WAITING FOR TIM.
Anyone who has dealt regularly with a painter or bodyman has learned to expect delays...I am no exception.
Tim has painted a bunch of bikes for my customers, and his creativity and skill hasn't disappointed.
This is my current bike, a 1994 fxdl. I left my tins in the capable hands of Tim, gave him general guidelines and let him work his magic. As you can see in the pic, the paint is so subtle its almost like it isn't even there.
SEE YOU TODAY MAN!
Tim has painted a bunch of bikes for my customers, and his creativity and skill hasn't disappointed.
This is my current bike, a 1994 fxdl. I left my tins in the capable hands of Tim, gave him general guidelines and let him work his magic. As you can see in the pic, the paint is so subtle its almost like it isn't even there.
Another happy customer...
Dr Roger has done it again - sent another happy customer out into the cafe racer world with a better bike than he rode in on.
Local guy Andy brought his modified Honda GB400 in to us on a trailer after he saw the Mid Life Cycles TV commercial. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL1xMYliJGE&feature=youtu.be )
It was quite a neat bike, but Andy had run out of skills at the critical moment, needing some help to re-route the wiring and fit a new seat from Benjie's Cafe Racers.
(See: http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/ )
It took a few workshop hours, but Roger did his usual tidy job, fitting a rear frame loop and then wiring in a new Shorai battery under the Benjie's seat-hump. He didn't like the look of the stock fork-tops protruding above the triple-clamp, so one custom modification later and Andy's front end looked neat and the fork's factory-fitted mushiness had gone.
Roger also tweaked the carb, fitted a custom inner guard and bracket to support the dry-sump oil tank, tidied up some brackets 'n bits, and handed the bike back to Andy.
And this was the happy customer's response:
Local guy Andy brought his modified Honda GB400 in to us on a trailer after he saw the Mid Life Cycles TV commercial. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL1xMYliJGE&feature=youtu.be )
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| Andy's neat GB about to undergo surgery |
It was quite a neat bike, but Andy had run out of skills at the critical moment, needing some help to re-route the wiring and fit a new seat from Benjie's Cafe Racers.
(See: http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/ )
It took a few workshop hours, but Roger did his usual tidy job, fitting a rear frame loop and then wiring in a new Shorai battery under the Benjie's seat-hump. He didn't like the look of the stock fork-tops protruding above the triple-clamp, so one custom modification later and Andy's front end looked neat and the fork's factory-fitted mushiness had gone.
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| This GB needed a fork-ectomy to tidy up the front end |
And this was the happy customer's response:
Hey Roger: I've been riding the bike around this morning, and it feels fantastic! The front end feels a million bucks and the carby tuning trick feels great too. I've been very happy with you communication and workmanship skills. I will absolutely be coming back when I need more help with sourcing or mechanical issues. Cheers and thank you! Andy.
You're welcome Andy! That's another neat cafe racer back on the street...BLACK POWDER AND STRESS RELIEVED ATTACK
92 FXR HEADS
The last few months have been hectic to say the least....time for some updates!
here's a set of Evo heads that we're cleaning up. They have been washed, glass beaded and the combustion chamber has been reduced by 0.050" to increase static compression.
This is the fixture we use to mount it in the lathe.
Blended valve seats and a 3 angle valve cut to finish off this nice seat of fxrs heads. All thats left is black semi gloss paint, and another kick ass 90's HD is back on the road
Hot rod bratstyle sportster
Working on another "bratstyle" sportster for a customer. Similar look to the one we did for Alex, but on this one the emphasis is on performance.
Top end work: Sportster top-end with 1340 Evo valves, polished exhaust ports, corrected 9.25:1 compression, and J-Precision stage 4 flowed heads:
Bike coming together - narrowed sportster tank with bead, and custom made attack bars:
Top end work: Sportster top-end with 1340 Evo valves, polished exhaust ports, corrected 9.25:1 compression, and J-Precision stage 4 flowed heads:
Bike coming together - narrowed sportster tank with bead, and custom made attack bars:
D-Day for Frankenbike
So, it's done, dusted and delivered. Frankenbike went to his new owner a few weeks back and has been doing the rounds, blowin' people away - as he should.
New owner Frank Kelloway is a happy man. "Bike is just terrific - thank you. Rides really well, firm but not too much, goes and sounds great, gearing is good." That's what we like to hear.
This was a great build to do - challenging, because it combined elements of both Honda XBR and GB models, with plenty of custom touches. We had a clear brief from the owner, purity of line and design maintained by builder Mike D, some inspiration along the way and lots of technical input from Dr Roger on all areas from fabrication to electrickery.
Details abound on this build, from the custom alloy bracket for the tacho to the mini-speedo tucked subtly away on the left fork leg; the brass clip holding the front brake line in place and the rare Yoshimura-branded rear shocks.
New owner Frank Kelloway is a happy man. "Bike is just terrific - thank you. Rides really well, firm but not too much, goes and sounds great, gearing is good." That's what we like to hear.
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| Frankenbike on D-Day |
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| Custom bracket holds standard tacho |
Details abound on this build, from the custom alloy bracket for the tacho to the mini-speedo tucked subtly away on the left fork leg; the brass clip holding the front brake line in place and the rare Yoshimura-branded rear shocks.
Paintwork is by Trevor Whitty, seat by Nitroheads, indicators and tail-lights custom-mounted. It all counts in a custom build and it all adds up when it comes to the time and care taken to make sure Frankie stands out from the crowd.
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| Frank, Mike and Frankenbike |
And no sooner had Frankenbike left the shop than we started on not one, or two but THREE new projects.
Watch for updates on:
Project GBH - Grievous Bodily Honda
Project SRK - an SR500 Kedo-style
Project DWP - this lucky guy gets a neat cafe racer as a wedding present! How good is that?
Alex does good!
Alex and Olivier rode out to the Buckingham swap meet yesterday. At the end of the day, Alex was surprised to be handed a big-ass trophy for "Best in Show," beating out a full-on West Coast Choppers bike. Unfortunately, after strapping the trophy to Olivier's sissy bar for the ride back, only part of the trophy survived the ride, but well done nonetheless to Alex.
Traci Lords
... on a hog.
If you came of age in the eighties, you know who this is.
From the good folks at Dice magazine
If you came of age in the eighties, you know who this is.
From the good folks at Dice magazine
'80's Survivor
One of our customers brought this unmolested 1980's chopper in. Looks like it sprang direct from the pages of Easyriders circa 1985. Amen Savior plunger frame, shovelhead engine, bright yellow paint with hand-painted David Mann tribute mural on the tank, ridiculously swept back handlebars, and a custom made extended springer front end. The bike needs some TLC, but it would be a shame to change too much on it. Some guys want to build an "old-school" chopper; this is the real McCoy. Should be fun to get this thing running and out on the road again.
The bike came with a double-throat S&S carb. Rare as hen's teeth, and tricky to set up, but run well once they are dialed in.
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