Topic: Swing Arm Frame Custom (Read 15725 times)

Dave · « **on:** September 19, 2008, 02:56:10 am »

Guys i have an addiction of building these damn things.. i will post all the stuff from my most recent project here for all to see.. you guys feel free to do the same.. no project is so small that we cant have a look.. i feel by the time we man up better here we will have a board of very knowledgeable folks who can help with any problems you may be experiencing.. so don't be shy to ask.. i'll have a thread on my new bike here soon..

o .k. i did take pics. but then changed direction.. the frt. end i put together is going on a rigid sporty for jr.. a bike that will be HIS .. NOT ONE OF MINE.. i talked to him & he's game to help .. good thing, if he wants a free bike.. this didnt change anything on me doing a swing arm bobber for myself though.. i aquired all the stuff for a fat boy type frt. end , that will be black powdered .. the custom cut risers & gimp drag bars will go on my bike.. jr. has mini apes on his forks now.. i'll take a few pics. of jrs. stuff with the mini apes on it.. in the mean time here it is with the high dolla stuff on top ..

the risers are made by jaimie at dmc chops..
the bars are nash gimp bars , their drag version..this stuff will go on the fatboy frt. end

jr. held it all while i photo ' ed HIS new forks.

got the fatboy frt. end.. still gotta get it all powdered.. i put mini apes on that sporty frt. end & snatched the nash drag bars & dmc risers for the chassis of the frame i just ordered.. heres pics. of the base of the bike.. lots of fitting , fabbing , & welding coming up soon now.. frame should be here by the 14 th. the fatboy frt. end will be all powdered in various types black powder & run a small 3 1/2 in. headlite.. i'll probably powder the risers in gloss black to sit on the chrome top tree which will be the only chrome piece on the frt. end, except for the wheel.. i have a polished jaybrake small 2 piston caliper mount & i'll use the black jaybrake calipers frt. & rear.. probably go with floorboard forward controls on it.. i'll reveal the gas tank soon.. i got some great idea's for the rear fender too .. i'll probably shorten these struts & use 2 duece style black chrome dual filament turn signals for the tail lights & mount an unlighted side mount lic. plate.. let the games begin.. of course these pics. are just from the advertisements.. the real deal is either already here or on the way here..

this is the gas tank i'm considering.. definitely the gas cap..

its a shovelhead type swing arm , just alot widerto accept a 180/200 tire.. i didnt build the arm, it comes with the frame , & included also is the axle bolt/nut & the swing arm bolt with bearings & races.. struts were included also , but they are about to stop supplying the struts.. they will be optional.. i'll cut these off to shorten them some.. as far as power plants.. i'll probably go a h.d. crate evo. motor.. they are hard to beat.. add a cam with heavy duty bearing, pushrods & valve springs, you got one mean lil' motor.. biggest thing is i dont want chrome covers on the motor anyhow

i rode a bike of a similar chassis design for many years .. the ride & handling were great.. as i have a chopper to sport on , i needed a bike i could actually ride.. so here it is.. shocks & all.. the last one on this chassis design would only accept a 150 tire on the rear & was more stock looking in essence.. with the acception of the stripped look & its custom rear section.. i want this one to have that ride & handling with a look more consistant with an all out custom/bobber style.. in the old days we built a many a bike using this base frame design.. of course back then little was available for custom parts , as compared to now.. heres a pic. of the last one i rode.. li' grey was a fast bitch too.. a real road runner..

i got a few frt. end shots.. i pieced together a fat boy style frt. end.. pre 99 lowers , with pre 99 fx soft-tail tube length.. thats 2 inches longer than a fatboy fork when assembled.. i needed a 1 inch over fat boy length, so i used these tubes & fatboy damper rods , which are 1 inch shorter than a fx softy type.. the final product gave me a 1 in. over fatboy length, or a 1 inch under fx softy length.. however you choose to look at it.. end result is the length i needed with no lowering kit shit.. i used 2 in. over lower cans , & had the legs engine black powdered , the covers are gloss black.. a 4 in. chrome headlite will be used & a black 2 piston small jaybrake caliper on a polished mount bracket .. the fender pictured isnt the right one.. its on order.. but the look is similar , wide 21 in. wheel with a rail type fender.. also pictured are the pre 99 floorboards after a fresh powder job & rough assembly..

More to come soon.

Dave · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2008, 08:55:05 pm »

a few more parts came in.. everything during mock up takes time as this is the time to assure that everything fits perfectly so as to have a smooth final assembly.. heres a few more pics.

