the filler hole, and a stud-gun to work out the rest, and its close enough for paint. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/11/19/1967-triumph-mountain-cub-in-the-shop-for-a-revival monthly 0.5 2022-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/53922362-2a5c-4ee2-811e-2b804e9b97e3/tempImagem1b3ti.jpg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Seems I can’t get away from UK brands. My buddy Peter, who has done the studio photos of my bikes, needed help on his 1979 MGB. The clutch had blown, and needed replacement. Here, I am feeling proud of getting the left motor mount on in ten minutes, after youtube videos said steering shaft and the whole rack and pinion rack needed to be removed to do the job ( it does not.) A lot of well-meaning people on there telling you how to get the job done like a total bung-hole. The solution is a slim 9/16” wrench with the nut and lock washer taped to it with gaff tape. The big flat washer that goes on before the nut and locker has to be put in place behind the mount first, but is easy to put in place because of the long slot the bolt passes through makes it easy to see and manipulate. The slim wrench and nut slipping by the shaft holds the flat washer in place https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8346f2e3-9d75-44e8-9503-50142318a2b4/299AB33A-AA25-421E-BDB8-08A64D1D0B11.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Here it is, shortly after being pulled from the barn. A 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub motorcycle in Grenadier Red and White. This was a legacy bike, found by Skratch at Skratch’s Garage in Haltom City, Texas. The daughter of the owner wanted it to go to someone who was going to take care of it rather than flip it. That will certainly be the case. She asked for a chance to ride it again, once running. That is surely the intention, but as bad as it smokes, it needs tear-down and rebuild before it can be ridden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b189b9c9-acf8-4382-a842-e65a354efd08/AA2F909B-994D-4E8F-A7A7-177FC334CA85.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out A couple of deep gouges were found on the side of the cylinder bore. A new .030 over piston and rings is on the way. It was easy to find higher compression (9:1) domed pistons, but the flat-top 7:1 CR pistons proved a little harder to find. Because these engines have a reputation for running hot, the lower compression piston was chosen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f0197e9f-748d-4ccf-9ff2-4f0748fd4578/708A4AF7-7FD7-4132-A30F-A175FE9C44FE.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Just the clean-up and re-mounting the speedo return some of that classic Triumph styling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1f5461f3-7ea0-4085-ba9c-92dc0906cfe2/E21269F5-4A7B-4039-B5E2-D93082645EDF.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Hard to believe a fuel system clean and some fresh oil is all it needed to run. The Lucas ET ignition does not require a battery, and starts the bike easily. The lights were operational, as are the brakes and clutch. The scavenging side of the oil system appears to be dry, with no significant oil being seen in the rockers. A new Morgo pump has been ordered to replace the original. All the passages and oil tank will be checked and cleaned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0a139481-6ab6-46ab-95e8-6c0c6a9e3845/6B91F2F7-7255-4348-9D0C-1792909B527A.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out A new chrome plated exhaust system is on its way from England. Even though there were thoughts of just get the bike running, and leave it funky, there are enough things wrong with it that it has to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ff7c9177-4e24-4116-b6c6-16bd50ea565d/EAAB2835-844C-4013-9E31-253010F3B091.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out After a bit of elbow great and some wrenching, the speedo is back to the original location, and the bars are a bit cleaner. The tank has been cleaned inside and out at this point, and is in good shape, overall. It will be repainted at some point. A new set of knee pads are on order. The front brake cable was repaired, and is operational now. The wiring for the kill switch and horn needs to be addressed, but there is likely to be some restoration done on the handlebars first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9d0be4b7-9bfd-44d4-8e6b-d1c2569c976f/45719256-69B3-4F17-8D64-E2A9DE267FD4.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Other creative changes made by a previous owner include remounting the speedo and horn on some hardware store brackets. I have my doubts this set-up was used, as the odometer is still set to zero. The speedo cable had been re-routed through the frame to make the cable reach, with a number of bends along the way. It has since been returned to the factory location along the bottom of the engine. The original 415 chain was hanging over the handlebars. A new Pro-Taper gold MX chain was purchased to replace it. New fork components are being gathered in preparations for a total rebuild. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4f7b134d-5862-47ca-bc04-f2818d7e2482/2B3F0356-99C3-4CB4-A261-82E09168C106.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out As cool as it looks at present, some custom touches are planned for the rebuild. The engine will be left mostly stock. The original seat is rock-hard and the plan is a shorter trials-type seat to replace it. The steel fenders may also get traded out for some alloy models, along with a smaller tail light assembly. The wheels will be rebuilt with rubber more suited for off road riding, and perhaps a rear alloy rim to match the front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6187d924-e1d2-4fac-93d5-f0b9e9850adf/60B8ED6E-4395-4B96-925B-E0C0B7797FE9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out A number of changes had been made to the bike by the previous owner(s.) The exhaust had a section of flex pipe welded in the center, there were some dents, cracks, custom paint, and copious quantities of oil inside the muffler. The oil was from the engine, which smoked furiously, once started. The tank and carb cleaning were enough to revive it, but the smoking was bad enough I only kept it running a few minutes for fear of engine damage. The engine was wet-sumped, with a quart of the 1.5 liter capacity sitting in the engine. Even with it removed, the engine did no better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bf05b66c-151b-4cc1-99ae-0493de8a6828/9390FFA7-F60A-4616-A752-B253C8A1B546.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out Mmmm. Barn fresh. Mud dauber nests were fond in a number of locations on the bike. Pretty common in Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/707cd051-f276-4401-90cb-a3bf64957a95/096FA091-F937-4DF3-8DE6-D055902AE01D.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out I read that Gary Nixon won short-course races on a cub. Not planning to race this one, but a lighter race style looks great on this bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d76cdf8d-ba28-4aee-be55-db0b36fc2e18/70097E43-BA27-475A-AAB2-D3D57D5BBC48.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out A skid plate was found online to replace the original one that was missing. Wear marks on the the oil feed pipes that rub the skidplate brackets indicate the bike was fitted with a skid plate previously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ff0c5ec1-fb43-4602-9e45-61023024430a/A18DBFA2-0180-4DA9-B651-37640D3771C9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out The frames and tank on these models are unusual in the way the frame slopes down from the steering tube, and uses the tank as a stressed member. There are steel bars running through the inside of the tank, that have the external tank mounting tabs on each end, which bolt to the frame. This bike was designed by Edward Turner, accounting for some of the Bonneville-like styling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cfbe8eee-780c-4617-be86-8f3f3f572130/EC554D7D-69BB-451E-AE2E-83D0F5A75411.jpeg THE BLOG - 1967 Triumph Mountain Cub in the shop for a revival. - Make it stand out The right side engine cover has a significant chunk out of the edge of the clutch adjuster inspection hole. A used one has been purchased to replace it. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/10/14/ev2nl7ipd55u8ny2pahzzmugdupenx monthly 0.5 2022-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d228a676-720c-4623-af64-db1f21f48580/C150D355-6533-49D2-955C-C8C4406DADF7.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/66bb0c61-81ad-49d9-b091-c61c0767afe5/D299C441-EEAA-4CF5-B1B7-08AE5F9D71E7.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Some of the imperfection in the paint was left like on this side of the swingarm. Since this is not meant to pass for a complete restoration, its okay to leave some imperfections making it obvious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f6141528-1872-40b0-a9e9-b83194504a46/E1C54DE3-2321-4E00-96C3-DECC1F3ED012.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Only a couple small pits could be found in the wheel rims. Hard to believe it is fifty year old chrome. With the new spokes, seals, re-plated hardware, and polished aluminum hubs, the wheels are like new. The front forks , rear shocks, and tires were already on the bike when I got it, and appear to be in like-new condition. The front forks are not exactly like the originals on the lower portion, and are most likely aftermarket. They work fine and fit just like the originals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ac1b0589-96c2-4ead-8612-65f6674d53fe/8B5D387C-C5B2-41D0-A9AF-3A72F0E78916.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d69907db-73f8-42dc-b9b9-c810158335a1/A9E73429-F88E-4434-85EA-731DBAF0704F.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/eb68e5b8-8461-4786-8943-2fd31cc5bba8/9D61A186-93F2-41D3-84D5-BD27F01ABB08.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Some of the small details like putting new vinyl sheathing on the handlebar control wiring and main wire harness make the difference on this type of restoration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4735ebef-8470-4619-a9c5-c69c5753a573/F1F8A7D3-37C1-4189-A1B9-634829F96709.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/41051344-4c28-42d2-8789-6d9cd8a7df6f/65758169-09B6-4C46-B4DD-16851670552A.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out New mirrors from Honda, replaced hardware and polished aluminum and original chrome have the cockpit looking fresh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d9c48313-abbc-4b69-9f06-01b45c764492/168DE747-762A-45C5-B575-8D5659B71297.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out The foil label on the swingarm and the clear one on the auxiliary fuel tank and the carb instructions are reproductions as well as some of the cables and wire sheathing. All other parts are either restored or OEM Honda parts.The tool kit is complete and was zinc plated. It fits behind the battery cover in the original vinyl pouch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1f28a2c4-b2e7-4f73-9a09-38779c13ac35/19F926DE-A2F9-4F49-8064-1A8D69CB2E3C.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out The original foil badges on the air cleaner and frame cover were carefully removed and re-applied after the plastic parts were repaired and painted. A medium charcoal metallic was the closest match I could find, and was used on the auxiliary fuel tank in addition to the plastics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bacc9d72-8ab2-46d3-8a3e-f9c2b35b7c3b/197AD830-0B7B-425B-AB2F-30FEB3BC8857.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out For years, these bikes did not appeal to me, but this one has changed my mind about them. A really strong running engine, easy to ride, and comfortable, with room on back for a full sized cooler…pretty close to the perfect fun bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2ae0e073-96ff-42a5-aea2-bbff041ea28e/E4E7DBCA-0E50-4A3B-B930-9C57345C16A4.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out The chrome on this bike is in exceptionally good shape. The wheel rims, brush guard, cargo rack, and muffler on these bikes are often pitted or worse on a bike of this age, but the only place with any visible damage was on top of the cargo rack. It looks like the optional seat pad was used on this bike, and may have caused a couple small spots where the chrome is worn through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2d4ec1b8-9860-48e1-b04f-b660ee87d2b6/21289D05-D99E-457A-810E-590DB46CA70A.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out The wear on the rear rack can be seen in this picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5c4000d4-f289-4341-8539-6ea78ad4a3d3/35DD1B14-2E96-467E-9E83-C7455B5C45B5.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Original yellow paint, touched-up with a can of Honda touch-up paint, original chrome and seat cover. The engine side covers, plastics, and black parts like the footpeg assembly and battery box were re-painted, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c8b8d877-b079-4092-b655-ec7af0007de9/DD30B62B-9994-4FED-922A-EFA1AF0B3CE3.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out Not perfect, but she sure is a beauty. Honda had a way with color that still works as well today as fifty plus years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c06fcd48-e949-4a60-9e60-87e3976ba4cd/FE8C55C2-B4BE-461C-91F4-B8BA4D5BB082.jpeg THE BLOG - Completing the 1970 Honda CT90 restoration. - Make it stand out The fender bracket for the auxiliary gas tank was also sprayed to match using Honda touch up paint. I am surprised how little fading has occurred on the original paint, and how well it matches. A correct cap for the auxiliary tank was found. The one under the seat has vent holes on the top, but the auxiliary one has holes underneath to avoid water getting in the tank. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/9/8/the-1971-honda-ct90-gets-an-engine-refresh monthly 0.5 2022-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5f29a872-aff3-44a5-bd2f-0d4337a7c5f0/6E70F5D8-5832-40FC-B838-98A1B0E5D431.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The small side covers were polished out. Although the high-low gear cover is painted from the factory, it is often worn off by the foot of the rider, and looks like its half polished, so polishing it out the rest of the way seems like a better solution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5634df64-c9ce-4c22-9ed2-0512aa6256c3/2E37D58D-225C-4E5D-89F7-8255A8593995.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The exhaust is in excellent shape. There were small areas of surface rust that were removed, and the backsides of the heat shields were de-rusted. Because the chrome plating process does not deposit as much metal on concave surfaces as it does on convex or flat surfaces, the backside of the shields are often rusted. The rust was light enough on this bike that chrome polish and some elbow grease removed it. Not a super big detail, but the reflectivity of the muffler under the guard will reflect the rust, and the pipe will not look quite as nice as it could. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/25a3cf68-7e4c-4f3c-8c71-21c57c6121ac/0F726A6A-6B78-4E60-B8FF-8D1238C2F2D2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out After the cleaning and a couple insulating washers were replaced, the muffler is back on, with a fresh exhaust seal at the head. Waiting on the left side of the engine to get buttoned up before the footpeg assembly can be installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bb2c1e0e-77c5-455c-9d41-c2bbd67a8ee4/889B58F3-EF3E-47CC-943E-6900566E5843.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out A lot of time was spent on just degreasing the parts. The head was completely disassembled, bead blasted, and the valves lightly lapped in prior to reassembly with all new seals and gaskets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/170d98fa-07f4-4e92-8a29-8f98d7625b36/E1AC7FD5-9F0F-4D9C-9D38-47D27984897B.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The stock cylinder was bored .075 and a new piston and rings will be used. The cylinder was bead blasted and painted with medium gloss black engine paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/aebf993b-6f1f-4069-bbfe-8ecaf77ae09e/6BC03BAC-28A1-430D-B214-A6FF6FC71C43.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out An engine refresh is underway on the 1970 Honda CT90. The top end is being rebuilt with a new piston and bored cylinder. With the covers polished out, the engine didn’t look too bad, but there was a good amount of grime on the back and underside of the engine. The rest of the bike is coming together and looking pretty fresh. The engine needs some attention to get it to match. After a thorough cleaning of the entire engine, the side covers will be painted, the head will be bead blasted, the rebuilt cylinder will be installed, and freshly plated hardware will be used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2d6e72ab-15d7-42b8-9c23-959e2f119740/297AE38E-E2F7-485C-B1A5-75CFD72D8695.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The intake manifold was oxidized on the front, so it was bead blasted and wet sanded to reproduce the original finish. The air filter and the plastic parts are being re-painted, and will be the last big hurdle. There are some cracks that need to be repaired in the down tube cover before it can be painted. Another reason to de-rust the backside of the exhaust heat shields can be seen from this angle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1a0eb79a-8693-47ff-925e-844c8442aead/0E436755-F102-4920-8DB0-089299DA589D.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out With the side covers and top end removed, the engine is pretty easy to remove from the frame. It is said the frame is the best engine holder. In order to bust loose Phillips-type screws that in some cases have been in place for fifty years, an impact driver is used. If the engine is not held in place tightly, it makes it hard to get the down force necessary to keep from stripping the heads of the screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/537d59a7-0c9b-44fc-85c2-ae1c37391faf/BB222D93-E40F-4901-BE29-9A41A6655D05.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The engine side covers show the wear up close. The re-plated hardware really makes the difference in a sympathetic rebuild. The sidestand and center stand were painted. A lot of welding spatter from the factory welds was removed on the center stand prior to painting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/133f7c86-7dfc-4e8f-b3a8-ef056c949f8c/D546C1AD-7244-4000-9624-F132A64B3D2E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out Waiting on a set of engine shaft seals to get the engine buttoned up. A new sprocket went in to replace the worn original one. The valve inspection covers, points cover and points base were also polished out. Even though the engine block didn’t look too bad from above, there was a good layer of dried grime just about everywhere aside from the small exposed square just below the carb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fa720026-b2d7-4dc3-81d4-38d817fb5311/72413B04-7EE4-43FF-A4AE-433ADBF023CF.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1970 Honda CT90 gets an engine refresh. - Make it stand out The oil slinger was pretty clean, making me think someone serviced the clutch not that long ago. The similarities between the 90cc engine and 70cc platform are many, but there are still slight differences that had me pulling out the manual. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/8/30/ihd7sgi6ibdsrhcs9ch0n87wowotj6 monthly 0.5 2022-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4dbde2dc-b36b-4da1-88e0-0f6a2b84c815/A1C08EA8-CC27-4A48-AFFF-A7CB24B15D4F.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out This bike has been great fun, giving my kids rides around the neighborhood years ago, going on camping trips, riding parades, and much more. When Alan said he wanted to sell it, I was tempted to buy it back, but I already have too many bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/83deb5ee-b542-4e7a-9294-bbfd1aadb018/8F992AA1-ECFC-44B8-BD2B-8924AA18C8B0.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out A bunch of small details worked out on the Tijuana Trike. The rear seat backrest was slanted forward a little more, and the backrest raised up several inches. A new air cleaner cover was worked out on the engine, a front fender ornament was created, and some other small additions like the Cali license plate on the back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9db2c63f-1127-41a7-9565-8c067e6631dd/666822C9-BE11-4331-B896-C87948A571A8.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out The overhead view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d43cfbd9-57fa-4b55-ac1e-de939d47e675/65F7B6AC-1436-483C-A3DC-816C3504270F.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out A morning romp on wet grass. Yes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/697b62c4-ba33-46e1-8d92-d55cc4c402cf/931A3EF2-4096-43D1-B135-9404D6084009.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out The engine side covers were the only things re-painted. The candy ruby red paint is still vivid, with no fading detected. Usually, when the chain guard is removed, some fading can be seen between the covered and exposed frame, but not on this bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/19e2fa41-64b0-4701-8c7b-a3ccc18702d1/DD11024B-4AED-444B-A6B4-999C010F47B1.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out A loop of 4130 moly steel tube was added to the backrest. The way it was before, the upper part of the backrest was sticking up past the sissy bar, and was unsupported. The backrest ends up being pushed and pulled when moving the trike around the shop and loading it in the van, so it needs to be strong enough to take it. The California Board of Equalization license plate blue and yellow plate fits perfectly. The yellow on the plate and sissy bar looks identical! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/fd1b7723-3c29-43bb-a058-e63d58749b5b/70F39661-34DC-48D0-A9E6-5B15875784C3.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out A Cal-Custom Stromberg type air cleaner was adapted to fit over the cone air filter. A support bracket on the end keeps it from wobbling around. In this case, it is more than ornamental, as the splash from the front tire is aimed right at this area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/dc7f128a-06c2-4806-8cd8-e91cf26e1c86/E6B198FC-0F94-4C8D-B881-D1F2306E5EE8.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out Another one coming out of mothballs was this beautiful 1971 Honda ST70 Export model survivor. A lot of the hardware was replaced with new and replated pieces, a lot of the rubber was replaced, and a thorough cleaning was done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f19258b4-46be-4c42-9ab4-959b60eec12b/23B8DA9A-6A6D-4D23-804C-5A29E251F218.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out Nothing like pristine original shape, it is only original once. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/145e2687-a7ba-4be0-b9b5-9195eeb6315f/21CFECA9-A759-4ADB-A499-CCB3CCC55543.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out With the tail section and base added, it looks at home on the fender. It is always amazing to me how pictures of the fender without the ornament now look naked to me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ec6bda3c-fd33-421a-ac81-3f0b7730dfb7/76A2DF22-4A96-4100-B02D-1BCAED645EE3.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out Since there is some jet-age influence on the bike, a jet-like front fender ornament was built from brass to adorn it. Turned from solid brass and then silver soldered together. My drawings are always loose, more a styling representation than an actual plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/59d5da2d-88a3-4a2c-9df2-6f90897d96aa/3DB3F115-23A9-4B0F-B5B6-12B95A73F1FB.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out My buddy Alan bought this 1973 CT70 from me a number of years back, and is now looking to sell it. It was given a once-over, with new inner tubes, a carb clean, and all new ignition components. It is a reliable starter and runner. The original paint is faded on the right side of the bike, but the rest of the bike presents nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/60ef64e5-d5ec-401b-b74d-7880cc8a4afb/DBD0BB4F-44EB-4601-A655-CF7EB2E17A40.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out The more upright angle of the rear sissy bar, and the taller backrest can be seen in this picture. It makes for a little tighter quarters for the passenger, but the look of the bike is better, in my opinion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f8cbc528-de6f-406d-9bd8-c7466a9d1be1/523D801C-2342-41D0-9AEB-D626072B5783.jpeg THE BLOG - Detailing out the Tijuana Trike, ST70 Dax Export, and CT70 revivals. - Make it stand out A cab clean, oil change and oil slinger service, air filter, and the usual points, plug, and condenser replacement was done getting her up to speed. A low mile (866KM) example of this bike, she didn’t need much. one kick, and she starts and idles smoothly. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/8/22/the-tijuana-trike-takes-a-spin monthly 0.5 2022-08-22 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/8/10/24ix0rzrdr04mjuvmg9g7th05hnw75 monthly 0.5 2022-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2b4d9a0a-0290-41d0-a9ea-99131a139894/3991B6A0-A575-4B5D-A0E3-2F612ED775F6.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out When I told Mobtown Mike the colors I wanted, and the pattern, he said okay, but later told me he initially had his doubts on the colors. When I took him the seat, the tank was not yet painted, and the vision was only floating in my head. Fortunately, the end result makes some sense of what I was trying to pull off. The purple on the seat ties in with the tank sides and front fender. The gold and red of the seat, and the green gold and red of the tank end up harmonizing with one another. The squares and rectangles are echoed throughout the build, showing up in numerous places. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b55b9789-cfea-48e7-8a2c-dc38827c8833/E85E9B25-3C68-4B8D-8652-AE3A9D342A6C.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out The street tire is great on pavement, but the knobby that was on before it was better for off-road handling. The rear wheels, tires, and mounting hubs as well as the knobby front tire and wheel were kept together, and can be changed out easily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4faaa808-c6a5-490c-b45c-07a549d29a66/369DB4EA-5B85-484B-84B0-2B7284B2C243.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Made from 1/2”’ 4130 moly steel tube, the wheelie bar is cross braced and should be rigid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c987b84e-eb60-4c0c-9c87-c3d9dc424b60/190F5256-98DC-4CDA-8DCD-83CC96CCCE7E.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out A set of skateboard wheels was used to make a wheelie bar. With a rider on the rear, it is expected to wheelie easily. Whoever is on back needs to be small and agile. I am thinking like the “monkey” position in sidecar racing, where they use their weight strategically to keep things in balance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c0b1c1c9-6705-4bc5-b63c-5ee491b9b7cc/tempImagej8SGgS.jpg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Bobby at RWD Designs, also known as Mr Fotography, takes some great pictures in the studio, and on location, like Denton Bike night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/43f1ab99-df63-4d7e-a268-bc7a364b893f/C3EE4B15-4836-4A2D-9753-02F90B9E7C03.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out While figuring out the angles on the wheelie bar, the front end was elevated so the skateboard wheels could be checked for the best contact and alignment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6bdc0e9e-6e91-473e-afd6-51bb4be907cf/9799509D-0242-45F0-8621-481931DAF9EF.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Setting sun rays gave it an odd glow at the Dan’s Bar reveal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3ea541f9-79d6-4d31-9d70-c51fea69deef/12E04582-1524-4E01-93AD-F041000C8634.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Mikey working relentlessly on projects, I was glad he could work this one in. The seat is so awesome, and transforms the trike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3339c000-61e1-44fc-b201-3a05818d01ea/B878C0FB-2C67-4E0D-BFAD-74C800239D73.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out There were a number of posts of the trike at Denton Bike Night online, this was a favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7d66fbbf-f666-4665-b1a3-4b03210f98ad/ADCE33B8-923F-4251-96C6-9272D914F06D.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Red neon setting it on fire! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b85d23f9-53f0-4948-ab07-c0c13836a6dc/EDD88C49-34AA-46D8-AE06-DEC9961FC556.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out The Tijuana Trike saw some more changes in preparation for the August kick-off of Denton Bike Night. The amazing seat cover by Mobtown Mikey Kneavel out in Weatherford, Texas is the cherry on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d69fd4f1-f30d-4a42-8089-7fdefcffe82b/D70C8BA9-199E-4B61-A36B-1E5713C1FA0D.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out At one point we were going to go with gold on the back of the sissy bar pads. Glad we went with purple! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/df8caba9-dfa8-4652-8677-0667bdee1ae2/E5A5330C-1093-47C6-8542-556E009CD051.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Pretty self explanatory, the dash houses switches for the running lights, head lights, LED ground effects, engine start, ignition , a gear position indicator, and cigarette butt receptacle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/9c6450f4-64f0-49e3-bccc-d56d2816c680/0D87A8A0-BE13-4878-A613-D48CDCC812DB.png THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Dentonmoto had a booth, and we were selling merch and giving away some too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a8385048-8dcd-4b2a-b80a-1cff659a7a77/tempImageJlxDVP.jpg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out At Denton Bike Night, hamming it up for the camera. Photo by RWD Designs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5c98a488-9cd5-49ef-a3f9-0e48863ae281/48C0E755-0DF2-4DCF-A375-A68ADB325CC5.jpeg THE BLOG - The Tijuana Trike makes her Debut. - Make it stand out Just back from Denton bike night, Flaquita and the Tijuana trike looking pretty sharp. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/7/18/03ru8xfey3cwka37omlbkjtut5t9gl monthly 0.5 2022-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ebc02da2-c9e0-41ee-8aec-67e375254601/127C0261-3131-4A10-AE30-57DF7A04D133.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out The geometric styling on the tank top echos the fender wells and soon to be made seat cover. The fish scales are my first attempt on a tank. The Koi fish is my symbol, and one usually gets worked in these builds. This tank is a near identical match to the one currently on the bike. While that one is doing fine, The inside was severely rusted and the walls are thinner than usual. The epoxy coating inside adds some rigidity, but I have seen too many tank lining failures to believe it will last forever. This one was found online and is in nice shape inside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6684f334-c150-45bd-af8c-841811300e14/83F2C5C5-D54E-4166-A48F-AAF22D37C1A5.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out Bought a set of used factory wheels. After a lot of wrestling and cleaning, they are getting a good coat of primer and safety yellow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ed37a087-9385-4316-81bf-a8e8a0bf3858/EFD037C7-B344-4264-ABC7-700EADABC629.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out Wellnuts, vinyl edging, .090 aluminum, dense and soft foam layers, and then shaped with sanders. A simple seat back has a lot of steps going into it before you even consider the cover. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c7c8579d-6795-4e31-b8b4-d0c776fc8643/0F26ACAB-112D-4541-8F3E-6257CBC5923C.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out Doing some testing and practicing on the scales. Different shapes, sizes, and masks were experimented with till an acceptable result was found. While not perfect, it is consistent with the rest of the bikes imperfection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cccc0e55-cd46-41fd-857e-e7c5dbbebd52/D6ECB6B8-CCBB-4193-A041-A821561D1B66.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out Some 1/4” aluminum plate was milled and shaped to make some treads for the rear seat foot wells. Rectangles again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f07c92d5-8dbb-479f-b6d8-b6b8687a80f8/33C7C9FF-60F9-4A40-9E79-646DB23E001C.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out Somewhere there is a purple fish…and he is jealous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/214a73dc-185d-455f-8e20-b0af5dbc56a6/ADDE6FFB-DFC1-44DA-AE7A-E9DBEBA8485E.jpeg THE BLOG - Working out details on the Tijuana Trike. - Make it stand out The seat backs have been made and are off to Mobtown Mike for some upholstery along with the seat. These will be Zodiac style vinyls again. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/7/2/ycv2ds82iubygjxfpnl9pn30hk7mmc monthly 0.5 2022-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3ba361dc-2e56-4b66-b81b-b63021570595/A0917497-C1B7-44A5-9018-BCE4E8E4E79C.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out There are styling cues from 1959 Cadillacs to dune buggies, rockets, and midget racers, to name a few. Frames from two Honda ATC70’s, front fork tubes from a honda MR50, triple tree clamps from a CT70, Harley bitch bar, Bates sissybar, headlight and turn signals from a CB750, Kawasaki KLX110 muffler and KZ400 turn signals, Mustang King/Queen seat, CL350 tank, CT90 skidplate, SL70 front wheel, custom wheels made from Z50 and ATC70 wheel halves, shifter made from a mangled Z50 brake pedal. Yeah, there are parts from a bunch of different bikes in there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b7124197-05f6-45f3-9383-a7a8d90520aa/65CC9437-0F04-4F98-8175-36DE7C2EFB90.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The first two plates of the rear panel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a49403d7-f96e-44f8-9262-99ce30b14514/C4641A6F-C7F2-4C99-81F9-47EF5632C23D.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out A vintage Cal-Custom barefoot accelerator cover is used for the rear brake. There is also a hand lever for the rear brake on the left handlebar. The fender lights were a Pate Swap Meet find a few years back. I was told they came off the cab of an old Packard or Studebaker truck. They have glass lenses and LED bulbs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1989fc32-4f38-4720-92fa-f56994d3438e/8755701D-2EB2-4220-843E-86ED418E9650.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The rear bin is spring loaded, and will retract tightly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/153e8c5a-5c5b-488c-8b7a-b78da1234df9/392E1863-5B90-44DE-A98F-1B8E78208DD2.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The left fender is partially pounded, and the right one has Clequos holding it together. First curved on a Jet tools slip roller, and then an assortment of wood, plastic, and steel hammers and dollies were used to form the fender indents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/46a39b6c-b016-40bf-bd1a-360aeb16ae40/D7ECBBC1-D3A8-426B-A5C7-B0CCADB42707.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The underneath structure of the fenders can be seen here. Originally, I had planned to use some beaded aluminum fenders laid on top of this structure, but I only had some .030 thickness, which is too thin to support much weight. With the probability these fenders would be stepped on, a new plan that did not involve buying thicker metal was figured out. It would have been much easier to buy the metal, but I have found improvisation makes a chance for some growth, and forces you to go outside your box. The rear aluminum panel was made from two layers of .125 aluminum plate( harvested from an old medical ultrasound machine,) and a layer of .090 on the bottom layer. The rectangles were made to go with the fender indentations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/859b584d-3466-4ef0-925d-7ce50f436806/982ACECF-BA3E-43C3-8A17-9C30DBE70B66.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out Because the bike is for holiday parades like Christmas, a little candy cane is not totally out of place. I was thinking more “The Cat In The Hat” or 1980’s Memphis styling when I did it. At the bottom right, the recesses for the foot rest and the footpeg cross-bar can be seen. They are either for the “Queen seat” rider, or the driver can also stand on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f66e6b2a-364e-4f39-8b5b-86ec7b17d91e/BF896DAD-5F55-4906-9447-0C78668A8097.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The front forks were lengthened a little over two inches, and Z50 rear shock springs were used for the external springs. There are inner springs only in the original CT70 forks, but the additional weight meant a little more spring is needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c5f706d4-0ba0-46c3-82a6-be46086379bd/3854FD22-59EF-4B1B-9930-12F7E7A7ED12.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out Ready for take-off! The red, white and blue with gold accents was done quickly with rattle cans, as was the rest of the bike. There is a look I love, of hard driven race cars, painted just well enough to cover last weeks damage, and look good from twenty feet. The cars I am thinking of are beater circle-burners and midget racers, driven by week-end warriors and semi-pros on the local town track. The kind of tracks that have mostly disappeared, but were plentiful in the sixties and seventies, when I was a kid. The multi layer paint, front skid plate, and rear bumper were all a nod to that style. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d6cd5adf-e582-48c9-accb-94f59a37dfac/FF86D65E-33D7-404F-BBD4-0FECE7AF464E.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The aluminum rear panel with my old logo. The logo was used on the CT117 custom bike in 2010, and not since. The panel conceals a lunch-box size fold-out bin. The actual panel came from the sides of an old ultrasound machine I used to push around a hospital in my other career. As a kid, I saw bumpers on dune buggies, midget racers, and vans like this one. Always wanted to do one on my 1963 Econoline van, but sixteen year old me didn’t have the skills yet. This one is made from tube steel, with the cross pieces brass brazed in for a cleaner look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4634249a-afa8-4213-861b-031225360b62/337F1476-AA11-4E69-B23A-B85493384236.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out 1959 Cadillac tail lights have always been evocative of rocket or jet flames. These repops look right at home under the seat. The metal under the seat is from a left over section of a Harley rear fender for the 1993 FXR custom build. Since the rear part of the seat is arched to fit on a fender, it seemed appropriate. A Takegawa brake nut secures the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/589e5722-0a36-4045-bac2-6ef537f0f048/50FCB5EC-0FE2-4817-8803-3B9407A85765.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out With the knobby front tire, she tracks well in dirt, gravel ,or grass, but needs some serious counter-weighting to turn sharply on pavement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/07fbb924-30cb-4a06-a2b5-bfb3613921ca/B943BFE9-0F45-4922-B31C-AA962AD8529A.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out The bike can be shifted by foot or the suicide shifter. A mini Cal-Custom style barefoot pedal is on the front end, with the foot tread removed from the Z50 brake pedal used for the shifter. No waste around here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7bb05949-08a9-4aff-b7f9-e3ae72785544/B7C3A81C-D7CD-4822-A538-7064133BC8BE.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out After the first round of pounding, additional rounds were performed to smooth and equal out each sides. The thinness is the aluminum makes it easy to bust through, so it has to be moved gently. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/24d310af-5623-4fd8-9754-6d4a006916fd/C34F7B84-DAF5-44BE-92EB-64B1E1DF264A.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1985 Honda ATC70 Tijuana Trike is a runner. - Make it stand out A digital gear indicator is a great thin to have when there is a reverse gear. There are also covered switches for the electric start button and still to be installed ground effects. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/5/1/z95ctl5eekj90i7t6q2qumk7d2341c monthly 0.5 2022-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/65238481-3c5e-4dc4-84db-81710e3831e0/F537948D-829B-4872-8B28-E104A55EDCA7.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out The aluminum was given a polish while the bike was out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5f1dcd34-48d3-41e8-9640-4f7144dcc5ab/09FF64D8-868D-4832-B454-76B371F3352F.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out The rear wheel uses two deep wheel halves to get the wider wheel. You have to buy two wheels to make one, but it was a way to keep the original appearance and still get a fat rear tire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0f10a700-ab82-48fc-aabf-0032ab063c84/5F22343E-2F4E-457E-B814-F0D51A665D4E.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out This build has been on the back burner for too long. Started as a commission, the client was not digging the Rat rod direction the bike was headed, so it stalled out and has been sitting in the shop, generally in the way. I just decided this is the time to finish it, so a number of jobs are getting done to get this bike finished. A combination skid guard/ foot rest/ foot control assembly is just tacked together here. It still has a ways to go, but the basic structure can be seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/38f4d963-f30c-47c4-b478-c3a136572136/9CA054E4-1049-41F5-80E9-A63F4F097221.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out The Helen Bike got some new details worked out. Even though this bike was basically finished in 2013, details like the tank badges and front fender edge were left undone. Since the badges for the Flaquita bike were being cut by Master Engraver Wade Oliver Wilson, of Mansfield, Texas, the Helen badges finally got addressed. The epoxy in the tank appears to have cracked as well, so it was stripped and re-lined, and of course, the rear edge of the fender was done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d572f903-55b1-4c48-8490-34fe6cb8e219/CAC0036C-CFF5-459D-BE82-F5573393308F.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out Helen out in the violets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/614a8dcc-274b-4460-b197-c95d14abcb05/6ED5D9B1-440B-4C0B-846B-62E3750C5ED4.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out After the engine was fixed, the front light was given a new custom bracket to replace the original stress-cracked one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4eb667dd-335c-4399-9d77-dec4598d2194/7B74624F-104A-4329-BD80-425C698702F8.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out The left-hand brake was also repaired, and she is now ready for action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/58b2ee3a-b177-42e4-8f52-bd0f891229ae/914CF71A-7B15-4299-A9A7-BF55FA4F3B87.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out These badges were blank for almost a decade. Not sorry I waited. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/893fd4b5-82d3-4dd9-985a-e033b4f80c83/96C2BB6F-8B02-453D-A88B-092A6E685DD1.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out A new rear wheel was put on the bike, and some touch-up on the paint where some dings and scratches were worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cba2a231-aa9c-45d6-b5e1-e513d75a4ba4/A3333E7B-BA06-434E-A9FA-5DDC3B65FD22.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out Plenty of space for your feet. The shifter can be foot or suicide shifted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/35b664a9-58ea-4e84-8033-43724a3c6788/97538B1C-5D6C-4302-BE98-7796F958AC95.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out A removable Bates brand sissy bar in front, and an integral rear Harley bitch bar along with the King-Queen seat are right in that early seventies, late sixties vibe. A Cal-Custom barefoot accelerator pedal is repurposed to make the foot brake. As soon as some Heim joints arrive, the brake rod will be built, and it should be functional. A nerf bar bumper is planned. The rear of the seat is supported by a scrap piece of fender (from the FXR project,) with some metal sides added. It makes for a minimal but sturdy support, and supports the seat as it was originally designed to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b35daa44-b6c9-402b-9e17-8a06d4cb505b/40F0AFF5-2ACE-463A-9CC9-287000058488.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out Still think a taller front would look better, but the steering on these bikes is minimal to begin with, and more rake makes it worse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/f465efd9-c125-40a9-a066-f8ae837411ce/C7F7B467-E7CF-43AB-8DE3-2199B97CF416.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out Still one of my favorite bikes, simply because it is so comfortable to ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/3008aaa4-b052-4008-a758-49cc8532a8c2/71EBC778-93C8-4145-B793-9CEF84B964B0.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out My buddy Brian brought his CRFU50-M in for some maintenance and repair. He rides this bike hard, riding wheelies, taking small jumps, and generally zipping around with THE WOLRD FAMOUS WHEELIE-ING ELVI. It was in sad shape due to a couple of broken teeth on the primary gear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c0fcb7f9-eefb-4459-bd1e-35fe01fd83d6/2A74D523-12EE-4143-B945-2714916A476B.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out Still thinking of my Cox engine power miniature trike. It had big slicks on the back, and a huge Bosozoku- style rear seat. Not exactly what was done here, but it evokes the memory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a51576b0-fb14-4710-9584-796eadf088d1/D6B7178C-D9FC-42B0-8FFD-9593EDB7507D.jpeg THE BLOG - The Helen Bike Z50, The CRFU-M CRF50 custom, and the Tijuana Trike ATC70 build - Make it stand out The work on the rear edge of the front fender entailed adding the rolled edge and blending into the rest of the edge. All this time, it was a raw cut edge, and did not look quite right. Very happy with the result. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/4/20/ltgm325qevkwly977fi8t751ig2xpd monthly 0.5 2022-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e5e7eb19-31ef-47b5-96f9-bf6f4152268a/6A888621-2C9D-4633-9627-C8D302D6F851.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d3b97619-bdbd-47f5-a6f0-90add5e6ac22/16FE8FBF-408D-4AFD-94A5-65C40F3E0225.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e72efc87-9728-4f6f-9dff-8f83a3528981/2DD4D416-4481-4471-BAB9-13FE282C13F6.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b134f3e3-0b81-4830-b05f-e20fafa6f6bd/9A008132-761B-4AD4-9DB5-6120B00DA881.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/06084e87-1f87-4767-97d5-00a25e138c2d/5F4E3CB2-4147-4893-95B9-E490C079E935.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/68eecded-d116-4316-a9bf-d45d05c427e2/B17F1161-2CB3-4AD5-8BF6-7587F13BD742.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b4ea71ac-5a24-4c17-800a-39c22ec57165/F6D3F850-601A-4689-A399-BFC937DF52D8.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a192e647-47d8-4e7a-b89f-f7da70db9b4b/3ED927A0-2B78-4CC3-BAD9-B080041F2170.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/29e5cd8c-9ffd-4455-82c8-01c357b11a69/00E6DEA2-A4C1-4D5E-A669-3F10251E15F2.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/0eafc040-5acf-40a7-82d1-d3b99f1c8408/E18C13F7-8DDF-4849-8FA0-3A04BDF34387.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c3df73fd-ac2e-4692-80db-5b3182c9622c/C03BA6AA-83D9-4BC5-A5D4-7E09C3BCD22F.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/298206bf-4541-43b1-933f-bb1ed894eaa3/A50DDDE5-304A-446D-93AE-A855241990FC.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/dd2e013c-4459-4b36-9a64-358eda5907a1/D100CCC5-95FA-479E-8A2E-8DBC741C6E84.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/de1a1d7e-fdcd-4232-b066-6cdfef3b5ce4/7B192403-686F-4359-BE9E-75BB0DDDE267.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/92cad8e1-67e5-4da2-a281-569685b28053/86339B81-7AAA-418E-A8CF-83BE46478AF8.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/429c42b7-e3d0-4239-a224-f977b2b6aebb/FB619294-A673-48B9-9A68-59585CF774C7.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cc8f23c2-9cfc-4a82-a771-8ff58305dc74/1EDE641C-D14C-42BB-B6FE-E39749A97587.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/c28c07ba-224a-412b-8235-44b8b2d3c3d5/759E5740-E53D-4C88-9D77-68BE1356EFC1.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1068028e-33d4-4603-895c-3571a555bb24/C722371A-D26A-4357-8C41-67692E24C4A2.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e50c9b03-2e08-4926-9103-ab35acf45cf0/75D71E6D-6DF9-4B2A-9B83-B9F7506EFC63.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/6d6b70be-4b46-4a38-838c-47d0e3b8230c/3BA2BE60-9631-4B03-A23A-F973CD8ACCCE.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/64ba0bce-d27f-483b-9f27-7997b45de15a/C722ABBD-47D3-4870-8971-405E403C779D.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/63eb64c4-0d1b-46c8-a378-2341a3e13224/5FD66EF5-75E5-489B-9D16-73E8DE35EB89.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/72c4fe7d-6691-4dec-b4f1-4711cada3525/4DF53511-5B78-49CC-B679-AE42687A68BC.jpeg THE BLOG - Flaquita Bike photo shoot. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2022/3/28/1971-honda-cl70-flaquita-bike-update-1971-honda-ct90-restoration-1970-triumph-trident-revival monthly 0.5 2022-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/44acbe26-b693-43a1-80ed-7311ef2a6dc8/454FCCE6-47F6-4870-A35B-340AEDE56407.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Some turn signals were added to the bike. A set of original rear signals and the mount fit perfectly with the rear rack, clearing it as if it was built around it. Pure luck on that one. The front signals are some that came with a bunch of used parts, and were mounted on the Tijuana trike, but needed to be on this build. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/4b97184a-8982-4c9a-b481-d1fddc716c87/B5A130CC-B695-4020-9BDB-9142861B670B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Another recent arrival at the shop, a 1970 Triumph Trident got the revival treatment along with a bunch of small details and a thorough cleaning. The original “Spring Gold” factory paint is faded, but still presents well, so it was buffed out gently by hand. The chrome is all original save for the new air cleaner assembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/78962374-fb92-4699-91ab-12cc9b9715b1/C64E907F-86D5-4E8F-A086-76691C76C88B.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out After cleaning and bead blasting, these parts (for two different bikes) will be polished, and bearing and seals will be replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/100b0358-11a4-47de-a0f1-a8ffdd5f3bdd/339F601C-9B56-408A-8D7A-4F36D9851C00.