Cafe Racer from a $500 barn find Norton. (Pic heavy)

[Eldo]

It started out as a severely chopped featherbed, modified with a HD backbone and sportster tank, and long fork, as shown in the first couple picks. Debated ditching it and starting fresh, but in the end decided to rebuild the original frame back into a featherbed. Worked with an older friend from our vintage club (Roger McHardy) that has been building racing Nortons since the 60's, and on his "featherbed" specific jig, brought it back. There is now more new tubing than old, but I like that it still has some Norton soul in the original tubes that are left. Also, it had +10" stanchion tubes in the original RoadHolder forks, so those got pulled and the proper length tubes for a "short" style Road Holder where put back in, with an internal spring kit. The fork (and hub) was then heavily modified to fit a 4 leading shoe front hub, and all the fender mounts and old brake tabs where taken off on the lathe, then polished up.

I've been working super hard on this thing for months, so I'm really happy with the response on here.

[Eldo]

foot controls too close.









Better, but a bit boring. Don't really match.









Much better (in my opinion...) They match way better now.

[Speedfiend]

Nice work man!
I went through a lot of the same work with my pre unit Triton. I even attempted the same kicker mod before I found a chead T150 kick starter at a swap meet. Cheers!

[Eldo]

So two weeks of sanding, fixing (welding), sanding, fixing (more welding), heat treating and more sanding bring us here; ready for polishing in the morning.

[Adambean12]

So two weeks of sanding, fixing (welding), sanding, fixing (more welding), heat treating and more sanding bring us here; ready for polishing in the morning.

Truly amazing! Have to say this is one of the best builds i've seen

[sandergecko]

Great work!! Love it.

[JamesM]

Amazing work! Wow man.

[Eldo]

Well, there's round one of polishing. A bit more tomorrow to fix up a couple cloudy spots, then off to upholstery on Monday. Finished my muffler/pipe mount brackets today too, but a bit boring and tucked away for photos.

[Eldo]

I should add, I am doing most of this work at Schwartz Inc., in Bloomingdale.(http://www.schwartzwelding.com/) My friend Grant Schwartz has graciously let me work on this thing and use his machinery and tools to get this project to where it is now, along with finding the doner bike and taking care of the welding duties. That's all his stuff in the background. Thanks, Grant!

[vorhese]

fantastic, having access to a place like that makes a HUGE difference!

[Eldo]

Cafe Racer from a $500 barn find Norton. (Pic heavy)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b582/72_eldo/null_zps19092282.jpg

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b582/72_eldo/null_zps0ff44726.jpg

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b582/72_eldo/null_zps9d91861c.jpg

Upholstery finished.

[Eldo]

[jackson1102]

Who do I have to buy dinner for to make love to your bike? You? The bike?

[FreeReign]

Work of Art Dude,

[Eldo]

Fork brace for the Roadholder fork, will also double as a front fender bracket; had to give it side cut-outs to clear the fork shrouds. tricky to get all the angled cuts right. Likely should have made the cuts BEFORE getting the radius rolled... Live and learn.