"DUCYCLE" The Duct Tape Bike

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE Update 6/11

ok guys take it easy
just PM me only trying to keep the post clear for build off coments and stuff
i will get to your PM as soon as i can and in the order they are sent

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE Update 6/11

OK rather than working on my build off bike
here is what i HAD to work on this weekend
CAUTION graphic images of bad workmanship due to needing to get it done A.S.A.P

The bike frame is a mid 50's huffy (same frame as the Radio Bike)
originally I was going to build a radio flyer themed bike but it works just as well as an e-bike
I had scored on buying the entire electric motor system for $50 when my van's engine had started giving me problems
However since after fixing initial part on the van some unforeseen problems arose that will end up costing far more time and money
so I had to rush to get the e-bike up and running so i don't have to spend nearly 2 hours to bike the 12 miles to work


one of the things that i would like to see if i can get for the huffy is one of the radio bike racks or something similar

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE new part update

Not much going on in the build but I was able to find and order some rolls of duct tape that should work best for this build
other than that the only other thing i was able to get at a local swap meet was a aluminum 54tooth Nervar crank set
first thing was to take off the smaller ring to convert it into a single speed

Before

After

I was hoping to get as big as a chainring that would fit but pickins where slim
but i am happy with this since its bigger than the common 52tooth chainrings
still needs to be cleaned up but i not yet sure if i want to polish it or not

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 6/28

Sanded down the crankset first with 200grit than 600grit

As I was finnishing that my contractor grade duct tape arrived i was so excited i decided to start on the rear "aero wheel"
I starthed with two long pieces wraped around the entire wheel

a number of strips later (about 1/2 way)

once all the strips are on cut out holes for hub

put hub back together and now i have my duct tape "aero wheel" (just need cutout for valve stem)

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 6/30 seat is complete

I was able to work on getting the seat worked on last night and finnished today

originaly wanted to use duct tape to fill in the gap between pading and pan but it started getting to heavy so i bought some spray foam

after letting it sit over night (directions say minimum 8hrs before trimming)

Trimmed as much as i could with serrated steak knife from kitchen (dont tell the girlfriend)

after sanding down foam i layered on the tape and stretched it as best i could to get out most wrinkles
had i used 3" wide tape i could have had less seams but i only had the 2" wide

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 7/2 "paint" has begun

it has been humid here the last few days and the seat cover began to partialy peal
so I did the old NASCAR style patch for the seat cover


Run tape over a wide expanse

Then the next layer in the oposite dirrection

cut out the patch

then stretch over seat

Also got started with using the duct tape for my paint

here is close up of headbadge with the "paint" note the seam where the tape pices meet

after cutting very thin strips of black tape I then covered the seam
now i have duct tape pinstriping and a way to conceal the majority of tape seams

 

[noodlenoggin]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 7/2 "paint" has begun

Very interesting! I'd never have thought of duct tape for paint and wheel discs...love it!

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 7/2 "paint" has begun

I wish i could take credit for coming up with the idea but I didn't think of it
It actualy has been done a number of times
Unfortunately most turn out like this

Hopefuly mine will not turn out like that

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 7/4 more "paint"

got the rear part of the frame "painted" today

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Re: DUCYCLE updated 7/4 more "paint"

:shock: I knew about the paint from the highlights thread, but that wheel disc? WOW!

Luke.

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/12 more stuff

I was able to find a skinny aluminum seat post to fit the frame at the swapmeet it turns out these jr bmx (uni model) bikes have the perfect size seat post for the older balloon frames
I was expecting to have to make one from aluminum stock but this ended up being cheaper

before

After sanding

I was also able to get the empty space between the tire and seat post all taped up
Started with a leftover rear fender

then cut it to fit inbetween the top and botom bars as well as drilled new mounting holes

then after two lawers of tape here is the result with the rear wheel mocked up

still a long way to go and only 3 weeks left :shock:

 

[jats]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/12 more stuff

wow that is cool,

Troy

 

[3 wheeled wolfy]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/12 more stuff

That's insane!!!! Excuse me while I buy checkers tape for my chainguards, all of them!! Loving the theme too, cannondale won't have anything on you!! I know from experience that using masking tape as grips will keep you from getting that bare-metal itch, but removing it is a giant pain after a year!!!

 

[kingfish254]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/12 more stuff

Ingenius idea to use teh fender section there!
Loving the different ways you are creating duct tape coolness on this build!

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/12 more stuff

This is wild!

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/26 "tank" is done graphics started

For the tank I started out using a foam template

I tried many ways to get the duct tape to stay in a ridged tank form using fiberglass resin with no luck i even tried using a small amount of fiberglass and other materials with the resin to get it to stay in the 3-d form but with no luck
I could have added more of the fibercloth but at what point would it stop being a tank made out of duct tape and start being one bmade out of fiberglass
The other method wasto do layer upon layer of tape but that would have taken to much of my tape (and with there being such little time as well as budgeted money that plan was a no go besides it would have weighed to muck
So i ditched those plans and went with a simple flat tank

I made the center piece using the same method as the seat cover then sandwiched the pieces together with the red tape ontop

once that was done cut out the pice and center it inbetween the bars and taped the "tank" to the bars

From there it was on to the tank graphics
I had a template of the scallops that i wanted to do cut out
and i will be using non stick reynolds wrap as a base while i cut out the design

Once cut i carefuly peelled out the design then placed it onto the tank
This is the same method I will be using for the sponsorship decals on the area near the rear wheel

 

[kingfish254]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/26 "tank" is done graphics started

Holy Flaming Duct Tape Batman!!! :shock:

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/27 graphics started

A while back i found a 28 x 1.75 duro cordoba tire (i got it at a swap meet for dirt cheap) that i was using for mockup purposes
recently i was able to find a website http://toplowrider.com/bikes/index.php that still carried the same model of tire in the 24" and 26"
size to use on the front
originaly i wanted to use a 24" to achieve a sizeable rake but i recently decided to make it an electric bike after the RRBBO8 is over using the stuff i bought about a month ago
Since the electric motor is laced to a 26" wheel i decided to get a 26 x 1.75 tire for the front wheel
upon measuing i noticed that i had a fair amount of space btween the tire and the fork

so i drilled the end of the fork to lower it

then used a cutting wheel to get rid of the rest of the metal left

which help to lower the front wheel to make up for usung the 26" intead of the 24"
i still have some more i can lower it but i need to mock it up to see

Also started on the sponsorship logos
first up the ratrodbikes logo

 

[MONARKofSoCal]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/30 teaser pic

will all the bikes that are being finnished and others that showing pics near completion i thoght i would throw in a teaser pic
still working on the handle bars and the graphics along with doing the fork so still a good amount to do with less than 5 days to go
the little slit on the rear wheel cover is the opening to air up the tires

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Re: DUCYCLE update 7/30 teaser pic

Seriously impressive amount of work gone into that taping!

Luke.