Willow...An Evolution

Re: Willow

Holy Crap Troy, this looks amazing, I love it. The back bone just flows so well with the rest of the frame... man I hope you kept notes, i bet there are a few others who would love to buy a frame like that from you.

As always, ever changing and amazing, love this direction bud.

-Micah
 
Re: Willow

Guys I can't tell you how good it makes me feel that you are all still sticking with me. With so many fantastic builds around here I'm honored and humbled that you still check this thread.
I'm so very happy you all like this version and I'm trying my damnedest not to disappoint. Thanks again for sticking with me. It really means the world!


Decided I'll be building a seat with more up sweep. I purchase a blank pan off ebay. I also order a new cheapo 1" dia tail light. I cut the axle plate off the old plate holder and plan to flip it around for a reverse radius. It sort of matches the backbone. I'm trying to decide on mounting about the top seat rail in tight to the tire or between the two rails on the outside of the frame. I think both have their benefits. Anyhow, the new light will come with its own plate holder. It will get cut off and my old holder will get welded on below it. I still need to make the mounts to mount it to the frame.

Yesterday I fabed a spring perch to mount a leaf spring to the frame for the seat. I wanted it to be minimalist so I used a piece of 1.5" tube (same as the back bone) and split it. I welded a piece of flat stock on the top so the spring will sit flat. Then notched it to fit the frame. Once seat location is decided the perch will get welded to the frame. The spring will get bolted to that.
A big dilemma for me has leaf spring designs. Almost every design I've ether found (used on motorcycles) or thought of myself mounts the front of the spring and has a pivot point near the front that allows the spring to bend when compressed. That's ok I guess but leafs were designed to be compressed at the middle and flatten out. Though I've found designs that use an eye and shackle they still rely on the same bending at the front instead of at the middle.
Anyhow, to keep it clean I think I'll be bolting the spring to the perch and the seat to the spring. Simple and clean.

Today I made the lower fender mount. Turned out pretty decent. I'm still working on the struts for the rear. The fender in the pics is an old junker for mock up. Ill try to get more photos tomorrow


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this fender is for mock up only. I have a pretty nice chrome one I'll be using
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Re: Willow

i just want you to know man, this is truely an inspiring work of art, i remember the first version of this, and i was stoked for that, but man, this bike is like a fine wine, gets better and better with time.
 
Re: Willow

Thank you for the kind words brother. Its what keeps me pushing for better. Really means a lot...Thank You!
 
Re: Willow

It's updates like these that make me hate the tiny screen on my phone......but I know I'll love it when I see it on a big screen (and I'll ogle it when I see it in person).

Speaking of which, this is another one of those bikes that people just stand around and stare at. During last years GTG, I didn't even want to touch Kiley's bike. And if everybody wasn't spinning a wrench on this one, I wouldn't have touched it either. Not that I got my hands too dirty but that's beside the point......

Kudos Troy. Always love seeing updates on this.
 
Re: Willow

Man, this is turning out sweet. Love to see this thing evolve again. I was checking this thread out the other day and my son and his friend 6 & 7 years old were in the room and when I got to the picture the friend pipes up and says "Wow, cool motor bike!"

That pretty much sums it up I think ;D
 
Re: Willow

Big Rich said:
It's updates like these that make me hate the tiny screen on my phone......but I know I'll love it when I see it on a big screen (and I'll ogle it when I see it in person).

Speaking of which, this is another one of those bikes that people just stand around and stare at. During last years GTG, I didn't even want to touch Kiley's bike. And if everybody wasn't spinning a wrench on this one, I wouldn't have touched it either. Not that I got my hands too dirty but that's beside the point......

Kudos Troy. Always love seeing updates on this.
Click to expand...
Thanks bud. I really appreciate the kind words. Hope your not too disappointed when you see big pictures or better yet when you see it in person. hehe

my94f2 said:
nice. you gonna do a curved rear strut for the back of the fender?
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Yeah man I had some short ones made with a real nice curve that would mount to the side of the fender. I may redo them a little longer and have them follow the lines of the fender wrapping around and meeting on top sort of like the lower mount. I'm not sure yet
Maritime said:
Man, this is turning out sweet. Love to see this thing evolve again. I was checking this thread out the other day and my son and his friend 6 & 7 years old were in the room and when I got to the picture the friend pipes up and says "Wow, cool motor bike!"

That pretty much sums it up I think ;D
Click to expand...
A kid eyeing up bikes at 7...Now that makes me happy! Thanks Brother.
 
Re: Willow

Thanks fellas I really appreciate it.

I do have a little progress to report. Nothing special but at least its done.

