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I'd contact the factory Metal Works to find out based on their experience what drop/rise/stretch hardtail they have made or can make for a dude your size. I'm guessing a 6 or 8 inch stretch and a 4 inch rise along with 10" over front forks. But I'm just an amateur guessing away. Holy shit you're tall!! See how my bike was changed to fit me.... yours needs a tad more IMO.
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Ok so last time I was on I was still living with the inlaws and working out of their garage. Lots has changed, my wife and I bought a house and we now have our second child, a little girl named Ruby. She's awesome but a handful compared to my son Ryder.
So today I started wrenching again on the old girl and I was able to remove the engine from the front loop using some ratchet straps I had in the back of my 4x4. I'm happy to be working on the bike again and also happy to have the frame separate from the engine. I'll tell you it wasn't easy to take out when you don't know what you're doing but I was able to get er done and I'm super stoked to start working on the paint and rebuilding her to her former glory. I bought a paint gun the other day on sale and I figured I'll just do it my self. I'm going to paint the frame the original black and I'm still debating on weather or not to go original paint scheme or just do the whole thing black. That being said my dad came down at Christmas and brought the tank and all the tins that he had been holding on to until the big day and surprised me, he's awesome.
So the plan is to restore her to the original stylings but with a few modern touches. Nothing that can't be made original again but just a little tweaking here and there. I bought a new wiring harness from the guys at Vintage Triumph Supply and they were solid dudes to deal with, not sure if they are on here but S/O to them, thanks again.
Ok next move I need a beer, I'll try and post more asap.Comment
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Holler if you need help, I have been wrenching on them since the late 70s, and can do them blindfolded, Great bikes if you just learn the little tribal knowledge tricks.
as my old buddy Mark used to say "Put yer ass on some class". Lots of good products out there to make them run great and parts are pretty affordable. Just glad you didnt chop it up, as others have said,, No lack of orphan parts piles to customize but a solid bike w/ matching numbers should not be parted out or cut up.Comment
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Hey Bud, thanks for the support. Yeah anything that doesn't go back on the bike stays in the garage for when I'm dead and/or my son or daughter are old enough to ride.Comment
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Just a quick update frame and parts are off to the powder coater next I need to find a good chrome guy.
In other news, old guys are cool
My dad moving the shovel.Comment
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Cool! Sounds like with the swing arm going back on its a moot issue,, but reread your post as I lost track of what you were doing.
To answer the question nobody responded too... there was/is many options for hard tails, 0-2-4" and maybe even a 6 inch stretch although never saw one that long.. same for drop. Back end lowered. 0-2" seems typical. Theres a discussion on LOWBROWS website and some sample pix of some different hard tails.
With stock rake, you dont want to mess up handling too much,, or TOO LOW to the ground either. (Goldilocks dimensions) so, people go with different specs for many reasons. One thing though, with not much stretch, it limits the choices for aftermarket oil tanks/bags as theres not enough clearance for the them between the frame and rear tire/fender.
Add in the fact theres no such thing as a std hard tail, Each fabricator builds them to their own specs. so not easy to compare beyond very simple specs.
Ill be off line for a few days, going up off the grid in the hills. But enjoy your weekend. Britbike.com and Jockey journal both have some great build threads as well as some really good picture threads for inspiration and ideas..
This site here has some really good fab & tech posts as well and worth reading many of them...
See: http://www.choppercompendium.com/ccforum/index.php
Also, the GO-TO site for chopper builders is very well worth a read...
See: http://www.chopperhandbook.com/Comment
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A couple shots of the frame being stripped before it went to be powder coated
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Apologies for the delay lol
Life and kids get in the way when you’re trying to get shit done. But not when you’re stuck at home because of Covid 19 🤪
So 3 years later I’ve started on the rebuild again...
For the moment I’m doing a mock up to see what is missing or needs to be replaced, most of the rubber mounts are starting to fall apart. And the wiring harness was a mess.
The front end has new tubes and seals. I will mount it tonight if the kids aren’t up too late...
And if I can find the one ball bearing that hit the floor.
Every nut and bolt has been cleaned and gone over as I move through this rebuild.
Earlier I had suggested I was going to hardtail this build but decided to keep it as a full suspension. Lots of trails and places to disappear on out where I live so it only makes sense. Eventually I plan on fabricating my own frame but for now it will remain stock. Also I have been obsessing over old Bud Enkins and Steve McQueen footage of desert riding and racing, so fucking cool. These machines were built to be taken everywhere. Which is what I plan on doing.
Any suggestions are welcome and I’m looking forward to getting this bad girl rolling again.
If anyone is holding a side kickstand please DM me. Not sure if this model came with one but I like the idea of having options. For now I have put back the centre stand.Comment
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Today was cleaning day. Spent 3 hours with a ball of steel wool and a rag and cleaned up the rear wheel. Then went to town for a good hour on the front loop with a wire wheel, took it down to bare metal everywhere I could. Tomorrow I’ll take the dremel to the tight spots.
Was planning on mounting the front end but realized I was missing a ball bearing when I went to start the job. So that part will have to wait.
Tomorrow I’ll go over and clean up the front wheel.Comment
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A few more hours in today while the kids played in the yard. The front end I had struggled with initially but in the end won the battle. The tubes, seals, O rings and dust excluder sleeve I had replaced a few years ago. I finally caved and took them to the vintage British bike shop and had them rebuilt. Unfortunately The shop is no longer there. The old guy Charlie who owned it finally decided to retire and move to the interior, now I have to buy Replacement parts online which isn’t so bad. But it was nice to have a shop to go into and actually touch feel and see things before I bought anything. Oh well such is life.
I spent a good hour cleaning the front wheel which was covered in rust spots dirt gunk and everything else you could imagine after sitting for 25+ years. It turns out a little elbow grease and some steel wool goes a long way. The chrome underneath it all is mint.
That’s it for today.
CheersComment
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The tachometer was smashed when the bike was dumped prior to my father taking possession and was never fixed. I removed the outer ring, rubber and broken lens which unfortunately is the first and only thing I have had to chuck in the bin since I started this build.Comment
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Put the seat and tank on to get a good look at her and got a tingle down under.
The future came to visit me and tell me to come make her dinner. So I did “but not without getting a ride first Dad”.Comment
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