maxBetteridge
New Member
Not much of a forum user if I'm honest.. This is my first post on this site, pretty much my first post on any forum.
I'm 24, live in Auckland, New Zealand, and work as a product development engineer.
So I got my first bike just over a year ago, a suzuki GSX400. Here's the finished product:
http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2016/01/first-timer-gsx400-cafe-racer.html
I might share some of the build later on in another post but for now you can see some build photos on my website:
http://www.maxbetteridgedesign.com/#!building-the-gsx400-cafe-racer/jm2qa
I bought the GSX as a project and planned to keep it. I had never ridden a bike when I bought it so I had to learn and get my licence before I could really get into the build. After I finished it I enjoyed riding it for a few weeks but realised I enjoyed the building much more than the riding so I sold it to start the next project.
In NZ we are limited to 650cc for learners licence and below a power to weight ratio. The GSX was a good compromise toward the upper end of the power to weight limit. We are also limited on the types of modifications we are allowed before it becomes a non-learner bike, hence the mods on the GSX were pretty conservative.
The new bike is a 2005 Ducati Monster:
And here's the first concept sketch:
It's a 400cc so it's still a learner bike. This time I want to do something which is a bit less edgy with more subtle styling. I had my first experience with fibreglassing on the GSX and was surprised at how easy it was so this time I have been talked into doing a full composite belly pan, tail, and tank. I want to use exposed basalt fiber for it's amazing colour and texture, and because it seems like nobody has really done it before. I want to make features of the frame, the engine, and the basalt and most importantly get rid of the bubbly curves and get rid of the red!
I got the bike in December, about a month ago, and I've been doing a lot of designing and planning. I finally got some good 'before' photos last weekend so I've got stuck into pulling it apart, ordering bits, and building parts. More updates on what I've already done will come soon.
Follow me on instagram for build pics @max_betteridge_design
www.instagram.com/max_betteridge_design/
I'm 24, live in Auckland, New Zealand, and work as a product development engineer.
So I got my first bike just over a year ago, a suzuki GSX400. Here's the finished product:
http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2016/01/first-timer-gsx400-cafe-racer.html
I might share some of the build later on in another post but for now you can see some build photos on my website:
http://www.maxbetteridgedesign.com/#!building-the-gsx400-cafe-racer/jm2qa
I bought the GSX as a project and planned to keep it. I had never ridden a bike when I bought it so I had to learn and get my licence before I could really get into the build. After I finished it I enjoyed riding it for a few weeks but realised I enjoyed the building much more than the riding so I sold it to start the next project.
In NZ we are limited to 650cc for learners licence and below a power to weight ratio. The GSX was a good compromise toward the upper end of the power to weight limit. We are also limited on the types of modifications we are allowed before it becomes a non-learner bike, hence the mods on the GSX were pretty conservative.
The new bike is a 2005 Ducati Monster:
And here's the first concept sketch:
It's a 400cc so it's still a learner bike. This time I want to do something which is a bit less edgy with more subtle styling. I had my first experience with fibreglassing on the GSX and was surprised at how easy it was so this time I have been talked into doing a full composite belly pan, tail, and tank. I want to use exposed basalt fiber for it's amazing colour and texture, and because it seems like nobody has really done it before. I want to make features of the frame, the engine, and the basalt and most importantly get rid of the bubbly curves and get rid of the red!
I got the bike in December, about a month ago, and I've been doing a lot of designing and planning. I finally got some good 'before' photos last weekend so I've got stuck into pulling it apart, ordering bits, and building parts. More updates on what I've already done will come soon.
Follow me on instagram for build pics @max_betteridge_design
www.instagram.com/max_betteridge_design/