Chopper X

[Gravelgrinder59]

A few days ago I got an embroidered iron cross emblem for a jacket in the mail. My plan was to use it on my sissy bar pad to break up the solid black seat and pad. After debating how to attach it to the vinyl sissy pad, I decided I’d use heavy duty double sided tape. That way, worse case scenario I could remove it . I don’t think I need to worry about removing it, I like it.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Since I introduced brass to my build, been thinking of ways I could add a few more brass touches. Today I went

to hardware store and got some thicker brass stock and made a brass backing plate to mount from rear brake bolt and fill void between the stays between brake and seatpost.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Since it’s only attached to brake, I put some curve in plate, so it would act as spring and hold it snug to frame. Once I installed it I thought it kinda make sense it’s there, since there is no fender below this point.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

The last thing I did is a pretty small detail, I cut a piece of the very thin brass stock I used on the stem and headlight bracket and made a brass accent piece for the rear brake lever. I glued it to lever with Goop glue.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Challenge: get a brass ring on that headlight. This is super classy stuff.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Funny, I was thinking about making a headlight visor out of brass, just haven’t got to it.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ok Matti met your challenge. I had bought a thin strip of brass stock yesterday, before you mentioned ring around headlight. Was gonna make a visor for headlight but material I had wasn’t working, so looked at your idea. Looked like it would be pretty simple. Took thin brass stock it looped around headlight easily, to hold it together looped, I just cut a thin piece of brass about 1/2” and wrapped around the 2 ends to make sleeve to hold ends together. After cutting a few times I got to desired length to go around headlight.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I left it alittle long to make up for how I decided to mount . Decided I was gonna use double sided tape. Peeled one side, Laid brass strip flush down one side of the tape and trimmed excess off other

side with small pair of scissors After stripping other side of tape I started in the middle of brass strip at the top of headlight, following leading edge of headlight to the bottom were I slid the sleeve I made over ends to hold together.View attachment 182007

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ideally It could be better a little wider, but I had this and considering the curvature of my camping light reconfigured headlight I think in fits and definitely adds some bling.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Yesterday I received some decals in mail for tank. Still wasn’t sold on if they were gonna work out. Still don’t have a lot of confidence in the paint on the plastic of tank not coming off again. So I’m hesitant on what I put on it.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I know it’s a lot of iron crosses on bike already, but they’re the right size and this peel back method of application works well for me. Once it’s on, it’s gonna be on, so want right first time. Plus the they’re reflective. Need to be safe riding the Chooper X. Lol . Putting them on I followed the lines of the tank, not what would be level when on bike. I also thought silver ties in with the ducts I painted silver on th chainguard.

View attachment 182014View attachment 182014

View attachment 182016

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ok feel like I’m on a roll today, Got brass strip in my hand, what can I do with it? Dress up the rear fender alittle?

cut 2 pieces and again attached with dbl sided tape.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Also made a scuff guard for my chainguard with the heavier brass stock I have. Made templates out of cardboard till I got it to the right shape, then cut. Had a really hard time cutting curve in this piece,, had to do some filing.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

The brass strip on the headlight is exactly what I had imagined. Really ties the bike together like a good carpet can do for a room. The fender strip is sublime, literally got giddy when I saw it.
I need time to think about the scuff guard, the idea is solid, but might be a bit much with the silver gills already on there.

 

[hamqqea]

The trim adds another layer of depth, needed the color. Well balanced, excellent! The Ahead made it eh... I lost a bet there.
The X on the cap is the only thing that seems out of place... No deduction.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks Hamppea, agree it needed the color, agree with you also on X on cap, was thinking about taking off and did. I deleted the pics.The other day I was looking at my builds and thought “ for someone who’s been harassed for having too bright of bikes”, these bikes are pretty drab. Working on alleviating that problem on my ORBO build “loopy” also.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Nice brass work. I think the headlight needs a brass visor instead of the ring but I am just an observer, it's your bike and you have a good thing going.

Carl.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks GuitarCarl, I think it was your suggestion, about putting brass in the open clamp area of the stem that planted the idea.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ok GuitarCarl thanks for motivating me to pursue the brass visor idea. Deep down wanted a headlight with visor, I was just being lazy, you motivated me to pursue it. Cut up a cardboard pizza box and made several templates. First one was too large, so I made 3 templates each getting alittle smaller. The size I settled on was as large as I thought I could go without being excessive. I want it big and to

make a statement.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Made one out of some thin aluminum stock first to see how it was to cut and shape. The aluminum was easy to shape but I’m gonna need to get a little heavier brass stock. Once hardware store opened went and got some brass. It was .10 mm thick and it took me awhile to shape it. As I was rolling it in my fingers I was reminded of my grandpa rolling his own cigarettes when I was a kid.