Ghetto cruiser/ Board tracker

[SHMO]

Fresh start with a chinese Walmart special.

 

[SHMO]

I ditched all of the bolt on gingerbread and did a little hack sawing. I had a few rusty parts laying around so those went into the mix. At some point I intend on doing some additonal fake patina to give it a little rougher feel......Remember folks, this is a ghetto cruiser...haha

I fabbed up a laid back seat post and trimmed the frame rails to mimic seat supports. A couple rubber distributor cap boots from an old pair of sprak plug wires fit the bill! It actually worked out well. When I get around to painting the bike, I will clean up the other location where I cut the rack off. I hand rubbed a little upholstery dye on the seat to age the vinyl

Best part on the bike and the main reason I bought it.

 

[SHMO]

Here is how it it looked about 3 hours after the Walmart purchase. It's gettin there!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Looks good!
Very nice work!

Luke.

 

[SHMO]

I started playing with cardboard to come up with ideas for tins. I am not 100% sold on the lightening holes, but I do like the idea of the bodywork being added. Any votes for holes versus no holes is welcome. I am just about ready to start slicing up some aluminum.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I vote for the lightening holes... :wink:
Looks mean and no one would suspect it was a Wal-Mart bike originally!

Luke.

 

[SHMO]

Next step, the non-functional Jerry (atric) Springer.

I was too cheap to buy any parts for this so I salvaged an old pair of forks off a road bike....too narrow!

We can fix that!

A little trimming on the rockers, a little bending on the fork legs and some slicing and welding on the upper portion got it in primer. I had some springs I had laying around, that I used for mock up. They are not scaled even remotely correct. So, I had to break down and BUY something. Springs are on the way, but I think it is starting to look like something!

Threw on some faux brass buck rivets for ideas. I am not too sure about this. It may be going past "retro" and getting into "steampunk". I don't want the bike to look like a total cartoon..... Any suggestions on the rivets is appreciated. I like them. I just wonder if it is too much.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Personally I love steampunk, so rivets is my vote...
Oh, and ape hangers! :wink:
Your bike though, do what you like and feel comfortable with...

Luke.

 

[SHMO]

Here are the springs I have coming. They "should" be a much better look, especially after I fabricate a hat and incorporate the bolts, spacers and washers. I am crossing my fingers.

Here is another angle on the Jerry (atric) Springer

 

[SHMO]

Personally I love steampunk, so rivets is my vote...
Oh, and ape hangers! :wink:
Your bike though, do what you like and feel comfortable with...

Luke.

I won't go for apes, even though I like them. I am trying to give this bike a vintage board track racer feel....Gotta have those bars in the dirt.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Maybe the "tank plate" should have a racing number on it and just put lightening holes on the plate behind the seat tube? That might give you the boardtrack look you are after...

Luke.

 

[SHMO]

I really like that idea....I was kicking it around since the beginning. I do however kind of like the lightening holes in the tank plate.....decisions, decisions....haha

 

[pacman270]

looks good with holes. Once you make them outta metal what color are you gonna paint them?

 

[SHMO]

My initial thought was the same color as the frame and fork....Not really sure what color that will be. I chose the bike simply for the orange rims with black hubs and spokes. At first, I really disliked the gold. Now, it's kinda starting to grow on me. I am completely open to any color suggestions. If you have'em, share'em!

Thanks,
SHMO

 

[SHMO]

Just an idea for a headlight I found laying around the shop. I kinda like the idea of a light, but I am not completely sold on the looks yet. The mount is temporary, and it would need to be shortened a little. That is fairly obvious. I just fabbed it up quick like.....just not sure about the looks...Any input?

 

[Bill in Houston]

seems like the back of the headlight ought to match something else on the bike. either chrome, orange, white, or gold.

 

[SHMO]

Very good point, Bill, but do you like the looks of the headlight on the bike in general?

If I decide to use it, I will paint it to match the frame and fork.....still trying to decide on what that color will be though :?

 

[Bill in Houston]

Sorry, I was answering the wrong question! I am new to old bikes, so my opinion isn't worth the electrons its written on. I guess I thought that board trackers didn't have headlights, so it didn't seem to fit at first. That said, I always like the looks of a headlight.

 

[SHMO]

Oh man, you know you're kinda right. I never really thought about it. I am pretty new to old style bikes as well.
Board trackers don't usually have headlights.....go figure


With that said, I shortened the mount and it looks much nicer....maybe I will just have a board tracker (night) racer... :roll:

SHMO

 

[Bill in Houston]

I bet there were some with headlights. Or there will be now, at least.