So close!

You know how it is. Spend a whole day finisching a lot of little things.
I am getting so close.

Good Day today, assembly started!

I've had such a great day today. It is final assembly time!
After all those months in the workshop thinking, making and finishing all the individual parts it was finally time to start putting them together.
From here onwards I will keep adding bits until its finally done.

Chrome won't get you home!

The appearance I have in mind for the S&S does not include chrome. I want the bike to have NO shiny bits except for the polished engine. Today I picked up some alu goodies from Rob Wijers who has a rotary finishing machine. It gives the aluminium a great mat finish. I like the texture.....nice....

Shaft drive in Hardtail frame, continued!

Have seen that there is quite some interest in how I made myself the mounting brackets for the shaft drive construction in my hardtail frame, here are some more details.

The basics are pretty simple. Get yourselves some thick mild steel plate. Mine are 12mm thick. With some cardboard you make yourselves some templates, copying the holes from the axle and the mounting bolds of the shaft drive bell. Since you must be able to move the drive shaft a bit when mounting the rear wheel into the frame, I made the 2 plates detachable by drilling and tapping some mounting holes into the side plate.
If you keep these 2 plates nice and square you will have a strong supporting structure to be added to your hardtail frame.
The reason for making the sideplate (welded to the frame) as long as I did is that this allowed me to weld alongside the pipes (frame tube notched around the plate). This way the twisting forces of the shaft drive bell are supported by the full frame triangle which is about 65cm long in my frame. When you make the length of this triangle very short (by welding the 90 degree support bracket directly to the frame), the vibrations will eventually break your frame.

Hope this helps a bit and enjoy building your own.

Getting the chops ready for the biketrip

Had a great few days working on the Yamaha chops. Working alongside John from JJ Suspension I got to fix all the little annoyances that surfaced the past few weeks, Some minor oil leaks, carburetor alignment, ceased cables…... and both bikes got a full service, all the fluids and filters replaced, starter engine cleaned etc.
Having an experienced mechanic in the neighborhood is a great benefit.
DO NOT know how to fix things does not exist anymore......and easy access to spare parts of course.

New puppy in the family

Yep, an extension to the family, got ourselves a Bulldog today. This bike will reduce travel time for my wife getting to work. The engine is almost equal to our yamaha chops. Have ordered a stage 1 kit and airfilter from K&N today, so it will breathe a bit easier. Don't tell her about it, its our little secret, gheghe.....

Pain in the But!

Made myself another seat pan, the old one was hurting me to much. I must be getting old, haha...... Hopefully this one gives me more support. Powdercoat here I come again.

This and That!

Spend most of the weekend on the bike, No major trips just a few hundred km to and from bars, the tattoo shop and my friends place. The Yamaha chops have now done almost 3000 km since I put them on the road again last year. It was time to fix some little things like a clutch cable, lighting issues, foot rests and a fork brace.
Next week I need to get some oil seals to stop some minor oil leaks and then their ready for the holiday trip. Can't wait

Shaft drive in Hardtail construction

This is how I constructed the shaft drive mounting in my hardtail yamaha chop. This construction is working without issues for about 15 years now. The trick is to make sure that the twisting forces of the shaft drive have enough twisting flexibility in the overall frame construction that it can move without breaking the frame tubes.
Enjoy building your own.

Old Pick's, Another rebuild

Found some old pics from about 15 years ago when we where renting a workshop from a farmer nearby. During the summer holiday that year, the rear-end of my frame cracked and I had to do a "on the spot" welding job to get home.
When we got home after 3 weeks I decided to cut-off the rear-end completely and make space for the wider car tire.
Just realised I'm becoming one of the "old" fuckers, that tell stories about cutting, welding and building in the yesteryears, hahahaha......

The Black one!

This is my Yamaha based chop. I bought a brand new Yamaha bike back in 1986. Started rebuilding it in 1990 and I have owned it ever since. I have done 120.000 Km on it. still runs perfectly. Re-build it for the 3rd time last year. I think its got great lines and looks agressive.

Enjoyed the article!

Got the Bigtwin magazine this weekend. Floris again, has done an outstanding job, fantastic pics and great story.

The Yamaha chops in Bigtwin magazine

Got some great news. The yamaha chops will appear in Bigtwin magazine. Floris Velthuis made the pictures and wrote the article. Thanks buddy. I can't wait until the mailman arrives on Saturday.

Choppers

The rise burners. We've been owning and riding them since 1990 in different shapes and forms. Both Engines did well over 100.000 KM. Rebuild them last year.