Cut the tabs off the plate holder that mounted the tail light. Also cut the axle plate off. Then flipped it over so the plate has a reverse radius.
Then made a mount. The new light will get mounted to the top of the plate holder. I've left it open to change its location. Just waiting on the new light to arrive. Also this is the fender I'm considering using
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Mounted the kick stand. It got moved way forward because it hung down below the rear loop. Now it tucks nice and tight to the frame
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Brake lever mount and linkage is all done. The brake lever hung well below the frame and the linkage was very low as well. Was a bit of a chore but it got done. Sits nice, high and tight now. I still need to add a tab to hook the return spring
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The necessary evil. Always the big question of what to do with the damn license plate? ...So this is the profile with License plate. I had considered mounting it between the rails but that made it stick out like it had when mounted on the axle. I think it also broke up the lines. Now its tucked in pretty tight to the tire and has the reverse radius. I almost like it haha
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I've still not tackled the rear fender struts. I do have a plan of attack though. Also hope to have the seat spring done by this weekend. Then need to make the exhaust, gas tank, and some sort of electronics box that will get hidden in front of the coils. Also need to mount the speedo, mock up the wiring (plan extra attention for the wiring). Then I think its tear down, finish up all the welds, paint then reassembly...whew...Still lots to do
 
Re: Willow

Hi Troy:

I love all the work, and like others have said, you're again outdoing yourself. I like the fender and the mounting system takes it to the next level. I do have one criticism though.

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I'm not digging the license plate, and here's why. You're going for a really narrow, streamlined bike with a boardtracker influence. With the license plate kicked up like that, it looks like a wind-catcher--almost like a sail. I know the reality is your leg will block the plate from any negative wind resistance, but it's just wrong fundamentally.

I hate it when people say, "I love the lines of the bike;" or "those lines just flow." But anyway, I'll break my rule and say aesthetically, the lines simply don't match.

Whatever you decide, it will be great. And thanks for sharing with us.

--Chris
 
Re: Willow

i like the plate mount... i would not keep the curve i would flatten the one side out and i think it would look completely original. it is not a side mount and is tucked in close to the tire i think if you would flatten out the back side of the plate it would flow nicely with the back bone, the flip up on the end of it makes it stand out a bit.
or you can keep the curve and put it on the outside fo the fram and follow the rear drum lines... but if you do that i think that you would kick that sucker every time you walked past the bike!
 
Re: Willow

my94f2 said:
new wallpaper :D
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;D ;D thanks!

motofiaccone said:
Hi Troy:

I love all the work, and like others have said, you're again outdoing yourself. I like the fender and the mounting system takes it to the next level. I do have one criticism though.


I'm not digging the license plate, and here's why. You're going for a really narrow, streamlined bike with a boardtracker influence. With the license plate kicked up like that, it looks like a wind-catcher--almost like a sail. I know the reality is your leg will block the plate from any negative wind resistance, but it's just wrong fundamentally.

I hate it when people say, "I love the lines of the bike;" or "those lines just flow." But anyway, I'll break my rule and say aesthetically, the lines simply don't match.

Whatever you decide, it will be great. And thanks for sharing with us.

--Chris
Click to expand...

Chris I really appreciate the kind words and also know many don't offer advice freely. So I really appreciate when someone takes the time to offer their opinion. So thank you very much. The light is tucked away pretty nice so what may be throwing it off might be what Joe said and that is the shape. I was hoping the tag kind of disappeared and blended but that might have been hopefull thinking taking over haha. I also know there is a fine line between thinking outside the box and looking like you are trying too hard or too little. Anyhow, I'm very open to ideas.


JRK5892 said:
i like the plate mount... i would not keep the curve i would flatten the one side out and i think it would look completely original. it is not a side mount and is tucked in close to the tire i think if you would flatten out the back side of the plate it would flow nicely with the back bone, the flip up on the end of it makes it stand out a bit.
or you can keep the curve and put it on the outside fo the fram and follow the rear drum lines... but if you do that i think that you would kick that sucker every time you walked past the bike!
Click to expand...

Joe are which part are you saying needs flattened out? This might be the solution to what Chris is seeing. Mounting it on the side i'm not liking for a few different reasons. shin buster one of them, haha. Thanks man I really appreciate the help!

My light came today so I took the opportunity to move things around a bit a snap some photos. The thing is tiny btw. I really like it. Plan is to remove the bolts holding it and replace them with brass ones.
Let me know what you guys think...





I like this but it is def more" in yer face". Keep in mind the bike is still sitting 2' off the ground.
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With the light back on the frame: (one of the reasons I like this is you almost have to look for it to see it)
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Seat pan arrived today as well. Way more upsweep that I was looking for
Plan is to run a leaf spring. at this point this is the plan: 1)spring perch on the bottom. 2)Leaf spring
3)plate with tube for hinge 4) seat with hinge in front
The rear would have small shackles welded to the seat pan
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I'm heading to Ohio to pick up a hay mower so I won't be around until tomorrow but I'm very interested to hear opinions. Thanks fellas...
 
Re: Willow

I like the light man. Very cool.

I think that if you flattened out the plate at the rear of the bik, so it follows the rail, and just sweeps up at the light it would be rad.
 
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