I got the chance to ride Swamp Donkey 1.0 at Barber last year, even did a berm shot at the 2nd swapmeet parking lot. That thing is a blast! 2.0 will be awesomer!
Swamp Donkey 2.0 Fat Tire Bikes Make the Rockin World Go Round'
- Thread starter Hurco550
- Start date
A few weeks back, @Deviant1 brought the OG Swamp donkey to a meetup at Prentice Cooper State Forest in the mountains near Chattanooga Tennessee. After he let me ride it down the trail for a few minutes, I was reminded that I really need to get another one done. It was a hoot and handled the wet and rainy slick trails like a champ, being more sure footed than most of the rest of the bikes out there. Just don't ask @irk miller what happens when you hit a small pond full bore in 5th gear.... 
I was very excited that it made it there, as those are the trails that I built the bike for and it ended up in Gulf Shores before I got the chance to take it down. (pictured in the very back below. Wish i had gotten a better pic)
I pulled the TW 200 outta storage to asses things and see what I was up against. It's a little crustier than I remember, but still a good enough starting point. The engine is locked up (don't remember if it was when I got it or if that has happened since it was in storage). I ended up making a deal with @canyoncarver on a TW engine that he picked up on craigslist a while back. I will use the motor thats in it for mock up and then hopefully pick up the spare lump at Barber Vintage Fest this October.
I built up a couple quick brackets to go on a harbor freight furniture dolly to hold the chassis at ride height to be able to move the bike around the shop easier until I get the wheels and suspension worked up and finalized.
I picked up another tire to run in the rear sized 24 x 8 r 11 vs the 24 x 10 r 11 that I had before to get a little more rounded profile as well as for swingarm clearance.
I also picked up a tank from a friend of mine who breaks / parts-out bikes. XT350 tanks fit TW200 frames with just a bit of messaging on the rear mount, and gets you almost another gallon of fuel. I like the looks of them to boot. Funny thing, my friend with the salvage yard bought this bike from @irk miller a few years back at our Mid-Ohio swap spot. AH the circle of life...
Once I removed the rats nest of the wiring (I'll likely make a complete simplified harness from scratch) I was able to start mocking things up. The swing arm will be extended 1.5-2" and I will be moving the rear fender forward about 3.5" from stock, which is where its sitting in the picture. I will also shorten up the seat to match, as I will not be carrying passengers and I've always thought stock TW's look a little mis-proportionate in factory dress.
There is plenty of work ahead, but I like where its headed so far.
I was very excited that it made it there, as those are the trails that I built the bike for and it ended up in Gulf Shores before I got the chance to take it down. (pictured in the very back below. Wish i had gotten a better pic)I pulled the TW 200 outta storage to asses things and see what I was up against. It's a little crustier than I remember, but still a good enough starting point. The engine is locked up (don't remember if it was when I got it or if that has happened since it was in storage). I ended up making a deal with @canyoncarver on a TW engine that he picked up on craigslist a while back. I will use the motor thats in it for mock up and then hopefully pick up the spare lump at Barber Vintage Fest this October.
I built up a couple quick brackets to go on a harbor freight furniture dolly to hold the chassis at ride height to be able to move the bike around the shop easier until I get the wheels and suspension worked up and finalized.
I picked up another tire to run in the rear sized 24 x 8 r 11 vs the 24 x 10 r 11 that I had before to get a little more rounded profile as well as for swingarm clearance.
I also picked up a tank from a friend of mine who breaks / parts-out bikes. XT350 tanks fit TW200 frames with just a bit of messaging on the rear mount, and gets you almost another gallon of fuel. I like the looks of them to boot. Funny thing, my friend with the salvage yard bought this bike from @irk miller a few years back at our Mid-Ohio swap spot. AH the circle of life...
Once I removed the rats nest of the wiring (I'll likely make a complete simplified harness from scratch) I was able to start mocking things up. The swing arm will be extended 1.5-2" and I will be moving the rear fender forward about 3.5" from stock, which is where its sitting in the picture. I will also shorten up the seat to match, as I will not be carrying passengers and I've always thought stock TW's look a little mis-proportionate in factory dress.
There is plenty of work ahead, but I like where its headed so far.
