An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - I am ALIVE - New pics

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Brembos came in - New pictures

I found them in a dresser full of misc parts. I believe my dad got them at the Oshkosh (spelling?) air show. They look like aircraft grade aluminum. Maybe if you Googled aircraft quick release pins you could find some. They do seem to work nice. Not that I think I will need to be able to change my pads in under a minute very often or anything. lol.

I found several different styles by quickly looking on google. Some where pretty similar. I am sure if your browsed you would find something pretty close.

Those brakes appear to be the same line as the ones I have, except for the color, have you used them? I am curious as to how well they preform.

-Matt

 

[thompsonmx100]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Brembos came in - New pictures

Hows it going Matt? what are you working on this week? Just curious.

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Brembos came in - New pictures

Well, I didn't get to much done, actually...Sorry about the pause. Christmas sucked up more of my time than I had hoped...And I am also still waiting on my frame and engine parts to come back from stripping/cleaning. Also, it seems the holidays have slowed the postal system. So I am also still waiting on my tail section.

That being said, I have made some progress.

I am officially done with the tank...After painting it and wetsanding it three times by hand, I have gotten to a point where I am satisfied with the outcome...Which is good, because it had totally stopped being fun after the second repaint. It's not perfect, but it looks good enough to make do until I figure out if I am keeping this tank or putting a bigger one on. The pictures make it look a lot worse, but it still does have some imperfections...But damnit, my arm is sore from sanding. I might put another coat of wax on it later. I really do like how the satin black turned out, anything you look at directly is flat black, but anything else is glossy...Nice mix I think. Anyway here is a picture.

Also, I did get my crankshaft in...So I can begin tearing into the engine soon. Going to wait until I clean up my workspace some more before I tackle that project though.

I will update more regularly now though, as the holidays wind down, and things get back to normal.

Oh, and Happy Holidays everyone!
Matt

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Tank done - Picture. Happy belated holidays!

Big update today...

I finally got the seat in, and I really do like it, I also got my parts back from cleaning/baking and sandblasting. Sadly they couldn't blast the frame, so that was just cleaned and baked. Either way no paint is left on it. Should be pretty easy to get it powder coated now (decided powder coating was the way to go...after my experience with painting the tank. I don't like painting things, all the time spent sanding and redoing saps my enthusiasm, and is generally not fun for me...Defeating the purpose of this build. And, I believe a powder coated product will be far superior to anything I can manage with spray bombs. That being said, I am glad I had the experience of painting the tank, and I am fairly happy with the results.

As soon as I had the parts in one spot, I began to mock them all up. After choping part of the frame, I got the seat fairly close to where I want it...some more trimming and chopping of the seat and frame should have it dialed in. I do have a issue though, that I partially foresaw, in that the seat is wider than the tank. I am working on some solutions to that, but I think I will ultimately need to find a different tank to get the final look, that being said, it will be more than adequate until I get the bike running and working. If I can't make it work by then, I will look into a wider tank.

Anyways, here are the pictures...Give me your two cents.

Here are the parts after cleaning:

Here is the issue with the seat...I think it will be partially resolved once I get everything trimmed and positioned right. Playing with some ideas...the gaps could make a cool location for some EGT/fuel ratio/voltage...ect gauges...Just a thought. At any rate, it will have to wait until the bike is closer to being done.

Here is a back view of the tail section. I am very excited with how it will look once the light is in, and the positioning and more finalized.

Here is a side view of the bike mocked up, I really like how the look is starting to shape out. I think it will be much better once I trim the seat to fit around to tank better.

All and all, I am very happy with the direction this bike is going,
Matt

 

[forcefanajd]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

front wheel is too small, tank is too small, seat is too big

 

[Big R]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Good progress!

The tank does look really out of proportion, can't wait to see what you do about a new one! Can't tell about the front tire, maybe just the pic?

Either way man- I've been watching this build from the start and its lookin good!

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

The front tire is the same I had on the other mockup pic...It's only about 1/2 inch smaller than the rear. At the end of the day I like it.

Yeah, the tank is wrong, but it's what I have. The tanks I have been looking at are all over 300, and I would rather put some money into the other things before that.

Also, the tank/seat size is exacerbated by that fact that it's not fitted right...When I am done the seat will be formed right up to the tank, and it will look much better.

