Fatbelly Bobber - time for a cool change, now the Toadmaster

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

Thanks guys, this one is special to me.
Now if I could only find the time/motivation to ride it more.... :roll:

 

[kingfish254]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

Great looking ride Tank!!
New creme tires really set it off, but there are a lot of very cool details on this bike.
Sweet ride!

 

[danreid27]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

I dig the chainguard too! Superb!

 

[jaysmo]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

this looks real nice i like the tank alot..looks real nice and the rear light im totaly gonna rip that idea off :mrgreen: ...Thanks but the bike looks real nice and the color combo looks real good on it also...

 

[Gold Street Customs]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

Sweeet!!!

 

[Skipton]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

Killer looking bike!.... Thick Bricks look great!

 

[scott brownsey]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

sweet

 

[1manta]

Re: Fatbelly Bobber v4.0

I really like the stance of this version of your bike. You did a great job fitting all of those features into the front end and still keeping it looking clean.Nice job.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

I was honestly going to leave v4.0 alone, but then I found a Rat Trap springer and Marty started selling the 26 x 2.125 Kenda Krazes... :roll:

So....v5.0!
This version features a Spaceliner rat trap springer (I was bottoming out the Monark), with vintage Huffy fork darts.

A 'matching' Weinmann front rim, bought it with the 'quick release' front skewer, like it with the dropouts, so it stays, besides it's a sealed bearing Shimano, hmmmmm smooth like butter .

I had this Schwinn Sting-Ray Jr. chainring left over from my daughter's build, so since it had a 'dish' to it, I flipped it and the rear sprocket, to give me more chain clearance from that fat rear tire. I like how the 'lucky 7' holes mimic the chainguard.

Finally, the tire change. It's a 'Quick & Thick' setup, Kenda Kraze style.. I've liked the 26F/24R setup ever since Electra Sparker a few years ago.

The ride is really nice, gonna leave this one alone for the summer and just ride it!

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Looks even better now!

 

[gcrank1]

This has been one of my fav'es as youve made the changes; truly inspiring! Now I might have to keep my Cranbrook that I was thinking of flippin'.............

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Thanks guys, this is my first build since joining here and has been a learning experience to say the least.

That said, it's become a really smooth rider and just keeps getting better to ride.
Now, I've promised myself i'd leave it alone until after vacation (4th of July), guess we'll see.... :roll:

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[Skipton]

Man I'm a big fan of the Thick Bricks in white....

But the Kendas sure look Tough.... Fork looks great also!


Have fun riding it :mrgreen:

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Thanks skipton,

I'm a big fan of the Thick Bricks too, was actually going to look for a cream Quick Brick for this version to fit in the fork (may still, but later). But when I saw the 'out of production' Krazes for $15 a pair, I jumped! They ended up being cheaper with shipping than the base price for the QB, so...... :mrgreen:

On the fork, I was originally planning on the brown of the frame, but the paint can was clogged. Now that I look at it, it was a bit of a 'happy accident' because with all that black in the rear from the tire and wheel, it needed more up front to balance it out visually.

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

OK, OK, it's a sickness, I can't leave this one alone....
To be honest, after building a 1950 Monark for the Mrs. and a 1972 Lil' Chik for my daughter, this 2000ish Huffy Santa Fe just wasn't going to cut it. It looks and rides fine, but mostly it's just been carrying around cool parts...

It's got a Worksman wheelset with a knockout front hub

A Nexus 3-speed coaster

Gonna keep the Fat Franks, the fork was traded to kingfish for this mid-50s Huffman frame

My thinking is, I want this to be a 'patina bike'. It looks like the bike was originally blue, which would look good with tires, that is option #1.
Option #2 is this 'patina monster' of a CWC Roadmaster I picked up from CeeBee

As you can tell, it was originally green, which would also go well with the wheelset.
Which ever frame DOESN'T get used is getting media blasted and clear powdercoated with 24x3 cream Thick Brick (BTW, the Huffman will EASILY fit that fat a tire without any modifications)

Thoughts?

 

[kingfish254]

Hard to go wrong with either frame. I am looking forward to seeing what becomes of the Dayton Huffman frame though.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Ooooh! Hard choice! Always love a looptail CWC though...

Luke.

 

[emfife]

Well done sir. I like the fenders

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Decision made. Going with the Roadmaster.
Went over to American Vintage Bicycle Supply tonight, they were holding my bike for me.
After a few hours, a can of WD-40, and an air chisel, we stripped everything off the bike. I'm really looking forward to giving this beauty a second go as a rider.
Did I mention this bike has REAL patina......FOR DAYS.....

Lovin' the green

and "white"

Gonna become very good friends with a wire brush....

Do they sell WD-40 by the barrel?

In all seriousness, I'm amp'd for this rebuild. The brown tires look great with the green....

Stay tuned.
Thanks to Tyler and Don for their help and time tonight.

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Got the frame/fork/crankset cleaned up this week. A little wire brushing with WD-40, a acetone wipe down followed by a coat of boiled linseed oil and here where it stands.

Just need to let it 'cure' and I can start assembly. In the meantime, there's the handlebars/stem/chainguard/fenders to clean up.
I'll be honest, this is a different approach to 'finishing' on a bike for me. I typically go for building bikes from bare metal up on paint with mild customizing, clean chrome and the like. I enjoy the hours of stripping, primer, sanding, painting, obsessing over the details. I guess they're more on the 'rod' side of ratrod.
But this one is bringing a different kind of enjoyment on the 'rat' side, in appreciating the years this bike has seen, wondering who/what the 'G.A.A.....' scratched into the top tube is/was. Not to mention, I've NEVER been able to get a frame ready for assembly in a week before...hahaha.
That's enough melancholy for now...
Stay tuned....
Cheers,
Dr. T