Willow...An Evolution

[troybilt]

Edit: Well as you can see I had Tim break up this build thread. I made the mistake of continuing the new thread with the old BTC thread. It was just getting out of hand and besides I think the bike is a whole entity of its own now... Hope this makes it easier for those following along


thanks for the props fellas
Think its time to get you all up to speed. After some sleepless nights and hours spent in the garage staring this thing down I've come to a decision to make a slight change.
I don't want this bike to be a salt flats racer.  I've realized that I dont want a bike that only looks like a salts flat racer.... I want it to be the real deal especially when it comes to a bike as specialized as a salt flat racer.  If I had my choice I'd change quite a few things including the base bike. The 360 would not be my first choice of base. A 400 4 or maybe even a cb 750 or maybe even a two smoke of some sort. Anyhow, I just feel like while the bike looks cool as hell it would be just pretending.  I just wouldn't feel right riding a pretend salt flats racer around. Maybe has something to do with the fact that the bike should be chasing LSRs. I don't know and not sure if I can explain it.
 On the other hand I'm ok with bikes inspired by visions of the past such as boardtrack racers and such. Its just the salt flats bike I'm having issues with. Anyhow, I still want to build a bike to take out there. In the future I want to get up to speed on rules and such. Look at the records and build something more suited to the task.
Anyhow, I spoke with Crescent and he totally understands. I think I felt the worst for him after he put so much work into the mock ups. Hopefully in the future I can put the mock ups to good use. Also felt bad for Kiley and Doug. We spent a good amount of time and effort on the tanks. They understand as well.

Update:
 The frame is mostly welded but will be finished once its all stripped down. Its slugged and rossett welded at the joints. Surprisingly it is super ridged. Jason came over and we took her off the stand. Both of us jumped up and down on it and nothing moved at all. I still may be looking at a small brace around the tire area but well see.



Tossed the old seat on for mock up. I won't be using it in this state. Plan is to add a leaf spring from an old trailer change the cover to worn brown leather. I may end up looking for an old brooks bicycle saddle with the springs. The tank is getting more work as well.


Sometimes slight changes can make a big difference. Or maybe I'm letting my anal retentive side show through, haha.
 I had the brake lever mount welded to the bottom of the frame and I quickly realized that the lever covered the frame right at right at the bend. It changed the way it looked (check the photo above). When you can't see the complete lines of the frame it really changes the feel of the bike. I want the frame to be one of the most important visual pieces. Anyhow, the location made the linkage hang way below the frame as well. I cut it back off and it will be re-located  to the top of the tubing which allows the brake lever to sit higher and the linkage will be closer to the height of the bottom rail (you can see the difference in the linkage in both pics as well).
 new location of the brake lever. Only mock up. still need to work out final details and weld it up. The tank duct taped back together. She looks a bit puggy here. The reason its getting more knife:
 


Having the same issue of covering parts of the frame with the exhaust. Both won't fit on one side.  So I've decided to build an exhaust from scratch. Since Kiley has a new exhaust for the 750 I don't feel so bad stealing its exhaust. I have all kinds of bends and straights from it. Anyhow, an exhaust down each side something like this:










Started on the tank. This is the place where the salt flats bike came from. I had been looking for a tank more suited to the lines of the bike. One thing led to another and now were back here again
Decided if the whizzer had a stretch it would suit the need



This was my first time to ever weld metal this thin. The piece I added is 23g and the tank seemed a shade thinner. It's also one of the first times to use a mig. No gas yet so it flux core. I've only ever welded with a stick welder. Wish I'd bought a mig years ago.


I made the tunnel much much deeper. The original tank set very high on the frame. I still need to split a piece of pipe to use as the upper part of the tunnel and add sheeting for the rest of the tunnel. then stretch the bottom half, cut out the old tunnel and weld it up.









Still a ton to do.

[JRK5892]

i do like that tank way better! have to be honest was not feeling the muffler tanks. cool idea just not my thing... how much gas you planning on getting in this sucker when done? what if you dropped the front sides of the tanks low to fill in the gap between the upper angle of the frame and top of the motor? would allow for a good amount more of gass and still look so clean and smooth. love the rear fo the frame!