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Everything except some engine screws, including the tool kit will be re-plated on the CT90. It is surprising how much stuff there actually is, and it must all be de-greased, bead blasted, and burnished on wire wheel before it goes out for plating. Nicks are smoothed out there is always some straightening involved. The engine screws will be pulled when the engine is serviced, but I am trying to get the wheels and center stand back on along with most of this hardware before digging into that. Because my platers quit doing spokes, a new set from Honda was purchased for the rear, and an aftermarket set for the front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/beb3af0a-7e1d-4d96-9e96-fbdde6c5793f/8755E812-7922-416D-80C0-E6514A907594.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out At this point, only chrome polish and degreaser have been used to get this result. It is laborious and should be done by hand to minimize paint loss, but the results are worth it. I put the polish on with a rag thick enough it stays wet, and after a few minutes, it softens and can be rubbed off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/90355f12-d698-436b-9c9b-5963cae0eac9/E6E6C44E-083C-4BD0-9C4A-57AEC78CA43D.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out The same parts polished and waiting for the re-plated zinc hardware. The handlebar controls were also reworked, doing some cleaning, lubricating, polishing and some new external wire sheathing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/cfa8f319-7811-432c-b38e-6c65bed16cbd/69EC958A-7CB1-44B7-A52B-4D77D529ED4C.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Spring cleaning at the shop means taking each of these bikes out for a little run. Hard work, but someone has to do it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/821074bc-cf8f-44de-bcb5-6f00de42784a/8F0460A5-787F-4BD3-8957-7C9CE5C00724.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out For once, the oil puddle is not from this Triumph, but a Yamaha i was working on. When the weather is good like it has been recently, I work out on this North-facing pad on the side of the shop. The Trident got some heavy duty stainless Buchanan spokes on the rear, a Pazon electronic ignition system, new Dunlop tires and tubes, a gas cap, brake and ignition switches, cables, the airbox, rubber foot peg and pedal covers, and a used left side cover. The previous owner had swapped the original numbers matching engine out for the one in it now, due to a thrown rod. A new set of Amal carbs was purchased, but he never got it running. It runs now, after an English friend told me the secret: flood the shit out of all three carbs with the ticklers, open the throttle almost wide open, and kick strong. If it does not start after your kick, do not stop kicking till you certify it has not backfired out the carbs, as this is always a possibility, and more dangerous with flooded carbs. The original engine will be rebuilt at some point, but this one runs strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/7dbb8be3-1e6c-4a79-bb04-1d22154e0414/551F41F9-43F2-429E-9FFE-BD5F8D981FDB.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out New coils and cables under the seat along with a special cover on the oil tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e8e4847d-d328-43eb-8f33-39171321c2c5/67D4DBFF-A718-44E9-A032-1348E9BA5F79.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out A 1970 Honda CT90 is also in the shop getting a sympathetic restoration. The original paint was in very nice shape with some dings and wear, but worth preserving. The chrome was in exceptional shape and was only cleaned and polished. The aluminum will be polished out, rubber replaced, and zinc parts re-plated. The front forks and rear shocks appear to be replacements by a previous owner, and are in like-new condition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e55322fa-eba0-49e3-ba2c-e31bb7b4f693/407998D1-44F1-4008-96C0-BFD3C6422970.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Skratch on the left and Mikey Kneavel on the right at Skratch’s Garage in Fort Worth, Texas. This was after Skratch did the tank pinstripe, and we fitted Mikey’s seat for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/69f92d4e-7cc8-4180-8982-7a59f9af67fb/88B0C04B-9A0C-48FC-9994-1967A25E3FCC.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Some before and after. This is a chain guard that has been partially cleaned. At this point, the only grease and dirt is on the part of the guard at the top of the picture. The rest of the brown on the curved lower portion is rust. Even though it appears to be rusted through, the rust is mostly staining the surface of the paint. It has come from underneath through small pores and been deposited there. There are rust removers out there, but the one I like is plain old chrome polish with rust remover. The next picture shows the result. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/2e7b0f7a-80d4-4a4d-b273-dcb10cfe6d9a/84A05E3B-A46A-48D9-BA32-EF9A0A4ABBC8.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out A tuna can to place under the carbs while flooding. It can then be poured back in the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b4f65280-b40e-4268-905d-f1e36f089903/1377F51D-6AE9-4A8A-9DD2-E32BA821A6A3.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Hard to believe, but I bought this can of touch-up paint at a Barber Vintage Motorcycle swap meet a few years back, and it is still usable and a dead-on match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/e5579d77-f50f-457f-8c07-0b869eaaeeb7/519E3D7D-60BA-499F-B8D1-5BF82A5AD188.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out Just about done with the Flaquita CL70. A Zodiac vinyl seat cover, quickie paint, Triumph “Fonzie” bars, custom air filter and some finishing touches since the last post. She has been ridden, and is a gentle ride with a load of power for her frame. The handlebars were narrowed in the center, shortened on the ends, and green glitter grips to jazz them up. Thought about streamers on the bar end, but there are places even I won’t go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/326d2bc3-2a19-4c5c-ad53-d1d20b4986fb/B37F394C-2754-4E23-B219-D9ADEE452DF9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out A pedestrian slicer was made from brass for the front fender. The propeller is a wind indicator. When it is spinning, you are either moving fast, or there is a shitload of wind, should that question ever arise. Seriously, it is an ornament of no particular purpose…exactly as planned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/55b33703-a2ac-4baa-a7c9-376a594a4afc/4DB48E8F-0068-4195-864A-0887AA747F99.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out The seat was covered by Mikey Kneavel of Weatherford, Texas. He Did a seat cover for a custom pink pick-up Skratch’s Garage is building, and the color scheme was so cool, I asked him to do this seat the same. I was trying to make sort of a Schwinn bicycle banana style with a little Norton motorcycle Hi-Rider in there too. The tank was painted with rattle-can and five bucks worth of lace in about ten minutes. Skratch painted the tank vector at his shop while I watched. He mixed up a gold green and pink that tied everything together. So good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b2110a48-95b2-46e9-bbfb-0f7895e56854/CE2CE7FE-E887-4BE3-9E03-2FE9BEBA82A9.jpeg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 Flaquita Bike update, 1970 Honda CT90 restoration, 1970 Triumph Trident revival - Make it stand out The imagery and symbolism of a motorcycle representing a woman’s body is well known. In this case, she is wearing a lace top, a tight white and magenta skirt, some silver jewelry, and a wicked vector tattoo. She is tall and skinny, and a little fast. On the other hand, she drinks gasoline and farts smoke. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/12/24/iot54xaugel7t8i2gha3lsma20nano monthly 0.5 2021-12-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1504eb08-033d-441a-a4dc-10d28293f302/D9E65CEE-3F95-48F2-A829-2F3ADD5BED62.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out The 108cc stroker engine is mated with a 4-speed tranny, rolling rocker race head and cam, and a Mikuni VM26 carb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/8fbf8cd3-6bc7-4daa-8e02-ef9dc92ee8c3/7459B00A-7150-46D5-AF1A-90A9A73D029B.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out The inner support for the trunk lid on the 1966 Volvo P1800 was removed from the outer skin and repaired. Small areas had rusted through and were replaced with fresh metal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/466edac6-bad8-4fec-8bac-4faf12844305/9BF3ECFD-38A0-48E9-A2B9-62A49B024181.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out Finally, a rear seat hump is being made for the Norasaki build. The triple’s pipes will exit the rear portion of the seat. The lines of the hump are made to echo the lines on the Manxman tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/bc770535-6cbc-4774-9aa4-89065e08d6a5/5680ECB7-0C6B-470E-B348-2533BB730333.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out An original CL70 bottom end was located to replace the Chinese one the bike came with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/44727d62-ac73-44fe-8046-58a1bb20de2a/CB91ECB5-2074-46FE-8C75-DA122D887952.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out This 1979 Yamaha XT500 was rehabilitated. A new set of bars, levers, grips, gaiters, spokes, and the ignition plate replaced the messed-up or missing ones the bike came with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5b073b45-5126-4699-a77c-5505e2f308c9/F862EAC6-E1F1-4F83-A980-9F40A1D97911.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out Her name is Flaquita. A 1971 Honda CL70 with a 1970 Yamaha Trailmaster 100 tank, modified CB350 sissy bar, CRF50 footpeg assembly, custom seat and rear rack, and a 108cc stroker engine with electronic ignition and 12 Volt electrics. New cables, brake levers, tire tubes and dual sport tires, some new brake shoes, fork tubes, seals, and gaiters, and an aftermarket CT70 wire harness and key round out the build list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/866cf5cc-9e0c-4b13-951b-cd0750b77ce4/E0B11A1C-A3D9-4C31-9E51-BB49246D1C41.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out The tail light body was made a couple years back, and recently wired with no particular place to put it…till the sissy bar went on this build. The rear rack was made from steel rod and brazed together with brass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/5c79c44f-7f46-4dc4-b267-6cce2e83f5a0/26F84C5F-B970-4B0B-9519-45F8517432AD.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out The tail light was made from an exhaust clamp, a WW2 era Naval aircraft light lens, a piece of a cymbal sealing the backside, and a 12 Volt LED. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/86cd0fde-98e5-4cac-a986-9498e1bf8864/C5CBA7ED-83A1-4288-9411-079FAC1F797E.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out If you are heading to the skate park instead of the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/65249e94-ea60-45ac-a315-4f0d2c2d413d/2656FEF4-8D74-4DEF-913C-1B38DC5368F8.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out The racks design uses closed rectangular loops so that no cut ends are present. The lower tail light bracket is from an unknown Honda, and has had the base modified to fit the original holes in the fender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/d6f1d376-cb1e-431b-b667-2893582e3a85/E753FB31-64CD-42AA-B42B-AA6AF46C595C.jpg THE BLOG - 1971 Honda CL70 named Flaquita, a 1979 Yamaha XT500 leaves the shop, 1966 P1800 update, and the Norasaki build. - Make it stand out When I got this bike, it had a Chinese E-start engine that was in place, but did not appear to have ever been running. The muffler, chain guard, seat, wiring harness, and tank were missing, and it was well coated with dust and rust. The tank was later located, but the Yamaha tank looked better, so it is staying. The battery cover on the side of the frame was missing, and a used one was found in an online auction for a small fortune. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/10/17/g5ab55je7s04rfr2j53ezbc7akh8ct monthly 0.5 2021-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1635512692958-H7UMY5MAK05U0JD4A0MJ/84E21F0D-5D05-499A-8553-5033F0C2E837.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out The annual North Texas Norton Owners Association “Land of the Pines Rally” was on the first week-end of October in the woods of East Texas. The 1974 Norton Commando Cafe racer and 1972 Honda Z50 were brought to show, and the “Hater” bike was brought to ride. The Norton took first place in the cafe racer class. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1634845509160-4FWG68NO1WUA5Z4733Y4/B6D1CF76-582C-4826-8940-0B69AE6CE6E4.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out A 1979 Yamaha XT500 enduro thumper found its way into the shop. This one is special. It belonged to a friend who let me ride it years ago in a big Texas field. It was and still is a torquey, strong ride. It has been getting some basic maintenance and repair before going to another friend. This is the bike as it came, with the right handlebar bent upward from a spill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/a99d26c4-e05f-4bb0-a7f9-c4b1bb75e451/80D44450-F66F-486D-9C59-EB2596644C5D_1_201_a.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out Feeling up inside the body of the CL70, I could tell there was something unfamiliar in there where the coil usually is. Turns out it was just a voltage regulator with an extensive natural insulator on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/ecde52ab-81be-4a55-b5fd-965823def4cd/6B2CF70E-5CA8-4B4C-8B2C-940535D75EC5.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out When purchased, the point cover and condenser were crushed by a rockl in a Colorado trail ride. The skid plate took some damage and had to be straightened out as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/b8b18380-107b-48cc-988e-056b855bb0d4/4BC63A40-261F-4A4B-97C7-13C4CF43893E.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out Another hardtail built at the same time as the blue one above, and only recently started up. Both bikes were in the loft of the shop, and following assembly left alone without any fluids left in them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/73c7e3df-19a9-4b27-973b-8a438ee37b7e/58AA68A7-481F-4862-A635-8FFC33D19F5D_1_201_a.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out The 1972 Honda Z50 took second place in the competition class, losing to Richard Asprey’s beautifully restored Cannonball winning pre-war Norton. Hard to be disappointed about second place with such a cool bike in first place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1634455470443-CU1AWBX0WFHN5L36KQWE/IMG_4291.JPG THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out A fully restored 1970 Z50 K2 model that was painted and put together years ago, but just recently completed for a potential sale. i have been getting rid of some bikes here and there, as my abundance of Honda minis is being traded for bigger British bikes or more space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1635182986437-MRZJQSHFETY4I7HQW751/D48210FC-DDCA-4834-8966-564A013EAAE4.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out This 1966 Volvo P1800S is being prepped for sale. A new set of seat covers, new wheels and tires, and most likely a paint job will tart it up a little. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1635183049236-NV9FHD4PHHI8FC77CHFB/E435130B-86F0-44F7-911D-4406A845F374.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out A 1971 Honda CL70 that is going to be built into a rider. The e-start Chinese engine it came with will be changed out for a Honda model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1634845764275-WUJZP4E3RREOYHDZSHIW/E0E949AF-435C-44D0-8EB3-F4B93BCFDD49.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out This one came through the shop recently for a top-end rebuild and some other repairs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1635209442398-MZFUWAZUUUF2F0T2NVWX/5F69067F-10EA-44D1-80AB-698693C32C0D.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out These early Volvos were known to have drainage issues in the rear, with the trunk lid and fuel filler door being problem areas. This trunk drip channel is totally destroyed by rust, needing a replacement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1635209865111-LY70YDQTXZ8244YX2B3N/FE39B755-ABB2-4269-9DC1-6F25B9082322.jpeg THE BLOG - Land of the Pines Rally, Honda Z50's, CL70, Norton Commando, Yamaha XT500, Volvo P1800S repairs, revivals, and builds. - Make it stand out The channel has been replaced and is ready for paint. The new Volvo gas tank can be seen in this image. It is a brand new correct pressing authorized and sold by Volvo. Along with the tank, the new fuel lines, filter and electric fuel pump make for a completely fresh fuel supply. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/7/29/the-golden-boys-honda-1972-z50-cafe-racer-1970-ct70-and-1972-cb175-gold-bikes monthly 0.5 2021-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572274770-F5MO6KOLFWPEEI4JT4DA/IMG_4038.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out The original electrical system was intact and functional, only needing a new set of keys, points, plugs, condenser, a battery, and a couple screws on the turn signals to be complete. The electric start on the bike works perfectly, and the bike starts easily and idles smoothly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572317117-KL924DJ1W1Z4WEQEYIBP/IMG_4027.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out Both front and back wheels were rusted, and were replaced with a used set of wheels taken also from the Cabracer360 bike. Though not perfect, they look pretty good after polishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572407596-0P53FI5Z43UOEDWAYRDG/IMG_4058.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out The front forks were also switched out for a nice used set that came with the bike originally. The rust on the fork uppers was concealed by the covers, but the seller must have been aware and found the replacements. The lower chrome portins of the covers is also in better shape than the originals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572357611-9B0AT7GNEUM0E1A2DMFQ/IMG_4079.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out Gold and chrome. What a sweet combo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572458602-L0VTI1F2MBWTOSX4UQU7/IMG_4041.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out Other new parts include a fuel petcock from Honda, and drive chain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572142567-XO40LT7WMRQFDHB1DMLC/IMG_4045.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out A few changes have taken place since the pictures in the last post. For one, the mufflers were put back on. The header portion of the exhaust pipes had been borrowed for the Cabracer360, and a used set had to be sourced to replace them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572202154-LNJIWWT5BHRNNUQ69YKY/IMG_4049.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out A new seat cover and a set of tires and tubes were fitted. All the chrome was polished out by hand, and the rest of the bike was given a thorough wipe down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572091978-3MZSHV6QJ7GY4W9IGWUK/IMG_4093.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out Here they are. The late sixties and early seventies Hondas used beautiful candy colors and chrome to compliment their creations. Although gold was not the favorite color of mine, the tank on the Z50 inspired this chain of bikes. Once done, the Z50 build inspired the CT70 build, a frame-only project that had been sitting on the shelf for years. With those two bikes done, the CB175, another project that was awaiting revival, was pulled from a friend’s shed and put back on the street. Details on the Z50 and CT70 appear in previous posts for anyone interested. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627572539559-RNIAS3N5QY4C5PWY6N52/IMG_4077.JPG THE BLOG - The Golden Boys. Honda 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer, 1970 CT70, and 1972 CB175 gold bikes. - Make it stand out Texas gold. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/7/25/mxr5sgcyl3pwzgiooi7txhsrj673pm monthly 0.5 2021-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269697154-CZ7N8K5R4XW17TMM6XG0/IMG_3834.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out A restoration from a number of years back, this 1992 Z50R left with a new owner. People ask me why I don’t advertise the bikes for sale, but the answer is there are a lot of tire-kickers when it comes to an item that is a toy instead of a necessity, and the serious ones will actually seek you out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627304084571-4QFJSZ6S4OMTJL0HVSX3/IMG_3892.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out This 1972 CB175 was sourced out of Colorado five or six years ago, and is just now getting a revival. The bike was started fairly easily, thanks to whoever put it away last. They drained the tank, carbs, and crankcase, avoiding the fuel system nightmares that are so common on old bikes. The plan is to switch out the rusted wheel set for a used pair in better shape, install a nice set of used front forks that came with the bike, new tires and seat cover, all new ignition components, a battery, and a good clean and detail. The mufflers were taken off years ago to rob the header portion for the Cabracer360. Another used header set was found and will go on with the original low mufflers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269386484-MH6Z4D0AI1ZSH2OXKMBB/IMG_3938.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out A buyer for this bike showed up almost immediately, and wanted an 88cc big bore kit. With the new kit, this bike is smoking fast and a thrill to ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269432875-QPMSQ1NG40WINXYIFRJJ/IMG_3922.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out A new set of tires on a pristine set of original paint wheel halves and hubs, fresh axles and hardware, reproduction seat, plastics, and handlebars, new clutch cover, straightened brake arm, a stock carb to replace the Chinese one it came with, a repainted exhaust from another bike, repaired kill switch, and new ignition components made a monster difference, and a sweet little rider. At this point, she starts easy, idles smooth, and has plenty of power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627304525035-59D10CLMLISWMFJZISTC/IMG_3764.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out There was also a bad bend in the handlebars, and the rear wheel was trashed out with rust and an ugly hub. The brakes were not functional because of missing brake arm components. Someone coated the tank inside with Kreem, but only put it on the bottom half of the tank…destined for early failure. In the process, they apparently ruined any chance of saving the tanks original paint by spilling acetone on it (the purplish discoloration is the telltale giveaway.) I can usually push the dents out from the inside, touch up the paint, buff it out, and add new decals to get a surprisingly good rider-quality piece, but this one was a little too far gone.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269201311-6PCAZJ65XIP35T7JCYSZ/IMG_4019.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out 108cc stroker kit, race head and cam, big bore exhaust and carb, 4 speed tranny and heavy duty clutch. The swingarm and front forks are extended, and Takegawa rear shocks, plus some of their wheel goodies went on the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269233949-HVIE3OQLZUVH6406WYMG/IMG_4018.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out The 1972 was done as a stock rebuild, with only some small changes like a chrome-plated triple tree top clamp. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627304427080-UEKPXNXIEI2099CC0P3H/IMG_4016.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out Something about these years of Z50 is just perfect. They were the last Minis Honda made with lighting, and that resemble full-sized street bikes. The candy colors and chrome on the earlier models is just beautiful. The Tupperware bikes that followed might perform better, but have none of the charm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627304471041-S3XYISFPXHXYROPDE5YL/IMG_3763.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out This poor 1980 model Z50R was rode hard and put away wet. The drain lug was stripped, the brake arm was badly bent and had gouged out a significant hole in the clutch cover, there was a huge hole in the bottom at the muffler can, missing kill switch, a crappy seat cover and beaten tank graced the top, but other than that, it was all there, and in reasonable shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627304146266-YLQ6WRQK0792VTB7DC4L/IMG_3894.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out The spokes on both wheels were badly rusted, and there is surface rust on some chrome parts, but the new wheels will solve that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269151367-YNI8SKLQMLL8TM534EE5/IMG_4021.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out Primary colors. Each of these bikes is fully restored, with performance mods on the blue 1973 and yellow 1976 models. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269307536-O9J3D7FA9O1RXQSD38B4/IMG_4004.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out With the extended fork legs and swinger, plus the taller tires, the wheelbase and ride height are a little better suited for the added power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1627269762240-TNZ8763X08DJYT72WDJB/IMG_3836.JPG THE BLOG - Minibike Texas update. - Make it stand out This was one of the smoothest running Z50 engines I have had. It just seemed to almost whizz as it was accelerating, in a smooth, almost linear fashion. I was sorry to see it go, as it was the only stock restoration of this era that I owned, but the additional space in my shop is what I am after. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/6/19/my9hfvuwum9de0hrxf3qzpy302lv1q monthly 0.5 2021-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624890560947-KGRIB5CEQV4GANGUDS00/IMG_3874.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out The brakes are done, front and back. The folding pegs are on and the exhaust brackets are being worked out. A set of Norton Commando rubber shock mounts in the frame passenger peg brackets are being used to make the rear tailpipe bracket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624893609255-W93OST11REHDKH1A31Y0/IMG_3848.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out To attach the LED and the weather boot, a custom threaded nut was made with a concave surface to fit the domed rear of the fixture, and a ridge that secures the lip of the boot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624149472730-YZPBV673GN9LWVBSQLHW/IMG_3853.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out It is very bright. Though a single filament element, the brake/running light brightness will be controlled by diodes and a resistor in the lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624890971918-6WDUNT3G3EGLLGJE9ID8/IMG_3864.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out The engine is finally done aside from the ignition. There were so many worn-out parts on this engine. The entire primary is new, and all the shifting mechanism, bearings and bushings were replaced in the engine and tranny. The side covers were all replaced, as well as the shifter and kicker. New oil pump, cams, followers, pistons, valves, guides, and springs, engine bolts ,washers, and nuts, new bottom drain plugs, inspection covers, and oil pressure valve rounds out the list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624893452849-AS1IMK4TRP8ONXO8POD4/IMG_3852.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out A little fun. This was started a while back, and I just moved it along a little farther. Obviously an exhaust clamp, there is a glass lens from a WW2 US navy airplane, and an LED light fixture in there as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624893793042-KQ7C1WZWHHH11RL41Q54/IMG_3850.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out The domed back is made from a cymbal scrap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624894082971-FRQ32HZCREH17BDTNNOL/IMG_3869.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out This 1979 Z50R came through recently for some engine work. A stock top-end refurb was done, and a new Z50J model muffler replaced the stock rusted unit. The heat shields from the 1979 model fit perfectly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624890473986-0NVHZMZ0TUU4KCXDFW7U/IMG_3875.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out Still need shocks to get it off the table. The shocks need to be 14.5 inches to get the stance right. At this point, a pair of Racetech shocks is being considered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624890597490-55EPEQZOM6UGA98IM4Y6/IMG_3871.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out The Ceriani front end is on, with a fork stop on the to-do list. The fender is a 1965 alloy reproduction. Rubber bumpers on the fork brace keep it in place for now, but there will be supporting struts added. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1624890516002-60X6XEOAD8FUW6H2XIPL/IMG_3873.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Triumph TR6SRT build update, a custom tail light fixture, 1979 Z50R refresh. - Make it stand out One piece of tubing off the oil breather needs to be put on, and the oil system plumbing will be done. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/6/2/rgpo1vgr70z66k28tm6p8zvblfc7im monthly 0.5 2021-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613405494-TV5IO6YUA7WAOOH9THHG/IMG_3642.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Honda knew how to make a sexy little bike! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622614346603-T4JNWIFJUM98LC881NWZ/IMG_3722.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622687364670-H11KH9SZT9UNFA5HYOBD/IMG_3648.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out An online buddy, Kirrbby, set me up with a nice used speedo, some fork extensions, and a side stand. Some of these parts are getting really hard or at least, expensive to find. So many parts in this picture are still available from Honda, like all the throttle parts, triple tree hardware, reflectors, top beauty trim, knobs, grommets, straps, and electrical parts. Even the horn is a brand new Honda piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622686881371-212C2BKWP6BRPF4NGDID/IMG_3643.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out This bike is the same color and model my buddy had when I was a kid. Though I never got the chance to ride his, it was stuck in my memory like a first love. The Honda candy colors and chrome are still like jewels to me. The styling, while a little wonky to some, was smooth 1970 pop culture gold. A bike almost anyone could ride (and wreck) without too much trouble. The paint, while less than perfect, still looks fine for fifty years old! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622642529208-BOMHCEQX56YSX3DPUPC2/IMG_3622.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out The front forks were slightly bent, binding the forks enough that straightening was needed, This is the rig that did the job. No paint was disturbed in the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622642588617-WW0EEK88J3Q4AGD4DLQ6/IMG_3618.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out The last moments on the assembly table. There is always a little excitement when one finally moves from the table to the ground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613601082-GLHVL94PNLHO9Q74882F/IMG_3708.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613213481-FT19CGMNN3XVF17ML58G/IMG_3659.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out It did not take too long with so many of the parts on hand. Although mostly stock in appearance, there are custom touches that set it apart from the stock ride. The 108cc engine with race head and heavy duty clutch is the biggest modification, doubling the stock horsepower. Wider aluminum wheel rims, heavy duty rear shocks, tighter front fork internals, slotted brake pads, a grab handle, and the heel-toe shifter round out the list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613953109-XGAWXM84HQXF8HAQXHOW/IMG_3694.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622687156382-F9G7SFIY4U8IGM8BKPB0/IMG_3647.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Even with the custom parts, the rest of the bike was put as close to stock form as far as the parts selection. All the rubber and hardware was replaced with OEM Honda parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613910179-J6I81R671T6ES3QTEPAH/IMG_3705.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Stay Gold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613332043-5IIWHD4THH5MW5KUFT62/IMG_3724.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out With the small nicks and scratches, there is little fear of messing up a perfect restoration. The saying is; “a slice off a cut loaf is seldom missed.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622614024417-3O4C0V0S3CVP180TZPHW/IMG_3679.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out Since we are doing gold, it seemed appropriate to trot this one out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1622613855687-BAH8OHW4UHNLD3PLNQXR/IMG_3672.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1970 Honda CT70 custom and the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe racer. - Make it stand out The “Golden Boys.” http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/5/5/uhnworrcp86wldtmk5lrdorhdsj2fu monthly 0.5 2021-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620194183688-2K1QM956JSNUGUEZNK6D/IMG_3389.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. The frame as purchased. Some scrapes and dings, but for 50 year old paint, not bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620194230610-AOL6PZ63N9ALOHWG1B91/IMG_3478.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. Many of these original parts were gathered a piece at a time, like the tail light bracket, brush guard, and engine, and replated or rebuilt along with other projects over the last couple years. Every time I head to the chrome shop, there is an extra piece or two that gets thrown in from another bike. Over time, enough parts get accumulated to start the build. This particular project has sat on a shop table 2-3 years, slowly increasing the hoard of parts, till the engine completion was enough of a tipping point to get started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620441303851-EUGPR63FBKNLUZHDZ0WO/IMG_3484.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. Aluminum rims and Bridgestone tires. The hubs are originals, rebuilt with new bearings, seals, dampers, and sprocket, and repainted with Honda cloud silver paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620194412653-AO5TOFAD7XNNYY9CTAKZ/IMG_3378.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. The engine is in the 1965 Triumph TR6. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620441362839-BDZYP2LF9LJF0M5Q0QDV/IMG_3508.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. A new OEM muffler and guards from Honda are going on. The seat is a high quality reproduction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620194344943-1D9H3IV14I5WHQEBOAS7/IMG_3465.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. A simple tool made to spread the lower frame tubes on the 1965 Triumph TR6 project to allow the spacers to fit in on the main motor mount bolt. Works well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1620194295160-XPQ72QI6LAAX9IPN98P5/IMG_3470.JPG THE BLOG - 1970 Honda CT70 K0 custom build begins, and 1965 Triumph TR6 update. After the frame was broken down, cleaned and buffed out, Reproduction shocks, handlebars, and fenders are going on. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/8/22/sq8bo14cw1yzajfr7fhqmlsbkurca9 monthly 0.5 2021-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199747451-33CUAI10OLUXR8XQ9GVT/IMG_3309.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Some of the rear backbone had been ground deeply on the frame, and needed to be filled with weld. When welding it up, the deepest ground portions blew through, exposing a section that appeared about a sixteenth of an inch thick. Some more grinding on the backbone near the steering tube will need filling to a lesser extent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199406880-D84VESX46QL9Y73U9S0Q/IMG_3319.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. It took a couple full days to strip this frame and make repairs. The seat hinge pivots were missing, but the holes were still there, so replacements were brazed in. The lower mounts for the rear engine plates were also missing from the sub-frame, and new ones were fashioned and welded on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199508524-D1A8AJT91MG9I3E97MH3/IMG_3279.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. A side-stand repair that was working okay, but stuck way out to the side. Not too sure about the weld quality, as the original lugs were brazed with brass, and the brass flows everywhere, inhibiting welding, making for crappy welds. I took the block off with a cutting wheel in an angle grinder, and got the rest of the bung off using a propane torch and hammer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619200328938-VXDIP0X421VUKBSM6XWJ/IMG_9652.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Some of the polishing for this build, plus the fork lowers for a T140 Triumph. The tail on the original transmission cover is broken off, so a 1967 cover was used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619200174144-XPZ8JMD1FBLD8P9QB77U/IMG_0138.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Alloy shouldered rims, Buchanan heavy duty spokes, a new brake drum and bearings along with re-plated original hardware. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1598081566882-7BIU1D2HZ08A5QDQK4YH/IMG_9576.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. The rear shocks look like they could use another 2-3cm. There are some reproduction competition folding pegs that will replace the originals. The wheel rims, gas and oil tanks and fenders are aluminum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199941528-XWJYH726H06VL2YCTNXT/IMG_3277.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. This was a true basket case bike, with bunches of disassembled parts. Unfortunately, some of it is junk like this chainwheel. The inside grooves for the clutch plates are so chattered out it, it is better to just replace it. A new UK made one is on the way along with new discs, plates ,springs, and center hub. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619246823085-6AJ3Y1P692BCXOTNVZCL/IMG_3326.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. The sub frame lower plate mounts. Don’t know exactly how they went missing, but it looks like they were ripped off. I didn’t have a model to measure the dimensions on these mounts when they made, but estimated based on online pictures…they are a little less than one eighth of an inch too long, comparing to the 1970 frame now in the shop.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619544642628-PKH98QS4MDG98UA2U70B/IMG_3358.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Every last piece…A crapped-out chain wheel, spent clutch discs and plates, broken primary front sprocket, I thought maybe the damper could be rebuilt, but halfway into the process, I found this monster crack. There was already a new primary chain, so every last piece of the primary drive will be new. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619360622735-UN8TOLKXR95PXA893DYZ/IMG_3340.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. A Morgo oil pump just went on. There are new bearings, bushings, and thrust washers on the transmission. Waiting on seals to get the covers on, tappet blocks to get the top end on, and then it will start to look a little like something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199678041-8N8OQETTR4M5RYF2CGDQ/IMG_3294.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Rockers are rebuilt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1598081698631-UCI4WXE5I2C484YKCD31/IMG_9580.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. A mock-up picture from last August, when the forks and wheels were worked out. The forks and triple trees are Ceriani, with a vintage Cal-Customs fork brace. The frame needed some work at this point, and the engine needed to be taken out of the coffee cans and boxes it came in, rebuilt and pieced back together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199457244-845AZKIR1BZE6K9XUO53/IMG_3322.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. A new lug was tacked on and then brazed, like the originals were. This is a reproduction lug that comes with squared edges that I sanded down to look a little more like the original. The angle for the lug was taken from a 1970 model frame here in the shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199891275-1RX62M73ZLLM3PZK6W3P/IMG_3278.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Hand reaming the cam bushings. The exhaust cam initially was a little tight while turning, but is fine after reaming. There is a “half race” cam set-up in the engine with new R grind followers going with the 3134 intake cam, and a 9989 exhaust cam and followers. Still waiting on tappet blocks to get the top end on. The crank was turned .010” and balanced with the rods and pistons. New main bearings, wrist pin bushes and shell bearings were used. The cylinder was bored .020” over and new pistons and rings are waiting to go in.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619200231051-FSJ6CEFDTWND6CBPA0UI/IMG_0139.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. An original front hub with the same treatment as the rear. The brake plate is also rebuilt and waiting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1606155594506-IWXSTASFIOSICJ7VXK5Z/IMG_1356.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Some of the aluminum polishing for the recently finished Norton Commando 850. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1598081735505-0QB9N1R00XIN7H2LMQOP/IMG_9572.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. The rear alloy fender and mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1598081779515-OR0488YLOQ96ENBT43VM/IMG_9570.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Still not 100% on the oil bag. It will either be this one or a custom aluminum one. The mount is custom and is completely rubber-mounted on top and bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619246658418-XDZLMXHXEAMYPESVJWTI/IMG_3299.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. The frame before stripping.. The side stand lug has been removed at this point. The ground spots on top of the backbone can be seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1619199846814-WSJ41FXYTDIOGBPDZE0A/IMG_3295.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. The head has the seats ground, new valves, guides, and springs. One of the exhaust spigots had to be repaired as well, but it is now ready to go. Still waiting on a carb moun stud to get plated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1598081823413-EO4BWBBC22R7A2JJEV7K/IMG_9561.JPG THE BLOG - The 1965 Triumph TR6 SRT Scrambler build starts. Some brackets being made from stainless to mimic the early 1970’s originals. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/4/4/1974-norton-commando-cafe-racer-completion monthly 0.5 2021-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564613262-8V1IOGZ1O69KV5WMXX4B/IMG_3072.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564458224-P6TL7I9DE2XWMQAGSWAJ/IMG_3092.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564650058-IBT41RWY1JN8BLCVMEUD/IMG_3099.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. Norton Commandos are a beautiful piece of engineering in stock form. Hopefully, the additions compliment the original bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564868903-BC5QUYTH610U41IB67K4/IMG_3093.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. The Norman Hyde fork brace was added to the Don Pender dual-disc front brake set-up. The fender is made from aluminum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564554898-LJOZUJA8OEIKDG0PTEFI/IMG_3063.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. When building a bike, I can’t help but look at the project with a mental list of the steps needed to finish. As it gets closer to the end, there is almost a disbelief that all the steps are done, surely, there must be something left to do. In the case of this bike, there are a couple small details still left, but they are cosmetic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564689804-R36FFJOXKLXQ1WLLDC2U/IMG_3089.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564756698-YZOSTKYE3FZT7UTDSEFD/IMG_3081.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617565004668-L6VJ2EG94XNKJN0WXLVZ/IMG_3055.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. Finally wheeling this beauty out into the light on Easter Sunday. Looks like an Easter egg. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564500609-PZATTUGEHRQA8I9KSANX/IMG_3102.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. The entire seat assembly is hand-made, including the tail light. There are LED’s used for the tail light and license plate light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617564917606-2Z9F6YPH035QJ76T4HCE/IMG_3088.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Racer completion. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/3/31/iszb6qc4ri6hj9bzkd7x6b2wuab211 monthly 0.5 2021-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617200892178-IR7WMT0ZQR1SS8OPZNPL/IMG_4171.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. The belly pan is a requirement for most vintage racers, and must have the capacity to hold all the oil in the engine. Looking at picture of the bike before the pan and fender were made now look unbalanced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617201481786-DXUTI86OO4HFT0QJSK9O/IMG_4203.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. The bike also got safety wire or cotters on the footpegs, handlebars, axles, shocks, and other parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617200726789-90HVX3EQWOL5GAHC20RW/IMG_4218.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. The neon yellow windshield is gone. Originally, I was looking for a green one, but could not find the right shade. Yellow was a second choice, but once again, finding the right shade was the key. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617201956259-AWCXHU5SMVEWFRK2H8QL/IMG_4227.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. The oil cooler cover is secured with safety wire and brass brackets. The side profile of the bike shows how the muffler is tucked in tight around the rear shock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617201886258-6JSBV2R7DPY2GB8E34GY/IMG_4258.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. Some of the safety wiring can be seen on the handlebars and fork bolts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617201110048-F6V6YS40XEB5ASRSG03B/IMG_4231.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. Engine oil has to be able to find its way into the belly pan, hence the dimple-die holes under the cylinder.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617202345211-92EI998WIM3YSZAXP9OH/IMG_4205.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617201785241-ET390TOFWKU9C2NS168R/IMG_4151.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. A quick release mechanism uses a single red bolt in front and a quarter turn clip in back to secure the pan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617202067748-BLRLYZIGC439HZPON25X/IMG_4222.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617202178820-F0AGLVNN4BCJR1EB7L36/IMG_4216.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. Sunset in Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1617200788428-Q2VUJ10EOCP5XK4TL5CO/IMG_4236.JPG THE BLOG - The 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer nears completion: new windshield, belly pan, and more. A cover was made for the oil cooler from .050 aluminum, and the belly pan was made from .090 . There is brass mesh under the cooler guard. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/3/11/front-fender-for-the-1972-honda-z50-cafe-racer-1974-norton-commando-license-plate-mount monthly 0.5 2021-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508863727-HDDDAJDNVMXXHA27GP77/IMG_2961.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. The fender stripes were scaled down slightly to match the dimensions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508761639-PJVNOGCCOEBDJX0MCH98/IMG_2910.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. Part way through the build, there is a lot of fitting and checking to get the shapes and alignment right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508813865-7MQ4G0EYB6BL1KDXABUF/IMG_2955.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. Once fitted, the fork brace all but disappears. The mounts for the external fork damper are on both sides, but still not sure there will be more than one used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508561299-D8MBQ1QCBZY9XS1WIA4V/IMG_2951.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. Just finished this alloy front fender for the 1972 Z50 Cafe Racer. The mount for the fender act as a fork brace and the lower mounts for the coming fork dampers. The wheel spacers needed to adapt a CRF50 wheel to the Z50 forks are part of the mount, making wheel removal and install easier. The mount is kept from rotating by brackets that lock into the flat lower portion of the fork legs, and the brake stay, which passes through the mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508620601-EAQLHAO36CWFN0JVGYFO/IMG_2943.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. Because the Z50 uses what are referred to as “upside-down forks,” any fender stay either has to be from the axle or suspended high above the tire to account for suspension travel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508678164-ODCVYYR94UHP3C2OUHTE/IMG_2878.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. People will sometimes ask if there are any in-process pictures of metal forming, but I usually forget to. This is the result of several rounds of pounding and annealing. Starting with a flat sheet, pounded on a shot bag in the center and strategically shrunck around the edges to get the desired shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1615508935785-Z17G8Q111LG6UIYCLG68/IMG_2869.JPG THE BLOG - Front Fender for the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer, 1974 Norton Commando license plate mount. A license plate bracket was added to the 1974 Norton Commando. An LED light sits at the top. There is very little left to do on this bike as far as building. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/2/23/the-1972-honda-z50-cafe-racer-got-a-little-paint-and-a-new-sidestand monthly 0.5 2021-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101570158-C92AHOGL04CGXB39U3NX/IMG_2797.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. In addition to the stripes, the underside of all the body parts, the chain guard, inner fender and a number of brackets were painted black. The rear panel for the tail lights was also blacked out https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614102128335-RXG697WYF59M2Q0C6L43/IMG_2818.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. A couple side views prior to application of the badges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101846644-PKV1F0893P384YSIEXBN/IMG_2812.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Trying to reference some seventies styling, when bold and loud was cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614259309502-QNYRE4FPL07Q2B9HMEGU/IMG_2843.