long, low and slow x-53 (7-21 done)

[lobsterboyx]

A very good friend of mine gave me this latest project. he bought it to get some parts to complete his bike.

its a western flyer x-53 originally in flamboyant red, later re-painted flamboyant house paint red!

with some generosity from floridas favorite son. my original plan was to strip the tank and paint it to match my plans for the rest of the bike, but the tank is too nice and original to strip, so my plans might be sidelined until i can come up with a good scheme.

the bike is in physically great shape and is complete enough for a really bad ass custom bike. the plan is to keep it somewhat stock (no cutting or powder coating) because in the future if i ever want to fully restore this bike, i can.

so the work begins

50s custom is the plan, no board bars no apes, just a low, long bike.

has anyone had any expierence with the bicycle moon discs from mooneyes?

 

[BrigmasterA]

"long low and slow x-53"

Nice start man. I dig those frames, and you've got the tank too. JEALOUS! :mrgreen:

 

[FOUND OBJECTS]

"long low and slow x-53"

That's a great start man! Nice!

 

[CCR]

"long low and slow x-53"

so far.... your parts look the coolest to me :shock:

 

[FOUND OBJECTS]

"long low and slow x-53"

Yeah...It's a hot bike...great lines and a crazy chain gaurd! Best choice of starting material thus far 8)

 

[2manybikes]

"long low and slow x-53"

Not to be a whiner...But you stole the name from one of my builds :?
My space bike buildoff entry was named exactly the same thing. Maybe you could try and come up with something more original ??
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewto ... 29&t=12558

 

[lobsterboyx]

"long low and slow x-53"

jeez, honestly i didnt even know i was stepping on anyones feet. im really sorry about that.

thanks mod!

 

[Markm]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

:wink:

 

[Uptonogood]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

That has to be one of the coolest frames I ever seen...the line are perfect! What make is it!

 

[Galtbacken]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

That has to be one of the coolest frames I ever seen...

That's what I was thinking too!

 

[bikeriderx]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

That is one SICK frame!! The lines are awesome!

 

[lobsterboyx]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

the bike is made by western flyer - aka murray ohio!

thanks for the kind words

strip strip strip! whoever painted this bike took the time to sand and and prime each piece before they applied a generous helping of house paint! im just pissed because the hot rod shop i used to work at closed down, thanks economy! so there goes my sandblaster.

i found a powder coater, heres a sample of our conversation

8) hey, how much do you guys charge to blast and coat a bicycle frame
:roll: ahhh... 250 bucks, what is it some kind of roadbike fixie thing?
8) no, its a 1950s western flyer x-53
:? come again
8) balloon tires, tank, rack, springer fork, you know, the works
:shock: make that less than 100, i have to see this thing, this sounds like an awesome project!

so as soon as i have some spare time, im going to take it to him and take a look at the colors he has.

 

[herr_rudolf]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

Wow!
I dig your frame. Never saw anything like it until discovering these ratrodpages. Sorry to hear about the hotrod shop. Businesses dissappear ...but sandblasters don't, do they? It MUST be somewhere...

About the paintjob...
I've read somewhere that pro-paintjobs are a no-no in this build-off. Just to let you know.
(I, however, think you should finish the bike the way you want. It would be a shame to not give your ride a pro-paint job. Or maybe you should call it 'finished' right before the paintjob ;-)

Good luck with the build. This one's going to be a beaut!

 

[socal_jack]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

so as soon as i have some spare time, im going to take it to him and take a look at the colors he has.

Colors? Black! Nice looking frame, got the spring for the fork?

 

[lobsterboyx]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

Wow!
I dig your frame. Never saw anything like it until discovering these ratrodpages. Sorry to hear about the hotrod shop. Businesses dissappear ...but sandblasters don't, do they? It MUST be somewhere...

About the paintjob...
I've read somewhere that pro-paintjobs are a no-no in this build-off. Just to let you know.
(I, however, think you should finish the bike the way you want. It would be a shame to not give your ride a pro-paint job. Or maybe you should call it 'finished' right before the paintjob ;-)

Good luck with the build. This one's going to be a beaut!

good point!... scratch that idea, im in it to win it!


black? everyone and their mother does black! i do have that 58 buick silver laying around... we will have to wait and see, and also, yeah, i have the springs for the springer, they are just painted white, i might rob the ones off of my whizzer, they are in a little better shape

 

[lobsterboyx]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

ive been busy:

buy stock in "aircraft" paint stripper!

normally id be sweating my ass off standing infront of the blast cabinet, but since all the chrome is in decent shape, it has to be chemical time!

buy stock in aircraft stripper

the rear rack came out perfectly, only minor pitting in the chrome.

i got a nice little treat when i started cleaning the brake arm - this was black with grease and i had no idea this would be under there

i also spent time cleaning the paint from the original bolts and small hardware - but overall im about ready to start having fun with this thing.

im thinking i want to skirt the back and use a 24 inch wheel for that tail dragger look - the bad news is that the fenders arent in the best shape, stripping paint revealed lots of rust and almost no chrome left - oh well

get ready for it!

 

[Pappy]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

And I thought I had the most off the wall frame...boy howdy the X-53 blows mine out of the water...what a COOOOOOOOOOL bike...yessir.slick from stem to stern,dadgumit!!! :lol: ...Pappy 8)

 

[user 135]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

Skirted will be perfect because you already have the frame of the skirting built with that rack.

 

[ej599]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

I dig that frame. Gotta watch build!

 

[lobsterboyx]

Re: "long low and slow x-53"

ooooOOOooo

ahhhHHhHhHh

leaning towards.... um... black... must try to fight the urge!