Obviously it doesn't look right at the moment...since it's all just thrown together for a general idea of fitment. But, I am confident once I am finished tweaking I can get it to look pretty close to what I am going for. As I said in the beginning, I am building it based on what I want, without any real regard to any particular style of bike.

Anyways, thanks everyone for your input. It's great to hear your thoughts on what I am doing, positive and negative.

Also, if anyone has any ideas on better adapting the seat tank, feel free to throw them in...I love milling over ideas in my head.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[forcefanajd]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

i think the seat itself is fine....its just the padding on the seat makes it look a lot "bulkier" than it needs to be.

 

[thompsonmx100]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Hey Matt the parts you got cleaned look good. The seat and tank combo you got going on needs some work. I would start by trimming down the foam alot. Then maybe look on ebay for a used tank off something bigger. Just a thought. I think if you trim the foam down that will help to bring things into proportion. But another tank would help a lot.

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Thank, yeah I am really happy with the cleaning/blasting job they did...And it was only 37 bucks for everything.

Yeah, the foam needs some trimming for sure. Also, there is a lip on the front of the seat, I am thinking if I cut that down, it will let the pan of the seat rest on the frame, and lower the seat about a inch and a half. I think that will go a long way to fixing the seat. What is harder is the width of the seat. But I am thinking it might be neat to put two small gauges in the little overhang of the seat over the tank...May or may not work...We will have to see.

I will probably end up getting a different tank...Seen plenty I like. But, I think getting everything else working well is more important then shelling out for a tank. And I just put a solid week of painting and bodywork into that damn thing, so I am hellbent to use it a little. lol.

I jokingly put a spare GSXR tank ontop of the frame...And it actually looked rather decent...If I wanted to modify the tank and frame to work together.

I am somewhat hesitant of using a bigger tank though...seeing as how tiny the bike is.

Ahh well, it wouldn't be a project if there wasn't issues like this to mull through. It will come together in time.

Matt

 

[thompsonmx100]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

of course it will come together. I saw a thread on here where a guy narrowed his seat to match up to the tank. He used one of those benelli tanks. That might be a thought for your bike its got a nice cafe look to it and is nice and small it would look good on your bike. I have seen them on ebay for about a 100 bucks.

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Hmm, that could work. I will check it out for sure.

On a side note...Are those wheels on your bike (I am assuming it's your bike in your avatar) from a 88 GSXR? Look like the same ones my dad has.

Matt

 

[diesel450]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Hey Man, Just go to your local/area salvage yard and score a used tank cheap. Usually $40-$80 depending on the condition of the tank, here in my neck of the woods. If I can help let me know. I usually hit the salvage place here once a month or so. If you tell me what you're looking for I'll keep my eyes peeled.

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Thanks man. I am gonna see if I can make this combo work. I have a feeling once I trim the seat down, it will look far more correct...in the picture the seat is sitting a inch and a half to two inches higher than it should...And I am going to trim the foam and tighten the upholstery some...That should help a ton. I started trimming some stuff already and it helped considerably.

Matt

 

[Big R]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Yeah Matt, I wasn't trying to give you gruff about the tank - I like that low slung tank look anyway.

Besides, it's a work in progress! Not show and shine yet

 

[JRK5892]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

looks good man you are making some good headway, trimming down the seat padding will really clean it up, be nice you can shape a nice C cut into the back bump or somehting like that and pull the leather tight, hell you can trim the edges of the whole pad and up front where it meets the tank and be pretty good with just doing that... for a tank, i would say to look into a cb500 or 750 or even a CB350 tank, they are much wider at the base and would look great with that seat.
I have to say i like it... on the front end, i do not think that it is the small tire more the bigger fork tubes (are they wider? tubes and trees?) those look great, if you just drop the tubes into the trees a bit would have a sport bike feel to the front end and look great, as well as lower the frame down and get that wheel closer to the frame, that will make it blend and look bigger, trick i used to do on rockes all the time

not sure if it will help you at all bud, but here is a top shot of a CB350 tank to give you an idea how much wider than stock frame rails it is, i think a tank like this would be perfect and make the shaping easier for you, it should also fit that back bone no problem

and how i did my blend on my cafe tank to seat... i think that is a important eye catch on a cafe, so i spent alot of time doing it (that fabric you see is fleece that i glued to the bottom of the seat to protect the tank (just in case i ever want to go to a bratt seat or something)

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Parts in, new mockup pics!