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Waiting on warm weather to epoxy the tank, then it will be time to test this bike out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101739024-D1B91KSPN1SN3XM5R0H1/IMG_2784.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. The side stand removable mount. There is a plate that is welded to the rod base, with a tab on the bottom to keep the mount from rotating, and a hole on the other end that the securing bolt passes through. I like to keep brackets shaved off previous builds and will sometimes re-use them later. The kickstand bracket used to make this one came off the “Cabracer 360” Honda CL175. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101932191-J5UKUCFMMZ5JLFPZVQEI/IMG_2801.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Lining up the black at the bottom of the tank with the seat pad was not altogether intentional, but sometimes things just work out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101651529-7IRP3K7OYZWZ6DMP0Z20/IMG_2792.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Usually, the stripes are taped up with the parts on the frame, but these were done individually. Fortunately everything lines up nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614259240829-L1TX076OAY2LAVE54V4C/IMG_2854.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Next up, a front fender and fork damper… As soon as the damper arrives from Japan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614102079160-JXBHULMPFVZZ8LF4KV8V/IMG_2813.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. The black-out on the lower portion of the body parts is more evident from this view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101778132-K2B9XA81PO89J4ZTJCMM/IMG_2823.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. The side stand tucks up nicely under the linkage, with plenty of clearance. The petcock is a Ducati style from Italy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614102034605-U6128VI41G96MNVQF0JT/IMG_2804.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614102192444-CIWM1R8TCCP27L3EC7JH/IMG_2788.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. When to stop…The last picture before adding tank badges. With fifty year old paint, you can’t undo new mounting holes needed for the badges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614101693954-9QQA99BBJKKFJC0TYYUI/IMG_2822.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. Takegawa of Japan makes some beautiful parts like this forged aluminum side stand made for the Honda Monkey. I have used a number of these stands on previous builds and always liked how they look and function. The stand mount is removable, with a thick rod that extends into a receiver on the engine cradle. A single bolt, seen just forward of the mount, holds it in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614131039931-QIS7DCL9WV083UJGIHUF/IMG_2835.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. A little discoloration around the badges from the soldering flame, but it goes with the rest of the bike just fine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1614130992662-F7054HC7ONVFLV6Z7Y7A/IMG_2834.JPG THE BLOG - Paint, side stand, and other mods on the 1972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer. The brass inserts to mount a pair of 1969 Z50 tank badges. They were turned down to one quarter inch and press fit into holes drilled into the side of the tank, and then silver soldered. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2021/2/6/972-z50-cafe-racer-pony-boy monthly 0.5 2021-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654925012-G7T2KBY1ZT3GRQXEP77E/IMG_2653.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer The Tomaselli- style hand levers are a little over-sized for the scale of the bike, but I dig how they look and function. While kind of funky, the neon yellow windscreen is growing on me. Originally intended to be plain yellow or green, the neon one was an online purchase that looked yellow in the picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654677062-0CRIITZ90E7K5XMGN4N8/IMG_2677.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer The stripes are just electrical tape mock-ups. The side covers, seat, front fairing, and chainguard are all hand formed aluminum pieces. There are a lot of Takegawa parts on the bike, The engine is a 125cc, with Takegawa crankshaft, top end, Special clutch, Super oil cooler, forged aluminum kickstarter, and Keihin PE24 kit with long intake. The muffler is a BBR D-section that has been shortened on both ends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654984614-4H1J3TQP0S36OW6YMTWI/IMG_2546.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer The inner fender on the rear end helps enclose the side covers into a space housing a Kitaco carbon fiber oil vapor can, Tokyo Mods ignition, TrailTech full-wave regulator/rectifier, and a Speedcell lithium battery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612655384665-9MGIWP9N7M5V5TWCYFXX/IMG_2524.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612655236187-BV2R8BGAP3ZMJY8HF7EG/IMG_2659.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer Since the pictures, the graphics have been started and the chainguard was painted black. Not completely happy with the chainguard appearance in bare aluminum, maybe the black will help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654834951-G7AOZ6V9RWGJQRM3P6NT/IMG_2557.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer Some of the mounting system for the side covers, front fairing, and tank can be seen here. The tank, front fairing, side covers and handlebars can be stripped from the bike in seconds, without tools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654879539-R655VJT0D9KFHBWNM74J/IMG_2551.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer The cockpit switches are mil-spec C&K, with waterproof covers, sitting on a piece of brass. If anyone is paying attention, many of my builds have custom brass pieces, going back to the 1970’s! A special nut was cut for the steering tube cap. The handlebar knobs are custom, made from some re-pop pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612655025268-VE9BVH7GWTBG26T1EGBM/IMG_2541.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612655189230-B7X9YQ279JC051N10L97/IMG_2671.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer Mocking up graphics. The “MK” is for monkey killer. The 61 is the age of the builder. Not that I dig killing monkeys, just referring to the new Honda Monkey bikes. This bike was nick-named “Pony Boy” by my daughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654619595-DYMU530HT8OS2CJ0XAP2/IMG_2679.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer A hodge-podge of different parts. Aside from the 1972 frame and tank, there are CRF50 wheels and engine cases, 1964 CL77 rear-set footpegs, XR75 swingarm, CT70 heat shield parts, an early hardtail Z50 fork top clamp, SL70 headlight bucket, and Kawasaki KLX110 exhaust parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612655108905-YLJPIZRESRJMWJ5V14XV/IMG_2493.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1612654783288-T2OI9TE8TQJYVJ5Y3VZ6/IMG_2576.JPG THE BLOG - !972 Honda Z50 Cafe Racer Since there is a 12 volt system with a lighting coil, I decided to go all-in on the lighting. The rear LED lights also can function as turn signals in addition to running and brake lights. There is a set of vintage KONI shocks on the rear end. The rear fairing is made from a single piece of aluminum, with no welding on any of it. Getting the recess for the light was the most difficult part. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/12/28/finishing-stages-for-the-1974-norton-commando-cafe monthly 0.5 2021-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217354911-4Z8P342Y4IVNPUM347B1/IMG_2015.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. Quite happy with how the front fender fits with the Norman Hyde fork brace. The front wheel and brake assembly are from Don Pender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609270701211-AX89K2SJQKX9O44HW14G/IMG_1865.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. The tach dial looks better with the hand re-painted fluorescent orange. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609270039179-7W5KTNJNNH37HJOT4AK1/IMG_2052.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. I have only sent aluminum out for polishing twice, but probably never again. This time, not only did there do a sub-par job, they completely obliterated the timing marks on the primary cover. This one is a replacement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217725206-4FBEDB4ODIGWN5NMI2HN/IMG_2012.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. There is an inner brace that runs on the outside of the front fender. Because the mounting point is on the lower ears of the fender, there would be a lot of potential for vibration and flexing, and the inevitable stress cracking that follow. The brace hugs the sides of the fender all the way to the crown of the fender, with rubber to soften vibrations. The result is a rigid fender mount that should resist cracking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217219704-3Q1U8ZYZO4FUE44XHM63/IMG_2059.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. Another killer paint job by Jason Small of Dallas, Texas. Jason’s attention to detail and knowledge of correct original paint schemes is second to none. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609269919883-PL8PP2BD8AO4WU65IFPC/IMG_2061.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. Because of my limited aluminum welding skills, all the parts are made from a single piece. In the case of the front fairing, the edges are rolled over a steel rod sub-structure, making it very light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217421502-LXGRC7ZTGB8G7DOVGN6J/IMG_2032.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. The color scheme and pallet was chosen by the owner. The lighting makes it look lighter and brighter in this picture. The actual color is a strong, deep yellow and red. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609270454035-CGEZ7D0J2Z5QG3B6I7WN/IMG_1862.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. New bezels and glass were put on the clocks. In order to roll the bezel edges, a jewelers burnisher and a C-clamp were used to get it flattened out nicely.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217579989-RPT0LKTX054QGW9CXU71/IMG_1984.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1609217484437-X2NJT7C78HLHJ60K3UDX/IMG_2046.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing stages for the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe. Still need some final fitting and the seat, but getting there! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/10/13/szgr0710dnp4iom7w0wshm3i04tm8y monthly 0.5 2020-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602625018749-8I87PT0QW96WAJCVQ26G/IMG_9954.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. There is a small flat o-ring that goes around the lower right engine stud and fits into the head gasket. There is a second larger flat o-ring that goes in the larger opening seen at the upper right of the picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624752469-OEIQHQBM7O56DILWA174/IMG_9952.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. Using a screwdriver or round rod, the timing chain is pulled tight, keeping it between the studs. The place where it comes to a peak is the pin that will be lined up with the mark on the cam sprocket. The cam sprocket is placed on the chain and fed through the head to line up with the cam. The cam should be in the top dead center position. You can tell it is in the right position if the cam turns freely about a quarter turn or more. If it is in the wrong position, the valves will be engaged, and the cam will be difficult to turn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602786775196-89QQ8RODPAJ71DMCXOHX/IMG_9941.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. There are two lengths of engine head studs. The longer ones go on the left side of the engine, with the engine dowels at their base. The studs can be snugged up using two nuts tightened against one another. These are some homemade levers with the bolts welded on to avoid having to use a pair of wrenches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602786656071-LRVRAADLOH1348SIV6AR/IMG_9940.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. Once the primary drive is assembled on the other side of the engine, it is flipped over and the case screws put in. A single bolt holds the chain tensioner arm in place. It should move freely when tightened. The mainshaft and shift shaft seals can be pressed in place with a socket and a hammer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624702069-02GXXYXEUHUK4X9EAVXX/IMG_9951.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. To set the valve timing, the flywheel needs to be placed on the shaft and the crank rotated until the “T” mark lines up with the notch at the top of the engine case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602786725944-OE4MMIP0RMWI6KFVM3D6/IMG_9942.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. The special washer and bolt that hold the transmission shift drum in place are installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624617729-S7IE1P78O6Z4QKQBUC0X/IMG_9868.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. The timing chain tensioner roller is simply dropped in place. It is held in place by the stator plate. The plunger and spring are placed in the bore till they contact the chain tensioner arm. There is a flat side on this particular tensioner plunger, where the locking screw contacts with it. The hole down and to the left of the shifter shaft is where the locking bolt and nut go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624821851-YUSDVSPZXDBG8L8JF1T9/IMG_9947.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. With the studs and locator dowels in place, the paper cylinder base gasket goes on along with the flat o-ring that fits in the round opening on the right of the picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624898115-Y5WIWBLRGGUCYINT4A6B/IMG_9948.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. The piston rings need to be put on. The shiny one on the right goes at the top of the piston, the dark one in the middle, and the three-piece oil ring goes on the bottom. They are put on starting with the wavy oil ring followed by the skinny rings that go on each side of it. The middle ring goes on next, and the top shiny ring last. The gaps at the end of the rings should be staggered so they do not all lie in the same location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602786589210-92EQQL6G1J6S2AY3LLD8/IMG_9944.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. Two of the three chain tensioner plunger styles. The lower one is the earlier one, and the upper one came after, followed by another steel plunger with holes perforating it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602625086578-9FJC02Q25VBKPF2H36VL/IMG_9959.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. The small mark on the cam sprocket should line up with the mark on the head, making sure the “T” mark on the flywheel is still aligned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602624948348-J9I9PD7ZM9M7OHAU46HG/IMG_9949.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 Engine building part three. The top end. Once the rings are on, the piston can be joined to the crankshaft. It is easier to place the wrist pin clip into one side of the piston before putting the wrist pin in. Be sure to place the piston with the intake side toward the top of the engine. There is usually a stamp with “IN” marked on the intake side, or an arrow is sometimes used to point it out. If neither of those marks are there, the side with the larger valve recess is the intake side. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/10/9/c6ylahn5r01qjkw7lj1fr83p1y5dpo monthly 0.5 2020-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294639027-453J48Y43OO6PROLXW95/IMG_9997.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. This is the auto clutch actuator assembly in place. Usually I will wait to put these parts on till after the opposite side of the engine is done. The reason is that once these parts are on, the outer engine side cover has to be put on to keep them in place. Having the cover in place makes it harder to work on the stator side of the engine because of the roundness of the cover. This engine stand secures the engine even with the cover in place, but will contact the cover, marring a newly painted cover. The actuator assembly just floats until the cover is on, and centering it so the cover contacts it correctly is much more difficult if the engine is upright. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602300005109-P1UEAVGY51MYW1RJWJ74/IMG_9986.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. The high volume oil pump used for this build has a collar that must be fitted in the drive shaft hole to support the drive shaft. Don’t forget to use a new gasket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602293772492-1XEHP18HIQB0ZN6DPKLF/IMG_9988.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. The oil pump is installed being careful to make sure the shaft and pump mesh. The drive sprocket can be turned to get them to mesh correctly. The three larger screws are the ones securing the pump. The gear selector assembly goes on next, with the shaft dropping in the hole, the end of the arm contacting the gear selector star pins, being sure the spring that goes on the shaft is contacting the engine stud correctly. The extended ends of the spring should be on opposite sides of the shaft. The shift star can be put on now, or before placing the selector arm in the case. Lastly, the small arm with the roller on it (the shift detent arm) can be put on, making sure it moves freely once its securing bolt has been tightened. Notice that the C-clip for the kick shaft assembly is in place, and the return spring around the engine case boss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294700512-GM0QOWA03G4YBLCEQN18/IMG_0001.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. This is the clutch adjuster screw assembly. It fits on the inside of the cover with the screw passing through the center hole, and the post in the blind hole. On the opposite side, an O-ring, washer and nut will be placed to secure and seal it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294110234-V7DB7ZNVX5VPUIVKI4W0/IMG_9918.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. The clutch drive gear drops in place, and the larger primary gear slips over the shaft, secured by a C-clip. The oil filter screen can be put in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602293868673-MB23UZSZPKJ8O5JNH7A1/IMG_9935.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. The kickstart return spring assembly should be put on first. The shaft should be turned fully clockwise till it stops, then the splined cog is slid partially down the shaft with the tip of the cog contacting the engine case as in the above picture. Using a screwdriver or a hook, the return spring is pulled so the end loops around the engine case boss. Once the spring is there, the cog can be pushed down fully till the groove for the C-clip can be seen on the kick shaft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294412427-DMJ999D59U7JZ4K1219G/IMG_9858.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. The clutch drops onto its shaft, making sure the gear beneath it meshes with the backside of the clutch, the large primary gear, and the clutch/crankshaft splines. It will be necessary to turn the clutch and large gear while wiggling the clutch to get it all to mesh correctly. The clutch nut is put on after the locking tab and special domed washer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294308580-Z1BE68GXVXBB46EGZOLI/IMG_9855.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. If your crank is new, you will need to put the spacer and bronze bushing on before the clutch and drive gear are put on. Use plenty of oil assembling these parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1602294836553-EN7A3JX95CY5J1Z8S1RX/IMG_9767.JPG THE BLOG - Z50 engine building part two. Assembling the primary drive. This picture was from the disassembly, but using it to show the clutch cover in place. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/9/29/t5b96cozc4k35hpug3mux93mq3hhi9 monthly 0.5 2020-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601409568856-BKU8LYBLR4CL9EDN70XN/IMG_9793.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Some of the tools needed. In addition to these, a 6mm and 8mm tap, variable speed drill, an air compressor, and some JES screw drivers are needed. Tools: clutch nut tool, flywheel puller, 17, 14, 10, 9mm sockets, #2 and #3 phillips impact bits, impact driver slip jaw pliers, crescent wrench, needle nose pliers, ring pliers, brass drift, rubber hammer, seal puller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601409470522-GC6PNWKF70H1IKNDRPMV/IMG_9813.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The actual tear-down is pretty fast and easy. This assembly guide can be done in reverse to disassemble. The time consuming part is cleaning grime and gaskets from the parts. The cases are cleaned first with citrus degreaser, scrapers, towels, and compressed air, removing as much oil and grime as possible. They are washed and scrubbed in kerosene and all gaskets removed. They are then wiped down, blown out, and washed in warm soapy water. They are bead blasted after that, and then blown again, scuffed with fine Scotch-Brite pads, rinsed, and blown. Along the way, any stubborn deposits are scraped off with a razor or pick. Finally, the screw holes are all chased with a tap, and then blown out agian. Obviously, a lot of blowing going on, and some would argue not to do so much in between the steps, but degreasing is tricky in the sense that some processes don’t work as well in different situations. A common example would be thick oil and dirt deposits inside and outside the engine., that are not easily removed by any method, can trap glass bead from blasting, and interfere with trying to chase your threads. In that case, mechanical scraping and wiping are the only sure-fire low tech ways (you can always drop some coin for a large ultrasonic cleaning tank.) The other principle is that each stage in cleaning should bring the minimum amount of contaminants to the next, and blowing does this effectively. A word of caution: eye, face, hand, and ear protection are absolutely necessary for all the blowing, especially if you are using high pressure. Small particles of grime can fly out when blowing and hit you like a sand blaster to the eyes. The ear protection is for the ultra high-pitched whistling that is produced blowing across screw holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407670697-YUXTOF2MNB7N5TR65RZ9/IMG_0053.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Once the cases are clean, the oil orifice is drilled out with a 1/16” bit. You can go as high as 2mm in diameter, and as small as 1.5mm. Blow out after drilling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408201263-SWIAWGAZYQUSH6YUKLYJ/IMG_9909.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One To keep the shifting tight, the shift drum guide pins should be replaced. There is a small hairpin-like clip that holds them in that can be pulled out easily with a metal pick. The pin sometimes gets stuck in the hole, and a strong magnet while wiggling the shift fork will usually do the trick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408495940-J6CROW5FIVELD90XJ781/IMG_9984.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Dropping the crank in requires no tools, and should fit in easily with a little hand pressure and wiggling. The engine case dowels (always use fresh ones, trust me) and center case gasket are the last thing needed before closing the cases back up. Leave the piece of gasket paper that passes across the piston rod until after the case screws are in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407847484-AZXIVCPHBFYVLMEK1PTH/IMG_9925.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The three speed stock tranny with the last parts of the output shaft laid out in order, and the shift drum as it mates up with the shafts. Notice the small thin washer on the left end of the upper shaft, and laying on the far right of the picture. Those special washers are sometimes overlooked, often staying stuck to the engine cases and even lost during disassembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407756858-AAQTCCOUVLJ3REZ0BCZS/IMG_9977.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The transmission bearings need to be pressed in first. The cases can be heated with a small propane torch or heat gun to expand the hole size slightly, and then the bearing can be tapped into place easily with a drift and hammer, making sure only to strike the outer ring of the bearing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408547122-X8R6CKCW8IT7679PSVF9/IMG_9985.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The right side case should fit on the assembled left side easily, with only slight taps of a rubber mallet needed to coax it together. Look out for the oil drive shaft, transmission shafts and the shift drum to be aligned. They may need slight adjusting to hit their holes right. The remainder of this guide will be in installments, focusing on individual sections of the build for easier future reference. If anyone has questions, please ask on this site so others can perhaps benefit from the Q and A. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601409620584-COJTGO96QLB8U5O70GK1/FA6123FC-8147-4607-8A55-7F28D7461D33.jpg THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Somewhere around 60 Honda horizontal engine rebuilds done in the shop, most of them on this stand. You don’t need anything too fancy, but a way to elevate the engine off the bench to clear the shift shaft and kick shaft is needed. A couple pieces of 4x4 lumber will work, or a box shape made of 2x4’s and screws that fits under the outer edges of the engine cases. The main reason this stand was built was to hold the engine firmly while extracting case screws. Because the screws are Phillips type screws usually frozen in the cases, the only reliable method I’ve found to get them out without damage is to use an impact driver, #3 Phillips impact bit, and a considerable amount of downward force. Without a solid base, the irregular surfaces on both sides make this a challenge. The engine will sometimes spin or even fall off the blocks during this process. The stand keeps this from happening and is easy to use, requiring no tools to mount the engine on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601479541558-WNYQJG4JM1PROPSZR0PE/IMG_9806.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One This engine case looks like it was hit by a wire wheel at some point, leaving deep scratches that were removed by hand wet sanding. There are not a lot of shortcuts in metal finishing if you are going to restore a smooth finish removing as little material as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407344190-8NYADOUERNS2R8NV91BZ/IMG_0057.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Everything gets rebuilt, replaced, or re-plated. All seals , gaskets, and bearings get replaced. All hardware is re-plated or new. There are four 108cc stroker engines, two with 4 speed trannys, one with a rolling rocker head. All four were given new heavy duty clutches. The two stock rebuilds have new pistons and rings, clutch plates and bearings. The stators and ignition components are restored, and any stripped screws are repaired (although in a rare case, there were no stripped holes on any of the engines.) All the cases were finished as close to the original finish as possible, refinishing any scratches or damage to the surfaces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407420664-A1V77IBSH8PINNGBM2R6/IMG_0071.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The clutch covers are painted with Cloud Silver paint from Honda. There are new kick and gear shift shafts used on all these engines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408371324-M2L2031JEYAIEK8KGTYN/IMG_9931.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The screw end of the shaft has to pass though the case and into the sprocket. A small rod or screwdriver and a wrench are used to snug up the shaft. The center of either style shaft can be grabbed with vise grips to screw or unscrew it. It does not need to be super tight, the direction the pump rotates keeps it from unscrewing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407914793-SLF3A78S80PVN00KLEN3/IMG_9928.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One The transmission ready for installation. The output shaft on the right of the picture fits into the bearing pressed into the case, the smaller end of the other shaft goes in the bronze bush in the case half, and the shift drum shaft through the top hole in the case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408012970-4FVJF1I0PHBH0FZAX2N3/IMG_9929.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One A small amount of oil needs to be squirted in the bronze bush in the engine case, and the transmission dropped in. If too much oil is used, it will keep the shaft from seating fully. The three main parts of the tranny need to be held together carefully, making sure the thin washer is fitted between the shaft and the bronze bush. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408426308-SDKEMP5MJFW3Q6JJO03D/IMG_9846.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Once the tranny is in, the kickstart shaft is placed in the oiled case hole, making sure the arm goes into the groove on the side of the case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601407469941-QRYOF3VLB20B5T60W0UL/IMG_0055.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Soon these bikes will be going into some of the bikes in previous posts, and some yet to be seen! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1601408263777-063NRZ5FF2QUA7L3XQZD/IMG_9904.JPG THE BLOG - The Festival of Engines 2020. Honda Z50 and CT70 6 Volt engine rebuilding Part One Next, the oil drive shaft and sprocket have to be put into the cases. The fat shaft is the original, the skinny one has been turned to clear the stroker crank, and came as part of a high-volume oil pump kit. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/7/24/d98bzjn1d1am5htb85c8f03prpjbaa monthly 0.5 2020-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623187370-8CA1GFTBS7YKS7QCS0GW/IMG_9309.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Out riding the Jack Wilson 1967 Triumph Bonneville recently. What a sweet ride! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622753830-L95Q2O6DSO977HTLVNYA/IMG_9273.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. In the process of rebuilding and refinishing the footpeg assemblies for the soft tails. The nicks and pits get filled and sanded, and some of the roughness on the welds is sanded out prior to paint. The bottom kickstand is the only original one of these three. The other two are extended proportionally to go with the extended swingarms on the ‘73 and ‘76, with the ‘76 being the longest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595632791340-KYKA7QFCT3TQQN5GT9K6/IMG_9231.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Some 35mm extensions were made for the front forks on the ‘76 Z50. Some fresh Honda Trail Bikes reproduction fork lowers were used. The walls of their fork lowers are a good millimeter thicker than stock, and look like they will be much more resistant to bending. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622831252-5IV8J6NI1VBUWIK3NZSW/IMG_9324.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Because of the swingarm extension on the ‘76, the rear fender mounts needed to be extended as well to keep the wheel centered. The wheel looks a little too far forward in the stock location as far as the centering, and a 35cm extension on the swingarm places it about as far as you would want to go the other way without moving the fender from the stock location to match. The top fender extension is basically a box with tabs that slides over the fender mounts and bolts into the original mounting holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623401067-Y3FUEPU3XJIE2D5KLZA2/61394373689__DAAB5856-2A17-4BA7-AC1E-875E1C8327F4.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Norton engine and tranny getting torn down prior to rebuilding. The head went out to Fair Spares in California to get the exhaust spigots re-threaded and a valve job. Cylinders will get bored, the crank appears to have been re-built and is in excellent shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623320990-DRZFZEM29NMGG07GFBMV/IMG_9108.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. A recent purchase for a future build. Pretty trashed, but when most everything gets changed out anyway… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622972310-MBWTMQJ35X676D4DKDUG/IMG_9203.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Other projects inching along include this 1978 Triumph T140. Though it is a Bonneville model, a TR7 head was found for this build to make it a single carb set-up. The aluminum rear fender was also recently added as well as the rear brake system, including a new stainless master cylinder. The front brake system is also complete, only waiting for an impending wheel re-build and new rotors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623141420-E81Z5SOBSW0RJ9UKH8V0/IMG_9144.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. My buddy Ben’s K0 CT70 came by for an 88cc and race head upgrade along with some other maintenance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595632851741-S9H8NOQT0OBWF7VKC328/IMG_9226.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. The frame and extended swingarm after bead blasting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623024085-LO5I111P3TAO4SZ1B9M1/IMG_9249.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Fresh Cadmium plate on all the hardware for the Commando. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623257475-7KAZ48Q80YZBIP1SDVUE/IMG_9120.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. The 1974 came back for some maintenance. The new owner is a painter and did it up in this killer electric blue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622873848-5WRQC15PRNSWK14ZZCT2/IMG_9325.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. The lower rear fender extended mount uses long bolts to pass through the 45mm extension. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622611238-FI3NBPIH4L9JGV9UQS3N/IMG_9319.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Three Honda Z50 soft tail builds in process. The red 1972 in back will be relatively stock, the blue 1973 has a 35mm extended swingarm, and the yellow 1976 model has 35mm extended front forks and a 55mm extended swingarm. A set of Takegawa rear shocks is on its way to hold up the rear end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623893533-VLJHSWN6LEOMHK2V8F24/CA0673BA-F8A0-49C0-BB55-4AF4BF9BCEFF.jpg THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Built a number of years back, this 1971 SL70 was pulled out recently and gone through for a potential sale. Though the sale did not happen, it was still good to re-connect with the bike and fix some small things it needed to be complete…and the bike is still for sale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595622684485-ZG25OOACQQZYXPDW6SBT/IMG_9275.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Some of the wheel parts for four different bikes: the three soft tails plus a K2 Z50 restoration. All the aluminum parts have been blasted and polished. There are new Honda OEM bearings and seals in the hubs, and freshly re-plated hardware on the brake panels. New slotted brake shoes with new springs were used, and the brake linings were de-glazed. The wheel halves have been taken down to bare metal, straightened and painted with Honda Cloud Silver paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623631234-1GHPL2QQDRRF6BFIQK8T/IMG_8786.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Kibblewhite black diamond valves, all new springs, guides, retainers, and keepers along with screw threads on the exhaust spigots to allow T120 pipes to replace the push-in originals. The engine on this bike appears to have been totally re-built, with new pistons and valve components, it was a shame to lay aside the perfect twin carb head, but it will find a home on another project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623076545-AXZUVVLFL00O6R5XU6N1/IMG_9212.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. Another one pulled out for a sale that didn’t pan out, this 88cc stunter has a bunch of the cool parts from back in the day. A full BBR suspension and bore-up kit, Yoshimura pipe, Douglas billet wheels, Takegawa rear shock, and added after the picture, a Fast 50’s left-hand rear brake assembly. The frame is extended 1.5 inches and reinforced. The engine starts easy and runs strong, stronger than most any 88cc kitted engine I have ridden. The guy I got the engine from said he couldn’t remember if it had a stroker crank, but I have doubts about it being a 110cc engine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1595623569482-34JQLTDVB9ORMG04A5IN/IMG_8713.JPG THE BLOG - Honda Z50 Soft Tail builds, 1978 Triumph T140 inching along, and the 1974 Norton Commando Cafe Build. The 1974 Norton Commando Cafe build right before tear-down. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2020/3/18/ukq5t45y4zb450w8j250adryw4lejt monthly 0.5 2020-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544436140-J1TO3LN98HK050O5V5DC/79159B93-31CA-4B7F-B201-61FB7A1CCED1.jpg THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. This was the first time the bike had been rolled out since tear-down. It has been a long process, but this picture shows the lines coming together, and it felt good to see the light at the end of the tunnel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544739527-FWYL4YHMSR1P1XUE6W6U/IMG_7813.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. Xtreme Upholstery in Denton, Texas did the leather seat cover. The attention to detail is quite impressive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584543899001-KCWILGTS8MKCKHVGSK09/IMG_8129.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584543951065-WQGRGM95ECAERKMB948T/IMG_8121.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. Just love the stock colored tins and enough black on the bike to keep the chrome in balance. This bike is a family legacy and a tribute to its original owner, so the original red was used to tie it to it’s roots. There are a pair of Motogadgetbar-end mirrors mounted. They have a unique polished aluminum mirror that is supposed to never dull due to a special coating they apply. They sure look good with the rest of the motogadget bar controls, speedo, signals and grips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544661485-GL67I2FBEHU5PDWASSYE/IMG_7842.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. The console has a Motogadget m-lock in the front, underneath the leather. It is an RFID reader that activates the bike when a key fob or a rice-sized chip you can sew into a glove is placed in close proximity. There cannot be any metal covering it up, so a hole was bored, the reader mounted underneath, and a thin layer of silicone to level it out on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544890410-9GDYIB1VJZE2VUC82V75/IMG_8118.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. Looking pretty clean and mean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544125429-YG8HQ6QHJM6YB5SUWBR5/IMG_8119.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. The original red color had faded some and was a little more pink. This richer red was the result of computer matching an unfaded part. Always a big fan of red on a bike or just about anything that moves, the owner’s decision to keep it red was a good one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544483463-J4N3PN8PFORKF3VJ383N/3A1B9B38-EB5F-489F-BBAD-40651C92EEB7.jpg THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. The clutch activator was converted to a hydraulic one. The milled cover goes nicely with the torque arm, even though the arm is 25 years old. Magnum Black Pearl braided stainless lines were used for the brakes and clutch hydraulics. The black and chrome on the S&S engine was inspiration for the rest of the bike’s finishes, with an emphasis on the black. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584988209783-A9JBZ94A07728BJCGJ2V/IMG_7551.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. Jason Small at Linear Automotive did such a good job on the Freebird 57 Triumph paint, it was a no brainer to send the FXR tins to him. His attention to detail and knowledge of original paint schemes and styles make him the go-to guy for British bikes, but he has done beautiful Italian, German, and in this case, American, bikes that I have seen. He also collects, builds, rides and races these bikes, so he can do it all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1584544545380-EXU3XGL6MSXT7NYABHD8/CD7A90D3-2A89-49F2-86DA-1285C28117EB.jpg THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR. With the leather over the RFID reader, it is invisible. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/11/17/d2rcscrn6g6uisml3y5fcmrllwrirh monthly 0.5 2019-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574024903619-5QHL6RLMY3WHVY52H1V3/IMG_7361.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. A brass license plate light that attaches to the adjacent frame tube (another requirement for street legality.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574301938009-OLDQWD28KATAFV8W9636/IMG_7383.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. An LED inside makes for a bright and hopefully long lasting light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574472132237-S3HI7ED4BVO4CDN4L13Y/IMG_7395.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The wiring for the license plate light is enclosed in brass tubing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574024953073-JSTATFDXGTV9PTOVH8H8/IMG_7364.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The right pannier was finished off with a brass bracket and leather strap to secure the contents. Just absolute necessities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574025057650-EORX69J97R3U3NYL3IKP/IMG_7342.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Hours spent on final welding and sanding to get the parts ready for powder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574024029535-N5J9HJO5T05IGUFZU4E5/IMG_7365.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Counter weights to balance the wheels were made from brass and double as a spoke nipple tool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574017798540-W9KNBWT947KGMBYJDUZE/IMG_7170.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. At the land of the Pines Norton Owners of North Texas annual meet, the Freebird took the Best of Show award along with first in its class. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574445964180-N5HYX7IF81UDSSW4TSI1/IMG_7407.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The rear brake linkage was revised, adding a couple inches to the rear arm of the brake pedal, shortening the brake rod a couple inches, and rotating the brake arm on the rear hub so that it is more straight up and down. The revision was to allow more adjustability to the pedal height and improve the leverage on the rear brake arm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574445864242-HW5JEFXEAKTD23KTYVI6/IMG_7398.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. When the rear brake rod was shortened, the spliced area was stripped of chrome and would have needed to be rechromed, but since there needed to be a stop for the tension spring, a brass stopper that covers the spliced portion was made. A small brass pin passes through the stopper to keep it in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574445765228-QNMORIGI66FZU3O18UNH/IMG_7400.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. A rear reflector is necessary to be street legal in Texas, so this glass one was placed into a custom fitting that screws onto the end of the brake rod. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574099824316-JBCBQB3GZ45J59T13E0Q/IMG_7333.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. A lot of welding and squaring up could only be done after the bike was apart, like the final fitting of the fork stops and forward controls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1574025106610-STP48NXFRLTPU6DEQNU0/IMG_7345.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing details on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR project is in the finishing stage, with parts headed to paint and powder coat. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/10/8/ty2dxvma1w6ixhmixj1mkivempmljy monthly 0.5 2019-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562679805-8JFL8DOP7JVWK8E1Y68F/IMG_7017.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The 1979 Z5R engine was completely broken down and rebuilt with some low-milage OEM pieces from the same era, and a new piston and rings. Because of the questionable condition of the parts, everything aside from the engine case, transmission, and stator/flywheel was replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562391757-KK896FYS66F0OYNYB00H/IMG_7110.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. A 1984 Z50R with the yellow number plates came in for new tires and tubes, a heavy duty clutch, and an 88cc bore kit with a race head. Also belonging to a friend, I was edged out of first place in the minibike race at the rallye by this bike. Not the worst thing to be beat by the engine you just built. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570640715928-OB07YVP93ZOJSOTBYPMS/IMG_7113.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The 1979 is a transition year. The very first Z50R, but retaining some gear from the 1972-1978 early soft tails like the wheels and hubs, the rear brake pedal (painted black) and rod, and a similar muffler to the 72-78, leaving off the number plate on the right side that the later 1980-1987 Z50R models had. The muffler guard appears to be from a 1988-1999 model, but it is fine with the owner for now. The original seat would have had no logos on the sides, this one appears to be a repop. The bike took third place in the minibike category at the Land of the Pines rallye, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570640576228-UFX4F8IQ8V6C3V4EXQ6E/IMG_7147.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. and first place went to the 1971 Super 50 Cafe. This bike had not been run in a while and was brought back to good running shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562555950-L99IXZI7U0DBFFLT3XDI/IMG_7045.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The bike broken down for paint. I had the acrylic enamel on hand for another tank painted a while back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570640364927-UHKB47G4B4RI9HQVJLFK/IMG_7093.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The Blaze Red would be considered orange by most standards, but either way, the color-match is spot on between the 1984 in the foreground and the 1979. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562320794-CVJFUFPWF4JUD11RD53W/IMG_7120.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. A first year 1979 Z50R spruced up for the annual Land of the Pines Norton Owners Rallye. It came to the shop for some paint, an engine rebuild, new bars and shocks. In a super busy year, I have passed on most all of the other shows, big and small, but always try to make this one where there are a number of friends that usually attend. A friends bike here that was promised for this event, and delivered early with what was supposed to be a rattle-can job, but ended up with PPG color matched acrylic. Though the original Tahitian Red was a shade different from this Blaze Red, the fenders were already Blaze, so I went with it. The tank is an aftermarket HondaTB piece that came on the bike. Taller BBR bars and some heavier duty HondaTB shocks make it more adult friendly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562617801-3SFY3N3YSM7DHVO87T4R/IMG_7004.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The 1979 clutch basket was the worst I have ever seen, with the center oil slinger filled with a crunchy grunge and signs of burning. Usually I can salvage something from one of these units, but this one was useless. The signs of hammer whacks on the clutch basket tell some of the story, but not all. I was told the bike was started and taken around a track till it started making a screeching noise and was discovered to be completely dry in the crankcase! That does not however explain this level of destruction, with quite a long time necessary to get this level of damage. Oddly enough, the bike started easily and shifted fine, and I was asked to just go over it and make sure everything was okay. The plan was to do a new piston and rings with a cylinder hone, and change out the clutch plates, but when I saw this, I suspected the damage was done before the oil-free ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570722027520-VLZ888H2KLV8OQ1DNPTR/IMG_6782.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. One last thing, this 1969 Z50A left the shop with a new owner. The very first Z50 I ever bought, built, or revived. The bike came to me as just an engine and frame, without wheels, a tank, or seat. The engine was given a stock rebuild years ago and all the missing parts were located. A solid running and fairly complete bike looking to be a rider or taken to the next level by its new owner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570562466688-9HCQ8QJJE4Y8WACDIVSE/IMG_7107.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. Though I didn’t touch the wheels, pretty much everything else got the treatment, with a lot of correct zinc plated hardware replacing the mix of screws the bike came with. Someone patched this bike together, with a crankshaft from a later bike, and stator and flywheel from an earlier bike. The stator has a lighting coil that can support 6V lights. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570640947105-5FQW7VUMVGL1V7JV1N2J/IMG_6425.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. The Red Baron took second place, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1570640487572-CLDLR6G8IHF5CJE15LFN/IMG_7006.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping Z50R's for show and racing at the Land of the Pines Norton Rallye. This is the oil pump drive shaft. On the right is a correct used one compared to the one in the engine with the teeth on the end of the shaft sheared off. They were broken off by a rust-frozen oil pump impeller. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/8/31/the-1957-triumph-freebird-returns-from-the-golden-bolt-motorcycle-show monthly 0.5 2019-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264801008-DA4DRUCPW8GY44RRHJHL/IMG_6891.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. There are angles from the front and back where the levers are concealed by the bars, giving the bars a clean uncluttered look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264744104-03DQ493QSBVARV4GFQV6/IMG_6917.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. One of the beautiful things about leather is how signs of wear richen it. The Wade O. Wilson engraved checking on the levers is a detail often overlooked, but one of my favorites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567282550430-XQB5HLXIN6VLCTRT3IWJ/IMG_6923.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. Ready to ride! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567282853440-PLQCV150TR9GVFDA79P6/IMG_6864.