Dave · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2008, 08:57:49 pm »

a few more shots .. i opted for an early fxr type coil mount & cover.. simple, clean looking, very functional ..

Dave · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2008, 09:01:12 pm »

an ass shot of the 180 tire ..

Dave · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2008, 09:07:46 pm »

brake rotors & other misc. items are on the way.. i chose stainless rotors in a satin finish .. stock type 11 1/2 in. frt. rotor & a 10 inch. rear ..

Puzzled · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2008, 01:06:27 pm »

Your moving along just fine.

Is that a wide tire 21" or a narrow?

Dave · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2008, 01:49:38 pm »

thanks brother.. i have a question for you though.. you work on baggers often, where do you get the frt. fenders from that fit these lower legs with a 21 in. wheel on them ?? got a link or a place i can look see ..

Puzzled · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2008, 02:11:07 pm »

Is that a Heritage or a Bagger front end, they are different. On the Baggers I use stock fenders with the two rear holes drilled out two drill bit sizes larger. This allows me to rotate the fender forward about 4* clearing the back of the tire and giving the front a slammed look. I'd imagine a Heritage fender would be the same way. If your going to run a skinny fender they simply use a skinny fender with a set of fender mounting brackets.

v-twin88 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:00:41 pm »

Lookin good Dave! Hope that frame is working out for ya.

gator · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:57:58 pm »

Dave, do you already have the gas caps or is that a pic of the type you want? They are proud of those puppies....wtf

Dave · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2008, 10:45:43 am »

i dont have the cap in hand, but i'm gonna order one.. they are proud of them.. they screw into the stock type bung & act as a paint saver also .. i'm a believer in the landmark stainless steel paint saver sets that screw in like this.. i've seen the paint on a many a bike fuck up around the filler hole.. since i started using these screw in paint savers , its all been good.. i will begin with the build pics. here tonight.

gator · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2008, 11:32:50 am »

Im ready to look at pics of your build anytime you want to post them...

Dave · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2008, 03:08:28 am »

horsethief said something about time being our enemy.. its sure mine.. but i'll get it here.. give me a bit..

Dave · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2008, 01:02:33 am »

well this was all on another forum, so the short & sweet version up to date.. i used a kraft tech 180/200 tire swing arm type frame.. i want the fat boy/bobber look , with the frt. end covers, but a small light, racey bars & a custom look .

Dave · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2008, 01:06:32 am »

pat kennedy stainless oil tank.. the arm came with the frame.. the shocks are 11 in. progressive suspension.. this is the gas tank i'll use along with the cap of choice..

Dave · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2008, 01:09:04 am »

as a few parts come in & the mock up continues.. i had a few things powdered.. the floorboard controls being one of them, as well as the frt. end. stuff.. the bars are clubmans & worked out nice i think.. more pics. later..

horsethief · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2008, 09:31:59 am »

Like that bar and riser combo you have happening there, very nice look.

Dave · « **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2008, 09:25:53 am »

thanks.. i needed to get the bars closer to me.. i got short arms.. after weighing all my options , the springer risers were the best bet i could find.. the gimp drag bars i had originally, just didnt have enough pullback.. i think the clubmans really hit right on it.. the look works for me.. though i have the skills, time is the biggest factor that keeps me from fabbing up more stuff than i do.. theres just so many options on stuff out there, & theres little a guy can think of thats not already been done anyhow..

Dave · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2008, 10:34:38 pm »

well bits & pieces get added as i get time & a few parts in between the other bikes i'm doing.. i got the 1949 to 84 style fender cut & drilled to fit the mixed match frt, end i set up.. it fits very nice too.. the brake bracket got machined & of course it fit nicely too, so i mounted the caliper for a look see..

Dave · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2008, 10:38:57 pm »

these last shots are just profiling the frt. end really.. i ordered the little stuff from harley to attach the fork tins properly , the bolts , allens, washers, & nuts will all be stainless of course.

Dave · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2008, 10:41:16 pm »

after these pics, i fiddled with the brakelite switch & mounting.. dropped a vulcan engineering tranny plate on it for a look.. i got my rotor spacer for the rear & the sprocket spacer for the rear wheel , as soon as i get the powder done i'll mount all those goodies up along with the 10inch satin finish stainless rotor that matches the frt. one..

