New guy from Flamborough, Ontario (78 XS650 Special)

[kenb]

Hi Folks,

Just a quick note to announce my arrival in your community. I'm a bit of a rookie to the motorcycle scene, having just bought my first bike (78 XS650 Special basket case) a couple of weeks ago. I'm more of a metalshaper and an english wheel guy than a biker at this point, but I should be correcting that situation when I get this bike overhauled and complete a major customization on it over the next few months. I won't be making so much of a cafe style bike out of it, but rather a bit more of a bobber style ride with emphasis on the bodywork and tank design and scratch built construction, so I hope I'll fit in around here OK. Maybe we'll get out for a ride when I get it done.

Check out my website in my sig line below to have a look at what I've been up to.

Ken

 

[cbcafe]

Welcome fellow Ontarian. I'm a new guy on this site myself. Your metalshaping skills will come in handy around here.
Expect to answer a lot of questions. If you are planning on building your own tank, post lots of pictures.

 

[Tim]

You'll fit in around here just fine! My next project will be a bobber of sorts. I'm currently working on my own XS650 based bike with a tank made by a metal shaper by the name of Evan Wilcox down in the US.

You'd find a big market for shaped aluminum tanks up here I'd say

You can see my project over here:

http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=448.0

Keep us posted on yours - start a project thread and take lots of pics. I'm on month 14 of mine now (as of today June 1).

 

[DrJ]

That's some fantastic metalwork on your site Ken. There's a lot of skilled members on this site.

 

[rudy]

OK, honestly Ken, I NEED to know where someone would find himself an english wheel like that. Or did you build it too? Not that I need one right now, but in the future I know I want to get into it for the projects I have brewing in the back of my head. Very nice!

 

[Mortikan]

you can get a basic english wheel from harbor freight for like $200 shipped. the special head for the wheel are a bit more but. worth the cost

 

[kenb]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the hearty welcome! I was a little bit concerned that my interests might be a little off topic around here, but after spending the best part of yesterday browsing the forums it looks like we are into many of the same things. Although my interest in metalshaping has pretty much trumped my interest in motorcycles over the years, I have to admit that the bug has managed to bite me pretty good since I decided to take on this customisation project on the XS650. Just a month ago I was content to think that I'd spend the next year working on this machine before putting it on the road, but now that it's sitting in my garage I've been finding myself searching for excuses to get it fixed up and on the road as soon as a few weeks from now! I'll probably make a decision on that issue once my carburator parts come in this week, at which point I'll be able to take it out for a spin to see what I've bought.

cbcafe & DrJ:
Thanks for the welcome and the kind words. I'll definitely make a point of documenting the build in a thread here once I get the ball rolling. I still have quite a few decisions to make about where I'm going with it before I start cutting, but it promisies to be an interesting undertaking that's for sure. Since I know alot more about moving metal than I know about motorcycles, I think we have a good opportunity to help each other out over the next few months.

Tim:
I checked out your thread, that's going to be one sweet ride once you wrap that one up! I've only made it halfway through so far, so I'm sure I'll pick up a few more pointers before I make it to the end. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in mind for the bobber, as that's pretty close to the theme I have in mind for my bike project. I like pics too, so you can count on lots of them once I get things moving on my project.

Ken

 

[kenb]

OK, honestly Ken, I NEED to know where someone would find himself an english wheel like that. Or did you build it too? Not that I need one right now, but in the future I know I want to get into it for the projects I have brewing in the back of my head. Very nice!

Hi Rudy,
I got the basic english wheel frame (the C section and upper adjuster) shipped up from Alabama from an outfit called Imperial Wheeling Machines. My plan initially was to build my own english wheel, but once I did the research on the critters I decided that I'd leave the science to the people who make them all the time, so I had the basic unit built for me and then I built my own legs and upper yoke after it was shipped up here. It's a commercial grade unit, but it is one of the smaller english wheel frames you are likely to see anywhere, most suited to sculpture, modelling and yes....motorcycle bodywork! I've been having a ball with that thing, and it's an expense that I expect will pay for itself several times over before I'm done with it.
If you want to research the theory and techniques for building and using english wheels, your best bet is to check out a website called metalmeet.com (you can find a link to it at the bottom of the first page of my website), which is where I learned everything I know about metalshaping. I go by the same username over there, so you'll have no problem finding my stuff amongst rest of the content.

Hi Mortikan,
The metalshaping crowd I hang out with has a discussion about the Harbor Freight english wheel once in a while, but the general consensus isn't too flattering that's for sure! That unit simply doesn't have the rigidity within the frame to move the metal the way you want, and the frame would just as soon flex and move aside once the required pressures are applied. Nevertheless, they _will_ sell thousands of them to the unsuspecting, which is a true shame really, because it's money that guys could have put toward a machine that will do some honest work for them.

Ken

 

[Gilligan]

welcome fellow xs rider!!

 

[rudy]

Thanks for the info Ken. Could you tell me approximately how much you spent on that wheel? The reason that a wheel interests me is because eventually I want to build my own "kit" car, except it won't be from a kit. I'd like to do all the bodywork out of aluminum sheet, so a wheel would pretty much be the only way to do what I want.

 

[kenb]

Thanks for the info Ken. Could you tell me approximately how much you spent on that wheel? The reason that a wheel interests me is because eventually I want to build my own "kit" car, except it won't be from a kit. I'd like to do all the bodywork out of aluminum sheet, so a wheel would pretty much be the only way to do what I want.

Hi Rudy,
All told, I'm guessing that I have about $1500+ into it, that's for the frame, the hardened upper wheel, and a basic set of six lower anvils. This figure can vary considerably, depending on the size of the frame you want, and the width and diameter of the wheels and anvils you want to get, and whether you decide to build it yourself or order one that's ready to go. With the price of steel these days, you can expect the frame construction to be pretty expensive either way, and remember that bigger (for automotive sized panels) means more money for sure.

I don't know which way you are coming from, but you mentioned that you might be going to Paris next weekend. I live pretty close by to Paris, so if you want to talk some more about it send me a PM and maybe we can work something out.

Ken

 

[rudy]

Thanks for the info Ken! This project is slated on the never never plan right now. Just in brainstorming and laying the tracks for what would be realistic for now. As far as getting steel to build a wheel, I have a buddy that deals with a lot of scrap, especially from farms. Old farm machinery has some pretty beefy tubing, so I'm sure I could find something pretty cheap. When I get closer to go time for this project, I wouldn't mind stopping by for a few pointers and "this is what you need, and how you use it" advice.

I plan to be at the Paris show for sure, likely just saturday for a while. Not really looking for anything, though I'm sure I'll leave with something. I'm pretty close to Paris as well, in New Hamburg. It's only about 35 - 40 minutes away. I'll be the one drooling over all the old bikes. ;D