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. The reason I didn’t make the road test portion of the competition was this hole blown out of the oil-feed block. During it’s previous life, this part had been buffed or sanded aggressively prior to being chrome plated and the solder holding the plug in place was gone. There was no indication of a leak in the test-riding I did prior to this event in 100 degree Texas heat, but shortly after kicking the bike over for the ride, a plume of oil was shooting several feet out from the side of the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264848798-AOCTBENR8SPRQM9MQA9Y/IMG_6913.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. Detail under the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264938025-CCMW3OD2OHZY1ST0XJI0/IMG_4110.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. Some of the future finishing for this bike will be packing the panniers with supplies, but for now, they look so beautiful the way Penny Goods Leather put them together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264585199-NZMF5ZYIZTIP4GXKGNQN/IMG_6908.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. The other side shows another addition to the bike since the show, a brass plug for the tranny. Test riding the bike prior to the show, one of the brass valve-cover caps fell off, so a new set was ordered, and aluminum ones substituted for the show. After returning from the show, the new cap was added, but the caps can only be bought in a set of four, leaving three spares. The tranny plug is the same size, so one cap was modified a little appearance-wise for the job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264990165-NHTW21ZI03VUYTJJYQ04/IMG_4107.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. More details on the rear of the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567274751348-FKR80AGUBDRCDYVRQ7PV/IMG_6903.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. A rare August rain in Texas made for a great day to shoot pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567282950969-F30SFC9MB49QX2KCE23L/IMG_6836.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. During set-up. I can tell it was a good week-end because I didn’t have time to take too many pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264528388-ULIRBVUMYWO929HSENL9/IMG_6875.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. A subtle but huge change from the previous set-up for the Freebird. Since first re-assembling the bike, the tank position did not feel quite right, but with a couple looming deadlines on the horizon, it was left alone. After fixing the oil leak, I decided it was finally time to address it, and lowered the tank an inch in front. Really happy about how it changed the alignment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567282811852-XTHT4N2ZQ5ERNH1ZEWZ2/IMG_6868.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. Here a brass plug was turned and press-fitted into the bore, and then silver-soldered to secure it. The copper tubes are lead-soldered in place and had to be re-done after the plug was put in. It does not leak and will stay in place till the next owner grinds it away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567274811751-5IZ4VLNJVXT6GC664GQO/IMG_6894.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. I got a couple drops of motor oil on the seat, but they just add character. Some leather balm purchased at Wilkinson TX, a local leather artist store, has it looking and feeling supple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567264641075-DMK3WE8GKBMOBET3G90G/IMG_6911.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. A vintage license plate and mounting bracket was mounted. Still working on a light for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1567286073785-TAQJ5MEI5A64C0JI0OD5/IMG_6841.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from the Golden Bolt Motorcycle show. One of the high lights of the show was getting a vintage style Bell helmet custom striped by Skratch of Skratch’s Garage. Skratch is a displaced Texan who has made a name for himself on the West coast building, painting and striping rad custom Hot Rods. A true old-school artist who has a love for early American hot-rodding, and produces killer modern builds that showcase his understanding and love for the style. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/7/25/79827sovf859vs4izb3k5hbpnwe55h monthly 0.5 2019-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564086201058-SY1WZU8PDK9YKMOMH0FH/IMG_6422.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. The Red Baron was back in the shop for a banana seat, sissy bar, and low pipe mods. I wanted to do the seat and sissy bar combo a while back, but it took a couple years for owner Ben D’avanza and I to coordinate a time to do it. The cocktail shaker muffler sounds great and flows well. The kickstart lever and brake pedal were slightly re-bent to clear the pipe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564778443928-YSR1LSIPK27CKS7B7AH2/IMG_6432.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Still kind of awkward and fugly…just the way I like them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564405593383-8IU2C1C7729ZKJCQ931F/IMG_6437.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Ben found this LED powered Maltese cross tail light to finish off the look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179226673-79KVQ8J21JT40QMZTTHC/IMG_6371.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Jason giving the ‘48 some hot laps on the grass. Even with knobbies, grass can be a little unpredictable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179346405-RXDESAHIY5BLTVJZPN89/IMG_6364.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Goldie. the ‘48 Indian, and the ‘74 Commando on the roadside in Argyle, Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564086280794-0WH2Z59SRUDQ3BKDZGTJ/IMG_6358.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Getting ready to roll. There was no specific plan, but we found plenty to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179166487-9DRKHZ3VU209D5UTOM27/IMG_6392.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. Mocking up the parts and photo-testing the profile. The seat pan was made from cold rolled 16 gauge steel sheet. The high pipe is still on at this point. The original 5/8” diameter exhaust was designed for a 50cc engine and is too restrictive for this 90cc engine. The new pipe is a 7/8” and makes for better top end power. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179408401-8MAC0M7M292FNPTCPC6E/IMG_6438.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. The Wilwood brake calipers and rotors are in for the 1993 H-D FXR build. More on that in the next post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179280861-HNALRF2328FVO076M7VZ/IMG_6380.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. John Green surveying the bikes after our ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1564179072859-QNR8ZJP7TCOMLXFT7PYN/IMG_6435.JPG THE BLOG - Vintage Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda riding and the Red Baron gets a new seat and pipe. The seat cover came from a discard custom seat another customer left with me, and I thought it was the right vibe for the build. Ben had the sissy bar, and it was modified to be part of the one-piece seat mount. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/7/16/qx76yzss3566hfars19fxhzg2z45c0 monthly 0.5 2019-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563289716900-M1F3DBOZR4YEB6K263ZT/IMG_6220.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Some mounting brackets for the 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR rear fender, made from 1/8” plate and 16 gauge sheet steel. Capture nuts were welded to the backside to simplify installation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563289465015-HJOCCWG25JWEAEXHFI6P/IMG_6278.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Here is where the problem starts. The wiring on this bike appears to be all custom, and further investigation found the brake switch wires were both hard wired with the power from the battery! This means the brake light would be constantly on with no way to turn it off aside from battery disconnection. The fact that the tail light was only on intermittently did not make sense until the tail light was taken apart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563289279623-9FUMSZKWZUIEKRACTGWF/IMG_6287.jpg THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Jason Lee’s 1971 Triumph TR6C desert sled, “Goldie”came to the shop with no spark. A rapid battery discharge indicated there was a parasitic drain. The tail light would come on randomly when the bike was parked, and no amount of adjustment to the brake switches seemed to make any difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563289375136-PRBUBW02N8GOURX8Q13Q/IMG_6291.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. She runs and rides like a dream, with a loud throaty roar and a ton of pull. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563291187894-YFX8M6CBO3XJGRCDPTFI/IMG_6318.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Another familiar bike, this 1974 Honda CL360 came in for a fuel delivery issue and points adjustment, and left running right again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563290394499-V361MDMJ4F5NES788H9N/IMG_6236.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. The fender brackets make for a clean minimal install. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563327618535-WD2GNB5CP3J8PAZX7ZN9/IMG_6330.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Some ribs were put in the pan using the Jet Tools English wheel. The shrinker/stretcher was run around the back edge to strengthen and smooth it out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563327585944-NV05QGA3NYKD9PYZPY4J/IMG_6331.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. The fender is mounted and a longer seat pan is being worked out. There will be some springs under the tail of the seat to complete the look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563289415604-A93VNODCTUIU1YHUYKV4/IMG_6280.JPG THE BLOG - Wiring a Triumph TR6C, FXR fender mounting, CL360 passing through the shop. Here is the tail light wiring and the explanation for intermittent lighting. All three wires were ground either partially or completely through, and would ground against the aluminum housing enough to light occasionally. A new set of wires was grafted in and along with a re-wire of the front main switch, everything is functioning correctly. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/6/10/53l0blz9biy8wocnryiz55nhbjak8f monthly 0.5 2019-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561818252015-9H77LYJLKL5VTFY9DZFW/IMG_6108.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Some ground-level details. There is a pipe that runs between the oil tank and battery box, connecting with the oil tank vent on one end and the engine crankcase vent on the other. An upside-down “Y” comes off the tube just above the sump level and drains to the catch-can/chain oiler. The primary cover vent also drains into it via a separate tube. The voltage regulator can be seen below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860405954-CSF41CB0ZY20MXGTUPBY/IMG_6145.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Detail of the pannier inside. Once again, I did not ask for some of the detail like the inner canvas pocket, but was stoked with the outcome! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561818210162-K4Z4CLKBH33LOKR6WQLN/IMG_6082.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 The amber capped kill switch works fine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860162964-3YW5M5D9RDGY3DF1X7BG/IMG_6159.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Just a little lowering of the bar ends makes for a better profile and fit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561818295526-T6QFFIDCBDWLJA9N391J/IMG_6106.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Salt shaker muffler grills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860358171-TE6BV8NXTCNHPS1XY0HI/IMG_6128.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Once again, the levers disappear. The seat cover design by Paisley of Penny Goods Leather echoes the tank package rack. I was just going for the ribs down the seat in the traditional form, but she came up with this design and it looks so much better because of it! The Small Time Motors paint job by Jason Small continues to blow me away as well. It was definitely the sleeper strategy to bring such subtle colors to a chopper show. The response was about what you would expect…about one person out of a hundred dug on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561818429426-G89NZYVBYT6AUUMYI97G/IMG_6096.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 I do not mind the signs of use as long as it is honest. The appearance of leather grips after some use warms up and humanizes the bike. The Wade Oliver Wilson engraving on the levers and kick start pedal was a big hit at the show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860711424-65SWEBB9NAROBX0OS7J7/IMG_6076.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 After coming back from the show, some tweaks were done like the bars angled a little lower, kickstand re-bent, left header pipe lengthened slightly on the muffler end, and a new yoke style lever on the rear brake panel (the one that was on there is a side-pull style opposed to the yoke style that does not torque the lever or bend the pull-rod as much.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561999539899-CGJCZE9EQT9XG8HNQCMW/IMG_6212.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 The brass hardware from the original Amal 389 carb fit the new carb perfectly. It does not bother me to see the scratches and nicks on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561999571431-FR0UT11JBRMDIP9KLPKW/IMG_6210.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 It would be hard to not make it out of brass at this point. Also noticing once again how artfully Jason Small made the paint line on the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860304287-NMLIW86WQC6A42AAJBF9/IMG_6134.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 There are points from the front and back where the levers and cables all but disappear. Getting the bars to look clean was one of the goals on this build. The Honda internal cable throttle and bar-end levers with strategic exit points on the bars keep everything tidy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561999503210-2Y89NSDYALWW47L20VDD/IMG_6206.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Once the engine was running right, an air filter had to be made before the final carb tuning could take place. Made from .050 and .032 brass sheet, the Amal velocity stack is inside and the threads are used to mount it to the carb. Everything was done by hand and eye, not using even a ruler or compass. There are ways of pressing or spinning metal to get a similar result, or even CNC, but the hand-made individuality of the pieces was what I wanted for not just this part, but the whole bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860254860-ZOBHR5SA5FN1PFMMP72B/IMG_6147.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 Another example of hiding a cable in the silhouette of the bike on the front brake cable. making it a little longer or shorter makes it more noticeable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1561860530353-6BUFH627K7YNJ7AMP3G9/IMG_6123.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird returns from Bornfree 11 I always want the tail end of a bike to have a certain look. Tidy and sexy is the only way to describe it. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Happy with this one. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/6/4/the-1957-triumph-freebird-inches-toward-completion monthly 0.5 2019-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559750674029-NRHIPSL1BH61ODYB1JMV/IMG_5736.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. The panniers are going together. Penny Goods Leather made the flaps and covered the inside and outside of the boxes, adding the canvas pocket. The hardware is being riveted to the front side of the boxes while the rear portions are still getting some finishing at the leather shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559688823363-3XK8SNJIY0T6ZCGX23L2/IMG_5687.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. A new Lucas magneto advance unit was sourced from England. After seeing what happens to fiber gears, I went for the alloy drive gear option. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559689050835-RHT8BKY0WNXED075W4WI/IMG_5714.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. With the magneto advance unit in place and the engine timed, the side covers can finally be put on. The original brass emblem was reapplied with some new mounting pins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559688962254-QJJJRWLCXQATD8OHHVTH/IMG_5715.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. A lot of effort went into keeping the bars clean and the cables tidy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559774966409-KC8WPLAJS8XN6XQJC7UD/IMG_5742.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. A new backing plate , pivot and spring arrangement for the choke inverter has it working well. The brass rocker tubing was routed and just needs to be hooked up at the oil bag. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559688914209-6UDWCH9ZAWRHNHFW9XLQ/IMG_5724.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. The Amal 389 carb will probably get a polish and an air filter may get made, but the engine is otherwise done. As soon as it is on the ground, the exhaust will be put on, and by all appearances it will be a complete bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559775077158-85Y8UMXLQGT70DAMZN8E/IMG_5739.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. This is the first time to see the footpegs on the bike with the new brass treads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559688865553-8LXSU98PRICFRW3NECB4/IMG_5732.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. Really happy with the blends of color and texture. Between the brass, leather color, cadmium and chrome plate, and the paint, there is a softness that I was hoping to achieve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559774932584-HYQ6R243W6ZMNIA88I0L/IMG_5746.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. A little of the red accent color was used in the script on the primary cover. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559689005076-D3I223M2ITVYMRMKEOQX/IMG_5722.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. There will be some leather-wrapped grips that match the rest of the upholstered parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559750715719-2M93AG9XOYSKIVIW8QBC/IMG_5737.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird inches toward completion. A little rough still, but the basic form can be seen. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/5/30/last-minute-details-before-the-1957-triumph-freebird-goes-to-bornfree-11 monthly 0.5 2019-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255347890-314MEASJ3AHRH0QFF47G/IMG_5594.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. An alloy spacer made for the footpeg mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559254809599-3DHMU8TW5APOT7ZR54LD/IMG_5681.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. A mechanism to invert the choke lever. The carb being used is an Amal brand. Their chokes require a cable pull to turn them off, backwards from most choke actuators. Because the vintage Doherty choke lever that I am using would end up with the lever sticking straight up on the handlebar to turn the choke off, a fix was needed. It is made of brass and will be completed when the new carb gets here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255114324-HBDUNOTFBJV1J6NL8MEB/IMG_5617.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Inching along. The colors were chosen to soften the look of the bike and be a backdrop for the more blingy parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255435989-CB5FVLO40EQ1RF7GMR94/IMG_5622.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. At this point, the wheels and covers could be slapped on and it would look finished, but still more to go to get it right. This needs to be a fully functioning and ridable bike when it gets to California. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559254934868-NNDRQBNXQ6KRUAB0RP8L/IMG_5680.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Bright and satin finishes together. I love this look and have used it on a lot of my bikes. There is always a question as to when to go to one finish or the other, trying to keep it balanced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255203709-GXKJKL8PIHB6BU9A7JCQ/IMG_5638.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Cam timing. The head-steady mount makes a great mount for the feeler gauge, but long ramp quieting cams are a little odd to deal with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559254985098-37CM58XIMR08EFFDZS8G/IMG_5683.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Here is the Doherty choke lever. The natural patina on this piece and the steering damper knob seen just behind it were the inspiration for the brass patina given to the hand-built parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255283670-DMYIZ1O4LL5NHBS6TPWG/IMG_5605.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Alien mini-drone or voltage regulator? A brass cover was made for the Podtronics brand voltage regulator. The unit was shaped a little to contour it and make it a little smaller. This picture was while it was being worked on. The final version is finished with the same patina as the rest of the pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255050261-DEOJWT8Y8HIVR029M7EH/IMG_5666.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. The regulator has a brass tube that comes out the back and allows the wires to pass cleanly to the battery box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559255164971-T9GGRH0L0XLE698CP9KB/IMG_5623.JPG THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Test fitting parts. Some of these parts have been on and off the bike a couple of times as the final tweaks on electrical and plumbing are worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1559254895691-TDS948ZEJ1YQ5LU0PJKS/fullsizeoutput_4255.jpeg THE BLOG - Last minute details before the 1957 Triumph Freebird goes to Bornfree 11. Some vintage alloy exhaust collars. I have been warned about their tendency to expand and loose grip when heated, but just going to have to make sure the exhaust is well tethered. They were sanded and shaped a little, buffed smooth then bead blasted. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/5/23/chrome-is-back-and-assembly-begins-on-the-1957-triumph-freebird-build monthly 0.5 2019-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635475366-K1CPRMUSK9G4ZBHJC62Y/IMG_5551.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! Engine and tranny are in, wheels built, but the small details will delay getting it on the ground. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558638148491-RQL5XFIO4030ROMZFIS9/IMG_5402.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! A brass collar for the internal cable throttle assembly being made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558634879181-AYS7ZNFBOTVUOIJQDKP9/IMG_5545.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! Most of the chrome was very good, but the brake arm on the right was nickel colored and had to be re-chromed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558634949626-CQ2LOOWXU694SCZICHGY/IMG_5571.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! The rear wheel dust cover was missing off the spacer so a brass one was made that covers the spacer and is held in place by a small recess on the edge of the spacer that allows the wheel nut to clamp it down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635044236-0T4IPNJP9JT6VZBBPQN7/IMG_5536.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! After polishing the rear spokes and nipples, it was obvious the front wheel was going to need to be disassembled and polished again. Sigh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635125596-TZNXA6OI88NUH0SDDKVH/IMG_5573.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! More details. Brass screen was placed in the front brake panel grills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558634832302-2CYCSO6C05Y7R58WQTDZ/IMG_5501.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! Just prior to the engine install, a lot of cleaning threads and removing chrome from holes to get the parts back together. The fork springs were cadmium plated to contrast all the chrome and to match all the other round-rod cadmium plated pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635734985-7ALDXNEC1QZAWQ3HXTKB/IMG_5529.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! The first of the leather work has come back and is amazing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635202708-19HP06JSDEGP9KIZG66I/IMG_5497.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! The tranny was waiting on the kick-start and shifter arms as well as the clutch arm before final assembly could be done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558635314621-E2KOPVAR571I2KIFCNUQ/IMG_5580.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! Time will tell if this is a good design, but the factory one uses a cover pressed-on to the spacer that had come loose and started spinning, gouging out the edge of the spacer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558634780896-AW07NO9YKELZEO4PL1K5/IMG_5426.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! There is something exciting about a table covered with fresh chrome. The brass collar in the previous picture can be seen on the handlebars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1558634994235-8DUF9P8BE1YV794L1VOW/IMG_5581.JPG THE BLOG - Chrome is back and assembly begins on the 1957 Triumph Freebird build! After the polish job, a brass dust cover was made to match the rear wheel. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/5/6/77xeih8oa8bbadhl8su41m9oyladjv monthly 0.5 2019-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557167252578-DOPDNX4I3MR34M2864VX/IMG_5342.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Also taken from a Japanese painting, this is the bird chosen to be the Freebird. I was wanting a simple small bird, the type of little consequence that is free in the sense that he is free of expectation. Think about it, song birds, beautiful birds, predators, scavengers, everyone has their eye on them and expect a certain behavior or appearance, but the little unremarkable one gets to go around unnoticed…which one is more free? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557343976521-BH2SWQ7SXI7FUYQ8PS04/IMG_5361.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Just held temporarily by tape, the edges had to be tweaked quite a bit to get them to line up together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557344021254-LHPVA760RF4EO2EBSI86/IMG_5358.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The boxes will be for tools and anything else that will fit in them. They will be suspended in the triangular section of the rear rack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557424697743-0W8Z8Z3581FMZ5BL0Z45/IMG_5364.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The boxes will be covered with leather and the brass will be oxidized after the soldering is done. There will be a toggle type latch in the circular part of the hinge strap, and a flap over the top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557167151081-T3LPK0US1YHYNZMARASV/IMG_5331.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. A Japanese Koi fish on the clutch lever perch. The fish is my personal symbol, explained in the “about” section of this site. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557343924730-WICUIW0ZTAGJOS5Z4VVG/IMG_5354.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Some saddle bags for the rear rack of the bike. Beaten on a steel hammer form, they are made from single pieces of 22 gauge steel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557424772831-7F27V8Z3SUBX34TX2WCF/IMG_5370.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Paid a good bit for the sticker…too bad it is coming off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557424734289-AZ29LFJF1QEOKLR4B1JN/IMG_5368.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Freshly rebuilt by Joe Hunt Magnetos, the magnets were switched out for some of the Neodymium ones that never need re-magnetization and are supposed to deliver a dense spark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557166798352-66WUT357P7W5G09RBPJT/IMG_5324.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The brass reverse handlebar levers and kickstart pedal were engraved by Wade O. Wilson of Mansfield Texas. He also did engraving and pinstripe on the Honda CL175 Cabracer and Elsinrore MT250 Brother Bike built for Steve Caballero. Wade came up with the Freebird script that echoes the original Thunderbird script on the primary cover,. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557166979484-PC56ZBCF46HHZPFVZ80P/IMG_5343.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. I wanted a vintage checking on the levers like you see on pliers. Wade used a rounded tip graver to get this appearance. Everything was buffed to break the edges and then oxidized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557343861874-56HFNRCYDOQLX88D1Q9H/IMG_5349.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The Born Free script on the other side of the kicker pedal. Wade did such a killer job on everything! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1557424648571-4INKZZJMBBC4RRUHU8SP/IMG_5363.JPG THE BLOG - Engraving brass parts and saddle bag construction on the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. 20 gauge brass and some brass tubing is being used to make the hinge for the boxes. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/5/3/3odlb8gpwuy7pg9sqlsx9n8ktbd8dv monthly 0.5 2019-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944172608-0C3A2PNLQEAC3TSKPTNM/IMG_5164.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. This latch was made a couple years ago and has sat in a box until this build was revived for the Bornfree Show. Nice to see it finally in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944028111-05IOVZYT18O0WGLQECRP/IMG_5204.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. To do the crimping, a simple tool was made from scrap steel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556943982353-XHZUCV1RQV6FW9OY7SWG/IMG_5203.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Coming up with some brass fittings for the fuel hoses. The 1/4 BSP fittings were an online purchase and along with some clear 5/16” tubing, look a lot like the stock Triumph hoses. The brass thin wall tubing came from the hobby store, and slipped over the tubing snugly. It would probably been tight enough to keep the barbed fitting in, but a little crimping would probably be a good idea. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556943818732-HCTP99D2FUEIIIGR649S/IMG_5142.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Easy to open with one finger, but still tight enough it can’t accidentally open. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556943911999-RL97FMBXZ4URN223FKBI/IMG_5167.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. The hinge is also handmade from 20 gauge brass and tubing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944336582-HGH5LWQ3CXR3MAB1G9T7/IMG_5157.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Not having the frame is not all bad as it has forced me to work on the components on the bench opposed to on the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556943861185-FE2SFHY1VZG1RI6YY599/IMG_5172.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Details, details, details. The rear tank mount was worked out, using brass rod and nuts drilled for safety wire and rubber mounting on all sides. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944254377-18HSTBD1QDGHRHCKKNWC/IMG_5183.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. The Seven bike was moved into the house. Yeah, my wife is alright. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944107498-98Q38W8S6EAJ0ALVV2OS/IMG_5207.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. The finished hoses after the crimping and the patina was applied. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556944072563-YC6LEQ7WMFEFN4MK5574/IMG_5210.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Still feels strange using a positive ground, but really it is just getting used to the wire color difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556943943064-YNITH2CRS45CQAI9YFWS/IMG_5216.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike battery box and headlight finishing. Getting the headlight assembly wired up. The indicator lights are lit by neon bulbs taken from some military surplus fixtures. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/25/finalizing-the-gascap-on-the-1957-triumph-freebird-bike monthly 0.5 2019-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556262266190-GCP5WPSK66EROR8BSEF4/IMG_5139.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Really liking how the flair of green on the end of the fender looks with the light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556221897815-EQBL5XFLRBUQJCTPM8AZ/IMG_5120.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The inner cap and air vent for the gas cap. A failed attempt made from some brass tube is in the background. It took more than an hour to beat that ugly piece of crap, and about half that time I was questioning whether it would make the cut. Sometimes you just have to start over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556230472435-3KJV4AN4HIPUVY7H4EKS/IMG_5109.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Had to make some brass washers partially because the hardware store did not carry just the right dimensions needed, and partially because I didn’t want to wait to get some online. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556222114552-VL8L9JTIRB6LLMLCSHR4/IMG_5114.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Making the cap was a lot easier the second time. The piece of brass was domed a little on a beater bag first, and then placed inside a used brake caliper piston to form the flange. There were probably ten annealing sessions to keep the metal soft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556222147540-8QIQJEJF2CXR4Y6A5MI8/IMG_5113.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Here the cap flange is being flattened out with the aid of a vise, steel plate, a steel drift and the brake piston.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556221835219-EENAVQHH73WLCZHLWYGU/IMG_5124.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The finished cap. It operates easily with one hand, and stays open on its own. A cotter pin was added to the screw holding the locking lever on. Some people might frown on a cotter pin on the gas cap hinge, but after seeing one on a Vincent, I figure its legit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556230272921-ZLI7GLRU0YN7LJZ4TFK4/IMG_5117.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Some Fel-Pro cork gasket material was used for the seal. The spring mechanism for the locking lever can be seen under the cap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556262182615-3ZLBIB7DD3T8FUVOS0PI/IMG_5136.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike Trying to figure a tidy and secure way to run the tail light wiring. This tubular brass bracket was put together to solve the problem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556299430121-CPEGKNA0EB0FOA69UMH3/IMG_5019.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike This is how you finish up the edges on the washers after they are punched out. After they are chucked up, they can be spun against the belt sander, then some finer sand paper, and then the buffer. They are placed on a piece of rod and buffed agin to break the edges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556221862948-WCCBHUIDSYLV438AW3XB/IMG_5127.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The nice thing about the shape of the cap is that the taper on the edges holds the thick gasket material in place which in turn holds the inner cap in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556262220706-N89JSGBFXHKJ91E81LJX/IMG_5138.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The bracket in place. The lower end of the tube and wiring will be made to exit the fender and go to the power source, but that will be worked out when the fender is mounted back on the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556262139098-MQ02MTSPLGVTVHYP2W6V/IMG_5133.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The inside of the tail light housing got a bracket soldered on and a Supernova LED light. These lights come from Revival Cycles in Austin and are super bright. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556262102104-D3RNECFN6GPSR439L1ZE/IMG_5132.JPG THE BLOG - Finalizing the gascap and taillight on the 1957 Triumph freebird bike The washers were to mount the front fender bracket. Everything is getting a rubber mount on the body work. There are nylon lock nuts on the backside. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/24/9ox4xeaqmsato392fxc4ny49c7puln monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556149141925-USQSAWZINVEDLEYGVVJI/IMG_5093.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. There are a lot of jobs that cannot be finished until parts get back from chrome, so anything that can be done in the meantime is what is being done around here. There was another set of rocker covers that was polished, but they were for an iron head. After switching to an alloy head, these boxes were polished up and reassembled using the new brass parts. The oil passages were all blown and poked out and new seals used in the job. The O-rings the inspection caps came with were probably fine functionally, but I really like the red line the vintage fibre seals make. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556149732826-FKASIOLMPHECNUY5HPMU/IMG_5042.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. Cadmium plated hardware for this bike and some others back from the plating shop. One more of the time-consuming jobs that go along with this sort of work. Having everything in organizing boxes makes the rebuild a lot smoother. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148900644-13MXBYC6IZETAGCGA9IR/IMG_5032.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. While putting the first cylinder base stud in, it occurred to me that a set of nuts welded to handles would make installation easier. The time it can take to extract a stud can be a few minutes if it is really stuck, if the wrenches slip off the nuts or round off the nuts edges, or if you drop the nuts or stud in the case. The other problem is that it messes up the finish of the nuts even if the edges are still good. This simple tool takes away those problems and the install/removal takes less than 30 seconds. I have used the double nut method for stud extraction and installation for years, but after seeing how well these work, there are some other common sizes that would be useful to have around the shop. Both tools are identical and the handles are slightly bent to clear adjacent screws and the timing case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148860639-A5CT7384DMMI491Q403P/IMG_5045.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. The bottom end waiting for the cylinders to come back. Studs are all back in the block. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556149085548-3JYLYV1WG8IJH69ZVDOB/IMG_5037.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. The primary cover just waiting for the rest of the engine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148726249-79BPYXBPE8KT3PEVQHBN/IMG_5078.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. The cylinders were blasted in prep for some paint. They are at the powder coat shop now getting a baked-on ceramic silver paint job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148763424-LUOD0QGOJ4BOK1Y1CX9N/IMG_5043.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. Took the alloy head to Big D Cycles for some new valves, springs and guides. There were several helicoils and a spark-hole insert placed into stripped screw holes, and some new exhaust spigots were put in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148828282-BQ6KRJWYWOHV9JXFKYL0/IMG_5034.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. Just waiting on the clutch actuator arm and some case screws to come back from chrome to finish the gearbox assembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148685390-118EAKF7AZPNH9WQPIK3/IMG_5100.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. All mocked up with the rocker boxes sitting on top, the alloy pre unit head is all but done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556148944285-R8PGXKQENCTJPYFEYLWA/IMG_5031.JPG THE BLOG - the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild continues. Seriously, 30 seconds or less. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/24/35ggv32ebcho1pr6jl6wme8gm8k1bf monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129759986-DI639J285H0CA0GK4UJH/IMG_5004.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. Testing the fit of the tail light. The fenders were a reversal of the usual white stripe on green on traditional Triumph paint schemes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129585726-YC3R1D1HE9SBTBN8H4GB/IMG_5057.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. Getting the badges mounting tabs took a little time, but digging how they look with the paint. The idea was a vintage color to compliment the other colors, but still keep things minimal and light. There will be a lot of chrome and flake at the Bornfree show, and there is no way to out-flake or out-bling anyone, so this bike went the other way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129690480-VNPSXHD3L3ZULRQ35UJZ/IMG_5049.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. The table of finished pieces is growing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556130197688-4J33DP8K8T2UZJLU5EA0/IMG_5105.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. Another polishing-shop fail, this Webco rocker box oiler had pitting that was made worse by simply polishing without sanding. This was after a little sanding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129891297-7K96D67B0SKQXTVPP1W5/IMG_5088.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. Changing the direction the left petcock opens made it where they could be mounted in a mirror image of each other without hitting the mounting bracket. Of note in this picture is the level of finish Jason routinely gives his paint jobs, with the underside finished as nicely as the top side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556130239688-9NIWL9WB5Z1F8RC2R6OD/IMG_5106.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. The finished piece after some sanding and buffing. There are some very small pits, but since this is a hollow structure, don’t want to grind it too far. I always think of a saying from medicine” sometimes a good result is superior to an excellent one.” It means to stop while you are ahead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129969135-U5VU1Y6ME91W8Z3EV3DS/IMG_5089.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. in place now, the opposed handles give a symmetry to the petcocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556130061726-I5U1L08JROS34LKAVWM9/IMG_5016.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. A grill for the front brake panel was made from brass sheet and screen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556130340684-X5DCFEC79GW8UM4ZVFIK/IMG_5055.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. The rear taper of the tank sows how much it was cut down. Always a big fan of the Slim-Line Triumph tanks and the skinny waist they produce on a bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1556129852094-KCH81TNHZ65UG33TLGGE/IMG_5085.JPG THE BLOG - The 1957 Triumph Freebird paint is done, petcock mods, and metal finishing. The small details of custom bike building. These are the detente plates for the left petcock, controlling how far and what direction the petcock handle turns. The one on top was made from .050 brass sheet to allow the petcock to open in the opposite direction from stock. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/14/this-is-why-i-can-never-get-anything-done-polishing-blues-on-the-1957-triumph-freebird-bike monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555263847809-1OVSKM2QJABQ4Y7ZU8KR/IMG_4933.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Deja vu. A second sanding was done to level out the surfaces once more. The case walls are a little thinner after a second sanding, but not too bad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555351193957-T3G70X9Q26KLUHYS97VG/IMG_4958.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. If you want a true mirror finish, you have to sand first. Using a coarse polishing grit will make it shine, but instead of removing porosity, you just make it worse by elongating the pores like in the first picture in this post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555351235690-BUFWHIFQZC9MTOCP8X1C/IMG_4960.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The case lines are near invisible again after a high polish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555263705134-D86MALK2FW8NIYIHB34X/IMG_4627.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Prior to disassembly, a good deal of time was spent leveling out the surfaces of the transmission case to the point the lines between them are almost invisible. After this picture, the tranny was totally disassembled and then the front and middle cases put back together for the polisher to finish out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555351292661-V7CQN11L3IVDGENANT46/IMG_4956.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Another fail from the polisher was that they used a DA sander to work the backside of the primary cover a little, but did not polish it out. This was after wet sanding and polish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555351330671-O9FUOS4KVEDJNM1ZGUOT/IMG_4953.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The small end rod bushings came in so I was able to get the block put together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555351379833-LNGM3S28SCL7UIJDJPZO/IMG_4949.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Put some more parts in the finished tray after some patina was applied. The key and top portion of the choke lever have the patina they came with, the rest was made to match. The hinge was made a couple of years ago from sheet brass and tubing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555265637175-FSQZ5VM7TJBWSA4VVXCD/IMG_4919.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The choke lever came without a mounting bracket, so some .050 brass was used to make one. These loops will be silver soldered to make them strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555263771062-AUHRIB307T1N7INO6PEA/IMG_4928.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. This is how it came back, with valleys between the cases produced by polishing them separately and hitting the edges too hard. This shot really shows how bad it was at the top of the picture, where the line between the rear and middle case makes an obvious “V” where there was once a straight line. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555265785005-7K1Z8M012ISQ6RIY3AVC/IMG_4932.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The front face of the cover after it came back from the polisher. The receipt for the job stated “polished to a mirror finish.” I know these sand cast parts can have problems with porosity, but these pits are even worse than when it first left the shop due to polishing without sanding first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555265524717-VBFFQH5QJUNWCCBU1YOZ/IMG_4921.JPG THE BLOG - This is why I can never get anything done! Polishing blues on the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Very secure once it is cinched down. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/10/xnkumqvrk5xpqs9ut9stlsmqkc2ue5 monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950593117-N0KHTNV708GQ2EDPRS34/IMG_4890.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. I couldn’t wait to lace up the wheel. A set of Buchanan stainless spokes was used. The conical hub uses four different spokes, so you have to do a little figuring to get it laced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555001119728-173SGWSDSQ7HFQ95ZDW7/IMG_4902.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. The special tool made to press out the small-end rod bushings is perfect for installing the layshaft bushings in the transmission. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950521284-75TV27WUCEKNU38JG2GK/IMG_4877.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. The bronze taillight with red glass lens was sanded, polished and darkened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555001085509-S3B4J4WBSS4ZUP0R8L35/IMG_4901.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. Until the hardware returns from plating, only a small amount of assembly can be done. The mainshaft bearing, keeper and seal were installed after the seal was removed from the inside face of the sealed bearing. Digging on the shine on this gearbox! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554951110117-C19KJ8WRWU1DATTNR4SZ/IMG_4868.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. The bare taillight housing is made from two pieces of bronze taken from a messed-up cymbal i got from an old band mate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950984997-X9AX5GO3P4IAU3NZT570/IMG_4867.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. The two small-end rod bearings after removal. More evidence the “rebuild” on this engine was questionable at best. One bushing has been turned on the lathe at the end, and the other one had a chamfered inner edge and what looks like heat damage. A new set of .060 over pistons, rings and wrist pins as well as the rod bushings are on order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950563011-OODS888RPOAO5DVIR7H2/IMG_4879.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. The gas cap was wire brushed and dulled with cerium oxide, then chemical dipped to get some patina back. There will be some natural darkening that will occur by the time the bike gets to Bornfree 11 in June. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950836188-8OFETCOMI607FYDQT0R7/IMG_4887.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. Just got this stuff back from the polisher. This is the first time ever to have someone do the polishing. It was kind of nice to miss out on the majority of the work getting them shiny. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554950938402-N5TPG7CTTF15DCUCQJD8/IMG_4863.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. Another special tool. An aluminum slug with a pilot that fits the bore of the bushing and allows for fast easy bushing removal in a press or in this case, a vise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554951044823-GOB1MWFZ0NEWDG2T61JQ/IMG_4862.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. I found some brass rocker shaft nuts that were polished and darkened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1555001162615-UU7KKVT2IRWH0NOG4AQ7/IMG_4900.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird front wheel assembly, aluminum parts back from polish and more brass. All new bearings and bushes in the engine and tranny. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/5/y3ptgkirrej1disfd9d854y80puyie monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501210999-EGD4QYE5IOOTCQQV6QUP/IMG_4814.