Even though the Freebird was supposed to be done for the Bornfree show back in June, there were small details that still needed to be worked out the last few months to finish the build. Some of the stuff that was done like lowering the gas tank and extending the header pipes to make them fit more securely is not so obvious, but there are a number of new small parts that have been made for the bike. Parts like the air filter, license plate bracket, and the brass transmission filler cap have already shown up in previous posts, but there were just a few more parts needed to get the bike street legal. I was trying to build a more utilitarian bike despite all the chrome and decorative elements it ended up with. Parts like the large seat, tank package rack, rear rack, and panniers are elements not usually found on a modern show-bike but are actually useful for daily riding. When this bike was being prepped for The Goldenbolt motorcycle show earlier in the year, one of the judging criteria was “rideability,” with a road test through Los Angeles downtown. To me, rideability means the bike is capable not just on the performance end, but comfortable as well, with places to carry tools and accessories (in the end, the rideability was based only on the ability to complete a 25 mile course, and the winner was a long front fork chopper with no front brake, hardly my idea of a superiorly rideable set-up.) But all gritching aside, I am happy with the way things turned out, and the bike is comfortable and easy to start, stop, and ride.
The right pannier was finished off with a brass bracket and leather strap to secure the contents. Just absolute necessities.
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.
A brass license plate light that attaches to the adjacent frame tube (another requirement for street legality.)
An LED inside makes for a bright and hopefully long lasting light.
The wiring for the license plate light is enclosed in brass tubing
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.
Counter weights to balance the wheels were made from brass and double as a spoke nipple tool.
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.
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.
The 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR project is in the finishing stage, with parts headed to paint and powder coat.
Hours spent on final welding and sanding to get the parts ready for powder.
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.