What gets me going these days. 1926 Rudge "Bitsa".

[Kanticoy]

I am on a quest for something new. And it will show itself in the form of a new build thread very soon. In the meantime, I do nothing but research and dream. This one got me going. It's absolutely gorgeous.

1926 Rudge "Bitsa" built by Jean-Claude Barrois. One off frame, very vintage motor. Perfect.

http://www.bikeexif.com/rudge-whitworth

build info:
http://southsiders-mc.blogspot.com/2008/12/tree-lifes-of-jean-claude-barrois-s.html

Just thought I'd share!

 

[Saki]

wow me likes!

 

[Hoofhearted]

I could be wrong but I believe Jean-Claude brought tha bike to Bonneville this year. I'll have to go search. Checking the run logs shows him entered as 1187B 500 A/VG (A is special construction and VG is vintage gas). His english is non existant as is my french. I helped him with his entry through Frank Charriot of Southside MC blog. I saw him ripping up and down behind the pits but didn't get to talk to him. That conversation would have been interesting! Unfortunatley the run logs don't give any times for him. Don't know why except maybe he turned out each time.

 

[djelliott]

Holy crap. That is beautiful. Also TOTALLY up your ally Kiley. I'd love to make one of those.

 

[Wingspan]

I think we have similar tastes! That picture has spent a lot of time as my desktop. Very board tracker-ish which is an era of motorcycles I absolutely adore. I'd like to do something along those lines after the T500 is finished.

Have you seen the "Flying Merkin" (Flying Merkel tribute) build thread over on ADVrider?

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=619303

 

[djelliott]

I think we have similar tastes! That picture has spent a lot of time as my desktop. Very board tracker-ish which is an era of motorcycles I absolutely adore. I'd like to do something along those lines after the T500 is finished.

Have you seen the "Flying Merkin" (Flying Merkel tribute) build thread over on ADVrider?

That is SICK! I need to make one. I'd like to take the design and modernize it a little and add my own touches of course. That you for a new goal Kiley and Wingspan.

 

[chrisf]

It's funny you mention that bike. I'm going to do the same thing. Mine will be under 300 pound wet, with rider--so ~150lbs bike (I'll lose 20). It will be a single cyl 2 stroke out of a Honda Elsinore and put out about 25-30hp. So how will it be that light?

No steel except the crank, gearbox, rotors and axles. The frame will be full Ti as will all fasteners, the exhaust, sprocket etc. For simplicity sake, I'll use standard inverted forks off a pit bike. The wheels will be spoked 17" on a super light dirtbike hubs. I'll make the tank from scratch out of aluminum. To be fair, it won't look exactly like that bike because...well...it will be mine, and the 17" wheels will change the look. Because the tube diameter will be smaller, it will have a peddle bike character to it. Think 7/8 scale bike.

The whole purpose will be to take her to Bonneville and run it in the 130mph club rules. She won't do 130, but it will be fun.

--Chris

 

[IndieSol]

This is a segment of bikes I know next to nothing about, but they're very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

That bike sounds awesome, MotoFiaccone. Hope it comes together as planned.

 

[Hoofhearted]

Motof. That sounds like a pretty cool project! Any chance, when you get started, of posting a build diary?

A long time friend in Ireland is a Rudge fanatic. He has a number of Rudges from the 30s. The one he is sitting on in the photo is mostly original. The one in the background is a bastard Rudge. Its made up from parts he had laying around. Both beauties that I'd love to have in my garage.

By weslake at 2008-05-05

 

[VonYinzer]

Beautiful stuff.

 

[Hoofhearted]

This is an '32 250 Rudge I had what seems a million years ago. We used to dress up in (sort of ) period style and take it out on a few vintage runs each year. An amazing little engine. Pushrod 4 valve pent roof head. As I remember it was unbreakable.

By weslake at 2008-11-13

 

[Tripler]

Here is a restoration friends of mine completed http://picasaweb.google.com/xs850nut/1920SRudgeMultiRestoration#

one of 3 race bikes. http://picasaweb.google.com/xs850nut/MosportVintageFestival#5095378492027078274

 

[Hoofhearted]

Sweet resto. Another friend in Ireland was restoring a Vee twin version of that Rudge many years ago. Got a spin on it and it was downright scary! 70+ mph and bicycle brakes!

 

[bigred7785]

I think we have similar tastes! That picture has spent a lot of time as my desktop. Very board tracker-ish which is an era of motorcycles I absolutely adore. I'd like to do something along those lines after the T500 is finished.

Have you seen the "Flying Merkin" (Flying Merkel tribute) build thread over on ADVrider?

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=619303

im so glad you posted this, ive been wanting to build a similar bike and to my very surprise ive been thinking of using the same engine after staring at the one on the lift we are replacing the fork seals on for a customer...now i have to do it!

 

[pawn]

i've had that first rudge posted saved on my comp for a while now...probably printed it out 10 or 15 times at work, I can't get enough of it. It's beautiful.

there was one at the mods v rockers ft. lauderdale show as well looking very good:


rudge by jeffe suarez, on Flickr