[CrescentSon]

And BOOOM, your minds are blown!

[Swapmeet Louie]

Nice choice in beverage. Thats one way to make sure shits straight, ha ha..

Are you, thee Dr. Thunder?  You must be...

I'll bet your birth certificate says Thor. Changing your name to Troy was a modest attempt @ an identity change.

[CrescentSon]

Damn Lou, you even watching the build or just playing Where's Waldo with beverages...?

[Swapmeet Louie]

Damn Lou, you even watching the build or just playing Where's Waldo with beverages...?

I have an un-quenchable thirst.. haha

[VonYinzer]

Awesome... Just awesome...

[Hoofhearted]

Thats cool.  Changing your mind and "heading in a different direction" is cool.  BUT........I hate to be the one to say this but that tank, as proportionately beautiful it is, looks more like a salt tank than the other tank!!  But keep it, its perfect.  Looking forward to seeing the final outcome.

[Swapmeet Louie]

I'd say this falls under the title of "Special". Or what I would call a "Speedster".

[VonYinzer]

Hell, I just call it better than 90% of anything else on the road.

[pawn]

loving every incarnation of this bike. I can't wait to see it "finished" until you decide to build it again...in which case I will also be following that one!

[jay_kent]

keeping a special diary of disposed incarnations of this bike to use one day. Love it.

I do dig the muffler tanks better than this one but it's working for the bike so I'll keep my opinions to myself until final product is served up for us.

Haha final product my ass. I've seen all the builds. This won't be the final one.

Love the direction of the frame. It is gorgeous.

[troybilt]

Hahaha, Thanks guys. I think she is going to look like momma had an active social life. Maybe a little Heinz 57 style haha. Stay tuned because its about to get a little interesting. Hopefully I won't disappoint.
 I was thinking of using the old seat pan covered in dark brown worn leather riding on a leaf spring. I've completely ditched that idea. I want her to have a vintage racer feel but the leaf is not what I want. So, I've been on craigslist and ebay for about the past week looking for a leather brooks bicycle saddle. When you can find them damn things are ridiculously expensive. Anyhow thats the spoiler.
I think the narrowness of the frame will be just about perfect for a narrow bicycle seat. The seat will be mounted on a very short seat post. It will start just above the coils just behind the motor making an arc matching the radius of the new bottom rails. It will rise above the backbone/seat rail only a couple inches and about 3-4" long as it arcs toward the tire. I look for most of the seat post above the frame to be hidden under the seat. The current gusset under the seat rail will have to be removed to make room. It would look redundant anyhow.


This tank is taking forever. 23g is so freaking thin. Anyhow, I got the bottom half of the tank tacked up. It still needs the tunnel completed and all the welds finished. Decided not to add any meat to the bottom of the tank for appearance. I mocked it up in cardboard and it made the tank look much shorter from the side. I'm really liking the long narrow look of the tank and I didn't want to take away from that (the muffler tanks did have a huge influence on me).

Bent the new sections and cut the bottom half of the tank in two.
 



Welded the new sections into the bottom then welded the complete bottom section to the top section  (actually its all only tacked together and I have a few pin holes to fix at that . This shit is so thin)




Cut away the old tunnel



Tonight I split some pipe to use as the top of the tunnel. I plan to weld the insides to the pipe then to the bottom half of the tank. I put the tank back on for size. The seat post will take the place of the gusset but with almost the same radius. I split the pipe after these were taken.










This is the type of saddle I'm looking for...



Inspiration for the seat:


 

[Curbcast]

That will look good with the narrow rail you got going on.  Brooks are expensive.  Youll have to get crafty

[troybilt]

Thanks man. Yeah the prices are killing me. Bidding on the one pictured above ends today. Its way above $100 already. I've found leather knock-offs but from what I've read the springs are pretty weak. Not what I want to hear. Damn seat is going to be worth more than the bike haha...