Monthly Archives: January 2020

A Day in the life of Yours truly.

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
30 Jan

Well, cant believe I am fast approaching 20 years that I have been over here and creating Custom machines and of course, parts to go with it, I have to stop and pinch myself sometimes, but there it is – 2 decades and still moving along, maybe not as fast as back in 2000 but still have a spring in my limpy step.

Now, just yesterday about 10pm, I heard my phone make that familiar “Ping” I thought that it is probably just spam etc but I picked it up and there was a message from a Japanese guy on Facebook, he said “Is this you?” And there was a thumbnail of a picture.

I clicked on it and Bloody Nora, it was me back in 1997 with my Old 1969 Triumph Daytona.

 

I remember that day like it was last week, I rode it all the way to the East coast from my flat in North London and boy, was that great fun to ride to, the bike kept spluttering at Hemsby but It was only the carbs and a clean out and tune and she was good as new, thats when Osamu Imai snapped this photo of me in 1997.

So I thought I would share that with you, the bike looked a little different 6 months before when I rode it again to Hemsby but I want happy with white and wanted black, here is my Kicking the bike over to go for a ride in 1996 before I painted it Black.

So, cherish every day, as time really does belt along, that was 50 pounds ago too. LOL!

Sturgis Honda still in the planning, but making some headway.

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
16 Jan

Rome was not built in a day and the same goes with this old inline four Honda CB750 machine, it is a wee bit of a head scratcher as so many things I am trying out, some work, some do not, but I guess that is the adventure in stepping into the unknown, when it comes to fitting non stock parts to a well known brand.

Well, the 230 pound inline 4 Motor is finally in and I tell ya, having a girlfriend that drops everything and gives you a hand, manipulate this arse grape giving engine into its cradle, well, its a blessing I tell ya, what a girl. We managed to get this motor in the frame area as I cut the old rails out and am making them removable.

The Lump is in place, it will be taken out later when I get to strip it all down and work on the frame for welding and I think I shall paint it, but right now I have no clue on color yet and am glad we got the motor to sit in this old Duplex cradle chassis, but so much more to do now.

This is an old KO Die cast Motor and this time we have lightened the flywheel and will not be using a starter Motor, it will be kick only, but should save some weight on the starter alone.

You can see the frame rail that is removable, I will strip the bike later and paint but I wanted to show you my own Custom oil tank that I want to use, instead of the ugly factory version.

This is roughly where I will fit the Oil tank, it also has a Battery box in the rear, this will house an 8 cell anti gravity battery and open the frame up, as I didn’t want to have stock oil tank and side covers on this build. This oil tank will fit snugly under the frame and I am stoked to be able to incorporate this set up . And so, we plod along, trying this and that, until I am happy with the way the build is going, no idea on color yet or rims etc but will sit down on the weekend and try and write up some sort of game plan for this Sturgis Bound Motorcycle.

 

 

The Sturgis Bike Build Begins on this old CB750 Honda Four

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
10 Jan

Been busy with a number of other things this week, but I thought I would make an effort and start doing some more chassis modifications on the SOHC 750 seeing as the weather has been really good for January.

Such a long way to go and having no game plan can be quite a task, this is not going to be an easy build as I may indeed change a few things as and when needed if I am not happy with the concept, the fun of creating a new Monster I guess.  Rome was not built in a day either, so ” Steady as she goes” and we shall see where this mysterious Machine takes me, as over the 2 decades I have been building here in California, every build gets tougher and tougher.

Frame rail cut and my own Custom insert bungs will be fitted but first have to cut 1 inch off either end of the rail to allow for length of weld in fitting, I just wanted to try something a little out there.

Hogged a little out of the upright as steel insert Bung needs to fit snug before I can weld them in place, I like to use air tools where I can, as they save so much time, rather than a round file LOL!

Here is my fitting, it sits nice and snug and will make it easier to fit and remove the engine , many of you will understand this as these inline four engines are fitted so tight into the frame, you would think that the tool kit would come with a shoe horn.

This is just before the side stand mount and I was happy to get these to fit nice and snug, and once everything is welded, the Rigidity will be there, these bungs are used in Roll cages a lot too.

Makes it a lot easier using this saw., I have had the saw many years, and always gets me out of trouble, the old stuff is always the best in my opinion and when cutting anything, take shorter cuts and test fit as its hard to add on when you have taken too much off.