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update The foot rests were milled to give a little tread. I think these are going to be called the “peanut” treads. The way brass grabs a thin mill bit made for some wandering on the lines, but I like the way it looks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756312479-051J1DQEAPNACDIAC6YE/IMG_4839.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update The rocker box covers were an online purchase that went through a good buffing to soften the edges and then darkened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501297479-0UCU1IWTN1K8RUVS58XX/IMG_4816.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update This is where it started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756477063-05DH6ZNXBIX9BLONY3YF/IMG_4848.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Going to modify the rear tank mount to make it follow the frame a little more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756155615-P5D8XCKVD9XVB75NRUIT/IMG_4845.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update I forgot to get a picture of the tool in use, but had the chance to get this one after forgetting to put the starter shaft in first, making the primary drive removal necessary one more time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501334614-0L03E1XZC7WU1OQ3AF9P/IMG_4825.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Another online purchase, this kickstart pedal was ground down and contoured to clean the lines up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756105009-PKADHADE4T1HL32AWJG4/IMG_4844.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Somewhere they sell a tool that does what this one does, but on a Sunday afternoon, the best solution was to make one. The Vise-grip style clutch tool I usually use does not grab the clutch basket tightly, but this one is very solid and will not slip off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756017967-7XBV3AWQ9JZZG6UYFJ52/IMG_4856.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update The four pieces on the left are wearing their time-earned patina and will largely be left alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501257116-YIDQ7YDP69IAGUQYPBNS/IMG_4824.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Brass is soft and easy to work and shines up nicely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756059495-IJZUPE3SFSVXS8VDC9L5/IMG_4851.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Finally getting some work done on the 1993 H-D FXR. The starter and primary were put back on and these exhaust pipes were fitted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554756436784-VFMD0MLSG671LMYAZSP6/IMG_4853.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update The new pulleys and drive belt are in place and look to be a good fit. This will allow the rear fender to be cut for belt clearance. The original kickstand was heated and straightened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554755986701-ZU85ON33IJZKARCDUXHI/IMG_4860.JPG THE BLOG - Brass bits for the 1957 Triumph freebird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR update Getting the brass components ready while the other parts of the bike are out for chrome and paint. The patina is being worked on to get everything a little more uniform. The idea is to get everything into a range between amber and light brown. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/3/starting-the-1957-triumph-freebird-engine-rebuild-prepping-parts-for-plating monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554429234812-C7UQULQ4CMSKF9GHSWEF/IMG_4808.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating The only way to get that smooth surface without waves in the finish is to block it out by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327107389-TFNTYPLY1TECT70LFKJS/IMG_4792.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating The tank package rack had some small gaps around the feet that were bothering me. Filling them with steel was not too appealing as the filling was needed in a place that is really tough to sand and smooth down. Instead of steel, brass was brazed in the gaps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501855856-BJHMKVZJ6CISCJR50WFJ/IMG_4829.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating After buffing with black compound and then green, it is finally done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327314157-QGIUXISOVMY1H2LJMELN/IMG_4800.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating Once the cams were removed, some of the ugliness can be seen. When you hear the term that someone “smoked the bearing,” this is what it looks like. The area around the cams was smoked too. The spinning bushing would have aligned the oiling hole intermittently, but obviously not enough. At this point I am thinking the case bores will have to be welded and re-bored or oversize bushings and a bore job are going to be needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327423439-Q33QN3W11Z1RB9TMJCZ4/IMG_4798.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating Before finding the problem with the bushings, I was tempted to just leave the bottom end alone as the guy I bought it from said he had done a complete rebuild when he was in mechanics school, and everything seemed in really good shape as it was being broken down. My suspicion is the loose bushing problem was a result of that rebuild. It was a huge relief to discover the looseness was due to the bearing being undersize. The bearing was visibly smaller and scored from being turned on a lathe. No need for repair on the bore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554501401610-6N5WN848GMX9CTU6L5N1/IMG_4827.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating Made up some aluminum drifts to install the cam bushings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554429202797-3CFDC9BABFEIO4M4JKNE/IMG_4806.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating Now that the cams are out, the case half can be polished. This was after hours of hand sanding, worked to 3500 grit level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554429138054-VF9II4TLZDYPMBC5XX5H/IMG_4805.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating E3275 cams are supposed to be the long ramp grind that deliver low-end torque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327384701-I1PEKVN9RQTTA3HR6NYK/IMG_4804.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating The turned bush is two tenths of a millimeter smaller! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327271480-Y1VI8UFVM1DKW9L1L0T8/IMG_4797.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating Funny how some things that were okay on this piece a few years back when it was made are now needing refinement. The original plan was for this bike to be a bobber with some vintage touches, made to be a solid rider, but nothing close to a show bike. I was thinking it would not be too hard to take it up to show level initially, but everything has been revised in some way or another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554327233167-NHA239E344QNUN3WGEO0/IMG_4795.JPG THE BLOG - Starting the 1957 Triumph Freebird engine rebuild, prepping parts for cad plating The nice things about brass brazing is that it flows nicely and needs only a little sanding. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/4/2/polishing-engine-cases-and-brass-parts-for-the-1957-triumph-freebird-build monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554232989252-1WFHUH5EFCG9DPMT53LO/IMG_4781.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. Because it had such a perfect patina to match the rest of the brass parts, lot of care was taken to get the side cover badge removed without damage. I started out trying to mask off the badge, but it became clear there was a good deal of sanding necessary around it and the best result would only come with it removed. If you have ever tried to drill small steel pins out of aluminum, it is next to impossible. Your skinny drill bit will wander from the steel and drill into the aluminum every time. Having made this mistake before, I didn’t even try, but considered more exotic solutions like TIG welding a small piece of metal to the pin heads and using that to pull it out. I ended up trying to slip razor blades underneath, stacking them up slowly to try and lift the pins, but that did not work even slightly. The solution was fast and simple, merely a matter of finding the right tool and technique. Turns out that guitar fret removal pliers are the ticket. Get a good grip on the head and simply twist, no pulling is necessary as the pin is actually a screw. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554232939076-SSYL7QY3E31OOYKTL0IL/IMG_4784.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The pile of brass accessories. All the brass will need to be worked over to get the finishes more uniform. One of the great things about brass is the many hues it can produce when patinated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230879265-09G5GMJHJJYPGW38TUYD/IMG_4777.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. Some people might chuckle at the notion of growing them from a seed, but this is one from a number of years back now towering over the roofline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554232829657-7S6KTAG3FD2CKMG82RQN/IMG_4782.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. It took three rounds of sanding and polishing to get it to this point, but it looks like it is finally done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230630825-V9GNSRHR8346R9841EVI/IMG_4775.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. After buffing, it was chemical dipped and rubbed with cerium oxide to get the patina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554232904215-MPXWMXEZJ33QNWQ3RIVV/IMG_4786.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The journals on the crank look great and feel silky smooth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230798821-KPY0NOJPPDFUI6WRVK87/IMG_4776.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. Completely unrelated to motorcycles, all this dedication to bike building needs to be balanced with something else a little less intense. There are Japanese maple seedlings that have come up in the Spring, in between the rocks of my front walkway for a number of years. They are super tiny and frail, but can be carefully dug up and transplanted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554232869785-7RH3W5SII2UYR9GJQXN9/IMG_4761.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The crankshaft was split and the sludge trap cleaned out. Not too bad. The previous owner had rebuilt the engine and did not put a ton of miles on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230550449-6F0SX13J3UGUT1QE357U/IMG_4766.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. Still waiting on the cam gear puller. This is midway in the polishing process. A lot of the center portion is hidden behind motor mount plates and primary cover, but it still has to get the treatment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230713076-PXDYA89KSONTF37F66YK/IMG_4772.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The outer case edges have a very nice smooth seam after the leveling and polishing. Even though the cases look pretty good in this picture, they need to be blocked out to get rid of some waviness in the surfaces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230503763-7CWGWTLET23QB665XYBM/IMG_4764.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The glamorous life of a bike builder. This is the result of several hours in front of the buffer. By the end of the day it was even worse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230840028-B8RBB9PAXQ8US4NQYQS8/IMG_4779.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. Thirty tiny seedlings. Some will make it, others will not, but all will perish when Summer hits if not harvested. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1554230592195-WAFLXHQILCD8HZ000KTI/IMG_4773.JPG THE BLOG - Polishing engine cases and brass parts for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build, Preunit crank and Japanese maples. The oil vapor catch can/chain oiler canister will probably go untouched. From a turn of the century hit and miss engine, it has some great wear on it. The plumbing underneath was ground down on the elbow and polished out. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/3/29/1zygy9ba2a5keut5m2bg29280phn6f monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553891814529-YA9WACQ1SCHT040RIWTU/IMG_4747.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The spot-welds on the rim were drilled out and the rim rotated to align it better, but there was no way to make it fit correctly around all the posts, so the area around the threaded post seen at the top of the picture was ground a little to make it look right. Looking into the drilled holes on the rim, you can see how far off the rim was rotated from the backing plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553892398146-R8HNUENMJBDZ9S3XNUOP/IMG_4738.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The gear box adjuster for tensioning the primary chain was missing on this bike, so an NOS set of the needed parts was purchased and polished up in preparation of chrome plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553891986836-XW1ZFQHT76A8RL19GQD3/IMG_4733.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Once again, a brand new Triumph Bonneville rear wheel brake drum fresh out of the box. This will be sent to chrome, but needs polishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553892071144-NOQUTSI3YOR1O3ZIMZZW/IMG_4728.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. An alloy head from a 1962 pre unit is being rebuilt for this build, but a frozen exhaust spigot needed removing. After three weeks soaking in kerosene punctuated by half a dozen heatings with a torch, there was zero movement. The answer was to take a dremel cutting wheel and score the inner part of the tube. By going just deep enough, small pieces could be removed with a pounding from above without hitting the fragile threads of the head. This was tricky, taking a couple hours, but the only other methods would involve the possibility of thread damage and the need to machine them again…not something you want to do if you don’t have to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553918484910-TI9XT9INW9EQPFRF70O6/IMG_4758.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Just like the gear shift shaft seen in the previous post, there was a lot of rust and pitting on the shifter guide plate. In the search for a new one, a lot of used pre-unit transmission parts was found that had two shift shaft quadrants and a guide plate for the price of what you have to pay for just the repop plate. The original shift shaft quadrant also had some severe pitting where the springs are perched and some smashed splines. The shifter fit over the splines just fine, but appearance-wise it needed changing. The spring perches, shaft surfaces and splines look great on the new shafts and these are evidently from a later model than what was in the original tranny, with a groove for an o-ring cut into it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553892208021-CGL4GIZPET4HGTP2LHHC/IMG_4730.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The outer rim and first part of the port took a little damage, but that is easily dressed down. The threads are still crisp and the spigot screws in snuggly. The head was given a complete valve job with new guides pressed in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553891744174-0RDG0HQA0AOELJ7NIZAI/IMG_4740.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. After stripping and drilling it out, it was obvious that the wheel panel rim was poorly aligned. Perhaps if I had noticed this before touching it, I would have sent it back and searched for a nice original one, but at this point I was committed to figure something out. There is an arm that mostly covers this area to the point it is barely visible on the assembled bike, but it cannot be left like this when so much effort has gone into making the rest of the bike right. When the rim was separated from the plate, none of the surface texture appeared beneath the rim, meaning the texture was from blasting after the parts were assembled, probably to prep for paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553918522117-CUUF2ERQRAYJNM3YXCVR/IMG_4737.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. Wire brushing all threads, bead blasting bigger parts, all in preparation for cadmium plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553891893549-A501V679JOXV4VE8XPIE/IMG_4750.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. After welding and grinding, it is as if nothing was ever done. The added benefit to separating the ring from the plate was that it was easier to polish out the sand-blast texture with the ring removed, and that after welding, there are no divots from the spot-welds present. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553891937687-1M3BH6JD7XI3BEF6NSDR/IMG_4754.JPG THE BLOG - Rear wheel metal finishing and repair for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Bike. The drum was first put on the lathe, and a considerable wobble could be seen on the rear surface while the machined inner side ran straight and true. After it was evened up, the surfaces were worked to get the remainder of the drum smoothed out and polished. Around the five o’clock on the drum there is an area of casting inclusions that will need filling. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/3/25/2sp1ts73b69el64xnz5sfaz4gih9pw monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560028633-QB3XZ3RUAV2XZVT210GX/IMG_4669.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Held in place by some Cleco fasteners to test the fit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553580756899-MFJ0T907FRF5TCLEC7RF/IMG_4697.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Can’t wait to see this polished out…especially by someone else. This will mark the first time ever to send aluminum polishing out. For the last thirty plus years, I have always done my own polishing, but now trying something a little different. Having jobs like this done will give me an idea what the job is worth. Even with all the prep on these parts there are hours to go on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553559714209-Z868TODRBHGW24NWTI5K/IMG_4687.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. The original footpeg brackets were modified to accept some brass foot rests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560403200-14UZBV4JLCNK38F76IQO/IMG_4668.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Chucking it up in the lathe allowed it to be taken to the right level. This is the after of the same surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560078375-LRUYEUF9H9XVJR77O1VT/IMG_4664.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. The oil vapor catch-can bracket finally had a small plate welded on to allow it to be mounted with rivets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560294459-GTPMPNX2ZOJDA9OZ0ED8/IMG_4657.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. A piece of steel with a 1/4” hole is laid across a gap in the vise and the screw placed in the hole and hammered. It is amazing how just a couple medium blows can push the buggered-out parts back down. Next, a number 3 JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) cross screwdriver is hammered good and hard into the head to even up the edges a little. JIS screwdrivers are different from Phillips, with flate sides on the vanes of the tip. Phillips vanes are slanted to make them “cam out” when they reach the appropriate torque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553580502105-UJQIU1WI5FBVX4X3UQMU/IMG_4701.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Besides documenting the parts for the plater, it is a good reference to have for assembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560144405-HYVFB6ZJ5SZS3PQ7YCXF/IMG_4652.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Rehab for some original cheese-head screws. These screws usually get replaced by socket-head screws, as was the case with the Freebird engine, but the original look has a more vintage vibe. They are also costly, with some vendors asking as much as fifteen bucks a screw! Although some are Posi-drive heads, most of them are Phillips and can be made to look a little bit better with a couple quick techniques. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553559757739-T16YC3091ANOGCQXND8M/IMG_4682.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. During the process of matching up the surfaces. Looks like this one needs a little more welding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560248420-RS5OT7EC8FE58DDNZ04B/IMG_4660.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. After the hammering steps, they get chucked up in the drill and run against the belt sander for a couple seconds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553559976942-7S62F4UCYU804QUTDQ5B/IMG_4678.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. After the top was ground flat, holes were drilled and tapped, and the sides widened by welding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553560366603-M2MR1CMWZS34QXT9R7HF/IMG_4667.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. This is the type thing that makes working with a sixty year old bike a bit of a challenge. The transmission shift shaft was severely pitted, but otherwise functioning just fine. To repair it, the shaft was ground down to fresh steel , welded and ground back down to the right level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553559671420-H7UN0P5K12M7YFDVWCI1/IMG_4692.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. Did half a dozen different sketch-outs for the tread pattern. Squares or rectangles will get the nod most likely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553580549634-IKI0QZKMJYB9RXL2IU1T/IMG_4708.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird going for plating and polishing, custom brass footpegs, and hardware rehab. I contemplated and even had a couple suggestions to do nickel plate on the frame, but just not so sure the difference between the nickel and other parts that will be chrome (like wheel rims and forks) would look as good as all chrome. Still time to change my mind, but for now it will be chrome. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/3/19/m0wo37430kmrww218a0nteptr78m9c monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553097640701-ZD08U1KR3VBIEDR15W8W/IMG_4609.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. One last thing. One of the interesting things to take notice of is the progress of the manufacturing process. On the original 1957 cover (the bottom one in the picture,) there are some gouges on the bottom where it meets up with the frame. In the later cover, there are recesses cast in to overcome this defect. There is also a notch cut into the chain guard that was not on the original cover…not sure why that mod was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553097583536-O6ANMOR6ODYUAY5ZFO90/IMG_4641.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. Still getting the chrome parts prepped prior to plating. Sometimes you get a pleasant surprise. The original plating was flaking off, revealing a brass fixture and some copper plating left from the plating process. With all the brass going on this bike, it will be left as-is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037139094-LVH7OHZPCSFKYMMXDG4E/IMG_4623.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. Getting the case halves and clock case covers evened up. There is a flare on the middle motor mount that will not be evened out, leaving it as a place to pound when splitting the case halves. A simple engine stand was made to get this part of the job done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037018282-29HAWE8KQA0XKNLDFPX8/IMG_4629.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. Getting into the engine on the 1957 Triumph Freebird project. The side covers were matched up on the primary, clock case engine case halves and transmission covers. The rough original castings do not match from the factory, with differences on the mating surfaces that have to be evened up. This work needs to be done with the halves bolted together, so it was done prior to disassembly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553097874653-VIEVJQWOSRXRZXRV3GTD/IMG_4644.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. A couple vintage Webco pieces to choose from for the rocker oiler. The arched one in the back will replace the one that originally came with the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037430135-VZK54T9L06XYZF8J43Q3/IMG_4607.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. The back of the original primary cover and some of the chain rash. The other cover in the background will be used in its place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037065889-DZU13ZQXDMS3YNVRU8PR/IMG_4628.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. There are two covers on the tranny, stacked on each other. I wish there were some before pics of this. The lines between the cases are almost invisible. The casting lines and rough texture will also be polished out. The reason this was done at this stage was to get the parts needing chrome and cadmium plating off the tranny and engine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037220178-Q9SQZJM01G0DUW835WGB/IMG_4612.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. Some of the before ugliness. The flare on the case half on the right side is easy to see in this picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553097806018-F0VWDOC3WTOJBLYNAVBG/IMG_4617.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. The rear brake plate on the rotary table getting ready for some speed holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553037282555-79MSE6XAN61R0XJBNEC8/IMG_4616.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. The clock case cover all evened up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1553097710283-DMOSPB0MLWY7AAR9KEYP/IMG_4595.JPG THE BLOG - Aluminum finishing case halves, Webco bits, and Joe Hunt Magneto for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build. Getting ready to send this vintage Joe Hunt Magneto back to California for a factory rebuild. Though the patina is beautiful, it will be refinished to show quality aside from the original Bakelite cover. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/3/13/the1957-triumph-freebird-and-1993-harley-davidson-fxr-updates monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552585617281-2LKASGBCFZSR2LBEOUDZ/IMG_4571.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. More speed holes drilled in the rear frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513844988-DMB77Q1NJURCIZEGSI7T/IMG_4544.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. Another picture that looks near identical, but another six hours of welding and grinding was done to get the joints smoothed out prior to sending it out for the cover. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513712732-Y44HAAMQW2XFDDJ77WN7/IMG_4565.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. The new tank mount in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552677827674-TYDCYODPA4Y0HA2D5U7V/IMG_4585.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. Assembling the frame again to make sure the tank fits correctly…looks good! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552585572809-QWRXHSUMD4MZRJGHXXJS/IMG_4576.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. After some drilling and polishing. It will be chrome plated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552528659542-C7NDK8ICBTBQEJGAZBSN/IMG_4537.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. Another deja-vu moment. Round two of stripping and re-painting for the FXR primary case. The first job had some irregularities that were in visible places, so the process was repeated. This time it looks great! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513633007-EGWQ9ZIZE63XOKPNBDHY/IMG_4564.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. The tank mount was re-made, making it a mechanical mount opposed to a welded one. Removing it made it easier to work the tube around it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513670224-VU78R6MWIGWALW7AXZE1/IMG_4560.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. One of the reasons there was a longer than usual gap between this blog post and the previous one was because of the almost identical pictures despite the amount of time working it over (I figured there are only so many pictures of frame polishing that anyone wants to see.) Even though I thought it was near finished, as the rest of the frame got better, it was apparent there was more work necessary to blend in the joints. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513596834-KJTGD5HB1ISJP95LY524/IMG_4556.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. Even though it is hard to see, there are hours of work in this frame filling dents and dips in the frame since the last post. A large dent in the lower end of the front down tube was filled, and the upper joint with the steering tube was built up. Some aggressive sanding had been done on the tube and it appeared a little narrow there, so the joint was welded over in the process of thickening it up. That turned out to be a real ass-whip as the brass used to join the bike originally crept into the steel, polluting it. A lot of time was spent grinding out and re-welding the joints. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513898234-93SOIAXA2IVFH736MX2M/IMG_4547.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. The 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR project is moving along as well. The rear fender and a second set of handlebars with a little more pull-back are on the bike, and the pipes are getting worked out. The rear pipe was part of a used set purchased online, but unfortunately, the front pipe could not be found by the seller! A second set was purchased and is on the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1552513773658-LWQYDN7X274Q8ZAK4BAF/IMG_4557.JPG THE BLOG - The1957 Triumph freebird and 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR updates. The front motor mounts were drilled out and the chrome stripped off. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/2/27/tc0foenx6bedczbjogxvsbni7pshqn monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551318616230-0B4PYYSCBIER3QM0PZ37/IMG_4489.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame Putting together pieces of the 1957 Triumph Thunderbird frame for final metal finishing, Gouges, pitting, welding porosity and bad welds are being ground out and filled to get the frame smooth enough for chrome plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551370063522-L20K66C7HW9NA7G6P9VV/IMG_4497.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame The difference between the first and last frame pictures in this post is not easy to see, but an entire day of finishing separates them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551318866914-IG1UMSZ8B1IFOLFAUUXY/IMG_4476.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame This frame came with some signs of the rough life it has lived. This kickstand mount had been broken and repaired at some point. Since the repair was so gnarly and another side stand is being used, it needed to come off. Fortunately, the repair was brass brazed and could be melted off without too much trouble. I had been told the fixtures on these old Triumph frames were brass brazed on, but that didn’t seem likely, as the gaps are too tight to allow the brass to flow into them. When the remnants of the fixture were pried off, it appears that silver soldering is how they were originally applied. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551318760026-IW3HQXU8SJYAWINX1AKC/IMG_4485.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame The rear frame mount boss needed a little love. Some welding and grinding to make for a tighter fit between the front and back frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551318910419-E344URQA2GNHLQBB3KFP/IMG_4483.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame That’s better. You can’t even tell where the old side stand mount was. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551398920630-GC2BKS3BBIU2O2AF27CR/IMG_4514.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame The base of this side stand was sand cast and rough with some inclusions that had to be dug out and welded up .Some metal was also added to the wear surface of the bracket. After some welding and bending on the stand to get the bike leaned over a little more, everything was sanded and polished out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551319208455-5V2CHYM6CCGCZA0YLKMZ/IMG_4472.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame One final thing: a hack on the special tool for removing the bearing retention ring on preunit wheels. Because grinders have been replaced so many times around here, there is a wealth of wrenches and one was tapped to make this tool. A slice was made down the middle to get the right spread. The posts fit in the holes perfectly, with a slight tap needed to set it in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551369946982-03WOYXVG7O2VOP3XVLK4/IMG_4500.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame Every inch of this frame will be gone over before it is done. Even with all that has been done, there is at least another day of refining needed. Every joint is being evaluated to fill any voids and then the welds ground smooth. Because the welds are being ground off so much, special care is being given to insure the welds are deep below the final surface. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551370168560-LKDN7JCGD3TWYXVIR5DV/IMG_4492.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame An example of the kind of things getting repaired. Small pits and nicks get ground or drilled out, welded, and then ground and polished out. The foil tape on the neck tube is to protect the serial number stamp. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551318953066-2ORCCGHK4ICKGNUO6HH9/IMG_4470.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame The rear of the lower triple clamp was modified to include the stops for the front fork. This had been done a while back, but needed some additional welding to fill in the surface. In this picture, the clamp is in the middle of being polished with black compound. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551319000167-4YG43C2JOPL0QXYR4TNB/IMG_4475.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame The handlebars and brake pedal got some more attention. The cable exits were finished out on the bars, and a bunch of contouring and shaping was done on the pedal. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/2/24/qgb7awkztrltc7od1pa57m0dkrbu2r monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551114465660-R867MI6Y20E0ZV0AEUII/IMG_4461.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end Waiting for paint to cure up before this can go back on the 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom build. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551114235052-NAZWJAL17PCNO6VIMTQH/IMG_4460.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end The 1957 Triumph Freebird front fork and wheel are getting worked over in preparation for chrome plating. This top clamp had pitted chrome plating and was stripped and powder coated a few years back. Now that the bike is heading to the Bornfree Show 11, it is going to get chrome plated along with the other front end parts. This picture is after some contouring and buffing, with a little more to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029200248-1NQE5PB6ZTRW15QRPVCX/IMG_4451.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end I was getting ready to weld and re-cut the 70’s conical hub axle ends to match the 1967 front fork, but realized the 1967 axle was a perfect fit and switched it out. There was a slight drag on the wheel in one spot, and the hub was studied for a while to try and figure where it was coming from. Some casting flashing on the rim appeared to be the cause and was cleaned off, but did nothing to solve the problem. Turns out it was the bearing locking ring hole being a little off and rubbing on the brake plate boss that passes through it. It had been rubbing this way for a while by the looks of it and probably made a pulsing high pitched squeal as it heated up. I got this at the Barber swap meet back in 2013 with the idea of using it for this bike, but went back and forth with some other hubs before returning to it. One of the things I like about it is the scoop and how it resembles the exhaust fishtails. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029108589-RTHSVPTVTTTJ17PUIBZV/IMG_4457.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end The last three days work, stripping, grinding, buffing, making some new parts, and truing up others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029580041-NMT6TO9NQTPTVTMXRGJ1/IMG_4453.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end Working on tiny details like grinding off 1.5mm of the top of the fork lower so the threads don’t show down below. These parts were also powder coated and had to be stripped. The welds for the fender stays and some scratches and dings were worked over and polished out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029487654-K5VNHU8BXUD8QCJPGUOZ/IMG_4368.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end Details, details. The mount for the sub-frame was finally completed. The ears ad to be trued up, washers made, and the everything buffed out. Still not certain the frame will be chromed or painted. After the contouring work was done on the muffler mounts and gussets, painting it might give the impression it is a Bondo bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029314322-1ZN50L57JKVSLNDTMPG3/IMG_4449.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end Another job done was the brake panel stay, which was brass brazed on the right fork tube. It was made from two 1/8’ steel plates that were welded on the edges and bent out at the bottom to make the base. Brass brazing was how the other fixtures were affixed on the fork lower by Triumph originally, and was the best choice to minimize distortion on the fork bore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029370705-HK0P3MTS5JRZ3NNW9YO5/IMG_4423.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end The outer rim on the left side of the hub was close to the fork leg and was taken down a couple millimeters. Some sanding on the cone was done, and the inner brake lining was trued up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029157980-OX6J7VA6EZ8D6HM9NI5Q/IMG_4445.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end Finally made the decision to go with a conical hub on the front wheel. One of the limitations with the stopping power on these hubs is the length of the brake actuator arms. Adding another 3/4'“ in length doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is almost 50% longer than the original. A new arm was bent from 1/8” steel and welded on the original shafts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1551029428208-DG8PYNUYNCYABXYC3CKK/IMG_4428.JPG THE BLOG - Prepping the 1957 Triumph Freebird front end After making the brake stay bracket, it was mocked up and a line scribed around the base to mark where it was to be mounted. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/2/20/5ivkbeids9xbu7pc5xncay0j8oy9z3 monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550682870020-WPU7BA2Y4ITN9Y9I1M1U/IMG_4346.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount After a couple days finish welding and sanding, the 1957 Triumph Freebird frame is mated up with the rear rack. Some of the brackets of the rear frame had been tacked together and needed finishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683219697-LLJPAMNELK9AT9RHJ5UF/IMG_4347.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount Even though the center section was scrapped on the previous version, it was not a total loss. The outer shroud was cut off and used on the new mount. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683163877-J7LTZ9VW0H6VOSRAMFAH/IMG_4357.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount The seat bracket rests on the frame backbone and rear crossbar, locking in its location. Because of the way the backbone tube flares at the end, the center piece of the mount had to be curved not just side-to-side, but front-to-back. The edge of the battery can be seen though the wide slot that will allow the wiring to pass through. There is a second slot in the crossbar that allows wiring to pass into the backbone, up toward the tank, for a clean appearance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550682963032-7Z8MIVSUQMWXSV5OAWRV/IMG_4329.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount There was a big ugly bracket cut off the front of the crossbar, the muffler mounts were shaped and then boxed in, welds were ground out and re-done, and then everything was blended together as much as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683284051-39LHACX6V8R0N2LDIU9H/IMG_4326.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount In other FXR news, the rear of the primary cover was stripped and de-greased in preparation for paint. The new set of pulleys and belt have arrived and are waiting on this cover (and some good weather to paint it) before the front pulley can be installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683031593-6NFLONL5TBWWKUA9RA4Y/IMG_4279.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount While some additional work was done on the seat frame since the last post, this picture is to show the muffler mount in need of some finishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683085916-E4VFJ5WNN6T1AVIXKRUY/IMG_4359.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount Part of me wants to send this off for chrome plating, but with chrome shows every defect, powder coating and clear coating may be the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683128383-K15VEXTSA6ELQPN9HCV0/IMG_4356.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount FXR seat version 3.0. On the 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR build, the seat mount was scrapped for a second time in favor of a wider unit that has room to hide a Motogadget m-Unit beneath it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550683474309-JEMV49TJ09K5NJVRN2K1/IMG_4341.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount The rear sub frame is an unknown aftermarket piece that has been shortened on the bottom tubes, with the upper mount fabricated to be a bolt-on type opposed to how it was welded on when it came to the shop. A lot of time was spent restoring the front part of the frame where it mounts. The original mounts had been ground off and welded over (and rather badly, at that.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550682909393-J7QBVRDEVATOMP4X5EH5/IMG_4358.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Freebird bike frame finishing, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR custom seat mount A lot of time went into revising welds to get rid of any porosity. When dealing with box-like structures, the air pressure inside the heated box can blow a hole through your welds. There was more shaping done after these pictures to make the gussets less rounded in the middle section. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/2/13/the-freebird-1957-triumph-gets-some-exhaust-fishtails monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550076000660-04QVFL06OR1Z6UGV17Q3/IMG_4275.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. The seat for the Freebird bike got some attention. The welds were cleaned up and the right corner got revised to take a 1/4’ section out. It is hard to believe that such a short length would throw off the symmetry, but I could see it and it was bugging me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550075581119-FW2YZ1HI0IVFC354WT2L/IMG_4296.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Working on some exhaust fishtails for the 1957 Triumph Freebird project. Starting off with some basic cocktail shaker mufflers, and added the fishtails. I have wanted to put some tails on a bike since I was a kid drawing Ed Roth-inspired hot rods (usually in class.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550265588021-FHV22PCGFL7JUHVX43FR/IMG_4325.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. There are also some removable baffles in the neck of the fishtails, but the megaphones are still going to make it loud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550076093257-ZU03L9G4OUDB9RGKRJ8C/IMG_4257.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Patterned after a Lycett style seat, some changes were made such as a round bar instead of flat. Don’t know if it will be any more comfortable, but the rear edge of a Lycett looks like it might hurt if you hit it too hard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550076178211-AWDH5N3CVDF4BBIEZ0LD/IMG_4293.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. While working on the exhaust tails, it occurred to me this is how cowbells are made. The exhaust now has more cowbell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550076048696-GVR8P2S50CAXU04P401Z/IMG_4276.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Still a couple small areas that need touching up, but mostly there. It will go for cadmium plating when done, and then a leather seat cover will be made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550265669577-UTXUQUUDJEB9PV8VN8TP/IMG_4316.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Salt and pepper got the nod. Still need to clean some welds where they were joined at the edge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550075703216-DLS50YWQ66GED536NJXL/IMG_4305.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Cheese grater or saltshaker? The choices are endless, but one of these will most likely get the nod. Once they get pierced, they will be welded along the edge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550075961597-5549I9TRHMGFDO9DKL8W/IMG_4268.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. The bottom view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550075663446-8P5A5PEIP3SHXWL3PDLC/IMG_4292.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. If you are going to do it, go big. Smaller sizes were contemplated, but looked a little dinky when mocked up. Trying to keep the lines right with the top of the tail in line with the muffler and the rear lining up with vertical. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1550265490479-KFYJXUDS4RU3NCYSMJL2/IMG_4322.JPG THE BLOG - The Freebird 1957 Triumph exhaust fishtails and seat frame finishing. Digging on the vintage simplicity of holes. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/2/7/s3mc4sc14aln7wim5du3olgmqhaqik monthly 0.5 2019-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549568813083-XC65YWT45OV3JIMT2GEQ/IMG_4145.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom There. That’s better on the tunnel, but the gas filler neck is pretty high and needs to be cut down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563563588-7V4T9P9HXHL229O4LZV8/IMG_4173.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom This was the first version of the seat support that looked too high. Now on the scrap heap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563375451-3TKIJKVCCJ4N1TTZEPL0/IMG_4230.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom The primary is off the bike in preparation of the 29 tooth front sprocket and belt change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549585724271-254F2PNL3VRCKD1V8DR2/IMG_4250.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Even with the stock gas cap it looks better! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563770534-OW795Z7R7YDT7SX9DHK1/IMG_4206.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Working on the template for the cover. The seat support and battery cover were made as a single unit, strengthening and stabilizing both. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549568775775-JF0A6H9BVAHJO5GOVLGF/IMG_4130.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom The tank tunnel square opening that needed to be made to match the new frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563427914-6APXH8KC7FPLONBTGJR2/IMG_4232.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Looking kind of naked without the primary drive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563300036-GCCFRNO3L5VJU7V3GOTI/IMG_4233.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom A seat with an integrated battery cover for Pete’s 1993 FXR is under construction. It took a couple tries to get the seat support at the right height. The supports lie on the frame tubes, locking it in place and keeping it centered. With the seat pan just laid on the frame, it is solid and does not move while sitting on it. A few securing screws will be placed beneath the seat support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563487247-PDZRG3172B0VJHNE4YH8/IMG_4223.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Recycling old medical office folders for template making. A pile of schnitzles litters the base of the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549585583301-0HRZ2XPDBEFUAGT0OQJU/IMG_4236.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom I tried to strip the paint and heat the filler to see if it was perhaps silver soldered in like British bike tanks, but turns out they are welded in. In this before, the cap measures 2 3/8” tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549585624008-M39N8CAGN2T2EVXNPO26/IMG_4241.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom The neck was cut off, weld carefully cleaned from inside the tube and around the filler insert, then silver brazed in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563340398-2T9OVVIZZHOTQO73W1WC/IMG_4228.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Liking how the seat and tank are lining up. Fenders will be coming up next. The filler neck on the tank has been stripped in preparation of shortening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549585782061-GG2WBCEO6OCTPGB0QFTX/IMG_4239.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom 1 1/2” inches now. With a pop-up screw cap, it will be even shorter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563614642-Y1854ASXT3UK8ZV2GC4H/IMG_4191.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom Brackets for the rear brake master cylinder and reservoir were made. These are the stock brake components from the original bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549563672947-DYNAC20ZLQZAX4YL2TLY/IMG_4177.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom The rear tank hold-down bracket waiting to be welded on. I usually try to get all the brackets made while the bike is in the assembly area of the shop and then get them all welded on at once, reducing the time the bike is in the metal room potentially getting exposed to grinding dust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549568935543-4FQTQTBQFNXGCTZKA8P7/IMG_4137.JPG THE BLOG - Making a seat mount and gas tank mods for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom A small arc of 1/8” steel was grafted in, welding only to the existing bracket, avoiding the body of the tank. The space above the tunnel opening is where a tab from the tank-top center console will attach. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/31/homebrew-internal-cable-throttle-for-the-1957-triumph-freebird-project monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548972974333-IPVTCNODUTT94I9MZPPF/IMG_4039.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The inner workings of the throttle mechanism can be seen in place. The cable holder is held in place a couple of different ways. There is a round keyed portion at the top of the slot that keeps the top located correctly, then a flange that slides over the bar and keeps it from being able to come out the top, and finally a screw that secures it from the bottom. The slot for the slide was cut by hand and made a few millimeters longer than the stock Honda one to accommodate the longer travel of the Amal carb slide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548973019578-4JP8RISE9ALLXA5255NC/IMG_4042.