I'd rather build an XR750 replica because in my opinion it's a proper motorcycle. The Captain America was not an iron head but a big twin so it wouldn't be a faithful replica, also it's be done to death by many blindly patriotic red necks, along with Jack Daniels theme bikes. But if you really want to build it, then go for it.
Ok,I get your point but as I stated I'm not planning a replica or a clone of the easy rider chopper - just in the style of! I realise that the "film" chopper has been copied a thousand times but there don't seem to be any "blindly patriotic rednecks" residing in Berkshire? I bought it cos it was for nothing
Mind you I've got an old Ford Anglia engine resting at the back of my garage that I pulled out of the old girl a few years ago and replaced with a 200bhp (more now!) Cosworth Twin Cam unit,6 Speed rocket gearbox and quaife rear axle.The 997cc Anglia 4cyl produced a massive 39 Bhp when new and with a bit of hacking about in my shed should drop straight in to the Chopper?Handling might be seriously compromised because as most engineers will tell you car engines are best suited in cars not motorcycles? Also the Yanks have been sticking Corvette 350cu V8's in motorcycles for years - didn't work then and won't work today
Hahaha - yeah! I googled his website earlier and that's when I decided to have a gentle dig.Im no pro custom bike builder but have built a lot of Chops,Cafe racers and streetfighters over the years - probably over 20 in total - some nasty,some ok and a handful I am proud of? I built my first in 1975 - a Triumph Tigercub 200cc Cafe racer
Bear in mind everything I can now do is self taught by getting it wrong at least a few times! I got sent to a posh boarding school when I was 10 yrs old - where there was no metalwork or carpentry room or classes.The only thing that mattered to them was being able to play rugby,fence and have the chance to join the forces and die for your country!In 1975 there were no firms mass producing bolt on chrome goodies to enable you to build an Orange County work of art - if you had an idea or rough vision of a one off part - you bloody well made it!!!
I'm no pro builder; I do all my own work...lol. We're very similar, my first build was a Tiger cub restoration in the early 80's and I build random stuff some of it I look back on and regret. I guess I have a prejudice against choppers, I lived in a redneck area for 8 years and got sick to death with the chopper scene and guys with no teeth laughing at my cafe racers. I lived near some of the best roads in the world yet they were full of floorboard dragging barges. It doesn't help my bias that I have an aversion to chrome too. However I'm all for diversity ;-)
That's funny as I've not been into chops for quite a few years - I just got sick of the $100,000 trailer queens,a lot of them totally unrideable that mainly just sit in people's lounges or garages getting polished to death - I blame Orange County choppers! I've been into cafe racers all my life but some people think that putting a single seat on a tired ex despatch Honda CX 500,a set of ace bars and cheap universal fit rear sets - they have some sort of motorcycling masterpiece!
Ah! The old Triumph Tiger Cub - I became an expert at replacing the big end!That and Hillman Imp head gaskets! What a bloody awful car they were
[QUOTE="749ducaticonvert, post: 722956, member: 33591" but there don't seem to be any "blindly patriotic rednecks" residing in Berkshire?[/QUOTE] Clearly you've never been banger racing in Bracknell... :Bucktooth:
Clearly you've never been banger racing in Bracknell... :Bucktooth:[/QUOTE] Hahaha - yes I've been to Bracknell - plenty of double crowns,hair lips and the odd pair of webbed feet
Right Scouse Dave! - be it all on your head if it goes Pete Tong!Saves all the agg and major expense of chromed frame and all the other chrome and trick paint job etc? Deff deff 100% more rideable chopper and I've not seen any outside of the States.You are a Top ideas man and have probably saved me a couple of bags? Thanks Dave
Just unloaded the Harley chop project and despite the nasty Yank petrol looking very similar to my first morning Piss it bloody fired up first prod!Dont think the snotty neighbours appreciate the straight through pipes and deff scared the shit out of ELSA my cat
Forgot to mention - unlike myself the Chop actually looks a lot better in the flesh than in the pics i posted.Project officially starts next Monday morning - I'm raring to get going and even wiped my "snap on" total waste of money overpriced tools clean and put them all back in their correct drawers! Makes me almost cry when I think how much I wasted/invested in snap on tools but everyone had them and I followed suit like a dumb sheep!
You will be pleased to know that my first job was to remove the truly awful seat off the Chop! Where it has been baked in the sun for nearly 47 years the top covering of the leather has split wide open and some breed of nasty little black shiny bugs have taken up residence! Ain't got a clue what they are but if the Australian/New Zealand TV programmes are anything to go by they would have put a flamethrower on it and towed it out to very deep water
The old HD 1000 "Ironhead" lump actually fired up first prod! Loud as f..k but no knocking,banging,smoke or worrying noises! That's gotta be a good omen on a 45 year old engine?
I've got a good mate - actually an amazing tattooist who is even handier with an airbrush who will be doing the petrol tank in a black/silver or black/white gothic scheme he tells me! I would welcome any ideas or input from you guys n girls on the frame? I've done the White,orange,yellow,red and more than enough black/matt black finishes on previous chops,bobbers and specials and I'm scratching my head on this one.Crazy,different and bizarre is fine by me! HELP!!!