I'll make sure you get a romp around on this one Cory. I know I dont have the best track record for keeping bikes around for a long time, but while the first one I built is where it belongs and I don't regret Alex getting it at all, I've missed it and am planning on this one staying around for a while..
In other news, as I mentioned earlier, this thing had a pretty severely tweaked subframe. It appear to be more of a result of something (very) heavy falling on it more so than a crash. On the last one i built a subframe from scratch, but on this one id like to keep more of the rear cowl / fender seat even if they are shortened and modified. I set out to straighten out the frame at least back to a more usable level.
Here's where I started. I should've taken a better picture with the fender removed, but you still get the idea. The left rear frame rail was sitting about 3/4" lower than the right.
If I've ever I have learned anything in over a decade in the metal working field, no mechanical advantage is "unfair" and the sketchier the rig with ratchet straps, leverage and general sketchyness, the more effective it is.
After bending it as far as this rig would take it, its not quite perfect, but is quite a bit closer than before, now with only maybe 1/8" instead of the 3/4" variance that I started with. Good enough for an old dirbike and pleny good enough for my needs.
In other news, as I mentioned earlier, this thing had a pretty severely tweaked subframe. It appear to be more of a result of something (very) heavy falling on it more so than a crash. On the last one i built a subframe from scratch, but on this one id like to keep more of the rear cowl / fender seat even if they are shortened and modified. I set out to straighten out the frame at least back to a more usable level.
Here's where I started. I should've taken a better picture with the fender removed, but you still get the idea. The left rear frame rail was sitting about 3/4" lower than the right.
If I've ever I have learned anything in over a decade in the metal working field, no mechanical advantage is "unfair" and the sketchier the rig with ratchet straps, leverage and general sketchyness, the more effective it is.
After bending it as far as this rig would take it, its not quite perfect, but is quite a bit closer than before, now with only maybe 1/8" instead of the 3/4" variance that I started with. Good enough for an old dirbike and pleny good enough for my needs.
As I read through your post I was taking myself back to when we picked it up to make sure that we didn't just indiscriminately cram it into that spot ahead of the 5th wheel hitch or if it could have gotten, somehow, bumped by the trailer or something else... nope, we were more gentle than it deserved. (Actually, I heard it weeping, felt it trembling, and heard it whisper, "Please get me out of Alabama!" Cheers to you, brother, for giving it a new and worthy life.
(Actually, I heard it weeping, felt it trembling, and heard it whisper, "Please get me out of Alabama!" Cheers to you, brother, for giving it a new and worthy life.
First dibs on tumbling this thing across a pond.
cbrianroll
Coast to Coast
That sketchtyness deserves an award....love it and will borrow it if I find myself in that position..
I am a welder by trade, and among my favorite pithy welding statements is:
"what is the difference between a welder and a farmer? ....a welder doesn't think he knows how to farm"
Anyways, still dinking around with this little by little. I got all of the rear hub components drawn up in cad to be waterjet cut. I will hopefully get those cut in the near future and be able to get rid of the rear finalized and off of the wood mockup.
I am also picking up a good/better engine from @canyoncarver and a set of ttr225 disc brake forks at Barber Vintage Fest this year. The BW triples will have to be bored out from 33mm to 35mm, but that's not a huge deal as there is plenty of meat around the stock bores. The axle mount will have to be bored from 15mm to 17mm, which is a little more worrisome. but I do not think it will be detrimental.
I also picked up the xt350 seat from the same boneyard/ and bike as the tank. So far I'm sitting at $20 for the pair which is dirt cheap these days. Even if the tank need some pin holes fixed.. The seat and subframe seat mounts will need modified a bit and the seat re covered. I think it will do well, and with the super low stock tw seat height, I actually welcome the taller seat to make it feel less cramped for my 6' tall frame. I am also still able to flat foot anyways.
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Check out back a couple weeks ago in the "What I Bought Today" (or whatever it's called) thread.
I see you found it over there as well. I love your drill press too. There's a couple of those floating around in my old mans barn. I need to hang one on the wall. They are awfully cool.
The mill is a handy little piece. Its a bit limited on table size, but plenty capable for my needs. I made a brake adapter bracket for the old dr650 bobber on it a couple weeks back, and it did exactly what I needed it to.
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