Faux Bamboo Tiki Bike

[Kevin B]

For awhile I've looked for a diamond frame to build a faux bamboo bike. Then someone threw this Romet out.

To have less clutter and a simple drive train. I eliminated the hand brakes, three speed and put a 26" cruiser coaster brake wheel set on the bike.

Next I installed a 22T cog to help it pull.

 

[Kevin B]

I sanded the frame to ready it for bamboo treatment.

 

[Kevin B]

To achieve the bamboo look I made nodule rings by rolling up JBWeld 2 part epoxy putty.

Bondo was used to feather out the nodules.

 

[Kevin B]

I filed, sanded, grooved and worked the nodules to make them realistic.

 

[Kevin B]

Next week I'm picking up the bamboo paint and some brass or copper paint for the frame lugs and dropouts.

Also plan to includes coconuts, tiki figures, a torch and possibly rattan, animal print fabric and a surf board!

 

[Kevin B]

Bobbed some fenders, so no bracing to take away from the bamboo. Also, checked the fit on a fatty fork and started building up nodules using the same process to simulate bamboo. The flat road fork wouldn't have looked right.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Next week I'm picking up the bamboo paint and some brass or copper paint for the frame lugs and dropouts.

Also plan to includes coconuts, tiki figures, a torch and possibly rattan, animal print fabric and a surf board!

Looking forward to that!

 

[Kevin B]

Today I put this chain guard on my outdoor anvil and beat the Huffy out of it. Then I ground it smooth and filled the low places. I'm using this guard because it gives me a bigger canvas for tiki stuff. I'm planning to cover it in rattan or maybe a bamboo placemat.

This self adhesive sheet is what I'm leaning toward for the face of the guard.

 

[Kevin B]

I'm thinking this pale yellow will work for a color base coat. Then I'm going to try a thin brown wash over it. Not sure how to go about it, yet.

 

[Kevin B]

My base coat choice had me a little concerned. It turns out I'm glad I went with yellow. A dry brushed, thinned coat of chocolate brown is achieving the golden hue I had hoped for.

 

[Kevin B]

Experimenting with orange accents. Modern tiki "lowbrow" art is usually an exaggerated caricature I think it's getting there.

 

[Kevin B]

Painted the lugs copper today. Added painted lugs where none existed like fork dropouts and the frame stays. All paint is lighter than it appears here. I'm going to need a brighter day when a hurricane is not offshore to get better pictures.

 

[KJV]

Big Haole Kahuna.. Say,,
Dig it Bro.

 

[68z27]

The bamboo/copper attire is looking real good! BTW, good luck with the storm............

 

[Kevin B]

The bamboo/copper attire is looking real good! BTW, good luck with the storm............

Thanks. Had 60+ mph gusts and lost power for about an hour. Really feel bad for the Big Bend/Pan Handle Floridians. With Ian's 15'+ surge this county had 70 deaths. Mostly drownings. Prediction for the landfall surge of Helene are 15 to 20'.