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I've got an issue. I love the looks of this thing as is, but after test riding it around the block, I can tell that my back is going to hurt riding this thing for any kind of distance. So, as much as the appearance of this bike is my priority, I decided to make a back rest for it. I have a pad from a motorcycle, so I thought I would make a frame for that. I cut and shaved down a fork, and tacked it onto the frame.
IMG_5272_zpsawn9fhgb.jpg

IMG_5273_zpsxqtfzb11.jpg

IMG_5274_zpsvo3o6obc.jpg


The problem is that the seat pokes above the tires. This... we cannot have. Them being the highest peak is the entire point of this build. The frame is safely under the mark, so I'm ditching the motorcycle pad, and I'll make a slimmer pad for it.
 
Is the pad able to be modified at all? Like, remove some of the padding near the top half, and pull the existing cover material under, and then remove excess cover, glue and mount?

So it would have more of an even 'arc' to the pad to mimic the fender line, and ending below the highest point of the fender.
 
I like everything below the top of the tires, true burrito style. I wanted that on my build also, but I couldn't safely control the big front wheel with the gear drive steering wheel. So, I had a choice of what to ditch, the geared steering or the big wheel...
I'm loving your bike and looking forward to the next "burrito" I build. It will definitely have long tiller style bars to control the front end with and I hope to find a similar frame as a starting point. Your tank frame was an excellent starting point.
You still thinking bare metal?

Carl.
 
SwissGuy said:
Besides the already mentioned issue of the pad peaking above the tires, very cool thinkin' of using a fork! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks.

OddJob said:
Is the pad able to be modified at all? Like, remove some of the padding near the top half, and pull the existing cover material under, and then remove excess cover, glue and mount?

So it would have more of an even 'arc' to the pad to mimic the fender line, and ending below the highest point of the fender.
Click to expand...

I thought of that, but I originally had that pad in mind for something else anyway, so it'll probably just be reshelved.

The Renaissance Man said:
Not trying to nitpick, but I'd like to see all of these lines parallel.
View attachment 46557
Click to expand...

It's details like that that I'm going to have to start paying more attention to.
 
A guy contacted me on Instagram saying that he's been following the build, and he thought he had a good part to use as the back rest. He gave me this child's tractor seat from a pedal tractor for free. I decided to try welding it directly on the back of the big tractor seat, so that I didn't have the eyesore of the other fork attached to the frame. It seemed at first to work:
IMG_5308_zpsa5zt3j7l.jpg


The problem is that the back of the bracket that helps keep the two held together firm presses on the rear fender quite a bit when I try to ride it.
IMG_5309_zps7plalgs6.jpg


I worked frustratingly on the issue for two hours, altering the chain length, fender, idler, etc., until I wanted to cry and throw the bike in the street to die. In the end, I think I'm going to have to cut off the seat tube, AGAIN, and weld it back on a little further forward, AGAIN. So maddening. Anyhoo, here's how it looks for now.
IMG_5307_zpsf18rrlad.jpg
 
Here's an odd idea. It'd be a neat +1 seat mounted up above the rear fender. But you'd have to put some framework together and it'd be above the height of the tire. Your ladyfriend perched up there behind you would be pretty cool tho.

Guitarl.
 
GuitarlCarl said:
Here's an odd idea. It'd be a neat +1 seat mounted up above the rear fender. But you'd have to put some framework together and it'd be above the height of the tire. Your ladyfriend perched up there behind you would be pretty cool tho.

Guitarl.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup: That would be awesome!
 
Worked on this bike today. Just so you all know, it's not going to be done by the deadline of the build off. At least, not how I want it. It will, however, be rideable, as it is now, so come deadline, I'll call it done enough, and take my photos. I may just fine tune it in the build threads after.

And with that important note done, I moved up the seat, to see if that solved my problem of the rear fender rubbing on the tire.
IMG_5319_zpsatjkmskb.jpg


Aaaaannnnddd... no. Even moved up a 1/2", it still rubbed a bit! So frustrating. I then saw finally that when I sat on the seat, it moved down in the back quite a bit! So, even though it might mess with the lines even more, in for a penny, in for a pound, I welded in a brace to stop the movement.
IMG_5321_zps910ysq7i.jpg


Makes the seat post non-functioning, but oh well. I then used an older German coin to fill a hole in the bottom bracket.
IMG_5320_zpst8qjhjp8.jpg


Another test ride, and... yes! that seems to have finally solved the problem. This thing is such a beast to ride, I might be on the lookout for a slightly smaller chainring than I have now, but I think I already have one from a girl's bike, so I may not find one. I then knocked off the blue on the curved tube on the frame, and took one more shot for the night.
IMG_5322_zpso7v8iinq.jpg
 

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