Kansas Fried Cruiser... more stuff 7/09/09

[Ratfink1962]

Well I finally decided on a name, The Lawrenceburg Flyer, named for the fact that the bike is a Murray which was built in Lawrenceburg, Tenessee, and the fact that I want this bike to have a "racer" look.
**EDIT 2/17** Scratch that... I decided to rename it due to the fact that as I get farther along on this build, the name really dont fit, check out the latest pics and you'll see what I mean.

Plans for the bike, include switching out the forks with a pair from a 16" Schwinn Stingray chopper, plus some other real subtle mods like raking the neck ever so slightly, maybe a chainguard mod to give it a different look. Ill also end up powdercoating the frame, forks and rims, re-lacing the wheels (first timer... so no telling how thats gonna work out!!) Add some lights for night riding, etc.

Here is a before pic to show what Ive got to start with...


And here is a pic of a trial fit on the forks...


I just got done cutting and welding on the frame today, so Ill have new pics up soon. But here is a pic that kinda explains why I wanted to rake the neck a little bit. If you compare the two red lines, it looks like the head tube is in a slightly "closed" position in relation to the seat post... I want it to at least be parallel. It will probably make it ride different, but I wouldnt know, I didnt ride it in the before stage.
check it out...


I also gotta say, those Stingray chopper forks are pretty versatile, They fit right on without too much trouble and only had to shorten the headtube, but the cool part it that you can use the original stingray bars which dont look too bad, but are double clamped which limits handlebar choices... OR I can take all that stuff off and just use a regular stem... giving me a whole lot more choices handlebar wise.

[Ratfink1962]

Heres a few pics of the changes.... chop chop

The original dropouts were pretty banged up, and looked a little thin, So I welded in some 1/8" plate so it wouldnt collapse under my 250# of flab. I also welded up the crimps and smoothed them off.



Pic of the rake job, Wasnt too hard, just cut clean thru the top tube, and 7/8 thru the bottom, ground some on the top tube to create a gap, then brought it back together and welded it up. Ill have to throw it back together to see just how much it changed, but it should be very slight.


And one final pic of the fork tubes, had a clearance issue with the larger 26" wheel, so chop chop, issue resolved.

[Galtbacken]

I think those subtle changes will look good! Sometimes not a whole lot is needed to make things look a whole lot better. What colour are you planning on?

[Ratfink1962]

Well, Im having a buddy powdercoat it, and I think Im leaning towards a flat red... not a bright red, but more like a deep red with some brown in it. We couldnt find a flat red, but we did find a burgundy color to play with along with some gloss killer. Hopefully it will all work out.

Im probably going to add some hand brushed rust "patina" to give it an old bike look. Along with some kind of artwork on the tank I am planning on making.

[BrigmasterA]

I have one of those stingray forks on my dyno roadster, and would love to put a regular headstock/different bars on it, but can't figure out how... Could you explain this or post pics? Thanks! Good lookin' build so far by the way...

[aka_locojoe]

Wow nice work!

[Ratfink1962]

I have one of those stingray forks on my dyno roadster, and would love to put a regular headstock/different bars on it, but can't figure out how... Could you explain this or post pics? Thanks! Good lookin' build so far by the way...

Not sure if I can explain it right, but here goes...

On the original stingray forks, the bars are held on with two clamps ala motorcycle style, well the clamps come right off. Next you would remove the large round nut, it has a rubber plug in it for looks...just remove the rubber plug and it unscrews with a regular allen wrench.

Removing that stuff allows you to use a regular bike stem in the steering tube along with the large nut.

Ill get some pics on here to explain it better.

Wow nice work!

Hey thanks, Im almost done with the metal work, hope to have it powdercoated maybe late this week or sometime next week. BTW Im on the lookout for a decent 26" rim, I got the wheels unlaced and the rear rim scares me, its pretty warped and every attempt to straighten it up just causes stress elsewhere on the rim...im just not sure if its going to true up or honestly... am I really up to the challenge since im a re-lacing virgin?

Its a 36 spoke, so if you know someone that has a spare, let me know. Id really like to find one soon as these will be one of the first things to get coated.

[Ratfink1962]

Brigmaster, here you go....


What I started with



Remove the original handlebar clamps



Remove the round nut



And ska-blammo its a done deal.


Install a regular bike stem and bars

[BrigmasterA]

Ok. I've got a different style stingray chopper fork, off a 20 inch version I think. Had a 24 inch front. Man I gotta keep my eye out for those ol' choppers that lil' jonny outgrew or got tired of just for the forks.

[Ratfink1962]

I picked mine up on Craigslist for $20 from a family that had twin boys with twin schwinn choppers they outgrew, I bought one to use as parts on a mini-bike chopper project, and come to find out I have a use for some of the other parts too!

[Ratfink1962]

Since this bike is a Hot Rod, I had to add some ventilation to the chain guard to keep things cool.

[PHXKSTM]

very nice

[ExtraBlaze]

That chaingaurd is blazin hot.Nice job.

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

oh dude!!!... that chainguard is awesome. great idea.

[BrigmasterA]

That chaingaurd is blazin hot.Nice job.

I agree. It would look right at home on your higgins, blaze.