Well, the last couple days and nights have been back and forth for me. I've mocked up different wheels, seats, sissy bars, shifters, and handle bars. Amidst all of those little experiments I somehow subconsciously ended up making another muscle bike. This is the part where I take feedback from the gallery. Have a look at my pics and tell me what you think.
I'm finding out each day that it's hard to build a rat when you don't have a lot of old ratty parts laying around. I'm wondering how all the newer parts will look on this cool old frame with lots of patina. I'm putting feelers out for more rusty parts, but I keep coming back to the beautiful red seat. It's the front runner for me. The shape of it nestles in between the back wheel and that seat tube just perfectly, and the lines of it flow effortlessly into the top tube.
I also have a huge collection of shifters. I like them in my display case and I like putting them on bikes. I've mocked up several different options, but unfortunately in this case, most of my shifters are NOS. I really had to dig to find a couple rusty ones. I've sold so many of them over the years at swaps. Some I have even given away. After this experience I'll probably never let anything ago again. I'll graduate to the next level of bicycle 'hoardsmanship'.
I spent a few hours looking up some tires for this build. There are some really cool options out there but it's difficult to find a matching set if you decide to go with a smaller front wheel. Most of the new tires you get are not going to fit the oddball sizes of some of these older rims either. The 24" wheel I mocked up on the front is a 24 x 1-3/8. I'm now looking for a 24 x 1.75. I also really want to do a 3 speed so I can add a shifter. I have a nice Sturmey Archer SRC3 coaster hub mounted in a 26" aluminum rim, so I'd be looking for a bmx or kids mountain bike rim to match.
I really like the painted rims that I pulled from the old ladies Stelber frame, but then I'm going coaster with 26" front and back. And... I really hate to leave that bike without its wheels.
This is also the first build I've done that I think might fit one or two of the strato-jet exhaust pipes I picked up at Ann Arbor a few years ago. I like the way the tips complement the red seat. But again, they are so shiny new, and I'm not sure if the fit the ratty frame. And.... I won't be 'rustifying' a nice NOS part like that. Just can't do it.....even if I have two. So that's what I'll sleep on tonight. Let me know what you think guys. Looking forward to your comments, concerns, and creativity.
