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CUSTOM METAL
  • THE CONTACT
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  • THE BIKES
  • THE ABOUT
  • THE PROCESS
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…

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.”

1957 Triumph Thunderbird, 1993 Harley-Davidson FXR, and Yamaha CT-3 updates.

October 23, 2018
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Harley Wide-Glide fork innards. The spacers fit on the fork cartridge plungers and drop the front end by a couple inches.

The Harley Wide-Glide fork innards. The spacers fit on the fork cartridge plungers and drop the front end by a couple inches.

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.

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.

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 trann…

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.

A new Wiseco piston kit is on the way to replaced this scored one.

A new Wiseco piston kit is on the way to replaced this scored one.

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.

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.

Tags #bf11invitedbuilder, #bf11, #bornfree11, #freebirdbike
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