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. This is the flange that slides over the cable holder. It also is the spacer the outer throttle tube rests on, and the ring at the end keeps it from sliding inward on the bars. A stopper screw was turned from a hex bolt. In addition to anchoring the bottom of the cable holder, it keeps the throttle tube from being able to slide off the end, and limits the range of the throttle twist. The exit hole for the cables can be seen on the underside of the bars. A shroud (seen below) was made to go around the hole to support the cable and keep it from resting on the edge of the hole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549000844408-K9LD6MS2KB2UB3ZXHU61/IMG_4047.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Other than the cable for the brake, this is all that will be on the right side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549307700523-ML6E7JG5N3JF6KHHGRHP/IMG_4151.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The exits for the cables were given some shrouds that were brass-brazed on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548972752535-R402GORXXMRZERARGQTI/IMG_4026.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. These are the brass reverse levers going on the bike. They are made by hand in Ukraine and are a BMW knock-off. The holes for the screws had to be enlarged to allow the cams to slide enough to tighten them up and the cable perches needed filing out, but hey are otherwise strong serviceable units. This particular pair was chosen because the cable exits toward the back wall of the inner handlebar, allowing room for the throttle mechanism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548972892159-UUFKEALPLSE59XYY97ZX/IMG_4037.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The hardest part to make was the internal spiral that drives the slide.. getting the angle of the slide was not hard, but getting the spiral to lay down perfectly flat and getting the right tolerance between the bar was tricky. Although the throttle is based on the Honda design, it was changed a little by adding the ring at the bottom to act as the flange that rides against the bar. A thinner outer tube will cover the spiral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549011454949-YNT8E6GFR3YVB90ZSKBV/IMG_4052.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. That is about as clean as it gets on the handlebars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1549307749343-OGBHRRCEHJRIQTYMCWSS/IMG_4149.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. Because there are two cables exiting the handlebars on the right side and they are not as fat as the left-side clutch cable, a thinner, taller shroud was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548972693306-NTRMHRSG9J2JNIJRDS24/IMG_4043.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. An internal cable throttle that was made for the 1957 Triumph Freebird project. The controls that were on the bike were pretty basic stock units, and a pair of reverse brake and clutch levers were chosen to replace them. With the internal cables on the levers, it will make for a clean set of bars to tuck the throttle cable inside the bar and lose the external throttle case. The bars are a 1” set of Norman Hyde mustache type that I had cut the end off to fit a 7/8” throttle a couple years back. Interestingly enough, the cut-off end was found and grafted back on to do this job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548977254190-U21BZ5Z1OIEDROGNN8QU/IMG_4031.JPG THE BLOG - Making an internal cable throttle for the 1957 Triumph Freebird bike. The Honda components that make up the internal throttle cable mechanism. Made for a 1969 Z50 minibike, they were chosen because they leave the interior of the handlebars clear enough to get the brake cable through. The longer piece at the top of the pic is the slide that pulls the cable end, and the other piece is the cable sheath holder. The cable sheath has a threaded end that screws into the holder, making for a solid joint that can’t back out like most cable holders. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/28/8scxksp706n3cun7cnsj96iwj6pzvh monthly 0.5 2019-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706478920-VCYN4FLAE7Y5I228HDY4/IMG_4010.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. The CCD FXR Softail frame and the S&S 124 powerplant fit together perfectly. A new rear brake caliper bracket is needed along with seat, tank and fender mounts. The belt-drive pulleys and belt will also need replacing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706947828-YVY5X0LHDF7EB51G2FN9/IMG_4016.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. Some anodized grommets dress up the rear hold-down screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706532873-VU9HJJD7MZEU8KMORO5V/IMG_4008.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. The lines of the backbone will give the rigid frame appearance the owner is after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706888464-I2UORMGASHCNXJ4F2N21/IMG_4012.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. Using some 6mm clip-nuts on the seat brackets to hold the rear hump down. They are self-centering and hold in place nicely till they can be welded on the inside, and then the rest of the bracket can be ground off. Also nice not having to strip zinc plating off prior to welding. The cross-piece will be used to mount the electronics tray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548707150711-IMPX8MBVPQZJ0E28CZR4/IMG_4015.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. With the rear shock pre-load dialed up to the max, it makes for a perky tail. A 4 into 1 exhaust system is coming next, and will help fill the rear of the bike silhouette. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706271207-WIDNV0IIPN78S3LI4DD6/IMG_4004.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. With no roadmap to make this monoshock conversion, it was meant to be over-engineered strength-wise while still leaving room for the shock reservoir. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548706345602-PTP37SQEBR38ID3KFULZ/IMG_4003.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. All welded up, the shock mounting plates run through the box and are welded internally to make a complete box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548707024984-3UYSDDE82EBWPFBLAJRF/IMG_4023.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. The cross brace profile was kept low to keep the rear triangle open. For strength , the attachment points were kept low on the tubes and close to the swingarm and motor mounts. The owner wants to try and fit a Cognito Moto oil bag in the front of the triangle. It is placed so that the air filters are shielded from rear tire spray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548707071671-Z8I7O9E5JGY1TPS3GMSQ/IMG_4020.JPG THE BLOG - 1993 FXR Softail custom and 1978 CB750 updates. Still a long way to go, but the lines of the bike are starting to take shape. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/22/1978-honda-cb750-monoshock-mount-1993-h-d-fxr-update-mandrel-making monthly 0.5 2019-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180374157-PKKK0M6V13WLHNCINDB9/IMG_3987.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. Making a monoshock mount for the 1978 Honda CB750. This brace made from 1/8” and 1/4” steel plate was the solution I came up with. The upper mount needs to be fairly low, and room for the shock reservoir needed to be made, limiting where and how the brace could be mounted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180415237-1F1IGMCOL6F71ZQB7Y2Z/IMG_3988.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. There are more pieces that will go on to strengthen the brace, forming a complete box. The attachment points on both frame tubes should spread out the pulling forces and also give the brace the leverage it needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180532345-9JABAFQTA4L660KJI4UM/IMG_3968.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. The frame and oil tank for the 1993 Harley Davidson FXR custom build came in from England. Custom built by Jeremy “Briz” Witt of CCD, it uses the Harley FXR motor/tranny mounts, while giving the appearance of a Harley Softail frame. He has worked out the geometry so that the motor mounts do not get trashed by swingarm flex. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180606784-1XZ9Y18Y93HYCMAVFWR6/IMG_3972.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. The frame came with an MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origination) and a VIN stamp, so it should be easy to register. The swingarm uses spherical bearings and is as beefy as the rest of the frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180466631-OL7X7HSUSA3G8R0P1ZKB/IMG_3989.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. Decent welds. Too bad they are inside the brace where they will never be seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180320748-0AQNWYQUHY3RPTXCH1AK/IMG_3982.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. One last thing. While doing some deep cleaning around here, I came upon a segment of an old Honda ATC70 axle that was rusted and nasty, with a long sleeve covering it and rusted in place. Just like all the crap I save, it has to be proven useful at some time or it is just crap, so…This is the product of some time with the grinder and lathe. Made entirely from scrap, this mandrel will be used in metal forming. Prior to this, I would clamp pieces of rod in the vise, which was less than ideal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548180568823-KEN4UBXBIMNY2505772D/IMG_3971.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. The work on this frame is superb, with beautiful TIG welded joint. CCD will do any rake, stretch or swingarm width you want at no extra charge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1548182661008-H6EPRX4ESRSZGNH9A3G0/IMG_3984.JPG THE BLOG - 1978 Honda CB750 monoshock mount, 1993 H-D FXR update, mandrel making. The second mandrel in the background was made from a piece of the same axle. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/18/1965-honda-cb450-mikuni-conversion-1978-cb750-tank-mods-and-repairs monthly 0.5 2019-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547861622249-PGHNT3K195IBN7G84K18/IMG_3944.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. A soft dent in the tank got some attention. This is the before. Looks like someone started to work on it and gave up. Probably best they did…I have seen one inch Bondo before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839013419-TGPNOMTATPOZN72BW6NL/IMG_3951.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. Finally found that the c-clip and washer were absent from the post that holds one of the advance mechanism weights, allowing the weight to wander along the shaft, and potentially binding. The clip and washer from a used points set fit perfectly, and greatly reduced the idle problem. Another thing that may have helped was cleaning the rust from the pivot shafts and applying some dilectric grease. There were also some poorly done wire splices and a crack that got some solder and heat shrink. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547838952858-M98GBYTS6XF8M1ADE439/IMG_3955.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. A reminder of why I will be limiting bike revivals and repairs… The combination of vacuum carbs, pod filters, and an unknown electrical system gremlin had the engine idling erratically, with no rhyme or reason. 55 years of wear and tear, neglect, and half-assed repairs can make for quite a puzzle. Getting a new set of Mikuni carbs, intakes and filters made the problem better, but the idle was still not right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547861697544-H17JUPOOMWMFODHEIYBT/IMG_3947.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839248306-PGVI6RUVPHFH9UW4GXOS/IMG_3938.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. On Calvin’s 1978 Honda CB750 conversion, new swingarm bushings were machined from DOM steel tube, and some work was done on the tank. The end of the tank tunnel needed to be covered, or the seat pad needs to extend upward to cover it. The seat rising up did not sound like a good look for the Cafe seat, so a metal cover was the solution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839194367-ZSC6YYG59CMWVGMVVYGG/IMG_3965.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. There were some shorty headers with some heinous welds on them when the bike arrived at the shop that were swapped out for a set of used ones. I don’t know how it sounded before, but they sound like a proper Honda now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839305073-S38TORMAUGQHSH8KRJLT/IMG_3950.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. A thin steel cover was welded in extending the tank character lines as well. The tank edge was heated and bent downward in line with the new panel, and then welded only on the outermost edge of the tank’s pinch welded seam, to keep from having to weld the tank skin directly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839139693-H4LRXFP0DNQQYWJ8YE6R/IMG_3963.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. What hey call “a twenty footer.” Looks pretty good from twenty feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547839072700-D5YXPRH5OTW3R39WXEZP/IMG_3964.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Mikuni conversion, 1978 CB750 Tank mods and repairs,Electrical Gremlins. Still pretty rough. A lot of things could be done to make it more correct, but where do you stop? The owner was after a reliable rider, so the roughness allows you to ride with some abandon. The Mikuni 32mm carbs came from Dime City Cycles in a complete kit that had intakes, carbs, filters, and cables. A good bit of trimming was necessary to make the stock covers fit. The bike had an oozing dent in the magneto cover and the twisted shift pedal that went with it that was repaired by a used replacement cover and some heating and bending on the shifter. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/13/working-on-the-1957-triumph-freebird-gas-cap monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363430666-JAP7SZK8RF2AIQOA5LNL/IMG_3873.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. The center of the cap applied by silver soldering. The pink color is pure copper brought out by the heat and flux. The bend in the rear strap going to the hinge allows the cap to stand up when open, and strengthens the hinge pivot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363065107-SP0Z5M7XI0845X5HQATV/IMG_3863.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Probably ten annealing sessions to get to this point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363289237-DO0LXODYCE7JPGOXOCOB/IMG_3912.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Spring action on the locking lever pivot. Another part is to be made to attach to the underside of the cap and hold the sealing gasket and fill the neck to reduce splashing around the cap.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547617879078-ZWIJ8SMHR1RA7J3OXW8W/IMG_3933.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Decided to go ahead and add the oil cap to this post. This one uses the original cap under the brass one, opposed to making a locking mechanism like on the gas cap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363349656-6M48JJZHM7CMKSJDFLAM/IMG_3906.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. With all the other brass pieces on the Freebird 57 Triumph project, a handmade brass gas cap should fit in just fine. Trying to evoke an earlier era in motorcycle building. with all the brass touches. I have always loved the mechanical intricacies of early twentieth century machines, and the look of brass on them. There is a warmth and vintage feeling it gives, and a richness of color and patinas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363011251-07VER3W5INZPCEZ0PPQR/IMG_3859.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Just like all the other pieces, this one was pounded out of flat .050 sheet using traditional hand tools and techniques. This shows part of the raising process called “bottlecapping” ( for obvious reasons.) It is part of the shrinking that is done to make the edges of the cap. The metal is pounded on a cylindrical metal stake and heated (annealed) between poundings to keep it from becoming brittle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363602950-85OPCY45PARJ8M2H31MG/IMG_3892.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. The lower half of the hinge was made from brass billet and soldered to a ring that clamps tightly to the filler neck. There are blocks of brass soldered inside the ring to rest on the edges of the tank neck where the regular cap grips it. There will be a little more shaping of the locking lever, and the patina of the cap will be made a little more uniform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547362865563-39N8MNMXGD4XYQVJZDVJ/IMG_3914.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. One more part amlost ready to be checked off the list. It also occurs to me that a cap for the oil tank is going to be necessary now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547617945308-WX2C7GT0W9L8U3H2E9FH/IMG_3935.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Probably going to figure out something else small that needs to be made of brass, but this may be the last big piece. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363171438-3APWQ3S2NRPNPHDVP9KK/IMG_3867.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. The center of the cap has a couple ramps that are used to tighten the locking lever as it is turned. In this picture, the backside of the metal has already been pounded to form the ramps, and is being chased down on the front side. You can see how the ramp on the right is more defined from the chasing. The long piece coming out will form part of the hinge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1547363230952-XZ6DN7OCXLC9O4ZPD0W8/IMG_3887.JPG THE BLOG - Working on the 1957 Triumph Freebird gas cap. Eighth inch brass plate was used to make the locking lever. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/7/1965-honda-cb450-revival-1978-cb750-monoshock-conversion-rotajg-xl600-tracker monthly 0.5 2019-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881749480-G22CU3O1XRQF6DA4L5UM/IMG_3848.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. A 1978 Honda CB750 undergoing some changes.The build was started by the owner Calvin, with a Suzuki SV650 swingarm and rear shock, a new front end and tank. The bike came to me for de-tabbing, rear loop installation, monoshock mount fabrication, and a mount for the seat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881793363-V35SP3QM91DHP4GUH3LW/IMG_3853.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. The rear loop installed and the rear seat mount has been worked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881643282-0OI8A20OCBDYUQY82WIU/IMG_3816.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. Just a chance to show off this fine homebrew tool. Built kind of crudely and quickly, it works just fine removing two different bearing retainers on Honda wheels. This is the rear on the CB450, which got some new bearings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881596408-3AYS1H7GG3DEOMRE2RQL/IMG_3822.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. Still have to set the timing and tweak the carbs, but she runs strong! The carb settings and ignition specs were crazy off, but the owner said it was running previously. There were some aftermarket shorty mufflers on when it arrived but a set of used ones were rehabbed to take their place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881995111-ETD612HHI0J4EBFQ6ZHC/IMG_3708.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. John Green rode by on his latest build, a killer Honda XL600 custom tracker. Just beautiful! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881843772-DEZ1XDR39OONR3VPXP65/IMG_3826.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. The rear frame gussets were preserved and the splices made far enough in to take advantage of the added strength. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546881697335-ALI7DZWTTWUM76409INE/IMG_3838.JPG THE BLOG - 1965 Honda CB450 Revival, 1978 CB750 monoshock conversion, RotaJG XL600 tracker. Te pile of discard tabs and brackets from the 750. A couple of hundred years from now, someone will be restoring one of these bikes and will wonder why anyone would chop one up. You just would had to have been there. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2019/1/3/k23fupxqffzu221jhwu8ypylqmuoao monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505240079-AUPBY2M4BK0SI2IWSN6I/IMG_3805.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird The big hole for the switch was cut out with the aid of a jewelers saw, leaving some tabs to keep it from turning. Small brass screws were silver soldered to the backside to hold the piece down, and a recess was made toward the top of the piece to allow the headlight rim securing screw to be used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505600711-ISRTYUD64E0V05ZG0WOY/IMG_3803.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird First project of the New year is a brass repousse panel to house the light switch and indicator lights. In this picture, the panel is sitting slightly above the light housing. the finished panel will hug the contour more tightly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505556615-RVW7ZTOHCEWLMC06AA1H/IMG_3798.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird A new Lucas three-position light switch and WW2 era aircraft panel lenses were used. Primary colors are my favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546591985314-W9NIO2Q7SBU5MPUDSBI7/IMG_3813.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird After some sanding and fire coloring. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505321243-3FMT1N26FP774M3EG3IQ/IMG_3788.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Once again, .050 brass was used for this project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505495268-Z5I7KMX19FSVR4DGU8JE/IMG_3797.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird Fitting the panel to the contour of the light housing took a lot of time. It is a slow process of sanding and re-shaping edges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505284557-A5Q5TSNLGJOXKVVBYCQB/IMG_3801.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird One of my complaints with the 1967 Bonneville indicator lights is that they are set at such an angle that I have to get right over them to see if they are lit during the day. These guys are going to be a lot easier to see from the normal riding position. The other great thing is that the panel looks like the face of a small dog looking at you…a reminder to watch out for small dogs when riding! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505357955-5EZR1FM9P2S00CBXOERT/IMG_3789.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird The piece after a couple rounds of pounding and annealing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546505423094-6GFFLNGDOUIP5HSV6VGY/IMG_3794.JPG THE BLOG - Making the switch panel for the 1957 Triumph Freebird The backside was filled with molten pitch and then laid in a larger pitch bowl to chase down the front side. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/12/17/f1sp7apv4hmlna65fnd4dy1vhjl2xw monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545345602519-F3PEJ7R40KNP4FS3I07B/IMG_3682.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. After about 30 hours… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546121573690-9M6F3QCM9EYZOU3GP9XB/IMG_3761.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. At close to 90 hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545080665058-UO77T4LOTLRU7C136ZXC/IMG_3627.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. A buck was made of wood to fit the contour of the pieces. The back of the piece was filled with pitch and then laid on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1546121620790-7TICSUGZPWK2Q94GM3DT/IMG_3766.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. Still some work to get these finished, but glad to be this far along. Studs will be applied on the backside to attach them to the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545080728042-DO6FX1WY74EH5WUYV80T/IMG_3621.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. At this point the ridges are starting to take shape. Metal mandrels, hammers, and anvils are used up to this point, but the repousse technique will be used to get the fine detail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545345530818-NHIFS2OGZRYPG13Z2W6G/IMG_3698.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. Over 40 hours in the piece at this point, but nearing the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545080551053-FR7KUK939LOUPIDC07YA/IMG_3617.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. This is after a couple rounds of beating on the shot bag with a small ball-peen. Between each round of beating, the metal is annealed, or heated to get rid of work-hardness in the metal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545091231562-08H1GQDX04HQ4F0R6AEL/IMG_3645.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. A full 22 hours in, and there is still a ways to go on this one. Made from brass sheet and pounded into shape, it takes thousands of hammer strokes to get to this point. This is a side badge for the 1957 Triumph Freebird build for the Bornfree Show 11. There is already some brass on the bike, so this will most likely be left un-plated. Probably another day or more to finish this one…and then make another mirror image one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545631550558-9XTORLG694R0KQGSMMXW/IMG_3730.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. Over fifty hours in the pair at this point. There will be some more detailing on the right badge, mostly texturing the surfaces. Still trying to decide whether to go with a hammered or sanded and polished finish. There is a good chance the dark coloring will be used to match a number of other brass part regardless of which surface treatment is used.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545091317440-22R0WVIDKD9OU9L1E4F1/IMG_3642.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. Black German pine resin pitch that softens when heated is used to support the metal so the deep relief areas can be worked out. The ball-ended hammer handle allows it to rotate in the palm for rapid strikes .The small steel tools are traditional repousse and chasing type along with some homemade Shitame repousse type.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1545080443303-6IDOU32YRA8G2CGGAQUR/IMG_3616.JPG THE BLOG - Making badges for the 1957 Triumph Freebird. .050 brass sheet cut into rough shape allow the basic form to be started using anvils, hammers, and a shot bag. As it takes form, the edges get slowly cut and sanded down, making small adjustments to fit the contour of the tank. The original badges were helpful in the early part of the process, http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/12/14/j98jbgmly0t43upx9rejzh08ju4a98 monthly 0.5 2018-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544801354153-MZN3MYTY766YVN4SAK5I/IMG_3592.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544816684803-F519H9NS9N2TVSLRDRJQ/IMG_3606.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. A custom frame, but otherwise stock 650. Since purchase, it has been sitting in my shop and ridden sparingly for short trips until poor tuning put it away for the last couple years. It is ridiculous that someone who works on bikes daily does not have a reliable full-size bike to ride, so I am slowly getting around to servicing a couple for myself, with this being the first one. The only changes I have made were to add a Wassell electronic ignition, and switch the original Amal Monoblock carbs out for a set of new Amal 930’s along with new petcocks and tubing. The monoblock carb barrels were severely pitted (seen in a previous post,) and were allowing too much air to leak around the slide.Triumph changed from Monoblock carbs to Concentrics in late 1967, so they are not out of place on this bike. The bike is super easy to start and runs great with the new gear! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544817366054-XOY5GZMFZAIDF1TDZR78/IMG_3610.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. There is nothing else to change about this sweetheart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544816634380-671WMPS4LACPLVRDKJ4O/IMG_3603.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. Jack Wilson was known as “Mr Bonneville” for building the land speed record Triumph in 1956 that resulted in the name change to the “Bonneville” in 1959. A link to his history: http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=293 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544801236303-7LIGXA2FVQ7JA6BXXYXZ/IMG_3595.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. The “Hater” minibike in parade lighting for the Christmas parade season. There are a number of “Parade of Lights” events around here that the World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi do requiring the floats be lit up. These are battery-powered LED fiber-optic strands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544817209394-G1P5I4Z0L34WNIC97DCD/IMG_3602.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. A beautiful 1967 Bonneville 650 put together by local legend and American Motorcycle Association Hall of Famer, Jack Wilson of Big D Cycles in Dallas Texas. A great story that included the original build sheet that Jack wrote up and a letter of provenance from Keith Martin, long time Big D associate and current owner/operator who worked with Jack and saw this bike being built. The bike was built for a dentist who had it displayed in his office for 19 years according to the story I was told by my buddy Clinton, who sold it to me a number of years ago. I had seen it on display in Clinton’s living room for a good decade before he decided to sell it. He bought it from another mutual friend, David, who owned it several years and rode it about three thousand miles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544801280848-1FV7IUM5HN58DWFMN7S7/IMG_3601.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. Getting the Wassell ignition unit timed and strobed. The flywheel has no marking and the crank lacks the notch at 38 degrees through the rear TDC locking hole, so the primary cover has to be removed and a degree wheel used. There are now marks scribed on the flywheel to make this easier in the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544816735802-GR71MM3YC7VLKBZX2RF5/IMG_3613.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. Because of a lean fuel mix from the poorly sealing carbs, there was a lot of heat that blued the header pies. Fortunately, I never took it very far once it started running so hot. The oversize main jets had been compensating somewhat, but it got to the point it was running hot and no amount of tuning seemed to make a difference, prompting the carb and ignition changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544817096275-V0Q99P44CERX4MNCNTP1/IMG_3607.JPG THE BLOG - The Jack Wilson 1967 triumph t120r bonneville revival. The tank is gold and eggplant, done by Jack Wilson. It was a Triumph color and was said to be his favorite. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/12/6/1974-commando-alloy-front-fender monthly 0.5 2018-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544131160679-7P6K2HGDZX69ELZ76V0P/IMG_3546.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Where it all starts with a thin flat aluminum sheet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544546917925-RYAVHSA6IN8FXS286SE9/IMG_3581.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. I love these little ones. Candy colors and chrome always gets me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544415918438-T953NV0A5XT25D0BMGCX/IMG_3574.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. The Jet tools shrinker was another tool instrumental in getting the fender, seat and fairing done. Because of the deep jaws, it can reach further across the piece you are working. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544131355620-RW4M15ZJLHMMCRNWIKGX/IMG_3551.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Non motorcycle stuff: This is a German silver script made for a Morales guitar. The guitars were a knock-off of the Mosrite Ventures guitar named after a popular wrestler in 1960’s Japan. I was asked to make the lower script to replace the missing two letters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544415426579-A5ZJ9TONXKRH33Z2ZZEF/IMG_3575.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Along the way in the process, it slowly emerges with each round of pounding and smoothing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544415465787-75XO8QRN7K2X45MS1KQR/IMG_3572.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Thank you Jet Tools! The three-way shear/roller/brake tool along with the shrinker and English wheel made this possible. The entire process took about one full day.. Because of the deep domes of the fairing, the quick-release handle was heated and bent in to get it a little more out of the way.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544131057686-TCTV7A1UFCKLQE7NJVGG/IMG_3559.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Made from a single piece of .050 aluminum sheet like the fairing, a lot of shrinking and stretching was done to get it here. The pounding was done on a shot bag with wood and plastic hammers,, with planishing over pieces of bowling pins and steel mandrels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544131114116-H4A9DLJKPE4FB5AR7WVI/IMG_3554.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Still need to work out the mounts for the left side of the fender. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544546976997-RZ0FWWQAWOK49C46T6FU/IMG_3579.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Here the Honda Trail Bikes bore kit is partially installed along with a new timing chain, high volume oil pump, new seals, and hardware, including the case screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544131009011-GZEHAO4CV3PZ5PG5G16Z/IMG_3556.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. With the front fairing done, the fender got hammered out. This was after being pounded and annealed a dozen times, with smoothing on the Jet Tools English wheel each time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544379960720-9NQ9YA1HC2NF685RSGKB/IMG_3563.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Some of the low-tech homebrew tools used in the aluminum pounding. Bowling pins are pretty easy to find and their hard oak composition makes them great tor pounding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544546799276-1GQQS9HUB5KCF4OFVNOL/IMG_3588.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. Here is the finished product with a fresh seat cover added to the engine work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1544379913912-8BVSYXBH82WVV40Q8VFG/IMG_3568.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando alloy front fender, another Z50 leaving the shop. This is yet another 1971 Z50A getting a 88cc bore kit and race head. This was a survivor that I repainted the tank along with some engine and other restoration work. It is getting the same package of mods as Blaine’s Z50 and will be going to his buddy Kevin. They will have a pair of near-identical twins. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/11/30/1974-norton-commando-front-fairing-build monthly 0.5 2018-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543618271952-A14AC9GC6PVEYTB1A4KE/56530414389__A6FAEEED-52C2-4B76-B0C3-36454A7CCC9D.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. The wire form was painted and then the aluminum skin was wrapped along the edges to complete the basic shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543616734393-Z92WJSHUB8FHLXZKY842/IMG_3524.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. Just rolling out the 1974 Norton Commando with the fairing mounted for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543617023033-P33QQMNNUG1U3IKVN7DH/IMG_3509.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. With fabrication almost done, planning the finishes gets a little more serious. The owner of the bike wants a bumblebee scheme: yellow, black, and red accents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543616690839-MAOUMPKOLKGK9578AHAA/IMG_3517.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. Still have to work on the muffler and exhaust pipe mounts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543616964996-GJO68QGN9EHEYTGKG1QM/IMG_3519.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. There may have to be some adjustments of the gauges, as they are a bit high for the fairing, and the windshield looks better a little lower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543618345747-OOV89FNR5ZNLPQ6W6CET/IMG_3477.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. The wire form for the fairing was made from 3/16” rod and 16 gauge sheet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543617761876-RDLD3PV1YDJDQWYDMIK0/IMG_3514.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. The front end is looking a little tighter! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543618697979-V5RN9MUP616K2FFR1MN5/IMG_3462.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. Another brass hardware piece for the 1957 Triumph “Freebird” being built for The Bornfree Show #11. A bracket to secure it will need to be made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543618634378-IJBN168Y3EIQJ4NXEYQ4/IMG_3461.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. Picked because of it’s wear, a tiny bit of cadmium plating can be seen here and there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543616831524-9OWYALJ3UXRXD6ZWFEHF/IMG_3507.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Commando front fairing build, small parts for the Bornfree Show Freebird. Now that the alloy seat pan and front fairing completed, is going to be the front fender made of the same alloy. The new Lucas wire harness has been fitted to the front portion of the frame to test the fit and learn how the wires are routed. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/11/25/honda-cb50-z50-bikes-commando-fairing-build-elvi-rides monthly 0.5 2018-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543252642745-500NRVHTLZ8YIUKSMLCM/IMG_3455.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. Working on a front fairing for the 1974 Norton Commando cafe build. The skin is .050 aluminum, with a 3/16”steel wire frame. My process is somewhat backwards in that I usually start shaping the skin first and work on the wireframe after. This is the same basic technique I used on “The 7” bike fairing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166767817-J4QOCJBWU7RCJY47EL4H/IMG_3402.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. An Amal monoblock carb barrel from the 1967 Bonneville. The deep pitting convinced me it was time for a set of Amal 930’s. Big D Cycles set me up with some screw plates for the filters, new carbs and cables. More to come on that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166519334-Y223EWAYGKFKII1XON0V/IMG_3431.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. Got new fenders, tires, tubes, and alloy rims for Blaine’s 1971 Honda Z50. These tires are a little taller than the originals. We got them on in his shop up in Oklahoma over the holiday. This little guy is ready to rip! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543252553720-SS5SEBAYRD1O3JS6IEXB/IMG_3453.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. The visor temporarily in place to check the fit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166597303-4K9VMSDXFY2RFBX355FN/IMG_3446.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. The wire form for the fairing is being worked out here. There is a little dance you have to do between the gauges, headlight, forks, bars, and controls…and it should look good too, by the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166671620-KMPHZ3223XQIVFZIDZZQ/IMG_3405.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. Busy little Elvi prepare their bikes for the Fort Worth Parade of Lights. It was pretty cold by the end of the night. The front two bikes in the center of the picture are bikes I built, along with the Bat Bike on the front right, and the Hater bike on the far left.Our bikes and suits were lit with LED’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166894650-P0KFW9L0U87ZMY20G7YP/IMG_3437.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. Noticed the drooping left turn signal too late. So much fun to ride, but the small displacement means you have to push the bike pretty hard to keep up with traffic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1543166390080-M91YYLYGW7E4UQ4GTPZK/IMG_3435.JPG THE BLOG - Honda CB50, Z50 bikes, Commando fairing build, Elvi rides, Amal carb swap time. The 1980 Honda CB50S, customized a couple years ago. Took this one to the North Texas Norton Owners Club meet. Started on the third kick after laying up for months and runs great! The sound of the engine is like an angry hornet, with 5 speeds that you have to bang through to get up to speed. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/11/12/w9bofhu8tt2n52osdgdpn5tbffce02 monthly 0.5 2018-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033908584-6J7N11YAKS0RZEIE1HHL/IMG_3262.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Some changes on the 1999 Honda Z-50 “Hater” bike since the July post. A heavy-duty manual clutch and Takegawa hydraulic clutch actuator, a freshly repainted tank with the underside reformed to accommodate the Mikuni VM26 carb, and fresh graphics for the whole bike were some of the changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542034033458-ZKZQLG428BNWBDEMQ61H/IMG_3238.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. The 1948 BSA WM-20 came back to the shop briefly to find a loose tail light wire. While it was here again, a custom snap-on air filter was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033704885-EAOLUJWYF2QVIXEF6KUK/IMG_3303.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Out in Big Bend, Texas with “Goldie,” a 1971 OIF Triumph TR6C built for the desert. I borrowed this bike last minute from my buddy Jason when it became clear the T-140 I was going to bring lacked the registration and road gear to make the trip. An LA to Barstow veteran, she was spectacular on the sandy, rocky trails that run through the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033641290-V3S515XH40J025BBOKKA/IMG_3324.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Jake’s brother, Daniel and Paul Risse up the side of a mountain, and our bikes seen as small dots on the roadside below. The Rio Grande river can be seen on the left, with Mexico on the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542034248359-4B2W84THUERZ9G007BQX/IMG_3231.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Custom tail light and license plate bracket, rear grab bar, kickstand lever, sorted electrics, new carb, gas leaks fixed, and an engine revival, and she is ready for riding again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542036083513-XWZWYNGD34BY77YG0ME7/IMG_3305.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Goldie’s exhaust bracket with a stress crack and the bush-fix that allowed me to keep riding after the pipe completely fell off while riding. Just prior to this we were running somewhere North of 80MPH. Certainly glad it didn’t happen then! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033977660-AOK5WXOBGU9HBJXV71GX/IMG_3239.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. A larger 17 tooth counter sprocket, new Renthal Gold MX chain and chain roller, alloy footpegs, new folding shifter, and a larger air filter rounded out the rest of the changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542034101621-LEDL2OJVLERTXOVQETEF/IMG_3225.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. The filter was made from two different sizes of brass mesh and a brass strip making the bezel. An o-ring inside keeps it quite snug on the velocity stack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033571713-DK9K2C5RYT18XIRRFJMA/IMG_3343.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. On a particularly deep sand and gravel wash, where riding was akin to being on ice. That’s Jake on Frank, ready to ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033816190-U1CZSITJ5ZR9YLKEN865/IMG_3285.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. My buddy Jake Hayhurst brought “Frank” (short for Frankenstein,) a 1971 Bonneville frame with a 1973 750cc engine. Frank and Goldie seen here in front of Jake’s tent, just hanging and dreaming about the desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1542033502785-23TNRPML12DLLWZ50ROC/IMG_3364.JPG THE BLOG - Big Bend Triumphs, finishing the 1948 BSA WM-20, and the "Hater" bike. Our group of eight minus one (I was behind the camera.) These guys were awesome to ride and hang with, and are now my brothers. Our group was made up of three Ducati Scramblers, two modern Triumph Bonnies, a lone Kawasaki 250, and two 1971 Triumphs. Big Bend is an almost surreal environ, with a stark beauty that is hard to forget. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/11/1/bzriz1fodlvl0muxwh1113l8zqfvhc monthly 0.5 2018-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541098163505-BLCELXN2V995CDMILR3Y/IMG_3167.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. A Honda Trail Bikes ported race head and cam, 20mm carb and intake, 4-speed transmission, manual clutch, lightened flywheel, Pro Circuit pipe, extended brake pedal, heavy duty footpeg mount, and a Fast 50’s skidplate went on a brand new OEM frame. There are few hours on this bike, and it is FOR SALE! Contact me if interested. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541125118923-ZUS4FRKPT4Z4ZNZ0K01R/IMG_3102.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. A new Wiseco piston went into the CT3 freshen-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097608737-GXW4XITICG6URGUIEQWR/IMG_3180.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. An indicator light was added to the BSA to remind you when the battery is switched on. The red lens is from a WW2 era military aircraft, lit by a neon bulb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541124605520-68GC2GYQY83TE93FT501/IMG_3117.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. This Linus motorized bicycle and the BSA M20 above are going to be heading home soon. It looks great sitting there and is a blast to ride, but I can use the space back in the shop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097552909-OAPMK2JVEOCPXW9XBI6L/IMG_3164.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. My buddy Brian Memphis Hunt’s “Dirty Memphis” mini dirt monster. Built for the final MiniMoto Supercross in Las Vegas in 2013 to compete in the 88cc vintage class. It has a KLX 110 set of forks, billet alloy triple trees, Pro Taper XR50 bars, ASV folding levers, alloy swingarm, Snow Hog tires, custom tall seat, and 330mm Yoshimits shocks. This one is a ton of fun in the dirt, and set up for an adult rider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541126817865-BOO1PFM7L6ASLKHCDNNT/IMG_3129.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. The bars are straightened in this pic and a new throttle slide, cable and grips have it all working like new. The wire harness arrived all taken apart, key switch missing, exhaust spacers and seals were missing, tank mounting rubber was missing, and the brakes were non functional, but everything was set back in order and delivered back to Blaine in less than 48 hours. A new set of tires and wheels are on the way, and will be put on the next time we get together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097933693-CUYDKHQ8AZ7V8R6E4SA0/IMG_3126.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. My nephew Blaine Mills was in town to drag race his square-body Chevy truck this past week-end, and his pitbike got a quick make-over while he was here. The before shot with bent bars. It ended up with an 88cc bore kit, race head, high volume oil pump, heavy duty clutch, new wire harness and keyswitch. Bars were straightened, electrical system and exhaust were restored, the brakes were made functional again, and a few more details done, and she is a ripper! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097450238-YF9N43WJ56SVD3LZWUA8/IMG_3171.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. Definitely old school. Along with the magneto pinion gear puller, this is what you need to set the timing on the 1948 BSA WM20. A bent spoke scribed at a 7/16” increment to feel the top of the piston just before top dead center, a greasy rolling paper to gap the points, and my Grandpa’s old wrench set which is the only thing around here that will fit the points adjustment nuts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097504862-N5VLAQIZEM0V8SH1B3GV/IMG_3183.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. A new Amal 276 pre-monobloc carb plus getting the points set correctly makes for easier starts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541098052358-4Q1BAP4VMFG2P2MLB8J2/IMG_3123.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. Sunset at North Star Dragway. Blaine took first in his class! Chicken dinner time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097884035-2KZC8S3PJRZQX4LXV85E/IMG_3149.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. Got the 100% cotton Davmomoto shirts from local screen printer Norman Roscoe. Available in limited quantities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1541097733534-VKU867670S57HM0K8HB7/IMG_3161.JPG THE BLOG - Green bikes, rolling papers, Yamaha revival, drag truck, Z50’s, T-shirts and more. The 1973 Yamaha CT3 is back in business. A used right engine center case, tranny output shaft and a couple of gears replaced the broken ones. Still waiting on a new petcock to be done with this one. It will be for sale when done. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/10/23/1957-triumph-thunderbird-1993-harley-davidson-fxr-and-yamaha-ct-3-updates monthly 0.5 2019-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333914712-NSQNI3ABCZYKUN3RVXN2/IMG_3018.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. Some of the right engine case destruction. Blow-out of the kickstart spring notch, a deep gouge where the gear went wobbly, and an oil galley wall (that sprays the primary gear) that got ground through. Pretty trashed, but it can all be fixed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333842386-27ZDP252L08865FYFN5G/IMG_3050.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. A new Wiseco piston kit is on the way to replaced this scored one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333631700-WLSP742G9PV2Y4A10J64/IMG_3055.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. The rear shocks look like they could be a little longer to get the stance right. Factory mid pegs and controls replace the forwards the bike came with. A set of low tracker style handlebars are coming from Biltwell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333962483-HI7UE5FL5WYVRDD0XIN6/IMG_3033.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. The Harley Wide-Glide fork innards. The spacers fit on the fork cartridge plungers and drop the front end by a couple inches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333480560-QH77W0JMZU7A5SB1WS23/IMG_3080.