A couple of years ago I started this build as part of the Muscle Bike Build-off. Started may be a bit of an overstatement, I put together a pile of cool parts and then started imagining cool ways to finish the bike. Procrastination got the better of me and I ended dropping out of the build-off...
Wow guys, that's great stuff. So it's a '46, and could have been either unequipped or "Standard equipped". I'll work as though it's unequipped for now and get that front fender on it, and repaint the chain guard.
Thanks everyone!
My sleuthing had led to this:
The serial is J66340 which puts it in '53.
From the '53 catalog it looks like this is a Spitfire and I can see that there are at least two trim levels of that model.
If the painted rims are original to the bike it would make it a base model because the Deluxe had...
I bought this off of a friend today. It's pretty complete, I have the front fender but one of the struts has snapped. I'll need to figure out some way to repair it because the repop struts are no where near the same gage. Does anyone know if the DX came in different trim levels or is this one...
:giggle:Yeah there's definitely supposed to be a nut, although the version you have there may be the speed limiting governor, the cranks fall off at 20 mph to ensure your safety.
I decided to see how parts fit together before I cut any metal.
With a 26" wheel the bars are over 6 feet tall
This is with a 24 inch wheel. I'm partial to this wheel combination
And just because I had one laying around, here's a 16".
@hamppea one of the pics you posted that is now gone was very much in line with what I have in mind. I love the stance on your build, I'm just hoping to avoid the speed wobble by actually raking the forks.
Ever since I was a kid trying to customize bikes, "more longer more better" was the rule for handlebars and forks and chrome is king. Over the past year or so I've been accumulating parts for a dream bike. I still haven't picked a frame for it but I am going to try to use these parts on it...
I'm not sure how practical it would be, but it might look more "donkish" if you extended the dropouts down rather than back. Going back tends to cancel out the height gain visually.
Not this build off, but I have been collecting parts for a build. So far I have failed to complete 2 build offs. I might try the MBBO this winter if they hold it.
Try screwing in one of the bottom bracket cups. The cups should tighten in the direction you pedal for forward motion. The right side cup should tighten in a clockwise direction, left side in a counter clockwise direction, just like pedals. The right side cup usually has a fixed flange, the left...
I love the lights and fins. This build is all over the place temporally, late 50's futuristic Caddy wings with modern CNC turned aluminum bits on an art deco frame. It's imagined past futures meeting the present. o_O
Where do you get your waterslide decals? Do you have them custom made or are there enough people restoring those bikes that they are readily available?