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Well I thought I might get myself off of the bottom of the build list, so I have the bike to where I can submit a finished product if I am not able to do anymore to it. I also realized that, after 3 years of owning it, I had never ridden this bike. So I thought it was time to remedy that. I...

The main fork of those old Monark springers are almost always bent. So, you can get them cheap. It can really change the whole look of the front of the bike. Plus they made 2 length Monark springers. The girls model is an inch longer because of the steering tube length. That makes it easy...

I could enter it in class II just for fun.

I'm with you. But the 24"x3"s look amazing on a Wing Bar frame.

With the springer on the frame, the front 24"x3" tire looked too small because there was a 2.5" gap from the top of the tire to the fork opening. So, I put a 26"x2.35" tire on the front which made the tire sizes staggered (first picture). Okay, the front looks right now, but, for some reason...

So far, the 24"x3" cream tires are what I want to go with on this build. I have also been experimenting with attaching the front part of a Monark springer fork onto different stock fork legs (with nice results). It still needs some adjustments, but I think it makes the the bike better balanced...

That's why I showed so many wheel/tire options together. I think the 24" tires look the best! The 24"x3" tires measure 25.5" tall and just under 2 3/4" wide on a narrow (1") rim width. They will fit in most 26" frames as long as your wheels are straight and true, and still look fat even on...

I have always really liked the look of oversized tires on almost any bike. So my goal was to fit the largest tire I could into a stock 26" frame. Well, in order to get a 3" wide tire to fit in a 26" frame without rubbing, they have to be 24"x3" size or the tires are too tall for the frame...

Many of the early boys bikes had very large chain rings which made it difficult to pedal the bike at low speeds. I prefer to use the smaller chain ring (typically found on the girls bikes) to help with acceleration and overall pleasure of cruising. I found this set on ebay. It is the complete...

It has been unseasonably cold for the last few days in Ohio. Around 40 degrees F and rainy/windy since the Build-Off started. It's supposed to be 20-30 degrees warmer right now. This is why I do all my building in my den. Throw a work blanket on the floor and and enjoy all the...

Next step: Disassembly (to just the frame and fork) and then some different wheel/tire mock-ups. This crucial step will determine the basic look of the bike and provide more opportunities for new ideas to develop. I actually have a few different sets of wheels and tires to consider. I am...

Here we go again! After two failed Build-Off finishes with my '41 Elgin Twin 20, I am bound and determined to complete it (to my satisfaction) this time. So, I felt that it would only be proper (and fair) to re-assemble the Twin 20 back to its original "as found" condition. Kind of a re-set...

Hi all! I am really excited about this year's build-off, and am glad that the end date of the build-off is in July instead of September. I have failed to finish my project for the last 2 years because I am too busy by August, but I always think that I still have time to finish it. Actually...

Just made the final decisions (today) on how to finish it all up. Now to just find the motivation. I help run a flint knapping event and will be gone from Tuesday (30th) to Monday (5th). So I better get working on the bike so I am able to enter this year. I haven't even ridden the bike yet...

The fork axle openings have an expanded area and then narrow down towards the ends. The bolts that I used have a square portion coming off of the head before the threads start. They fit in the widened areas of the openings very tightly, almost pressed into the holes. Then I used thin washers...

My latest idea. A (partial) Monark fork on a Monark bike. It actually works! I wonder if this is modified enough to qualify for Class II.

That is a cool build! That frame and fork go together very well. Yes, I have a set of those California Chopper forks from the early 70's, but the set I have (I believe) are a set of prototypes (46" long) that were never put into production (and never chromed either). They seem to only fit a...

I'm looking to build a period-style Gasser. I picked this up yesterday: