45 engine back!

Got the engine back from Baz last night. Absolutely stoked at how well its come up! would have been rude to have waited, so under the cover of darkness I slipped up to the barn and put the engine in the frame. It looks ace - still a long way to go though. Really dislike any of the seat ideas I had, so back to the drawing board on that!

Muddy struts!

Had an afternoon spare today, so went off to the lair for a potch. Decided on making the mudguard mounts; and to use some tyre levers I had on the bench. I see a lot of re-used parts and ornaments on builds, a lot of the time they don't seem to work. I figured that with enough cutting and bending I could get just what I wanted....

Straightened out the end with the heat torch, then put the right link in them to fit around the wheel....

Then I wanted the top narrower, so it was a case of slice, tighten in vice, slice some more and so on...

Stock and chopped above...

Then welding them up with the tig.

Then I turned up a bung for the end, and used the mig to make up the sides. Plenty of welding, filing and grinding ensued...

Still the top bung to make, oh and the other side... But coming along nicely!

The lair

The "deathcat lair" as guy called it is slowly coming on. When I get to steal a bit of time ice been chipping away at getting it usable and working on the 45. Need the engine back from baz so I can get on with mounts for the controls etc...

The lads popped round on Thursday night for a catch up. Tombo ( www.holmevalleycustoms.com ) bought a wicked present over for me. Thanks dude!

I've probably mentioned before, but Tombo is selling some ace fabrication parts, weld on tabs and threaded bungs. Great prices, and in my eyes, not worth making yourself... Check out his website...

So far I've mounted the rear fender at the bottom with a tab and bung, and used a 6mm tab on the headlight mount!

Headlight mount - 45

Sneaked a bit of time up the barn today. Got the lights wired in, the nights are drawing in now- gonna be needing them.

Got cracking on version 2 of the headlight mount.

Pantastic!

Just realised I haven't said much about the pan!

Linkert carb on order, seems a little low on compression, but I'm more than a tad happy!

GKM coverage

Yesterday I had the honour of having my Xs photographed by Guy of Greasy Kulture magazine!!! I know- my little Xs!

I'm so amazingly stoked to be asked by Guy- it's a mag I've got every copy of, and have studied every issue numerous times. So many times where I have encountered an issue on the bike I've been able to pull out a few issues and call on points of reference on some of the most awesome bikes in the world. A brilliant mix of show quality bikes; and hard ridden, grotty- but much loved machines that have their stories to be told.

Guy loved the Xs; it's stupid chop styling and that I had slaved over getting a bike together having taught myself from the years of trial and error (mainly error).

Seeing guy roll up my street in his gold panel van, hearing the rumble of the V8 and sound of it grounding out on the speed bumps was awesome; and just proves Guy's love of machines. This is reflected in the magazine, now in its new and approved format.

I apologise in advance for any pictures of me obscuring the bike / the view....

This is the pic I just pinched from his blog. Just showing that great photography can make any rough bird look good!

The Trip Out

The Trip Out seemed a fitting destination for my Chop. 3 1/2 years after I had the stupid idea to "build a bike" I rolled in to the field - soaked through, but absoutely stoked!

Was a bit sketchy at first with the rain, but it picked up nicely once it all dried out. I think some of that was my confidence on the bike building also. Was awesome to ride in with Tombo - knowing what we had both put into our respective machines. 

Here are a couple of picks that I got on friday morning, and one that was sent to me in the field....







I've got oil pissing out the breather pipe, and the muddy needs sorting out as its rubbed on the tyre a bit, but all in all - a top weekend, and i'm chuffed as punch with the bike...