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. Dusting off the 1957 Triumph Thunderbird rigid. This is the first time to touch this bike in over a year. The plan is to finally finish it for the 2019 Bornfree Show. I have worked on this bike in the past, and put it aside each time to finish other builds. The frame features some gussets around the steering tube. The previous owner had removed the lower of the two backbone tubes and added the large gusset in the process of making it a chopper. A donor tube was grafted back in, the gusset drilled out and the welds blended in. A second drilled gusset was added on the down tube. The tins are mostly done, there will be some more work done on the frame, an engine rebuild, and a lot of paint, chrome, and other details. Since this Thunderbird is headed for The Bornfree Show, the name has to be the “Freebird.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333532828-7SPLGMFSS4P6ZQQKNE7B/IMG_3073.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. A good start, but miles to go…The tank appears to be a 60’s-70’s 500cc model that was modified to accept a custom tank-top rack and knee pads. The fork is 1967-70 legs with a modified 1957 lower triple, and top clamp from a 1962. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333785825-H4WMLWGTMCAHQI1FN83B/IMG_3048.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. Some of the carnage inside the 1973 Yamaha CT-3. Apparently the bike was wrecked during an errant wheelie. My guess is that the kickstart was jammed on while the engine was revved, shearing off the gear and end of the output shaft. The sheared tranny shaft gear normally lies between the primary shaft of the tranny and the kickstart gear. A coming parts engine will hopefully have intact replacements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333685616-03AK4ZT8UUL4IJPGDB33/IMG_3067.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. Working on the 1993 H-D FXR.. Without the battery and oil tank, the bike looks a little lighter. The battery box will need to be modified a little to allow for a swingarm mounted rear fender. A rear monoshock conversion is being contemplated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1540333577554-HTLCDNC4UV8IHFXW3KAK/IMG_3082.JPG THE BLOG - 1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates. Lysette-style seat springs. Pretty comfy even without a cover. The brass container is an oil catch can from a hit-and-miss engine that has a spigot to oil the chain. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/10/16/back-from-the-norton-owners-land-o-the-pines-motorcycle-rallye monthly 0.5 2018-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703124678-KC505QHSZ4UF06AA70MN/IMG_2988.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. One of the crown jewels of the meet was this beautiful pre-war Norton thumper, just back from once again completing the Portland Maine to Portland Oregon Cannonball race. Just out of the frame are two more near-identical bikes from Peckerhead Racing finishing the Cannonball without missing a segment! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703592089-12QB43TJGV184M4MDRS0/IMG_2961.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. The burnout board. Late night burnouts are a custom, and pinstriper Alton Gillespie fashioned this one onsite. Kind of hard to read, but it says: ” Absolutely positively No Burnouts!” The Norton Club has a sense of humor and little regard for rubber tires. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703066677-QTULH7Q3W4EM6Y2ADN17/IMG_2923.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703317639-GGTMEGIIU0X0S0DW8SZY/IMG_2966.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. I roosted my shirt a little on some of the field events, but this was nothing compared to what was yet to come… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703674144-E4RPWMETTOQYXSYFHIT0/IMG_2995.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. It has been super busy around the shop. Between trying to get finished repairs out the door, re-organizing portions of the shop, and three major builds, there has been little time for play. October is bike month around here. The Barber Vintage Motorcycle meet before this event and the Harvest Classic Rally in Luckebach, Texas the following week were passed over because of the pace around the shop, but I had to make this one. I missed all shows last year because of a heavy workload, and vowed to make at least one this year. Despite almost constant rain, waterlogged muddy fields, and having to get my van towed out of a ditch, I would gladly do it again. Above, a rare Norton High-Rider model, one of the many stunning bikes in a sea of British, German, American, Italian, and Japanese examples. Even though this is the Norton Club, all models are welcome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703481150-IYL35YKX7LQS01LJEHYJ/IMG_2971.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. After the flat track main. My shirt weighs about five pounds in this picture, and the parts of my hair hanging out of the helmet were thoroughly caked with chunks of mud. I was on street tires that slid horribly, but did a fine job slinging mud at me or anyone trying to get around me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703372069-GJVCAK10DWP2EVZH6XWS/IMG_2977.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. The “H8-R Honda Z50R featured in an earlier post with the freshly re-painted tank I meant to show off when I had a chance. After several Motos, the race official told me he had some good news and bad news: “ The good news is that you made the Main in the minibike flat track event, the bad news is that you made the Main in the minibike flat track event.” It was a wild, muddy slog that ended with little idea among the riders or officials about who even won the event! So much fun, my victory was that I finished at all. Big thanks to Bell Helmets for their race gear! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703430191-A76V0SPCSHQTU47W6AOM/IMG_2957.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. The Jason Lee Triumph TR6C took second in the competition class. Behind is the Ariel/BSA racer that took the top award. I finally had a chance to give this bike a ride with all the dirt and mud we had, and was not disappointed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703801229-NPITU3B7HJ9G1R7UDNB3/IMG_2920.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. A couple of BSA beauties that caught my eye. Many of the bikes in the show were finely restored and modified, but there were grungy competition and street examples as well. By the end of the morning bike show, the rain was starting up again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703729893-KUHBBZDQ43LWMV1E9SVZ/IMG_2959.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. Amazingly, the three hours the bike show was going on were relatively dry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1539703541585-9MN13VMF2CA5HNQQOKWI/IMG_2967.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Norton Owners Land O' The Pines Motorcycle Rallye. My buddy Shawn Henry and his teammate following a victorious run in the field events. The requisite congratulatory slug of Malort awaiting the victor. In that case, probably better to lose. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/10/5/invited-to-bornfree-11-two-hondas-leaving-the-shop-and-everything-else monthly 0.5 2019-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768713910-X31B4S64XYFYAQVYERPK/IMG_2877.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Hand controls and levers are from a 1971 Honda SL70. That silver thing on the left handlebar is a drink holder. CT70’s are popular as pit bikes and at swap meets, and a drink holder comes in handy. The footpegs are from a Z50 K3 model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768760015-MPQVXTKTJTRQNPQBEFWO/IMG_2843.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Another bike heading out the door with a new owner was this 1975 Honda CL360 seen in past blog posts. Still one of my vintage favorites as far as handling and looks. The Mikuni 30mm carbs make for easy starting and impressive acceleration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768870719-V9UVWJVYIKA3JNMA9LQL/IMG_2838.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Another bike searching for a new home is this 1971 Honda CT70 seen in past blog posts. Tons of new parts, a 108cc engine, it runs strong and is ready to go. This picture is from the Dentonmoto Movie night and bike showcase, where we had four bikes for sale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768916543-EOBS4PWTJQ3AIBXLI4CM/IMG_2813.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Finished Fabian’s tank and it is now back on his bike, “Morrison.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768673714-P46WN69F7AZLNF2794K0/IMG_2861.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Lots of extra bling, and accessories like stainless steel dual exhaust, ignition key-matched helmet holder, grab bar, rear rack, folding shifter, and chrome engine dress-up kit. The seat is an ST70 model. Tires are Bridgestone from Japan. A smaller rear sprocket and larger counter sprocket are there to take advantage of the additional engine power and provide a higher top speed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538769011621-YHD4AOS8QX51GC8A0XG3/IMG_2880.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. A pulley guard made for Jason’s motorized bicycle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768806538-Q0ZOWBX5CNUMKMPNRUE8/IMG_2854.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. Number 22. Thank you Bornfree Show! The plan is to bring a 1957 Triumph Thunderbird custom. June will be here before we know it! #bornfreeshow #bf11 #bf11invitedbuilder https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538772129451-4YB2984UFK05JS2C9QU4/IMG_2891.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. The guard mounted up. When I first test rode the bike, my leg contacted the exposed pulley, prompting this mod. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1538768610087-KV3XU1WYSIRCJ3BRENCZ/IMG_2873.JPG THE BLOG - Invited to Bornfree 11, Two Hondas leaving the shop, and everything else. This 1972 Honda CT70H custom left the shop with a new owner this week. Sporting a headlight from the 1971 CT70 K0, alloy wheels, 88cc cylinder and piston, 20mm carb and intake, high flow air filter, oil cooler, temp gauge, and Honda SL70 head and cam, it is quick and fun. It came with a factory 4-speed with hand clutch. This is the second year of the CT70, and the first year for hydraulic forks. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/9/24/9uilhwazg6btwletlgudgy53yr84vy monthly 0.5 2018-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537803144047-AS8L26YX6P5UYF8SJYX4/IMG_2790.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. A mangled 1973 Honda Z50 brake pedal that was in the junk bin. Sometimes when I hang onto stuff like this I question whether it would better to just toss it into the recycle bin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802399746-KUHHRDTIFS2VYJMILRUR/IMG_2798.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. The Z50 brake pedal was used to make a rear stand foot lever. Hollow, tapered, curved pieces of metal are not easy to come up with, and the pedal middle section made for the perfect solution. The end was welded up to form a rounded tip. The combo of the grab bar and foot lever allows you to put the bike on the stand using one foot and hand, with significantly less difficulty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802943061-TZ31CFZCFKCAI4FDPT61/IMG_2670.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. Working on Jason Lee’s motorized bicycle. It needed a basic revival and clean up. Some of the rusted parts were re-plated or painted. This is the before picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802550050-BVR8MJ5GJIMWSEN7U6PV/IMG_2776.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. Here the dent is mostly gone. requiring only a small amount of body filler to smooth it out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802509542-RV0M2ILWA1KO02WNQ0ZR/IMG_2775.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. A device made to push dents out of the tank. The bent piece of rod fits inside the gas tank filler hole, and the tip is placed on the back of the dent. The thin piece of rod touching it is used to determine exactly where the tip is once it is inside the tank. Once the tip is in place, the tank is pulled using finger pressure near the dent, where you can feel the progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802464026-H0KO7RGTRRPPMG0S090Q/IMG_2774.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. The tank from Fabian Campos “Morrison” Honda CB500T was dented in a spill and is getting repaired. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802838977-E6TCR9QVTP2OQYICH5KF/IMG_2673.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. The before of the rear chain roller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802260248-KFB8HDX0U25TMJN43DOS/IMG_2795.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. Restoration, modification, and repair of vintage motorcycles is as much art as science. Recycling has always been a big part of the process, and something that is important to me personally. So how does this used hickory hammer handle and the twisted minibike brake pedal below become useful? The handle came on a flea market find was reconditioned and given a new handle (seen in the background.) Even though this appears to be trash, it still has value. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802699679-VT36O1FZFSNXUQJOWGEO/IMG_2755.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. Bolts and covers after zinc plating. The motor mounting plate was repainted and polished stainless hardware was used to bolt it all together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802209141-H6KWIEFVX13IHSBVZYNF/IMG_2801.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. The hammer handle was used for a grab handle on the 1948 BSA WM20. Putting this bike on the rear wheel stand was awkward and required lifting the rear of the bike by the fender. Hickory is an extremely strong and durable wood, and the patina from years of use fits with the appearance of the bike. The vertical steel parts of the handle were formed from 3/8” tube. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537802777750-38TKWA77MHG1T6JKRQER/IMG_2756.JPG THE BLOG - Recycling and The Art of Motorcycle Repair. After some reshaping and plating. Once again stainless bolts were used to hold it together. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/9/17/harley-davidson-triumph-yamaha-greeves-honda-builds-revivals-prepping-for-sale monthly 0.5 2018-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232059025-57ETY7MQDQ5U13CBPR46/IMG_2751.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. Without the foot and hand controls, the bike already looks a lot less cluttered. Mid foot controls will replace the factory forwards. The bars and cockpit will be kept minimal with Motogadget m-Unit controller, instruments, and controls. A solo seat and fender seat bump will be next. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232336162-WENLS116W44OEUUUM341/IMG_2721.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. A new rear tube is on the way to perk up the rear end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232117247-73NJXDCJSHHY1LPJJ90P/IMG_2742.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. The S&S 124cu in. engine will be largely left alone aside from a new starter, decomp valves, new pipes, and some cosmetic touches. The shocks were put in a more upright position to raise the rear of the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232171409-HKDU1NWY5OFCBVA25W86/IMG_2728.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. On the 30th of this month, DentonMoto is going to have some bikes for sale at our Movie Night. The showing is at Andy’s on the Square here in Denton, and this beautiful 1962 Greeves 250 motocross model will be one of the offerings. This is a picture fresh from the barn, but the bike is undergoing a good cleaning and revival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232220440-C4CS31WRFFXMHCWUNIEU/IMG_2730.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. That front end! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232009138-17I9PF0A8HO6QIS094SD/IMG_2738.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. The look the client was wanting was a modern bobber, with a more compact appearance. The bike is a family legacy bike, and some of the original elements are being retained as a tribute to its original owner. The tank and fenders will be mostly black, saving the red side panels on the tank, and matching the fenders. The original rear fender was bobbed (a few times) and the front fender will be a shortened version of the original one. The handlebars are for mock-up only and will be replaced with some lower ones. The chrome on the wheels, shocks, and forks will be blacked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232507314-GY8QQYRW1LHF4FDO3Y2Y/IMG_2513.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. The 1975 CL360 will be looking for a new owner at the movie night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232619501-U92GWVW3E26XNSNB1P0N/IMG_1798.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. And finally, this 1971 CT70 custom with 108cc engine will be at the sale. Tons of new parts, but original paint and chrome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537231948426-JZRHOAKW5JTPZ49CKT9R/IMG_2741.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. Harley in the house. A Client 1993 FXR is undergoing an update. Spoked wheels front and back replace some totally 90’s alloy discs, beefy Wide-Glide 41mm front fork and new triple trees instead of the narrow glide and a 16 front wheel instead of the 19 inch transform the front end. Most of the last couple weeks have been spent on this bike, but a bunch just showed up and are going to be prepped for sale at DentonMoto Movie Night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1537232264958-CHZ9WXZJO9RB8QCJNAPD/IMG_2726.JPG THE BLOG - Harley Davidson, Yamaha, Greeves, Honda. Builds, revivals, prepping for sale. Another one for sale will be this cherry 1973 Yamaha CT-1, with all the original finishes in great shape. 175cc’s of two-stroke sweetness. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/8/29/sorting-out-electrics-on-the-1948-bsa-wm20 monthly 0.5 2018-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535569163411-CP3TOZ0SR6AJ7BKOE837/IMG_2559.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 The after picture with the key switch fully mounted and wires tucked away. Some of the wiring was wrapped back into the wiring harness, some shortened, and some straps added to hold everything in place. Inside the battery box the wiring is more compact and tidy as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535569006811-GHHO68BNHUWUMBMKNT6T/IMG_2551.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 There was a rat's nest of wires around the battery box, with a lot of redundant and non-original wiring. Most of this was stuffed in the battery box, but still did not look very professional. Because of a parasitic drain on the battery, it was decided that a battery key switch was needed as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535896916774-2G9VOLJLRHQZM36B62KY/IMG_2569.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 After the paint was removed, an even worse problem was the deep gouges on the brass bung mating surface. Don't know whether to blame the painter of mechanic, but this is not what I would consider attention to detail on the part of either. Ultimately, whoever put these petcocks on should have taken care of these problems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535568958053-DQ72WR73UAW95QMK3XW4/IMG_2550.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 The contacts and rotor feeler contact have been resurfaced and reassembled. So cool these older parts can be serviced and refreshed. Lucas electrics sometimes referred to as "the Prince of Darkness," are hopefully in good working order now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535897023311-9YAE9SLDSGLU8IS6QZY0/IMG_2574.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 Once again, it is the small details that need attention. This is the bottom of the fiberglass tank on the 1971 Triumph TR6C dirt bike. The petcock bungs on both sides had weeping leaks that needed addressing. An inspection revealed several faults. First thing wrong is that a layer of paint was left on the mating surfaces. This will naturally turn to goo and funnel fluid under the paint layer, destroying the surrounding paint. On each side there were two steel washers used to seal the petcocks. It is a wonder it did not leak more than it did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535569113267-RHCCYE0HUD92RL7OH56I/IMG_2555.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 A small cylinder was fabbed up from 22 gauge steel to hold the battery disconnect switch. An existing bolt was used to mount it behind the battery box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535896964832-QYV3VLKKMKCSMYKZHZS8/IMG_2573.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 After several minutes with 320 wet sand paper and a honing stone, most of the gouges have disappeared. The remaining ones were removed and the other side dressed down as well. Super important to keep the honing device flat and perpendicular to the bore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535568912588-5KD1TH7TT062U89YVQJC/IMG_2547.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 On the 1948 BSA WM20, the underside of the original Lucas 4-position lighting switch shows quite a bit of corrosion and pitting on the brass contacts. When riding the bike previously, it took a bit of wiggling the switch to get good contact and make the lighting system work. With the rotor removed, it is easy to dress these posts with fine emory cloth. A line from the film "Pulp Fiction" keeps going through my head as I work on these small details: "its the little differences." The small details that mean the difference between lighting at night or not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535569065634-WBH4XAB0M6SAJL2U0GSL/IMG_2553.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 More of the loose hanging wires. One of my other passions is circuit bending electronics, and this sort of dodgy mess makes me cringe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535897068220-FJ3KIM9JIVYAQO7RW691/IMG_2575.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 The bung on the opposite side was gouged even worse, concealed by a layer of paint. Clearly not just an oversight, but a consistent fail. There was a lot of red residue from gas that wicked up under the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535897123239-3DWC8N6JP2F67MRLC3JJ/IMG_2577.JPG THE BLOG - Sorting out electrics on the 1948 BSA WM20, cleaning out bung holes on the Triumph 140 Lastly, the footpegs for the 1975 CL360 arrived and got fresh hardware and paint to spruce them up. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/8/24/s3h1i2a05akdcbm59kb15pmz45aom7 monthly 0.5 2018-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535132745051-NXV0LYQCR2AVSZXPNJD5/IMG_2452.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. Because the rear fender had been bobbed, the usual mounting of the plate in a more vertical position was not practical as it either hung over the edge of the fender or sat a bit too high. Making the license plate with the upper bend allows the light to have the correct orientation and the plate to lay on the fender nicely, and the light is a little more tucked in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535132646048-ER7BJYFAEZ4KXDKI2WV0/IMG_2466.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. Beautiful even in silhouette. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426191826-KPQ70FM1BRR85INXH4AC/IMG_2522.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. A vintage set of Japanese Redwing shocks replaced the rusted originals. A new seat cover, grab bar, turn signals, and a taillight lens have the rear-end looking fresh. The bike came without front or back footpegs. Some replacements are on order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426305568-GFC37PHOQVEE3EHRX7OO/IMG_2527.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. In addition to the new parts, a lot of time was spent hand polishing the original chrome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426138785-JPXFXG2LCXCJCBJ1VXB3/IMG_2512.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. A 1975 Honda CL360 that came to the shop in storage bins. There were a number of NOS parts used to restore this beautiful survivor. A set of Mikuni VM30 carbs and pod filters replaced the original Keihin's, but the bike is otherwise stock. This bike is being prepared for a potential customer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426578577-M8OCR08BZXXEVFTAMIPT/IMG_2536.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. Waiting for a suitor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426253400-M5G7WXIEWUUJKF59TBRQ/IMG_2525.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. The tank and side covers are in very good condition with what appears to be original paint. A new gas cap and seal were added. The engine side cover will be refinished to match the clutch cover on the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426381389-IL440FFCLAN5A6JS7WVF/IMG_2517.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. There are still plans for some new tires, battery, exhaust clamps, and a chain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535426435474-HYK1Q4VSGLQRLR4I1M7X/IMG_2514.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. The high pipes on the CL scramblers are so beautiful. The finned engine covers are stock. New cables, levers, reflectors, signals and the triple tree insignia replaced worn pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1535132698026-ZEFFAHZFV14PPR09N06M/IMG_2454.JPG THE BLOG - 1975 Honda CL360 Revival and finishing the 1948 BSA tail light. Version two of the 1948 BSA WM20 taillight bracket painted and mounted on the bike. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/8/21/1971-z50a-leaving-the-shop-and-1948-bsa-wm20-tail-lights monthly 0.5 2018-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534882186129-S6JFDH0V7G24N9PEKNBG/IMG_2435.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. After an engine rebuild and sympathetic restoration of the tank were done to prep the bike for sale. The original muffler was opened a little internally and a new stinger inserted in the end of the muffler. At full throttle it is quite loud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534882330294-TU3JUR5QUX9ITRFK0V6D/IMG_2449.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. This bike was found in West Texas with a thick layer of grease and red sand coating much of the bike. The air filter was absent, and the engine was worn out on the top end as a result. Still in search of an original tail light bracket, but if none is found, perhaps one will be fabricated like the ones for the 1948 BSA in the following pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534892318932-HXLVZQEDSCXY9ZVW3EM2/IMG_2431.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. The second bracket getting a little paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534882230523-PJBM3OY9PHSAUAZTKM69/IMG_2446.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. Although the tank had been sealed before, it was with a latex product that has failed on me before, so it was stripped and replaced with epoxy. The discoloration from where the pinholes at the lower edge of the tank had soaked through was retouched. The entire white portion of the tank was repainted including the underside. The upper red portion had some scratches filled and was buffed out. Original style foil tank warning stickers were placed in the exact original location, easy to do because of distinct fade marks around their previous location. new OEM rubber tank mounting posts and rubber strap were added. The engine side cover was also painted up. The footpegs and sidestand were fully restored with new rubbers and cadmium plating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534882088751-P4LPH1GDUTEGPU17XXWP/IMG_2444.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. This 1971 Z50A has been getting ready to go to a new home. The bike underwent some basic restoration years ago when first purchased on the wheels, forks, tires, handlebars, cables, and seat, but the engine had not been touched and was a smoker. Honda really knew how to spark the love of riding in kids. The first time seeing one of these as a child was unforgettable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534882276170-3B31IT238B88EJ9Y4TYC/IMG_2437.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. The50cc engine was converted to an 88cc, with a race head and cam, heavy duty clutch, high volume oil pump, and a 20mm carb and intake set-up. A 15 tooth front sprocket replaced the 13 tooth one to take advantage of the added torque. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534886632453-38XK1KK6G85TIQ0MTAYX/IMG_2421.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. Looking to replace the tail light bracket on the 1948 BSA WM20. This is the first candidate, a 1950's BSA 250 plate with Lucas light fixture. The fluted mounting bracket was fabbed up to compliment the ridge in the lens and front fender. There were a number of holes already drilled in the fender, and it was designed to use or cover up those existing holes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534892275535-6YREC0J4Y6O1G73BFB3B/IMG_2426.JPG THE BLOG - 1971 Z50A leaving the shop and 1948 BSA WM20 tail lights. The second version uses an older style lighting fixture and a more plain mounting bracket. Once again, existing mounting holes were used. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/8/14/u6eh2a8xrgnshp15kd7vlket32kf2m monthly 0.5 2018-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534258613041-7DX43A7SPMHKH8PR60I7/IMG_2337.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. Just a little tighter and compact with big stopping power up front. The stock handlebar controls are vintage cool, and will be rebuilt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534360542153-K4GPUDRWTSIK3O1E7SUX/IMG_2388.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. My favorite from the lot were this matched set of what would appear to be US military surplus units. With clear lenses and small wattage bulbs, it is unclear what they were for exactly. They would have been almost useless as a headlight, perhaps they were used for a front marker lamp. The paint underneath is Army green. The red paint was likely after it was sold to the public. If parts could talk... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534258431908-58M3Z3SBKQOUJEKBF1TX/IMG_2370.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. Because the rear gas tank mounts for mounting the Roadster tank were not on the bike, I am wondering if the bike was originally a Roadster model. New mounting tabs were fabricated to utilize the original mounting points. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534257954488-A9EWZG2X26L1LEXMNH9Z/IMG_2371.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. Starting to look a little more like a bike. New fork tubes, lowers, and front wheel with the dual disc brakes and stainless braided lines to get the front end sorted out. A custom alloy fender is coming next. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534360351437-8R2AOXYEWOB14VMN6W11/IMG_2392.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. In other happenings, a lot of vintage tail and other type light came in. Pictured are some of the glass lens ones that got cleaned up a little. A few are US navy and other aircraft, with car and motorcycle units making up the bulk of the collection. A guy who looked to be somewhere near 70 told me they were collected by his Daddy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534258232680-2VIGUQYUMO0SVVAYSPGW/IMG_2359.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. This Lucas headlight is for mock-up only, with a new unit in the works. A small fairing in aluminum is still being contemplated. The tires are Kenda brand that the owner picked out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534360399963-L5C57916N6S6443JZS1G/IMG_2403.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534258498912-GYE2Q3THQL4P399PXBR5/IMG_2343.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. Waiting on some bearings to mount the NOS brake drum. The bike is being assembled to the point that it can be started and ridden. Since the bike came as an unknown, it will be necessary to check the function of the engine and drivetrain before disassembly for finishing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1534258065586-U86NONTGBP13NI7VK28A/IMG_2365.JPG THE BLOG - The 1974 Norton Commando is a Roller. A week of rain in Texas in August! I rolled the bike out for the first round of pictures and had 30 seconds before a sprinkle turned to a cloudburst. The side profile is looking a little cleaner with the shortened and raised tail, rear-sets, clip-ons, and rear fender elimination. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/8/8/indian-bsa-triumph-norton-honda monthly 0.5 2018-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761426802-T7823YIM18T8R6GGJBC8/IMG_2272.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. I'm going to say sand cast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761801100-E716T2F8UTPW0SY5CIGC/IMG_2165.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. The worst of the before pics. Kush-drive has become mush-drive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761210131-OHF3Z3K79SQVIHDFY7CK/IMG_2299.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. A busy time in the shop for sure. A '48 BSA WM20 has come in for a revival, a race prepped Triumph OIF dirt bike is here for repair and revival, the Norton Commando Cafe wheels were built, the red Z50 is being completed for a buyer, a cool Indian drops by, and the Hater bike is undergoing more changes. So just a regular kind of week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761546974-I5GBUFUKC22QAABTTJ12/IMG_2276.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. Some small additional changes to the Hater bike in prep for the drag races this week-end: a manual heavy-duty clutch and Takegawa hydraulic acctuator were put on along with a Takegawa forged alloy kickstarter, a DRP temp gauge, and a Kitaco Super coil. Some graphics have been thrown on to complete the drag vibe. A set of alloy pegs have also been fitted after this picture was taken. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761478930-64MXE9VL8AT4Z7YXTGD8/IMG_2290.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. A lot of work went into the Z50 tank, stripping a Kreem liner and replacing it with some epoxy, and touching up the paint. Since there was paint being shot, the 1957 Triumph tins got thrown in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533837038481-DQAKZXE3ALOX4U7MPE43/IMG_2315.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. Found a nice Jones shouldered rim and some Buchanan stainless spokes to finish up the wheel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761266124-0V5DM1ZUF98WPW5SO6Q5/IMG_2288.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. 1971 Triumph TR6C oil in frame model here for a tank re-line, fork rebuild and revival. With a Joe Hunt Magneto set-up, fiberglass tank, plastic fender, custom bash plate, Husky front hub, Ceriani front forks, Works brand shocks, Renthal Desert bars, and a monster rear sprocket, this one is ready to chew some dirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761701384-GFO25HM55Q6WUK2QMN5Z/IMG_2278.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761151498-HV8EJ4K45XJIHO6691Q3/IMG_2282.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. My buddy Jason stopped by with his Indian. What a beauty! His TR6C desert racer is in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761362035-T7AX70ZXV2AG9EH3KQDA/IMG_2273.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. Digging into the Norton Commando wheel, a close up shows the irregular finish on these castings. Turning them on a lathe was only possible to a degree, with a surprising amount of wobble in the run-out. Most of the work was done with abrasive wheels to start, then files for the grooves, and emery cloth and wet-dry paper to finish https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533761611626-LHS3F6ST347WL5TQU1JD/IMG_2292.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. Loving the patina on this 1948 BSA WM20. Just doing some general maintenance on the gas and electrical systems, and adding a tail light. The Snuff-or-Not exhaust damper doubles as a mouse nest barrier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533836997887-5C71MA4XRQNWOZELLUPL/IMG_2308.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. BLING!!! Hours of filing, sanding and polishing, but it is worth it. They are not perfect, but loads better anyway. An NOS brake drum will be mated to the hub. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1533837091653-QDFBUAZ2ASL4S21Q7H6P/IMG_2306.JPG THE BLOG - Of BSA, Triumph, Norton, Indian and Honda Motorcycles. Just waiting on some wheels to make the roller. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/7/29/the-1999-honda-z50-hater-prepares-to-drag-race monthly 0.5 2018-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532887167572-DJCES0ZUTMANF918H8SU/IMG_0911.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. Yes we are grown men riding parades on minibikes in Elvis costumes...what's not to like? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532886605199-XKY1V5UH1JX3QKO2ASCL/IMG_2235.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. Trading out the 35T for a 24T rear sprocket. Some off the line acceleration will be lost, but these bikes get to top speed in a short distance, so I'm thinking top speed will be the determining factor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532887314250-3FBTK9QTIC4GOZE25C1N/IMG_2246.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. ATC70 repop headlight with a new element in it. Ugly but bright. A rare BBR drum brake pedal can be seen poking out from under the pegs. Some aluminum pegs will be found to replace the stock steel ones. A manual clutch set-up is being contemplated. Although stock in appearance, the exhaust is a larger diameter reproduction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532886498718-MR8C04UCDWLTF2DLOU5L/IMG_2237.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. Got the Mikuni VM26-606 carb jetted in. It came with a 190 main jet, and have worked it down to 120. In preparation for the drag race, a HondaTB roller-rocker race head, cylinder, piston, stroker crank, heavy duty autoclutch, high volume oil pump, and intake were used in CRF50 cases. A Takegawa high flow petcock, air filter and side stand were added. The stock day-glo fuschia tank logo says party like its 1999. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532890365586-OGJ3YSXJPWK8DNEZHUSU/IMG_2239.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. The over-long Takegawa alloy swingarm and Yoshimitsu shocks. The crazy gear ratio makes for a little chain slap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532887358304-AL81VOSG2V5ZDLZQ3UKZ/IMG_2250.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. A custom magneto cover allows for easy sprocket changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532886429528-SH1MD9DOQS6DFUNK9NJZ/IMG_2244.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. Looking lonely and a bit gawky, The 1999 Honda Z50R that became known as "The Hater" for its parts bin special heritage of parts some mini-bikers love to hate on: the overly extended swingarm, square headlight, mini-car flat profile tires, and BBR kids bars. An upcoming gig with The World-Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi prompted some changes like a new short skirt piston, roller-rocker head, carb and intake, a new front tire, and some aluminum rims. Besides being a regular rider with the Elvi, the bike was chosen for its long rear swinger and bigger rear tire. The front tire and Kitaco wheel rim is a full 3.5 pounds lighter than the mini-car tire and steel rim it replaced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532889196218-2AUCKT8AESKZOJ74ZWJS/IMG_2232.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. The Kitaco alloy rims are a full 10 ounces lighter apiece than the steel ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532886779421-EMG0VK95BS8DP732KG7R/IMG_1978.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. The Hater in form for the 4th of July parade in Arlington, Tx. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532886853144-33BI6TX23VWA5YZYGEG9/IMG_2241.JPG THE BLOG - The 1999 Honda Z50 "Hater" Prepares to Drag Race. The view from the rear that I am hoping will be etched into my competitors brain. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/7/26/yamaha-tw200-revival-1972-z50-norton-commando-shop-lights-mid-ohio-swap-meet-pics monthly 0.5 2018-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623753179-2X20J8Q2YS2MZBNGYU5W/IMG_2016.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. A beautiful Honda 305. Thinking this is an early sixties CB77. The passenger peg mounts are the same as the rear-set mounts on the "Cabracer 360" and "The Seven" bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623676809-W0A8ZCGKVBCO8PRXI3AT/IMG_2020.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. Never been big on baggers, but this one is inventive and looks pretty natural. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532626209943-9IX8BYY189NJQ12M6N85/IMG_2082.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. I couldn't go all the way to Ohio without raiding Fair Electronics, source of vintage panel lights among other things. These are all military surplus, mostly from aircraft. I have found some sealed packages there from the early forties, but these were dated 1962. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623218824-XX49LB27L39F738YO5P2/IMG_2190.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. A bar to hang the light in the shop was installed in the rafters. The lights will be used for events and photography. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623026898-W2QNYFVP9164113T7718/IMG_2187.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. Busy in the shop with a number of projects. My buddy Jake's TW200 came in for a revival and repair. The bike had been ridden by an inexperienced rider unfamiliar with the concept of shifting gears, and revved to the moon for an extended period of time, after which it became underpowered and began clicking. The bike had set up and needed the carb cleaned out and battery revived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623170846-HWW36XD88JQ1OYG5ATE2/IMG_2154.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. The wheels were rebuilt with new bearings, seals, sprockets, tires, tubes, cadmium re-plated hardware, and new cables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623072082-N1EHKUL7CTL71JTOOGK2/IMG_2185.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. The culprit on the TW200 was a missing locknut on the valve adjuster. The nut was fished out of the head with a magnet, replaced, valves adjusted and the bike runs like new. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623125170-4RS9JBW0EUUZWY4GRI27/IMG_2149.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. A 1972 Honda Z50 minitrail was dug out of the garage for a potential buyer. This one had the forks, handlebars, wheels, electrics, and controls restored. The seat was recovered. Restored cadmium plated footpeg assembly with new rubber. The engine needs rebuilt, so an 88cc upgrade is being contemplated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532626277897-A1FG05EG0S1PN7BDZUY8/IMG_2026.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. Miles of old military radios and parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532630623517-OM7ER4X6VFC7OLUNPDDF/IMG_2204.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. Just needs a little love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623587385-JB5YXYLVY3G32BOVIZBJ/IMG_2012.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. A cool old Ducati scrambler. This was on display, NFS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623487352-HIVRMCFA2HSKOIBERZS2/IMG_2018.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. Mid Ohio Vintage days Swap meet find. Looks like a CL175 engine jammed in this '71 CT70. The extended swingarm is a good idea to keep the front wheel down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532630579129-Z2DRI1DNXK1ZCYY9I4EE/IMG_2208.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. The tank is going to have to be sealed, but otherwise has a cool vintage patina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623857313-EK1LVOMUGTM2MIIH72O9/IMG_2192.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. The 1974 Norton Commando gets some mufflers and the stock side covers added. The footrest mounting plates were traded out with some bobbed ones that allow the mufflers to be tucked in closer. The rear wheel is undergoing restoration. New fork uppers arrived and will be used with new lowers for the dual disc brakes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623314555-X5TC6VQS5L2574RU9FK5/IMG_2165.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. The Kush drive rubbers had all but disintegrated. I bet this thing made some noise starting and stopping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1532623391508-V7OUAN5Q2E6UMK381N6P/IMG_2077.JPG THE BLOG - Yamaha TW200, 1972 Honda Z50, Norton Commando, Shop lights, Mid Ohio. An unexpected find at Mid Ohio was these Century studio spots. 80 bucks and they came ganged together and with bulbs! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/7/16/2y0ure9y3xozn11uneoqnuk3eeq8s2 monthly 0.5 2018-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531761282434-QHD0GZQLOODUWD6MQJ9A/IMG_8323.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. A stock, worn Commando 850 the day it was hauled out of Elmo's barn and brought to the shop. The seat pan was disintegrated due to rust, side stand flopping, tank just placed there, pipes and side covers missing, but otherwise fairly complete. The plan is to add some custom vintage and modern parts to transform the bike into a cafe racer style. The fenders will be deleted except for a small front alloy one, new seat with classic cafe style hump will be made, shortened rear frame loop, clip-on handlebars, alloy bikini front fairing and side covers, short upswept pipes, dual disc front brake, spoked wheels with alloy shouldered rims. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759626075-IG2G7FXLRQY7WBFND39V/IMG_2105.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. Mocking up the pieces. There will be a hinged door to access the rear hump for storage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759716470-OKCZWHOY5WQASNGC3W6H/IMG_2097.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The stock handlebar mounts were deleted and filled on the upper triple clamp, and a set of clip-ons were fitted. Some of the front controls will be used, but a dual disc caliper system is on hand to update the front end, with a brake master that will most likely replace the stock unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759501048-AVX5IKQQCEDQ5KPMC7HT/IMG_2085.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. During shaping. This picture is a bit of an optical illusion. The lighting makes it appear to be either the concave or convex view of the seat hump. It is the concave underside with the flat front arch laid on the table, checking for flatness. This was before the tail was put through the shrinker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759667393-Y4UTPP5RWY3JF251R1LB/IMG_2108.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The Jet Tools English wheel and shrinker/stretcher made for much easier going on the hump, and the Jet Tools combo brake/shear was used to form the seat pan. The rear frame loop was sectioned about ten inches, and swept upward from the stock lines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531760989464-MCX0JK73HSSUZ6IGFVEC/A16BA6FC-C09A-4791-94F5-9A80BA97ED5D.jpg THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The Jet Tools English wheel with the combo brake/shear/roller in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759839424-N5EPFMQI1VU4HK37GPXB/IMG_2090.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The seatpan getting ready to get some center ribs and then the edges folded down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531892770779-EHG3JZQ5CBIV1R58MRLA/IMG_2133.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. Next up is the bikini fairing and fender in aluminum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759578635-YE1BB5FJKJ57CYBZVNJ1/IMG_2087.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The first day of pounding and shaping done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531759790017-O17V54A3TMSY0I01AI7A/IMG_2098.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. Norman Hyde rear-set foot pegs and controls were found for this project. A buddy had an unused set purchased in 1992 that he supplied for the build. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531893006238-T87EK7O62UEWB3YXN6Z8/IMG_2092.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. The rear view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1531893274935-SMXVQ28RSIKD3Z1ZO97V/IMG_2122.JPG THE BLOG - 1974 Norton Commando 850 Cafe Project Update. One of the challenges restyling the seat was to make the rear frame loop shorter and upswept. The original loop (seen in the first pic) is significantly longer and slanted downward. The loop and part of the shock mount were reconfigured to get the tighter, shorter tail. Exhaust pipes are fitted and mufflers are getting worked out. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/7/1/triumph-trailblazer-250-build-started monthly 0.5 2018-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530476250564-5YY7HE4LTC7SQ4LM9RJX/IMG_1966.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins The color match between Honda and Triumph is uncanny. The fenders and tank are original paint and will remain so. Look at that huge rear sprocket! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530593871783-H50HFPXPULB3BLZ9NU2J/IMG_0256.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins This is what it looked like when it first came to the shop. The previous owner had modified the bike to accept a Suzuki RM250 front fork and swingarm assembly. The seat height was about 40" without a rider on it. Though unbelievably funky, it had been converted in such a manner that everything could be changed back to original. The rear monoshock assembly used existing mounting points to make it a bolt-on application. Most all of the parts taken off the bike were included in the sale, even the fork stop that had been chopped off and is now welded back onto the bike. Because the RM rear brake panel is on the opposite side from the stock one, the previous owner made a cross-over mechanism to accommodate it. Unfortunately, the original brake pivot mount was destroyed in the process and had to be rebuilt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530633254379-2UIWMM9SLM5UOZFC8E69/IMG_1951.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins The original rigid footpegs had been modified to add some grip, but it all got chopped off to build the folding peg mounts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530591384165-Z9TRIJNEZZ12OEEPC3O1/IMG_1972.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins Still considering whether to simply lengthen the tail pipe or add a muffler. I have a Supertrapp canister that may get the nod. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530594036526-ZALD126TL0YLGQLPX9LC/IMG_0262.