The Chopper Compendium

Building another bike. This one has been entered in Peoples Champ for Born Free 7 this coming June. Top amateur builder gets a spot as an invited builder with the pros.

Rendered the whole thing in 3d so the only surprises are that I've never built a Harley.

S&S is helping me get into a 80ci Cone shovel crate motor. Got a guy named Derek Seiber making me the spool wheel and triple trees to my spec.
The frame is 100% stainless. Plan for the tins is aluminum, and lots of brass accents. Trying not to paint anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twYpsFoWgvU






First thing to make was the neck. Then a couple cones for the jig.

Got a jig going.




Got going on some neck details.





Made my axle plates.





And enlisted some help to get on the frame






And got it into the jig with my motor mount template

I like the look of that, keep posting mate.

I really like that piece on the lower tube by the neck

That will actually be on both before I'm done. The neck needs to come off to open up the center hole a little, and set the final rake, so when it does I'll get the other one on.

Looks good man.I like single down tube frames.

Got my neck ripped off, bored out, and back on the frame with the second accent detail. Set the rake, and measured up for the motor mounts.
Working on that tonight, my buddy dropped off an Evo to use for mockup, so I should be able to bolt that up tomorrow........And last night during arts and crafts with the kids, I drew up my seat.........Now to carve it.

it's got the whole 45 frame thing going for it - likey likey.

free handy, eh? that ain't right, man.

by all means, proceed.

-dan

Glad you picked that up. Theres a ton of referances to old Harleys, and other builders that are a big inspiration for me, everyone might not see them, but I know how it came about.
I think you're the first person thats pointed out the 45 look, without me having to find a google image and explain.

And its Kandy not handy..... Either way, its offensive, and it makes me chuckle.

Got at the mounts.........Awesome day. Tolerances are as good as I could have hoped for since I built it before I even touched a motor........Stoked about the fit.
I'm NOT running the EVO.........Just need to get moving on this.

Once everythings welded out I'll have to get some good shots of the mounts, they're actually layered and molded, should look awesome if anyone notices them.

My brothers in town, and he wanted to help, so the last couple of nights we've actually been hitting the shop, and getting stuff done.
Welded up the other axle plate, and made some threaded handle bar slugs. then tonight we got the jig set up and rolled some more tube.
Hoping to get the upper tubes in tomorrow. they're going to take a little more work though.

Really liking this frame; how the curved rear pieces tie in at the axle plates. Nice welds. Great job on the engine fit.

The pierced overlays on the tubing around the neck intersection are very creative and something that gives the frame that 'personalized' stamp. It's a lot of work but well worth doing it. Most people have no idea how much time and effort go into a custom frame like this. Not just shop time but 'brain' time as well.

Yeah. The tubes to the neck will be finish welded, and then once the overlays are on they will be blended into the neck. I'm not going to blend the structural welds, but I want that piece to look like one flowing piece.
I figure once the neck is molded, all in I'll have around 40 hours in the neck alone, between prep, shaping, welding, molding and polishing.

The end result will be well wworth it though, My biggest regret is usually that after all the labour, the details get lost in paint, and this time that wont be the case, so I'm being a little more obsessive.

Looks great.