(Completed) 1935 Rollfast Motobike - U.S. Army Military Police

[whitecoyote]

This is the Rollfast Motobike as I acquired it.
Someone had long ago painted it red/white.
This will be my entry to the "Build Off 11 Bikes".

The Rollfast was stripped down and sent off for powder coating.

All the parts were cleaned and lubricated.

 

[whitecoyote]

Seat and grips were ordered from ifitsfreeitsforme
Seat post ordered from Chad.

 

[whitecoyote]

The parts were sent off to the powder coater a couple weeks ago.
(Q.C. Coatings) http://www.qccoatings.com/
Here is the Rollfast so far. Done in a Olive Drab green and all the small parts done in flat black.
The wheels are out getting laced up.

 

[whitecoyote]

This will be the badge on the Rollfast if I can figure out how to get a proper bend (curve) in it to fit the front of the bicycle.
Any ideas on how to form it without damaging the badge?

 

[Chad T]

Oh yeah...that bike's gonna be sweet!

 

[Duchess]

Is it cast metal? Cast metal doesn't like to cooperate. If it isn't, I would probably clamp it on one edge in a vise with a piece of scrap hardwood to a piece of the proper diameter tube (maybe even a little smaller than the head tube to account for memory) then I'd try hand bending it to conform to the tube. If that didn't work I'd use another piece of hardwood for protection to hammer it into place. Worst case, I'd try heating it to get it to conform, but that would discolor it. Thing is, it's probably cast, in which case, I'd love to hear if there is a way to work it, and even if it isn't, the varying thicknesses will make it very difficult to get it to bend evenly.

 

[Fv2]

Bike is looking good.
Headbadge looks good, too... bending it seems tricky.
Good Luck.

 

[Wildcat]

Seat and grips were ordered from ifitsfreeitsforme
Seat post ordered from Chad.

I've got the same seat, only in Black. If it's too springy for you, the front spring can be removed like I did with mine.

 

[deorman]

Perhaps you could put it on a info "tank" plate or a "pedestrian slicer".

 

[deorman]

 

[G-Matt]

Nice start great frame & fork that head badge looks really nice but bending it with out breaking or damaging it may not be possible. If your putting a chain guard on the bike maybe you could mount it there on a flat area [emoji106]


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[brett4christ]

Another possibility for mounting the badge is to fabricate a bracket that would mount between the fender and fork to hold the badge.

Or, you could fab a bracket similar to a headlight bracket that would mount on the handlebar stem?

Both would rotate with the fork/bars, but it would be in the right general location....

 

[SkyknightJohn]

I like where this is going!

How about fabricating a backing plate (wood/aluminum/whatever) with the right diameter to mount to the head tube and a flat surface to mount the badge? It wouldn't need to be as wide as this pic shows, or even as wide as the badge.

 

[brett4christ]

I like where this is going!

How about fabricating a backing plate (wood/aluminum/whatever) with the right diameter to mount to the head tube and a flat surface to mount the badge? It wouldn't need to be as wide as this pic shows, or even as wide as the badge.

This is a better approach! Now make it out of aluminum or hard plastic, then trace the badge shape and cut to shape!

 

[whitecoyote]

Received the seat post today. Excellent product.

 

[G-Matt]

Chop shop laid back [emoji1303] nice saddle also . I need one for my board tracker ...


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[whitecoyote]

Thanks for all the great ideas regarding the badge.
I went with plan "A".
I bought a 1" diameter pipe, and 1 1/2" PVC pipe. Cut the PVC in half and pressed the pipe (with a vice) against the badge into the PVC. It came out almost perfect.

 

[G-Matt]

Awesome great idea & no heat looks perfect [emoji1303]


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[Fv2]

I'm glad that worked.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Well done!