The bike I'm building - garage dogs ONLY!

Hey, let's start a section where people who actually build bikes talk about the bikes they're building. No goofy "someday I'm gonna" stuff or any of that cheesehead filler "why do you like motorcycles" garbage. If you're REALLY building a chopper in your garage, backyard, under the carport or in the livingroom - let's chat about it, share pictures and ideas. I promise to check back and keep this forum rolling. For those of you out there who know me, you know I pull no punches and speak my mind plain as day. You can check out my site at www.choppersrule.com or listen to me on the radio at www.usabikernation.com. I'm not some media dude who decided to become a biker after watching 16 episodes of OCC. I'm a 25 year rider and builder. Want to chat about what you got goin' on? Show me your stuff and let's get down to it. Who's up first?

The picture here is a harley 5 speed transmission case that I'm "modifying" to fit in a four speed frame. I'm using a wood-working tool attached to a high-speed die grinder to cut out large chunks of metal.


 
Warren Fuller
warren@choppersrule.com
www.choppersrule.com

Here is my 1200 sporty chop. Still a work in progress but not too far to go now. Only major fabrication left to do is the oil tank. Was going to make it out of a fire extinguisher but that turned out to be aluminium and as I don't have facilities to weld alloy that was no use so will make one out of steel and paint it. That is a 230/60 x 15 avon at the back, 16 inch apes, homemade seat, sissybar etc. Will be painted basically black with a few graphics but I don't want to overpower her with paint. How come I had to select Great Britain when registering. I'm a Scot living in Scotland. You don't make Texans register as Mexican.(Couldn't get pictures to upload)  

Sounds VERY cool. You should be able to get some pictures up. It took me a while to figure out how to do it on this system. First off, you don't actually upload the pictures - you have to have them on a web server or wiht some picture hosting service where you can get a full URL (http://www.picturehoster.com/bob/bobs_chopper.jpg) if you paste that in the window that appears whne you click the picture icon, your image will appear in your post. I dunno why they have stuff ste up like they do wiht locations and such. I've tried to write directly to these guys but get precious little back. See if at least you can make the pictures work! Thans I'll try posting some video and see if I can make THAT happen!  
Warren Fuller
warren@choppersrule.com
www.choppersrule.com

Garage built bikes are the best.  Its always funny when someone buys a part off the shelf and then walks around saying he customized his bike.  My hats are off to all you who actually CUSTOMIZE your bikes by either building or modifying them yourself with your own hands.  I took a 1980 xs 650 and cut the frame in half and built the whole rear end and everything in my own apartment garage.  $1200 for a custom bike that turns everyones head plus the satisfaction of building it with my bare hands is unexplainable.  Check out pics of my GARAGE BUILT BIKE at http://www.650motorcycles.com/BrandonBalcom2.html  

Garage dog here, I'm working on a couple of projects one of which is the final drive belt trouble. Any recommendations on chain, sprocket manufacturer? How do you determine offset for ordering sprockets?  

HiayaChop:
Garage dog here, I'm working on a couple of projects one of which is the final drive belt trouble. Any recommendations on chain, sprocket manufacturer? How do you determine offset for ordering sprockets?

Hey Garage Dog. I am new here and saw your message. I have been building my bike for two years. IT is just about finished. I just had to order offset parts to allow enough room for my rear tire plus a belt. Exactly what problem are you having with your belt drive that would want to make you switch to a chain? Belts are much better than chains, cleaner and stronger.  
Ride hard, Take chances.

Wherever I go; there I am

Hey Garage Dog, back again. When you get your rear tire aligned and centered, on the left (or right for right side drive) you can measure the distance between your current drive set up (belt or chain) sprocket and the inside of the left side (or right side) of the swing arm. This will give you the max distance of offset. (I would allow an 1/8" from the belt or chain to the swing arm.) These guys in New Hampshire have any parts you may need.

http://vulcanworks.net/store_4/home.php

I am currently using many of their parts on my chopper. Great stuff, excellent quality, fair price.
I hope this helps.
 
Ride hard, Take chances.

Wherever I go; there I am

I am currently working a triumph bonneville chopper and am almost done. just waiting on the boyer ignition system  

This forum is a great idea - I purchased a 72 sportster motor in a rigid frame with a girder front end on ebay.  Paid $ 2511. Never modified anything before. I cut the frame sections below the motor, and at the neck, and pushed the front frame tubes forward until they are vertical. I hope to push the motor forward to allow more room in back for my 6'-4" frame. I also cut the rear gussets off that the axel connects to - I am extending the back tubes out until they touch, and am trying to recreate a homemade version of an AMEN Savior frame from the 70's. Most fun I've had in years !! Would like to see this forum develop into a real place where we can help each other do this sort of stuff.  

Well, here is my nifty little ironhead. Started life as a bone stock 85 and I pulled it into the garage in January of '08 and low and behold...this is what came out in may! Backbone stretched 1". Lowered 4" in the rear and dropped 4" as well. Fabbed the hardtail myself. Uses all disk brakes still. Motor is .30 over with 10:1 compression from decked heads and thinner copper gaskets. She runs like a raped ape all day long. Paint comes this winter!
This is how it was before:

and after:




 

Here is a swap meet bike in the slow month buy month process. The major parts like the front end and the chassis where store bought. The rest of the parts are off of a 10x10 tarp on the ground. Going for an, 'old school' wannabee look.



 


 

What's up... My name is Sarah and I am posting this for my boyfriend who has been building vintage custom bikes for over 15 yrs. He is Kurt Morrow and owns Ventura Motorworks in Ventura, Ca. He has a few really bitchen bikes nearing completion that I know yoiu guys would be interesting in checking out... so, here ya go.
enjoy



This last one is one of the very few, if not only, "Speedy Shift" still on the road.



Thanks for looking...  

I'm a garage dog (Novice class).  Can I join in?  Technically, I just finished my bike and am now in the maintenence/upgrade phase.  If you're interested, I posted pictures of my bike on http://www.bikerhotline.com/readersrides/2008/08mcadenhead/ (they don't have a forum for talking about building...so, I'm very happy to find this site.)
I'd be glad to answer any questions about my bike,  the "trial and terror" of building as a novice or just yakking about how great it is to build your own bike (I confess, I tend to feel a little "special" compared to the general biker population....I think "Look what I built" sounds better than "Look what I bought").  I'm not trying to be egotistical, but I'm proud of what I accomplished...aren't you proud of what you're doing, as well?  

Hey, just started building (or attempting to build) my first bike.  I have a real basic question and I feel pretty stupid even asking it, but I'm sure warren can help...  Any tips on gettign an axle through a wheel.  I have tried with bearing grease and I still struggle to get it moving.  The other reason I ask is that a bearing in the rear wheel looks like it got thrown out of place about 1/8" while trying to send the axle through.  So any tips on my two issues?  Appreciate the help and love the forum.  

I hear you about building the choppers.  I learned to ride a motorcycle on my friend's BSA 650 chopper, ape hanger handlebars, and 4-inch extended tubes.  I received a direct impact and broken trust with the manufacturer and the government when purchased a new 1970 XS650, we crashed, and almost happened again with the replacement when exposed to the same riding conditions.  Authorities resisted allowing vicitms like myself from building choppers so limited to further harm us.  Myself and groups affected went political, changed the regulations, and even repealed the helmet law.

It is present day, I came across a later XS650 with improved steering, but it was used and there is engine knock like from the con rod big end?  Sometime in the near future, tear down and need those parts!  I have a chopper frame I'd like to pop it in for old time sake!