Fitted in place and am super stoked at how it looks , a long way to go and what I really need to do is fit the engine in the frame, that way I can add all the engine mounts and make sure that the geometry is bang on before I start any welding etc.

Now, when these are inserted, what I shall also do is drill a hole though the frame and tubing in 4 places, that way I can get an extra few spots welds on it, as well as but jount welds all around the neck, but in slow spot welds as I dont want to cause any distortion with heat.

My engine bolt lines up and is nice and loose, not tight, so I will keep an eye on all this when I eventually fit the motor to check alignment out, so not going to rush this and , as I am doing this on my own, I will take my time fitting the motor, last time I nearly popped my Arse grapes out lifting that inline four up on my own and sliding into the frame.

Also, I need to clean up the engine mounts as they have old nasty paint on them, I will for the motor and build the bike, then- pull all apart, bead blast the frame, hand file it smooth and then hopefully either paint it or Chrome it, we shall see on pennies available.

Bit better but so much to do, hope that you are enjoying the little Blog as i begin this slow transformation of this inline Four 750 Honda.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
01 Jan

Wow !! How about that, here we are, 2020 and no flying cars or motorcycles.  As a kid I saw the Jetson cartoons and they said in 2020 there are flying automobiles, but its now 2020 and all 4 wheels are still firmly stuck on the tarmac.  but a new year and much to do that is for certain.

The festive season has gone by the wayside and now things need to continue forward like the momentum of my next Motorcycle, this was going to be a laid back build, accumulate a few parts and ease into building something to celebrate my 20th anniversary as a bike builder and parts designer, then the phone rings, a gentleman asked if I was still fiddling about with my mechanical machines, and of course I said yes.

He then informed me who he was and he took my tenacious Ton bike to the Sturgis show a few years back and is now creating another new event held at Sturgis in August, to celebrate older builders that have been in business for 20 years and still going, well that is what I am celebrating this year and he wanted to see if I could build a bike for the show in South Dakota that so many thousands of people flock to once a year.

 

Jeez I would be honored to be in amongst the best of the best there and whilst most of them will be choppers, I will build MY style bike, no point creating a chopper for Sturgis, I mean, its so hard to create something so unique in 7 months and I am sure that have seen it before, so, as with my original Plan, I hope to build a caff bike that put me on the map, but with a few different bits of styling to show of my little bit of homebase skill I still have in my skull.

My old Black and Gold Dunstall bike caused quite a stir and a bike I should of kept onto if I could of, so I thought what better way than to do something in that style as people know me for Cafe machines, so, even though this will be a tough thing to complete in the times scale, as I have other commitments, I have to try and get into creating a tough looking tarmac eating Caff bike that shows what I am about.  Of course some will scoff and say I should of done something else, but, I want to celebrate my 20 years here with the bike that put me on the map, and what better way is to do something that I love, the Good old Ton up Cafe Racer Machine.

 

And so it begins, I had an old frame that a friend donated to me, someone had ran it as a Cafe back in the 70’s in LA and I am glad to be able to do something with this old rusty chassis and this is where we start the New year by working in my garage, doing what I enjoy. Look Below and you can see I removed the stock front end and managed to wedge a GSXR upside front end in its place and, am happy with the thicker fat look up front.

No idea on what I am going to do 100%, but I am hoping to get this to look how I have imagined it for quite a long time, money and parts are what will hold me up, but we shall see how we go.

So, here we go with a few videos of what I have managed to do over New Years Eve, and New years Day, bit of fun working in the garage over these resting days LOL.

I just wanted to show you lot what I do myself and using minimal tools in the garage, this will be a fun build thats for sure.

I am lucky that I have good neighbors right?

OK, I have cut the frame rails and wanted to show you how easy it is to fit the slugs into the frame, so that the hoop fits over the slugs for a snug fit.

Still a little more to go, but hoping this is giving you some insight to what I do when I am creating my machines in the garage.

A little closer to what i want to achieve, just needed my compressor on, and of course, a drill and a air grinder.

I am glad that we have good weather , and I have accomplished quite a bit today.

I made a little bit of noise but, my neighbors know what I do and are fine with that.

With the day coming to an end, I was happy with all I managed to accomplish to be honest.

I hope that you are enjoying these little snippets of what I have done over the last 2 days?