Here's the first bike I've built, hope you like it! 
When I designed the frame I looked at a picture of a Vincent Black Shadow and tried to capture it's lines. I didn't want to make a bicycle that looks like a motorcycle with tank and all, but I really like the way that the line from the top of the tank on the Vincent motorcycle arch down, and the sweeping look of the exhaust pipes. The front suspension and the lights on the other hand, I didn't try to make look like the Black Shadow. I was pretty much just happy that I could make them at all! :lol:
I might have a backwards thought about building my first bike, but rather than to start with a complete bike and do modifications I wanted to see how much I could actually build myself. I used 26" 5-speed wheels and the cranks from an old bike. I bought the headset and handlebar mount and kickstand. The rest of the bike I built from iron tubes and sheet metal. Since it was the first time I ever touched a welder of any sort I had to learn as I went along...the front fork for example, which was the first thing I attemted to make had to be redone in a different way... :lol: For the lights I soldered (THAT I have done before! :lol: ) LED circuits powered by 9v batteries. The fenders I made with fiberglass. The seatcover and handles are made with leather immitation vinyl. The underside of the handles are held together with shoelaces. The whole bike is painted with rattlecan. I've got some photos of the building process, so if there's anything you wonder how it's constructed, just let me know and I'll see if I have a picture of it!
Oh, almost forgot! :shock: I changed the spokes to a pattern called 3 leading 3 trailing. Was pretty scared of trying to do it, I thought I'd mess the wheels up, but it really was easier than I first feared!
Ok, guess that's all for now!
All well!
When I designed the frame I looked at a picture of a Vincent Black Shadow and tried to capture it's lines. I didn't want to make a bicycle that looks like a motorcycle with tank and all, but I really like the way that the line from the top of the tank on the Vincent motorcycle arch down, and the sweeping look of the exhaust pipes. The front suspension and the lights on the other hand, I didn't try to make look like the Black Shadow. I was pretty much just happy that I could make them at all! :lol:
I might have a backwards thought about building my first bike, but rather than to start with a complete bike and do modifications I wanted to see how much I could actually build myself. I used 26" 5-speed wheels and the cranks from an old bike. I bought the headset and handlebar mount and kickstand. The rest of the bike I built from iron tubes and sheet metal. Since it was the first time I ever touched a welder of any sort I had to learn as I went along...the front fork for example, which was the first thing I attemted to make had to be redone in a different way... :lol: For the lights I soldered (THAT I have done before! :lol: ) LED circuits powered by 9v batteries. The fenders I made with fiberglass. The seatcover and handles are made with leather immitation vinyl. The underside of the handles are held together with shoelaces.
The whole bike is painted with rattlecan. I've got some photos of the building process, so if there's anything you wonder how it's constructed, just let me know and I'll see if I have a picture of it!
Oh, almost forgot! :shock: I changed the spokes to a pattern called 3 leading 3 trailing. Was pretty scared of trying to do it, I thought I'd mess the wheels up, but it really was easier than I first feared!
Ok, guess that's all for now!
All well!
