Low Flyer...."Building a Better X53"

[Jaypem]

The rear wheel will go in and out of the forward drop outs, but I can't weld the bars directly to the frame down below.
So I've decided to do a built in bracket and probably an acorn nut. The X53 had some cool acorn nuts...

The bars are welded on above, which solved a major stylistic head scratcher for me, how to deal with the ends of the tank tubes. Original X53 has a flat bracket there...Mine is welded, so it flows around the seat stays.

Conduit bender and lots of butt welds to make the rack...Good thing it's a rat build

 

[squirreldh]

You arent finished yet, and neither are many, and I probably havent even seen all the builds going on right now... but I can tell you that you more than likely have my vote already

Sent from my SM-G550T1 using Tapatalk

 

[Jaypem]

Hey thanks for the kind words!
I kind of forgot that there's a contest going on...
There are some phenomenal bikes being built, got a pretty good idea where my vote would go, but like you said, alot of unfinished projects still coming !

Couple of updates.

 

[Jaypem]

Priming.
My cranks came while I was painting, but I had to pop them on anyway...Kind of bummed cuz the seller assured me that we're 9/16" but they are 1/2".. bummer. means I can't use the awesome red pedals in the background.

But these black and white dudes look good for second best, and more importantly, the arms are
5 1/2"...Pedal strikes will be minimized

 

[Jaypem]

Did some paint aging on the rack and the tubes.
Got a new process I'm calling
"rat chrome"... I'll explain once I'm convinced it'll actually work

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I like the sound of "Rat Chrome"....

Carl.

 

[Jaypem]

Masked off for some darts.
Went with textured flat black on the frame.
Liking it a lot but its tough stuff...might be hard to age it effectively.

 

[assa9]

This build has my attention for sure. Very cool

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[LukeTheJoker]

Love the rack!

 

[Jaypem]

Frame paint done...
Textured flat black, satin colonial red.
All over cold galvanized.

That's the Rat Chrome...
The idea is that bikes in this era started using metallic bases for their candy colors. I got some cool results laying down galvie paint, polishing it up a little and then color over.
Not totally amazing.
Probably no better than painting over silver paint, but it was fun to try something new
I'll continue working on the distressing of this paint job, but I want to build it up first and see how she looks.
Oh yeah, and get the tank back on!

 

[Jaypem]

Trying out some different tires/wheel sets.
Got a few to choose from.
Still waiting on fenders, seat and a fork...Not sure how the seat will need to sit, so the post is tacked up for now.

Time to get crackin on the chain guard

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Look'n good!

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Have you considered using pedal adapters to convert from 1/2" to 9/16"?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/302059079166

Digging this custom take on a classic model



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[Fv2]

Expanded metal chain guard?

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Has that chain guard always been the plan?
I like it ratty cool man.

Carl.

 

[Jaypem]

I'll make the guard out of expanded metal...The old one looks boss on there, but it goes on my X53.
I should be able to whip something up ...,

My pedals are 9/16"...I'd have to have a tap set for boring out the cranks....Man that would be cool though.
Do they have them on eBay?
I thought I could scrape up a set of cranks with 9/16" threads, but I'm not seeing any old style one piece. Don't want a BMX crank...

 

[Jaypem]

 

[Jaypem]

Shaping up.

 

[Jaypem]

Working on getting the lines as parralell as possible. ..Kind of need my fork on to see it standing.
Can always adjust later...
Think I'm going to put it on about here.

 

[Georgeediii]

I'll make the guard out of expanded metal...The old one looks boss on there, but it goes on my X53.
I should be able to whip something up ...,

My pedals are 9/16"...I'd have to have a tap set for boring out the cranks....Man that would be cool though.
Do they have them on eBay?
I thought I could scrape up a set of cranks with 9/16" threads, but I'm not seeing any old style one piece. Don't want a BMX crank...

http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/sunlite-pedal-extenders-9-16-pedal-to-1-2-crank-21mm-long