Dave · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2008, 09:26:26 am »

i forgot to tell you guys i dubbed this bikes name " luke" .. story behind the name.. i saw these frame on e-bay.. come to find out the asshole listing them, had none in stock & they were on back order.. so luckily, i found all this out before paying for one.. then our brother v-twin 88 stepped up to the plate & offered to get me the frame, after a discussion on another board over assholes that sell parts they dont have on e-bay .. well it was on back order , but i could wait , so it was no biggy.. anyway v-twin88 gave me a great deal, & was more than an excellent brother thru the whole gig.. so , now you ask.. what does this have to do with the bike being named "luke" .. wells folks, thats v-twin88's name .. " luke" .. it seemed appropriate , so i rolled with it..

xylene61 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2008, 04:35:33 pm »

One's thing's for sure....Nuthin' on this bike is anyway near "luke warm"... It's HOT!

gator · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2008, 04:11:27 pm »

Quote from: Puzzled on September 21, 2008, 02:11:07 pm

Is that a Heritage or a Bagger front end, they are different. On the Baggers I use stock fenders with the two rear holes drilled out two drill bit sizes larger. This allows me to rotate the fender forward about 4* clearing the back of the tire and giving the front a slammed look. I'd imagine a Heritage fender would be the same way. If your going to run a skinny fender they simply use a skinny fender with a set of fender mounting brackets.

Is a set of wheels like the ones in the pic worth $600??

Puzzled · « **Reply #24 on:** October 31, 2008, 06:55:33 pm »

Yes and than some.

A 21" front and a 18" rear was more than all four 20" on my truck with tires!

Puzzled · « **Reply #25 on:** October 31, 2008, 06:58:35 pm »

Dave what are you doing for a headlight and front fender?

Dave · « **Reply #26 on:** November 01, 2008, 03:08:43 pm »

headlight & front fender are on it..

Dave · « **Reply #27 on:** November 01, 2008, 03:09:14 pm »

another.. it makes a unique look.. i like it.. i thought of a fuller frt. fender, but i think it would lose its COOL appeal with a bigger fender.. i am thinking a chopper windsheild of sorts that is quick detachable.. i have looked at a few & the style i would want is available, its just finding the size needed now.. not too small, but not a full sized sheild either.. most of these type sheilds are the same except for mounting brackets .. i'm thinking maybe something thats sized for a sporty.. it will have custom made leather bags that are quick detachable also.. again not to large..

Dave · « **Reply #28 on:** November 01, 2008, 03:15:22 pm »

i'll try to get the sprocket & rear rotor on the wheel this weekend.. i have the spacer for the sprocket & even a custom made 1/4 spacer for the rotor.. both with a lip for centering.. i need the gas tank, rear fender & seat to get the rear fender mocked up.. it needs to all be there to adjust the look & alinment.. the rear brake will be ordered this coming week also..

Dave · « **Reply #29 on:** November 01, 2008, 03:23:01 pm »

the seat.. i will use the one without the studs on it.. this is the same seat i used on my lil' grey evo. on a similar frame.. very comfortable seat.. it has a gel pad .. it makes a clean look too.. with out the seat & rear fender i wont know how much to cut off the fender struts.. i know i need them shorter , but these items will determine how much shorter.. the sisy bar is bent up & awaiting these things to dictate its final position..

Dave · « **Reply #30 on:** November 01, 2008, 03:27:33 pm »

the ends will of course need to be trimmed off some.. i have some really cool bungs cut that will be welded to trhe bar for its bolt up.. with the frt. wheel straight the bar will be angled back to match the rake of the forks .. all things must follow 3 simple lines for a custom to truly look right.. detail is the key..

xylene61 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 03, 2008, 07:25:08 pm »

Detail. It is all in the line....Krazy how so many people miss the concept.

Dave · « **Reply #32 on:** November 07, 2008, 10:33:04 am »

yes , brother, but they do..

xylene61 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 07, 2008, 03:49:02 pm »

Dave, what is the size of that front wheel/tire? It looks different than the original post. Didjya change it, or is it just the camera angle?

Dave · « **Reply #34 on:** November 09, 2008, 01:29:51 am »

no its the same wheel.. its a 3.25 x 21 inch wheel with a 120x 21 tire on it.. i have an update on the build also.. a few more parts came in.. a stainless skid plate & a black chain guard as well as some tank mounts i got from puzzled.. man was i happy.. still am with the parts .. but it seems kraft tech welded the frt. chain guard tab on the swing arm 2 inches in the wrong direction.. i measured a stock swing arm & of course the chain guard fits it.. the kraft tech arm is chrome which wasnt my first choice, but thats how they come, so i detailed the build parts to blend to it being chrome .. as such, it looks like they wil be replacing the arm.. i'm glad i found this out now , while it still has to come back apart anyway.. the black guard is the cats ass.. it will look really nice ..

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