New Ruff Porucho build

[OSMojo]

New build. This will be a bit of a slow burner of a build. I already built one 6 years ago (in the first photo attached, forge custom cycles built it).
Now I am going for 29" wheels and bigger motor. The forks are hand built by a frame builder here in London.
So to kick off I have a question, the headtube on the Porucho is short compared to the forks head tube length which is long. Any ideas on the most aesthetic way of bridging this gap? Bear in mind the headset cap will sit flush on the top of the forks so I will not be able to add a spacer after. Please see photos, difficult to explain. Any help appreciated.

 

[RustyGold]

Have you tried flipping the top plate?

 

[OSMojo]

Have you tried flipping the top plate?

Hi I'm not sure what you mean?

 

[OSMojo]

I think I end up getting one of these made.

 

[RustyGold]

Hi I'm not sure what you mean?

My bag...I was thinking the plate bent down to the spring, but I see now it is flat.

 

[OSMojo]

I figured out a beautiful solution. ....I'll be back.

 

[OSMojo]

And...the problem is solved. Had a spacer made.

 

[PeteMcP]

Following this build with interest. Always fancied having a stab at a Ruff Porucho.
Question re your forks. Were these a one-off to your specs, or does your London builder sell these commercially?

 

[OSMojo]

Following this build with interest. Always fancied having a stab at a Ruff Porucho.
Question re your forks. Were these a one-off to your specs, or does your London builder sell these commercially?

It was a team who made a bike called 'the frinton flyer', I bought an old bike on ebay that had the forks on, so was just lucky to spot them.

 

[OSMojo]

Bought this seat, it's on its way, so will get it welded on, just hoping clearances don't make it too problematic, we'll see. I did a mock up in photoshop.

 

[PeteMcP]

It was a team who made a bike called 'the frinton flyer', I bought an old bike on ebay that had the forks on, so was just lucky to spot them.

Thanks. Forks look very similar to Ruff's Regulator sprung fork designed to fit their frames.

 

[OSMojo]

Thanks. Forks look very similar to Ruff's Regulator sprung fork designed to fit their frames.

Yes I had those (in first pic) on my first Porucho, they were crazy heavy, as heavy as the frame if not more.

 

[OSMojo]

Had the seat welded on. Getting some different coils though as these are too hard. Plus the seat pan needs re-enforcing.
For the fork suspension I had custom mounts made by Stewarts Motorcycles of Sunbury London, he engineered them really nicely.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

That front fork looks like machined artwork! Hoping you get your seat suspension dialed in. Very nice work!

 

[OSMojo]

Seat has been a pain, the supplier includes 650 lbs 750 and 850 coils, all too hard. I finally found out that a solo seat spring shock should be 300 lbs, it's just the rider after all.
Only compatible spring I have found is 400lbs, I weigh 200, so hoping it'll be ok. I have had to have the seat pan re-enforced as the springs being too hard meant the seat pan would bend instead. So that whole thing has become more expensive than I planned, I hate that, part of the fun is not throwing money away. I'll update the post as soon as the modified seat and spring are on.

 

[PeteMcP]

I hear you. My experience when building one-offs is that it's often a case of two steps forward, one step back before getting things just right. I've an over-stuffed crate-full of new, but replaced (often several times) components that dented my wallet but never made it onto my finished bikes.
Regarding shocks....I sourced a couple of the ones used on my builds from AliExpress. Quite a range of spring rates available from them. Delivery is usually free and takes no more than a couple of weeks.

 

[OSMojo]

Finally have the seat sorted with a 400lb spring on the seat which bounces just right, and a 500lb on the forks.

The new shape tanks are nicer than the series 1s, as they taper in towards the knees, much more athletic looking.

 

[PeteMcP]

Love it! That bike's frame is crying out for a motor.

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Beautiful build, it really looks like a big bike

Just wondering, personally I mounted a cruiser style handlebar for the 'upright' seating position (also because the bottom bracket is located quite a bit to the front).
Is this comfortable for you? It certainly looks the part!

 

[OSMojo]

Love it! That bike's frame is crying out for a motor.

Thanks. I hear you but that'd mean insurance, tax and noise. So it'll be electric.