Starting to look like a Bike

We've started fitting some of the parts together....just to make sure that everything done so far is the way we want it.  Nothing is permanently fitted at this time but "Dusty" is starting to look like a  bike!

Getting Tanked

The new tank was, again, a lot of work.  However, the result was well worth the effort.  Most of the fabrication is now complete.  Soon the tank will be off to be pressure tested and sealed.  After that, it's on to applying the Bondo for final finishing then painting and color polishing.


Curtis has also been working on the rear fender. Since we aren't using any external support struts and the fender needs to be strong enough to carry a passenger on the pillion pad, he has been busy welding reinforcing steel in the inside of the fender and building the external chrome trim.  It'll be awesome when finished.

New tank with badges, switches, and speedo mounted on the frame

Slight setback

After all the work fabricating the  gas tank, my chief builder (Curtis) did not like the way the tank sat on the frame.  His opinion was it sat too high at the front.  Ever the perfectionist, he convinced me that he should build a new tank (same design but one that would sit lower) and, since his design ideas are always spot on, I agreed.  The result is a more pleasing shape, etc.

Old Tank with Speedo Mounted

Old Tank Mounted on Frame

New Tank

Curtis also managed to find the shocks we needed.  We decided to make the bike a "Low rider" so we are going to use 11 inch shocks.  Low is good as I am not exactly "statuesque".

Shocks

Finishing the Tank

Getting all the metal work finished on the gas tank has proven to be a monumental task!  Curtis has spent countless hours cutting, welding, shaping, etc.  If I was paying for all the fabrication, the cost of the tank would be prohibitive.  But today we finally got the tank mounts completed and finished all of the work required to finalize the dash.  There's still a bit of work left on the tank such as mounting the tank badges and completing the modifications necessary to mount the speedometer but the worst (hopefully) is over.  A good friend, Andrew Peters, finished truing the spokes and mounting the tires to the wheels.  He also installed the wheel bearings.  I think the wheels with their new double whitewall tires look great.

The Fabricator has been busy

Back in Victoria for a month and time to resume work on the bike (aka "Dusty").  Curtis has been busy customizing the gas tank as well as building the tail light assembly.  The custom dash he's built for the tank is a work of art as is the tail light assembly.  Almost art deco!  Today we (mostly Curtis) drilled the holes and welded in the bungs necessary to mount the tank badges on the gas tank.  There's still a lot more work to do before I get to wave a paint sprayer at it but it's coming along fabulously.  Also picked up the hubs which have been powder coated and they look amazing!  Ready to lace the wheels with new chrome spokes.

Tank with custom dash

Powder coated hubs

 

 

Tail light Assembly

Gas Tank and New Stuff

I haven't been idle while enjoying the Arizona sun.  Have managed score a deal on some saddlebags and

Pillion Pad

 Saddlebags

Gas Tank  (note the ripples)

 

picked up the pillion pad for the bike as well as the tank badges.  Speaking of the tank, Curtis managed to get the first half of the tank blasted and cleaned up.  With the old paint removed, the reason for all the bondo became evident....looks like someone tied the bike down at some point using a chain across the tank??  Smart!  However, Curtis assures me he can get the small ripples out when he cuts the tanks apart for modification.

Away for a while

Left the continued fabrication of my chopper in my son's capable hands while we're in Arizona for the next month.  If he can, Curtis will try and get the rear fender fabricated and ready for painting when I get back to Victoria in December.  There's a lot of custom work to do on it and the gas tank so it's possible we won't be ready for paint until spring.  He also has a lot of work to do on his custom chopper over the winter so the work on my 72 may have to be put on a bit of a hold.  However, during the months of Nov., January, Feb., and March while I'm in Arizona, I'll be picking up various parts and accessories for my chopper.  Already picked up the pillion pad and have ordered a pair of goggles that will fit over my glasses to keep wind and road debris out of my eyes since the chopper will not have a windshield.