My new chop.

[Dman]

Was gonna call it quits after finishing my Girl's cruiser (viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11959#p119528) but had a heap of ideas floating around the melon so have started this thing:

Frame is of hand-bent 38mm tubing, top tube drilled-and-filled - may do the whole frame like this if I can work up the motivation!, BMX wheels with 20x3inch Kenda flame tyres, front end will be some sort of springer arrangement, paint will be red/brown-oxide primer with black powder-coat instead of chrome bits, name: ???, umm... not much else to tell you yet sorry...

 

[Fireproof]

Man oh man, this thing looks great so far! How did you bend the tubing? Keep up the good work!

 

[KC Designs]

Looking good! I'll keep an eye out....

 

[KAIKS]

wow those 20x3 tires look fat as heck

 

[Galtbacken]

Nice shape on the frame! I'll be watching this build as it progresses!

 

[bikebuilder]

Nice Design!

 

[blink]

i really like how it curves around the tires in the front and back.

how will the rear work? gonnna make a swingarm for rear suspension?

 

[Dman]

Cheers All!

Am thinking the rear end will be a bolt-on assembly powdercoated black so that it'll definitely look separate to the frame and not detract from the lines. Had all sorts of rear suspension ideas goin on but I'm not really clever enough to make them happen!

 

[Quanah]

Looks great Dman, lookin' forward to see your progress. Drilled and filled is a time consuming job, but well worth the efforts. Like Fireproof asked, I'm also wonderin' how your bending the tubing, by hand?

 

[bikebuilder]

Like Fireproof asked, I'm also wonderin' how your bending the tubing, by hand?

Mayhe he has really powerful thumbs. :|



Or access to a bender that he uses with his hands... :wink:

 

[Dman]

The old hotrodder's trick: Your length of tubing is packed (hard - broom handle and a hammer) with dry sand and plugged (I use automotive frost/welsh/core plugs), clamp one end in the vise (horizontal), then LOTS of heat with the oxy-acetylene plant using a large size tip, and pull it round. The sand (hopefully) stops the pipe collapsing on the inside of the bend. Where I need two items the same radius (like rear dropout tubes), I cut two equal lengths, pack and plug them, tack weld them side by side every couple inches, clamp them vertically, and bend them together. They'll often warp a little as they cool but generally they turn out close enough. Not very scientific but good fun!

 

[Fireproof]

WOW! I'm impressed! I have read about this bending technique before . . . it looks like you have it mastered. That's a great tip for bending the tubes as a pair . . . I never would have thought of that one. Thanks!

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

nice !! like your work ive been wanting to incorperate the hole in the frame design but dont have the right tools yet ,
was this done with a drill press? and how long have you been workin with metal fab.? again loks killer !! 8)

 

[Dman]

Metal fab?! That's a heck of a compliment Mate, and not one I really deserve! I'm just a scumbag mechanic. Am fortunate in that most automotive workshops have a selection of at least rudimentary engineering equipment, and I'm always keen to figure out how to use it. Self taught when it comes to sticking metal together (the term "welding" might be a bit of a stretch for my "skills" ), and grinding stuff isn't exactly an art. (A good friend of mine says "if you can't weld good, weld lots!" love that!)

Drilling and filling: yep I used a drill press but if you were careful it'd be possible to measure your hole locations and get them horizontal. Cut tubing to go through the holes, cut/grind the ends flush with the big tube, weld, and dress the welds with die-grinder and 3m roloc sanding discs (or files and elbow grease). Time consuming but it looks pretty cool.

 

[stretch]

heck i think cutting and filling those holes jugt might make the frame stronger AND lighter!

 

[Dman]

Apologies Rat Brothers, I have been distracted of late by things as varied as boats, Chryslers, pirate party props(!), and much beer. Progress has been slight. All I've achieved is to tack up the rear stays and start on the springer front, as below:

So yeah, very sorry for the slackness. On the plus side I've started a new cruiser cos I really need something to ride! Hopefully inspiration for this one will strike again soon and it won't be on the backburner for too long. Maybe when I come up with a name for the thing...

 

[bikebuilder]

THAT FORK IS GOOD!

 

[stretch]

how about "the thing"? im buildinbg a bike kinda of similar to this, and its named ' "IT!" came from the black lagoon'
im diggin the frame and fork. where would the BB be?

 

[mastronaut]

I can tell by the lines this thing is gonna smoke! Can't wait! 8)

 

[metalman72]

man nice work on the frame,cant wait to see it finish 8)