Willow...An Evolution

Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Wow Troy your bike is looking great. Its getting hard to keep track of all incarnations or half reincarnations. Keep it up brotha
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Will the knee cutout/dents be rounded? The entire bike is so curved and rounded that the angular edges on the tank seem out of place.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Hey guys I appreciate the kind words. I have a tremendous amount of respect for all of you so your praises really man the world! Thank you all very much.
I hate to admit it butt this damn tank has kept me up at night. I think of it as one of those things that can kill a build. So its not only been a challenge of design but also how to build it. I have to say though that I'm really happy with the way its turning out. I still need to order a bung and cap, weld in petcock bungs, and finish welding the tank.

I'm still undecided on how to mount it. Initially I was thinking the same exact way that Maritime mentioned but without brass flats. Was thinking mild steel instead but use brass wing nuts. Still up in the air...

Again I really appreciate you guys chiming in and following along
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

very nice troy i know you do not want to hear this but i think the rounded out front of the tank looks strange, any way to make it flow with the front of the frame a bit more
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

PHeller:

My thoughts have been for the bike to look like it was built in the art Deco period as a tribute to the board track racer and have a bobber feel. I hate to categorize but I'm not sure how to better explain it.
I feel it the bike already crosses well outside the lines of a boardtrack due to the obvious absence of things like tall skinny tires and a bicycle looking frame with the rear tire tucked almost underneath the rider etc.... My frame is curvy, long and flowing and open so its tough to strike that balance.

For me its been a lesson in restraint. I think the straight lines on the tank bring back a balance. Its been tough because i found myself wanting to do more radical roundness on the tank. However, it would take away from the balance I'm looking for. Not sure if that makes any sense??

To me I think the tank has a balance between curvy lines and straight lines. Its kind of a mix between art deco and boardtrack racer. The picture I posted a few pages back of the coca cola fountain truck has been part of my art deco inspiration. There are a couple other bike builds too.

Its not to say that flat can't be sexy. In fact quite often it can enhance curves and a few builders use it to their advantage.
Ok, now you all are going to know all my secrets ;D
I was really looking more for a balance between these three tanks. A combination of art deco/board track racer. What I came up with I like...
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JRK: I actually tried silhouette cutouts with that shape in the front and it made the tank look more boxy and very heavy in front. I felt what it did was take away from the backbone. This shape opens that area up and hopefully enhances the backbone. Kinda hard to explain but I didnt realize how much that shape took away from the backbone until I saw the silhouette pics(ill look to see if I saved any of the pics) Anyhow, it just didn't work for me. One other thing if you flip the tank over it has somewhat of the same outline as the backbone.
I appreciate the input though and everyone's opinion is welcome and encouraged.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Unfortunatly Im in the field today and dont have my laptop, which means I can see the new pics. I am saddened. Ha... As far as a cap and bung I think I have an old Honda XL tank in the garage that I wont be using for anything. If you want to cut the buisness parts off and use em' its all yours.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Let me know your thoughts when you get the chance. Anyhow, I think Im already set. I sent you a text.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

are you still going to try and make it to bonneville with this bike?
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

The tank is perfect man. Really. It fits the ideas youve expressed to the tee. Paint is going to make it though... Decided on anything yet?
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

In my head after seeing the cardboard silhouette I was picturing the tank to be a cross between the first tank you just posted (copper?) and an almond. I know it sounds funny....with an almond the buldge or fattest point is in the center. I was thinking that the buldge or widest point of the tank would be higher up and taper down kinda like the copper tank.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

pawn said:
are you still going to try and make it to bonneville with this bike?
Click to expand...

Not this bike. I'd love to build one to take out. Gonna be a while though. My finances need to increase (a lot) so I have disposable cash, haha.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Thanks Mike. Really glad you like/understand it.

zero said:
In my head after seeing the cardboard silhouette I was picturing the tank to be a cross between the first tank you just posted (copper?) and an almond. I know it sounds funny....with an almond the buldge or fattest point is in the center. I was thinking that the buldge or widest point of the tank would be higher up and taper down kinda like the copper tank.
Click to expand...

Totally understand man. I like what you are saying. Infact a good friend mentioned something like that just as i started fabricating the tank. Not sure it would have fit the bill for what I was going after though. I appreciate the in-put

Appreciate it Louie. Really glad you like it. Ordered a bung a cap last night. About as inexpensive as they come. Its sort of plain but sort of racy. I may use a glass float bowl from an old tractor. I started to use one before but didn't follow through. We'll see
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

Thanks Joe. Yeah i think it will help reinforce that 1930s industrial machine sort of thing. Also, the gas cap I ordered is non-venting so I hope to steal Dime city's Brass Cafe venting solution too. Should tie in real nice if I use it.

Gas cap and bung I ordered from allensfasteners.com for 19.99
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I like what they did on the gas cap on the Harbortown bobber. I may end up drilling this one too. Its aluminum cap and metal bung.
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

I was chatting about the tank and this build with my good friend Kiley and Mike this afternoon. I asked if they'd change anything about the tank. They both had about the same answer. I asked Kiley to post his thoughts here on the thread for your reading enjoyment :)
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

I took the bike off the table and rolled her outside. I'm realizing more and more that a bike can take on a different look when its 3' in the air as opposed to being on the ground. Also when its on the table its hard to step back far enough to get a good look at it. Its a PITA to take it down but definitely helps me visualize from different angles.
I frenched in the speedo to balance the filler(Sort of what happened when I put the brake light on the rear fender. Once it was there it was like a no brainer) Anyhow, its angled back and gives really good site to the rider. Also decided on the mounts for the tank. I'll save it for a surprise. Anyhow, I'll post up the outside on the ground pics soon...
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

For colors, I want to see this thing in raw steel with gloss black, and gold leaf!
 
Re: Willow...An evolution..AKa Beat the clock

I want to go on record now saying that the first thing you should do when this bike is finished...the VERY first thing...is buy another bike to cut up when the urge next strikes you. Every incarnation of this machine has been brilliant, but this one especially deserves a long and happy life. :)

Lovin' it man, keep it up. Can't wait to see the end result. 8)
 
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