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins The original tank was on the bike when I got it, but had been stripped of paint, and a large dent was in the front from the fork hitting it. Intersetingly, the rear fender, side covers, and seat pan were super light homebrew fiberglass pieces put together by the previous owner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530591298363-5Y8J1N1KQZ3A77WLFN5U/IMG_1973.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins While a big fan of the original aluminum tank, the Honda replacement looks perfectly at home and allows a larger capacity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530591347413-WSVMMYFLTKJYETMTU6L9/IMG_1964.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530476192600-IEPPN3LYD5FUC1P7CZBQ/IMG_1968.JPG THE BLOG - Triumph Trailblazer 250 build begins http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/6/26/back-from-the-born-free-show-in-california monthly 0.5 2018-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530043165136-NZT42ZTYJLBDESPNRT4G/IMG_1946.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. The bike headed home with Steve after the show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530043111961-YVH3BYXQ2HAC4P81JCZV/IMG_1905.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. Steve checking out the bike on arrival at the Born Free show. He has seen it at three different shows, and each time there were changes made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530042893136-1KF71DEM1A3LFIO63QF4/IMG_1899.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. One of the surprises we saved for last was the engraved points cover. Steve loved it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530043214206-5OKJDAR1NEOAI3PZWHE5/IMG_1915.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. We went out for supper with Steve and his buddy Jason, who were settling up a weight-loss wager (Steve won the sushi dinner.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530111752921-T4YD6NU5DOFMY45WK6FF/IMG_1856.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. Peter J. Salisbury shooting the Cabracer the day before we set out for the show. 40 bikes rolled out of the shop to shoot these pics. Having the shop cleared out was awesome! A small amount of gas is in the tank, visible through the sight glass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530042821689-97GP6MFSNE5MKYK52MEF/fullsizeoutput_3f5b.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. The Meta Magazine MT250 Brotherbike was on display at the FOX Racing booth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530043023892-WPVK25ZYW6JU1P4MPIO5/IMG_1944.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. Rat Fink, SoCal Speedshop, Moon Racing, and Steve's skull stickers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530112263124-97QGXC0A0YMVLF3KN0AX/IMG_1828.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. A lot of my bikes have a hidden inscription. This was on the bottom of the tank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530110772129-864MJ6ZDY0TGRDWB104N/IMG_1890.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. Loaded and ready for the long haul to Cali. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530042774140-XKUXO3JYH6LB5AD9JNNE/IMG_1930.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530042968187-HWPVGBILPVP576Y4MMZH/IMG_1943.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. The Hot Wheels Steve Caballero 1965 Econoline truck. Steve sent these for the Dentonmoto boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1530112427744-0GG1EZRKU1H8FKM85F8E/IMG_1869.JPG THE BLOG - Back from the Born Free Show in California. Some photos of The "7" were taken as well while we had the shop cleared out. As soon as Peter gets them retouched they will be shared. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/6/13/the-cabracer-360-is-leaving-the-shop monthly 0.5 2018-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528908081819-L5GKJZ7VHP56T2EU8KAI/IMG_1758.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! Wade O. Wilson did some engraving on the points cover. This is what I sketched up, but what he did was much cooler. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528908011603-T3FF9TARHNHYQ50JRIFC/IMG_1717.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! Kind of getting used to the bike stripped down with the test tank. The tank came from a Suzuki minibike. The Ripper on the seat bump just makes you smile as you walk past...hoping Steve's competitors will get a good look at it on the track. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1529002264802-C1TN35YXHPNULMBYUNAK/IMG_1148.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! The Meta Brotherbike is going to be heading for the Born Free Show, on display in the FOX Racing tent. Following the show, it will be heading to a new brother to ride for a while... Picture from the OG Moto show earlier this year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528908444263-AX2UNVCZFP4GXU4KHVPM/IMG_1260.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! The maker's badge is on the frame. After some more testing and a thorough cleaning, the Cabracer 360 will be on display during the Father's Day Moto GP watch party at Andy's Bar here in Denton, then it will be time to take it one last time to California. There is plenty of time in left in the racing season, can't wait to see how the Cabracer does! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1529001670127-5MEBQAMLGSG9DP447ULW/IMG_1815.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! Thanks, Wade, looks great! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1529019127121-6XKB6MSZL6XOF1TPGW09/IMG_1820.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! Some special fittings made for the front fork wheel stand to allow wheel removal. Since there is a belly pan and no frame under the front of the engine, there is no good jack point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528906927980-EDNINQ7ZYDJ8KF1CI4FV/IMG_1715.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! The Highwayman race ignition on the Cabracer works now. The bike is getting some carb tuning and going on test runs in this pic. The bike is headed for the Born Free Custom show in California June 21, and will be left with Steve for good following that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528907396922-6MYI6HG2F9EPN8YKJ3R8/IMG_1809.JPG THE BLOG - The Cabracer 360 is Leaving the Shop, Brothebike to return! The ignition system problems on the Cabracer came down to a faulty flywheel. Because of a misaligned stator plate, the flywheel gouged out the flywheel, most likely magnetizing the aluminum portions between the magnets. It was a maddening process to figure out because the system was producing spark, but only sporadic backfiring. In the process, an entire set of new components was purchased and replaced on the engine one at a time and then tested with no luck. The final component substituted was the flywheel, and it was like magic. The stator plate was drilled out to compensate for the clearance issue, a new flywheel was installed, and she runs well now. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/6/12/finishing-the-1971-honda-ct70 monthly 0.5 2018-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828765766-ZHY55S3P826D69F0VGL9/IMG_1774.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528829804684-3RW12L4RGCQVEGQ3M64H/IMG_1761.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. Everything fresh and re-plated under the seat. A new OEM gas cap and battery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828978588-8Q76978T63B5EAD8G715/IMG_1776.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. Fresh hardware everywhere. All the chrome and aluminum parts were cleaned and polished. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828300520-R4DLLO0WEC7ABJQCO94O/IMG_1778.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828367057-AOCJW68GB7SWDZC23AEQ/IMG_1787.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. The fuel system is all new except for the original plastic fuel tank. New hose, clamps, petcock, gas cap, carb, intake and filter. New OEM cam cover and aftermarket valve covers. The heel-toe shifter so you don't have to scuff the top of your Italian leather riding boots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828431075-GD015B9XL52I9HEGCBC6/IMG_1801.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. I love all the chrome. The original horn works and is loud! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828910108-GQ607WB29QGKX2ZET0KX/IMG_1777.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828486303-Y0EE6JXKZH7XFUVSXU29/IMG_1775.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. The quality of the reproduction seat from Northeast Vintage Cycles is incredible. Nice clear tail light lens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828626070-BGKFG2KGYJZ66TLUHQGD/IMG_1791.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. Because quality used headlight buckets in this color are tough to find and vintage speedos costly, a modern chrome unit was substituted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828557377-73NJNQ5QCOFC9B067WBF/IMG_1788.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. The chain guard is on original OEM piece, purchased years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1528828672408-6MALPBSVF0DF9IPM11GY/IMG_1790.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing the 1971 Honda CT70. The wheels and tires are completely rebuilt and new. All new cables. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/5/26/finishing-up-the-cabracer360 monthly 0.5 2018-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365870504-1X7MY7OSSM4INDEZDB0O/IMG_1162.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. Sticky Heidenau K-44 tires were put on following the OG Moto show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527366076433-PSMIPG7F3ANVGG2NFZ25/IMG_1185.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The battery tray for the total loss ignition used in testing and available as a back-up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365539216-4AM580MIU2YBE4R6521E/IMG_1454.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365792221-A19648AZYU2Z7S9VN7QK/IMG_1366.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. Test fitting the 5 speed tranny and crank one last time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527384419513-1O09V19ESD49IUJHHXD0/IMG_1147.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. At the Outlier's Guild Moto Show in early April 2018. The coil location has been moved, the tank wings painted, leather seat cover made, an oil cooler added, K&N cone filters replaced the UNI's, and the engine work done minus the ignition. A speedometer was also mounted and a custom work/display stand was also made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365596128-8E94QO6BE355HWZDXMQP/IMG_1403.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The clutch screw and oil pump retainer nut are lock-wired internally. The Cappellini chain-drive oil pump up close. The cases have to be machined out to mount it, the oil slinger and one primary drive gear removed, and one of the heavy clutch basket drive gears has to be replaced with an aluminum spacer. The result is a lighter clutch basket and crank, and hella oil flow. Barnett Kevlar clutch disks and plates were used. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365722773-59MLJ6BPAMEH7KQHMN5S/IMG_1365.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The engine was given a good inspection with no major problems detected. The Highwayman race ignition plate can be seen in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527383944001-TH1Z7G32Q3VP3DCURZNG/IMG_1520.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The Michael Lichter photo of the Cabracer360 at Revival Cycles Handbuilt Show, late April 2018. Notice the front fairing tails have been cut down. There are other refinements like a rock shield for the oil cooler, and a tether for the seat release screw. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365476039-AXOAIPEDDK7IS068NRGA/IMG_1452.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365641850-OE2TDL80706UQJI3T01U/IMG_1397.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. Third time this engine has been out of the bike, one last check of the cam degree, and it is ready for full assembly. Thanks to Tucker Rocky and Motion Pro for the degree wheel and throttle on the bike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527365425334-FY615RTNRPW8DGB3SR59/IMG_1455.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. After the Handbuilt Show, the bike was broken down one last time to address an oil leak, inspect and clean the engine, and drill the bolts and nuts for lock wire. All the sidecover screws have been replaced with drilled socket head screws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527385890545-3B5LEMNMKE3KMIRT1ZQZ/IMG_1190.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The tether for the seat release screw attached to the panl that houses the total loss ignition system main power disconnect switch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527426041744-HCHSIZESK46DZW8G3NT1/IMG_1258.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The final piece on the bike will be the Shitame Repousse brass signature plaque. This brass is pretty thin and has been worked with small tools to get this effect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527384134867-MT1WW8B4WCIZVY8PBQ83/IMG_9832.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The morning after the December 2017 reveal. The bike would be completely broken down to add new larger pistons, cylinders, valve springs with titanium retainers, oil cooler, and the cosmetic touches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527426677672-W4P8C8A3JONJZXG5M24Z/IMG_1102.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the Cabracer360. The second rear fairing mount is missing in this picture, but it was cut off and moved forward to fit the new shorter fairing tails. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2018/5/17/ixvxeabsahkugl4h3u18imz7ijg0vf monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526682967236-SXVZILZWWCWZTS75YGJ2/IMG_7568.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual The Suzuki GS750 project completed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683781590-4DHT7084YN6B861D8RJQ/IMG_4067.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual This sweetheart was named "Priscilla," and is a gentle ride. 5 speed, easy starting, and good looks...what's not to like? This one sold recently. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683708043-VUB3932GLQ24HOJVC1PR/IMG_7805.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual A 1971 Honda CT70-H 4 speed in mostly original condition. I did a seat cover, new light bucket, rebuilt the brakes, and re-plated most of the hardware. This picture was before the headlight bucket and some of the hardware replacement was done. This one ended up going to a new owner in Virginia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683874836-8U7ZDFWT389W2G3P46LI/IMG_0494.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual The 1978 GS550 was given a new rear loop, custom tail light/ license bracket, and seat. The front and rear fenders shortened, new bars, controls, instruments, and some new signals. The original paint was buffed out and the exhaust was ceramic coated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683529172-Y4TI2EPZNB94ZFWEI3NW/IMG_9984.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual The Brother Bike MT250 Elsinore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683162418-TXGWTI7INS9ZQWF692MB/IMG_7613.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526682727980-IXFD1FC3IBMR14FCFTHI/IMG_9307.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual A rare 1971 ST70 Export model revival. 533 original miles, two owners( a father and son.) The guy I bought it from was the son of the original owner, an airman who bought it at Curly's Honda of Tokyo for his son in the US. He took exceptionally good care of it, getting it titled in Maine, but not logging many miles. Everything is original except for the battery. It is also for sale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683091430-NLPY2VJ42WMUBR1EZX7S/IMG_8211.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual The before and after pics are in the bikes section, but hard to believe the original paint is on the headlight ears and tank (with a good buff-out and touch-up.) Most of the hardware was re-plated, with either chrome, cadmium, or white and yellow zinc. Much of the chrome is original with extensive cleaning, with NOS and quality used pieces where necessary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683456154-EYV9KQQMX1YVKETQD6RQ/IMG_7768.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual A CT90 revival/sympathetic restoration. The original air filter assembly had been crushed, the tranny range selector assembly was missing, and it had been sitting up a long time and needed the tank and carb cleaned out https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526684030622-KIF48MJIVAI1012OSHL0/IMG_0574.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual A 1973 Honda CT70 given an 88cc upgrade. Left mostly original and restored mechanically. A friend bought this one recently and has been enjoying it as it is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526683959892-YUCRNLT3MPZJ34UU7UMP/IMG_1147.JPG THE BLOG - Busy As Usual The Cabracer 360 at the OG Moto show in L.A. in 2018. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2017/5/7/the-beat-goes-on monthly 0.5 2017-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494379437108-ILEPH20K8OECUUHX9MFV/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494379706941-J12BZZZ8T27YYPJP8FRX/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494379641968-B2HZWM0BF6CR1H9L5XFR/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494379544947-CCH8QGAEPZ5Z82H2DSTG/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494379513215-VWA20KYGMGLVOO9RZYIQ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494210384633-ST5JJN1VGQHCDDLISDJN/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1494210176708-X7QWH98MN3LGNRSXZ7OH/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The beat goes on. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/9/7/whats-going-on-in-the-shop monthly 0.5 2016-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1473271732358-7BDW2W458JSTRTCPIJNP/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHOP... The 1957 Triumph Thunderbird shortly after I got it. The Tank is from the '62 in the background. There were some Japanese forks and ape hanger bars on it. The lower tube of the backbone had been cut out of the frame, and some large 3/8" plate gussets were welded in. A rigid rear frame was welded on. Since this picture in 2013, a lot of work has been done: the absent frame tube was restored and the gussets were trimmed down, but not completely removed; the rear frame was shortened to raise the rear a couple inches and a mechanical union was formed to allow removal of the rear frame; a new front fork and wheel assembly using various Triumph and BSA components was put together; a rear rack/fender assembly was made; an exhaust system was assembled; and a tank and seat were started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1473272859948-C5QZ7N6YZ7CS1HV4SXUJ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHOP... The 1966 CB160 is taking shape. Although the front fairing in these pics did not make the cut, the rest of the bike is entering the final stages of metal fabrication. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1473273111475-FKGAODFMNJDHK5UBR1QX/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHOP... Tail light using a lens from a WW2 era naval aircraft, and bronze from a crash cymbal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1473273169060-BM0GGND708XI66XUKPF9/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SHOP... A 1980 Yamaha XS1100 has entered the herd. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/6/4/finishing-up-the-morrison-project monthly 0.5 2016-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1465074693988-Z9X2QBGK1D3DTHPPEAKV/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467905147695-NN4HF9EXS03AMW21YQOP/IMG_3405.JPG THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. Pieces from a busted crash cymbal were pounded into small brackets to mount the turn signals to the light bucket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467905475198-HUOD7OXIFCFH7K3YAC5K/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. With the beautiful saddle cover fashioned by Bell and Oak Leather Studio, and the removable nature of the seat, a quality mounting system seemed in order. The usual washers and rivets were used along with some small welded brackets, to achieve a really clean look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467905067109-BLG21IP7AQVUFWC06YZX/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. A special dedication yoke was made using a technique called Shitame Repousee. Thin 22 gauge brass was worked in a bowl filled with pitch, using a small hammer and handmade punches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467905267125-2UOL5DYDQ0R8TRXEJGT7/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. This was the first time the completed bike was rolled out of the shop. The same crash cymbal metal was used to form a hood for the license plate light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467904860955-UV8O29SSXJ7GLVYNZTOG/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. Just prior to the May 29, 2016 reveal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1467905399518-O2TNJNO45DJV98ZJATCZ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Finishing up the "Morrison" project. A motogadget m-Unit was used along with their m-button and bar controls, plus a new voltage regulator/rectifier, and a lithium battery. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/4/13/back-from-the-revival-cycles-handbuilt-motorcycle-show monthly 0.5 2016-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569465286-276S2G6BGSXNRDZJP84S/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Z50 Magnum at the Handbuilt show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569137134-37ZRLJ6ISQLD5YU9D0WG/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Max Hazan's "Musket" was the belle of the ball. The Z50 Magnum is in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569288642-NI6T809ZDJ660W7ITVH5/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi Brian Hunt pulling up the front of his new whip, the XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569324812-UJZYHSOC8ILLY8E56ZER/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Z50 Magnum paint 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569239455-CXVODKX6MYJRO7MYM7A1/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Flat track legend David Aldana and others hitting the track. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569040527-LE0BJE5F9AJ1S8NMGL20/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Friday night, just before the show opened. The AC-02 is parked out front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569387960-O1XYF4IQCJBAM2YUG7XK/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. The Magnum and AC-02 in the van headed to Austin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569193331-LYS5O2M333TADN1LKEW9/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Famed motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter shooting the Magnum upon arrival https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1460569509099-ARXKR2NVD3A737QQHZN0/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from the Revival Cycles Handbuilt Motorcycle Show. Cool old Indian used in the Wall of Death Show. So badass. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/3/14/yo1bk2k5ifs5y6ni3i5v4a6xnin3d5 monthly 0.5 2016-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1457936645289-9AEJ8G4IKWRR2M30B86T/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Z50 Magnum is going to Revival Cycles Handbuilt show! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1457936300387-KGUS1A7XNEEVXS7YJV7D/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Z50 Magnum is going to Revival Cycles Handbuilt show! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/2/25/the-honda-cb50s-ac-02-awaits-an-engine monthly 0.5 2016-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456462176872-U87SPN9DUCXJT08XM4CT/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461828743-MZOPQSOI6BELZL39YRP5/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461785787-Q50OKGNTKUL6WGATCG0W/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461667129-4CPY34ZYIQ7IJ3V5KW08/IMG_2101.JPG THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461915836-ECB0VQ5ZAQXZODLDKAHW/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461882267-KBYNG1D1NECXP1Z0M4L0/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456461728147-T3ZIWV9BOSOVSDD7Y9IF/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456462094753-IPH1BZUOVYUQA0TGKC20/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456462134815-WTYYNBDAOU0NF97V0Z2Q/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1456462051432-ALMWV0YS1F6H8F9NAPQQ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S AC-02 awaits an engine... http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/2/18/bike-of-the-month-on-wind-blowncom monthly 0.5 2016-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455851033344-9CE1NNGPSHYXC4ROEE1P/Midlothian_Racer_105.jpg THE BLOG - BIKE OF THE MONTH ON WIND-BLOWN.com! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/2/10/the-cb50-ac02-instrument-cluster-and-headlight-mount monthly 0.5 2016-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455145441014-FS4OJPC6HUE7GF0077BP/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 instrument cluster and headlight mount Then the forward support for the instruments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455145371597-I9T0QIV9RR3H49JUZPRM/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 instrument cluster and headlight mount First the headlight bracket goes on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455145562083-USL13A5P0WR5NBQPJX93/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 instrument cluster and headlight mount https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455145345979-4IN39AIVHAI8PCOA3QIV/IMG_2022.jpg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 instrument cluster and headlight mount https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1455145497220-NF882JPL9WVFNHGKJIZB/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 instrument cluster and headlight mount Everything is just tacked together here, awaiting final welding. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/2/8/the-cb50-ac02-gets-some-paint monthly 0.5 2016-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959231244-JEYDHPRE6SRMG4ZRBV6D/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959203578-SJV6FKN2JTBSLGU3UKMJ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959136595-YA6AHRJPYAOBGS7LK40H/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959314958-IBKZ46UAVFZAR4BZX73V/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959350541-2VLDVMB8FW64ESJXIBJ6/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959164517-QA52V1WYJ74FXU4DBHSE/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959257355-KVEBBLY3HNHSHKAP5CC1/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959287028-FVE334M8B8TNYJYZ4YVO/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959391577-RZURITPUZ8VYHWJEHOVV/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454959368620-9HNGWYHVS1KIM6KK1WKQ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50 AC02 gets some paint. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/31/the-midlothian-racer-is-on-pipeburncom monthly 0.5 2016-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1454221174198-KOZGM2PO3W6UJZGMZFDM/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The midlothian racer is on pipeburn.com! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/28/the-honda-cb50-ac02-bodywork-is-in-the-works monthly 0.5 2016-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998723558-GKFFWVR710JR191Q17TS/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998679385-2HTAALZTE5BR5NODV873/IMG_1883.jpg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998602334-LU1KNAK4ECLC9RUUUY33/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998574181-QNSJ4XGLFFV62C1EQ3NR/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998806525-7FYGQ8V0NRXQP9RKFVTP/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998656124-H06RXHDTH70UY52O83R6/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50 AC02 bodywork is in the works. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/27/more-xr50-stunter-work-is-getting-done monthly 0.5 2016-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921738502-6I4XBFIA1BHX6NLNXNSP/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453998140099-MWHT2V5QSYLRICEO58X0/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921801580-SZ6EXYZ5CVMD27L5E7AM/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921713911-ZLS22MIS7M204JUPTT5N/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921647114-FOY8DKYL242SGFL05P7V/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921672640-LU9SY0H02LRF15MHL8H7/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453921814615-7HIX0EHDWKT5UM9M4EK1/IMG_1881.jpg THE BLOG - More XR50 Stunter work is getting done http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/23/the-2001-xr50-stunter-build-goes-on monthly 0.5 2016-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453583020758-WVS3E84VDW940TF6OLZO/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 2001 XR50 stunter build goes on https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453583057285-VKRCHFGJ7BPSQDJ41AOI/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 2001 XR50 stunter build goes on https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453583179012-OGLSJAMARU27VO3IA88A/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 2001 XR50 stunter build goes on http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/16/pics-of-the-midlothian-racer-and-ct117 monthly 0.5 2016-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572861615-C0Q7PJ1SV48ZMCT0PY8C/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572976428-UZR9UOCB9SA0E7X4VDKA/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572658366-K5KVVZA7G1FSRJAXF1ES/Midlothian_Racer_005.jpg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572797351-SRLR9VPOV9UEYZDGO0JS/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572942713-CWEB5PMOK130QITEW1NJ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453573011356-2KLAOIYTG83YJ6NTJQNY/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572826999-KFACTW42DOGJCEB3XU62/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572726992-SDE89EF5GZLMRI74V98V/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572906733-46XIG61R4ZAFDAJR0KC8/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572688776-511M3HBK2NWXVGQHOM4D/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572758332-FAI9YPHY3BNVNKELR1UE/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Pics of the MIDLOTHIAN RACER and CT117! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/23/the-cb500t-is-in-pieces monthly 0.5 2016-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572257092-4PE654CR0ZKRVSO2R2KH/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB500T is in pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572334020-GD6VCZY5KXF3SL3ZAS9P/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB500T is in pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572304713-2NIONOVTZQBD5PQVB8YD/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB500T is in pieces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1453572414194-VGRH1P74GMJA6Y6DPQ2N/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB500T is in pieces. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/12/the-1980-cb50-ac02-tank-gets-its-strap-on monthly 0.5 2016-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623850297-LE3MZ0XK5BLFDDC05Y4Q/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452624422183-SBHE4UZPWS0LVI3LFI9M/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623871416-7MCFEQW236MA867WQ6SN/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623788926-FVJ0QHTVFDLU03IIZEF5/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452624436817-YQWF8SKRAMUJOST421IW/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! What a pain this one was to polish! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623821426-LBTBTI2FHKTF1I5XKKP0/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623762673-7YMU71RAW5E1JSQEJLGS/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1980 CB50 AC02 tank gets its strap on! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/11/as-if-there-wasnt-enough-going-on-around-herethe-honda-2001-xr50-stunter monthly 0.5 2016-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452533797189-IHMLVNR796GTGRG6Q5PL/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452623541347-B6LF55WY03M2PPF4TABA/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452533710249-GXBJ42HO3N6A4ORNA1KN/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452534094914-IBDTUKNG21D4CQZKBQHM/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452534026708-I5G4BETUF15H8X04O2XI/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452533939905-JAQKR60FD6NCU4ZDB4AF/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452533858965-LG2B2ZUY6TQJG5VY5Q0P/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452533760556-VL1VX7N05SZLW8B98ZMK/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452622611575-YDEQ6P2FXAQVNRV388Q4/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - As if there wasn't enough going on around here...The Honda 2001 XR50 Stunter. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/10/major-fab-just-about-done-on-the-cb500t monthly 0.5 2016-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452486414620-GR34MC65JK4DSPBXVGP2/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Major fab just about done on the CB500T. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452486300408-UO7VK60LUYE9A51B0YGH/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Major fab just about done on the CB500T. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452486111628-FF32M8HV58H1F6TX3WPQ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Major fab just about done on the CB500T. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452486063034-0FJEQJU9JWPYP7P26J71/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Major fab just about done on the CB500T. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1452486027132-4JLP9XC55HK4A8L5NY0A/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Major fab just about done on the CB500T. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2016/1/2/the-honda-cb500t-build-goes-on monthly 0.5 2016-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451763425552-9VZRYVC6EAZ67SEMI8RI/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451762196133-OYMI6HPJY98TAWDT4CQI/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451763346221-DLD56ABF2ILI5XQ2SPKU/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451762353387-9QQGH5LIAK3YW00N7T1F/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451763395486-1P9GM5MOKNKS87X4KHQ1/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451762496680-O8FQUQZFQ8ZCRLPBZD0B/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1451762448414-YQT430QGD2PLRXE4NGVH/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The Honda CB500T Build goes on... http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/12/17/found-some-before-pics-on-the-cb50-ac02 monthly 0.5 2015-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450403428975-QOK8TI317U4P60F5S56P/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Found some before pics on the CB50 AC02. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450403370165-VOVJ0NN9TOPKVZHPAZ11/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Found some before pics on the CB50 AC02. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450403452503-IPTYDBHBC5WTLVF7V93X/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Found some before pics on the CB50 AC02. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450403305470-K8MQKCTK67TZGHE3NVPH/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Found some before pics on the CB50 AC02. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450403346568-DBZMQ8G4C66YZ2XMSA50/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Found some before pics on the CB50 AC02. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/12/15/the-1975-honda-cb500t monthly 0.5 2015-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450207929526-QZ2GT6S635O74IHV1YEZ/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1975 Honda CB500T https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450207845319-7M1N1DGKGQ89KONCINP0/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1975 Honda CB500T https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450208032269-Y8GS7U9I7DCAGZ6GMNQ1/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1975 Honda CB500T https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450207803171-2S5PJGV1IZV65073XBBD/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The 1975 Honda CB500T http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/12/15/the-cb50s-tank-is-undergoing-some-changes monthly 0.5 2015-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450206987428-FNGIBH3687TSTQF4HDLD/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50S tank is undergoing some changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450207073301-PT4ICSXW6F72XL2N0TFW/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50S tank is undergoing some changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450207110208-2RWV7MQ6IP38CXTI6L7N/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50S tank is undergoing some changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1450206947231-12AU9V80Z5RLZF1QTMGP/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CB50S tank is undergoing some changes. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/12/9/moving-along-on-the-honda-cb50s-ac02 monthly 0.5 2015-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702150102-T1BVE1ZDX5A0B8BOJZ3G/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Moving along on the Honda CB50S AC02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702049093-VWN3YRYJAKEYUCWL0GTD/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Moving along on the Honda CB50S AC02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702297885-GZTRXU4K2N2Q4YBNOYGI/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Moving along on the Honda CB50S AC02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702218371-79FW5ZIZ448PJQCEPVP5/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Moving along on the Honda CB50S AC02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702340639-ZZ04VNKZKD3E9O8Q9PL2/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Moving along on the Honda CB50S AC02 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/11/13/the-honda-cb50s-ac02-story monthly 0.5 2015-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1447463444646-CXUN8K5XQ34C24LIQNNI/IMG_1200.jpg THE BLOG - The Honda CB50S (AC02) story... http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/10/23/the-crfu50-is-on-the-ground monthly 0.5 2015-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1445623418832-IA7GK4CZ6GTKXLBQ9FBS/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - The CRFU50 is ON THE GROUND!!! Still working on engine tuning and some brake light switches, but its on the ground and running like a wild boar! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/10/11/8yiai12d1ec1wj7fezq9zsu044vz69 monthly 0.5 2015-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1445623575531-K95C8ELJ67FH7YQ7ZY2Y/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - Back from Lake O' the PInes Norton Rallye. http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/9/28/fists-of-fury monthly 0.5 2015-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1445623691123-2VJ7B0GQ1D3FU8JI333V/image-asset.jpeg THE BLOG - FISTS OF FURY! http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/9/24/starting-to-fill-things-in-a-little monthly 0.5 2015-09-24 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/9/21/the-very-first-post-on-the-davmomoto-site monthly 0.5 2015-09-22 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/2015/9/22/site-under-construction monthly 0.5 2015-09-22 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/tag/freebirdbike monthly 0.5 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/tag/%23freebirdbike monthly 0.5 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/tag/%23bf11invitedbuilder monthly 0.5 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/tag/%23bf11 monthly 0.5 http://www.davmomoto.com/theblog/tag/%23bornfree11 monthly 0.5 http://www.davmomoto.com/read-me daily 0.75 2018-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707557612-ECUH7AY858UTYM11C53V/IMG_8879.JPG THE PROCESS The Brother Bike steering stem welds were thin and non-existent in some places. Amazing it was holding together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707856441-L4USNL145FXYIXAZX11F/IMG_8865.JPG THE PROCESS The Brother Bike steering stem after it was pressed together with a machined inner sleeve that was then welded. The white on the bottom portion is frost from sitting in the freezer to get the sleeve to contract. The upper portion has been heated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706640669-P1M9H27CJDQLH13TZ50W/IMG_8043.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449704064803-H9L3PX5VEZDQ3DKS0K4K/image-asset.jpeg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706346374-FBNI63AQDIQS6UPH3L8R/IMG_9065.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706525518-3EFEZ3VXYYYT64HO6HGI/IMG_8830.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706413097-BZ6IV80A358XHPOCI32A/IMG_7846.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706459879-E35MAX1LIV0BI8DROWEZ/IMG_6660.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707654209-628W0Y502RZ9KT7APUQA/IMG_8848.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706796178-VHITXQHML77BD918UN7N/IMG_8163.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707755322-VVEAL77MZUIT4JYK0JRU/IMG_8849.JPG THE PROCESS The Brother Bike lower triple tree clamp with a badly misaligned stem from a bad shortening job and bent fork stops. The steering lock and bump as well as a boss to mount a brake sensor were removed, filled and smoothed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526706942187-RU1TJN2JUBTVJ9SAMZF3/IMG_0005.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443057953504-YJUJ5C57A6R3FKL2OZY5/IMG_0626.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443057975659-ZZ1882VBCTP7K52EOIXM/IMG_0630.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443057992174-08PCPHS2ZG3AGF9IX39L/IMG_0634.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058045064-HPQLD040O1VKO2PI0FKE/IMG_0635.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058090907-1IYLDCI152CQ2LLBCX6X/IMG_0637.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058108797-BTYH41KY6DKET5JMUFB8/IMG_0640.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058130298-BQ87Y7GMWENL0N1LXJ9L/IMG_0641.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058255669-RE932X6QRZ0Z8EOHCYH2/IMG_6973.jpg THE PROCESS - THE HELEN SEAT BUNCH OF STEPS TO BUILD THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, HINGE, LATCH, ALUMINUM SKIN, UPHOLSTERY AND PAINT. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058395702-L09N7MNCUG3AT8PQJG7C/IMG_6976.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058467430-O02KPOQLDEGZ4RAZ2X67/IMG_6963.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058547351-8YC11BZDVCN0OM4FS7Z4/IMG_7099.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058596795-4JQLQBQ7OJVHER3K19TD/IMG_7032.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058640973-I8MRVGVW0I9VGO02I1RZ/IMG_7096.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058721222-W0H9ZB9T6TO6W2DIRRRQ/IMG_7169.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058780143-MKU1977LXUK3MBPLHCAV/IMG_7160.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058868052-IYRJNWF7KIBL30SYB32N/IMG_7164.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058921998-IE6LRLC2AF2JZLOCQGA4/IMG_7170.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058995453-IET108ILFNY7LXVLLBTZ/IMG_7202.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443058832329-R9ADTGAL6ALEUM17XUCY/IMG_7143.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443059089117-267IWQ3T41PG4UWPG6OX/IMG_7257.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443059150406-PRBM207EMFO4QZZ05FON/IMG_7271.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443059481747-G9SN9OH6AQ3U94G4IWBC/IMG_2785.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443060483506-MHTGBZR0G2ADGC3SZ68M/IMG_7794.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443720980795-KUGAV731XXWV3DGM2KEZ/IMG_0747.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443721001141-YD34HC0UZG4Q9WKTPZJH/IMG_0748.jpg THE PROCESS - BRASS CABLE CLIPS HANDMADE BRASS CABLE AND HOSE RESTRAINTS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443721016714-CLG4LC7WV87MFONT3M0M/IMG_0749.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443721040211-4A856B588U98ET2CQ91N/IMG_0751.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443721210149-HGX4FDXNMC7DU46EG595/IMG_0750.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702593246-RXBMH254UHHWOP2ADFGB/IMG_1422.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702630659-C4IWJ327JFTDN5GXLJIH/IMG_1423.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702649469-IR0JAKSBWDF2Y6AY0JAS/IMG_1429.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702682059-Y0M5Y1GV3673QS21ZWEF/IMG_1285.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702692883-ZQW0CO06VDFGU5GTB5MN/IMG_1292.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702752102-B7KVO4KE2IU39030FM7F/IMG_1293.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702785985-RPPR7CIU9AVF0J4AX2KS/IMG_1323.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702818928-KR1734GC7Y96ZI2C7X3S/IMG_1337.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702938393-J7JFVMT92NWZFX3FG0MM/IMG_1431.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702988933-PU03NKSCRINQJIX21F3V/IMG_1318.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449702966940-U421U6RK28K2XIJPLY4V/IMG_1468.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703364065-98TQ6OYUBOBKQXEE0PNN/IMG_1210.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703531393-XOYK4CE0LHRCC611MQWV/IMG_1212.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703446110-4KSPBSUSYHF0I15MF11Y/IMG_1298.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703146968-M3GPGUPJ3857WGLZ42AI/IMG_1214.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703115215-8Y8087SOVNE1YQTB1JWS/IMG_1216.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703049937-NZQ8JSVLX7H0TOI09BVU/IMG_1296.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703315627-WUGP5TUQE497W296ZCU0/IMG_1308.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1449703338840-3SKHT8DF5MALHT9U7ZO1/IMG_1315.jpg THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707108907-INGVBOOUJUO09I2KOVNN/IMG_9748.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1526707011238-IB77E8K3NWWSPQ1GS3CA/IMG_8137.JPG THE PROCESS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1443060311056-8T3JVGSQ2VI9UQEL0ZLL/IMG_2747.jpg THE PROCESS http://www.davmomoto.com/about daily 0.75 2019-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1442891275207-27DQ199JL2CFA79Z3UG8/IMG_3729.jpg THE ABOUT OK then. So this is where I tell you about davmomoto. What can I say? I love metal and making things out of it. Even as a kid I collected brass objects just because it was so cool. I was awarded the "Senior Metal Worker of the Year" in high school. It was helpful that I was only one of two seniors in the whole metal shop. I was working on hot rods out in West Texas in my teen years and built a "Custom Van" at age 16 out of a seventy-five dollar '63 Ford bar-b-que delivery vehicle. Spent a number of years doing jewelry and small sculpture in the Eighties, casting, fabricating and selling pieces made from gold, silver, brass and copper. Vintage cars, especially sports cars, have always been a passion, and occupied a lot of my constructive energies in the nineties. Upon moving to my current home in late 1995, I found a box tucked up on a shelf. The previous owner left a bunch of stuff, and in this box were two 1969 Honda Z50A headlights, a yellow one and a candy red one. They were like jewels to me, and took me back to my childhood, and the yearning I had for one of these very bikes. Well, perhaps it would have been better if there was a Playboy magazine in that box, as I have aquired more than a few of those bikes since that day. Now I am making custom bikes. A lot of small bikes are still around getting the “treatment,” but bigger bikes, Triumphs, Norton, BSA’s,Suzuki’s, Harley-Davidson, and of course Honda’s are filling the cue. Still doing big sculpture and boutique electronics, but this site is mostly going to be about the bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1527469743666-WDEZ9YPLZHNDR85XYG1D/IMG_1317.JPG THE ABOUT i have always been an admirer of Japanese Art and culture. Obvious love for their bikes on this site, but many aspects of their art outside of machinery have been inspirational. There are Japanese lanterns I build from steel and stone and Japanese maples all over our property, a koi pond, Zen garden, and black bamboo plantings. Inside, vintage Meissen Kimonos that my wife re-purposes into purses and eyeglass holders. My other passion, circuit bending, is focused largely on Japanese Casio keyboards. As a child, I read a story attributed to Japan that has intrigued me since, and come to personally define the process of art, and in this case particularly, bike building for someone beside myself: " A man came to an artist's studio and asked him to paint a particular fish. The artist agreed, telling the man to return in one year to pick up his work. At the end of the year, the man returned to the studio to claim his painting. The artist sat him down, went to his easel, and proceeded to flawlessly and swiftly paint the requested fish in a matter of minutes. The man was amazed but also annoyed: "if you could have done this in just a few minutes, why did you make me wait a whole year for it?" The artist said nothing, but opened a cabinet door, and a thousand paintings of the fish fell out." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563303237161-EDS3PUZSALYDXYKQY0S0/IMG_6056.JPG THE ABOUT A seventeen year old’s attempt at pinstripe on the 1963 Econoline gauges. There has always been an urge to do it myself regardless of the task. A couple times in my life I heard the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Both times I disregarded the advice as a lack of understanding or imagination on their part. There are no masters of Art, only of technique. Art is the unknowable and freshly discovered, not to be owned or mastered, but expressed in a way so beautiful that Masters bow at the novice’s work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563302898651-6FIU4BI9BBEBYE5LA2X3/IMG_6313.JPG THE ABOUT January 1977, Odessa, Texas.. This 1963 Ford Econoline was my passion. Purchased for $75., it had spent its life as a barbeque catering truck. The wheels and tires were a Christmas present from my parents (interestingly, December is a bad month for mags and tires and they were on sale!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55fb65ade4b01342ae8f7bdd/1563302961990-7MWPHXRLTOIGFKAXKY3M/IMG_6065.JPG THE ABOUT Spring, 1978. The paint is on, portholes, sunroof, air scoop, custom interior, suspension upgrades, engine replacement, and an 8-track stereo. I was in high-school heaven. http://www.davmomoto.com/contact daily 0.75 2016-04-13