Yeah Matt, I wasn't trying to give you gruff about the tank - I like that low slung tank look anyway.

Besides, it's a work in progress! Not show and shine yet

Yeah, I know you didn't mean anything bad by it. It good to hear what people think, regardless of what it is. And I completely get what you mean by being out of proportion, I think I can get it to work pretty good though, and if not I can always do something else, that's the point of a project. haha.

looks good man you are making some good headway, trimming down the seat padding will really clean it up, be nice you can shape a nice C cut into the back bump or somehting like that and pull the leather tight, hell you can trim the edges of the whole pad and up front where it meets the tank and be pretty good with just doing that... for a tank, i would say to look into a cb500 or 750 or even a CB350 tank, they are much wider at the base and would look great with that seat.
I have to say i like it... on the front end, i do not think that it is the small tire more the bigger fork tubes (are they wider? tubes and trees?) those look great, if you just drop the tubes into the trees a bit would have a sport bike feel to the front end and look great, as well as lower the frame down and get that wheel closer to the frame, that will make it blend and look bigger, trick i used to do on rockes all the time

not sure if it will help you at all bud, but here is a top shot of a CB350 tank to give you an idea how much wider than stock frame rails it is, i think a tank like this would be perfect and make the shaping easier for you, it should also fit that back bone no problem

and how i did my blend on my cafe tank to seat... i think that is a important eye catch on a cafe, so i spent alot of time doing it (that fabric you see is fleece that i glued to the bottom of the seat to protect the tank (just in case i ever want to go to a bratt seat or something)

Thats not a bad idea. There are tons of tanks I am looking at. So many options. Next on my list to buy are those adjustable clip ons from roc city cafe. So, a tank will have to wait. Assuming I can't make this one work. I am going to start chopping into the foam soon...But, I did cut a notch out of the front of the seat pan, and now the seat sits a inch and a half lower, it made a huge difference. I think once I figure out the upholstery, I will be good. Not quite ready to get into it though...I have this love hate obsessive compulsive thing with upholstery, and if I don't get it just right, it drives me nuts...So I am going to plan all that out first. Or find someone else to do it...I have done a few sub boxes with vinyl, but I am not sure if I can make a good looking seat with my level of skill, and lack of sewing machine.

Yeah, the fork tubes are way bigger and wider than what was on it...They are 38mm, I believe the forks that where on it where like 28 or 29. They are also wider by an inch or so. More importantly though, they are several pounds lighter...Same with the wheels, despite being far wider than the stock ones. Yeah, I will probably lower the front another half inch to inch. The front has already been lowered considerably from stock though, with the wheel changes...And I need to leave enough room for the YZ250 expansion chamber I intend to fit.

Anyways, here are some pictures after some more trimming and fitting, you can see how much a a difference it made.

Before:

After:

Thanks everyone for your comments and insights, makes this build all the more fun and interesting!

Matt

 

[JRK5892]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Started fitting and trimming seat - pics

send the seat to GO! on there, she does some fantastic work!

 

[VonYinzer]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Started fitting and trimming seat - pics

Itll cut down on comfort, but stripping all the padding from the seat and using a thin high density foam or a cut up yoga mat (i had one on my old bike, and it wasnt bad at all...) will really trim the profile down. The seats on this style of bike should (in my opinion only) look more like they came off of a race bike than a cruiser. Thin... Looks good so far though brother. Should turn out great. And as long as you dig it, who gives a damn right?

 

[mathizar]

Re: An Introduction, and a Motorcycle - Started fitting and trimming seat - pics

Yeah, and I am digging it quite a bit. hehe.

I found a great deal on a tune pipe off of a new dirtbike. 30 bucks. So I mocked it and the brakes up, to see what I would have to modify, and what it does to the proportions of the bike...I think it helps the look of the front end...does a lot to fill the gap between the frame and front tire...Tell me what you think.

The pipe fits surprisingly well, I think it will only need some slight trimming and welding to get it perfect.

Matt