Please Don’t Feed The Monkeys!

Added on Monday, December 1st, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor

First order of the day was to get the engine in to the build area, it’s a big powerful 88ci (1450cc) Revtech unit, which has been polished to a mirror finish and fitted with a Mikuni carb set-up – are you paying attention, you could be riding away on the bike this time next year, the engine alone is worth £7k!

The crowds are really building up now, three to four people deep all around our build area, we’re feeling a bit like monkeys at the zoo; but we’re not complaining, it’s great that people are so interested in the custom scene, and what a build like this entails - Terry does a little dance to keep them entertained; much to the amusement of the gathered crowd. One onlooker exclaims “I’ll have what he’s on” but its pure adrenaline, the clock is ticking and we have never put ourselves under this much pressure before.

Once the engine is nestled in position, we have to quickly check that the 3 inch B.D.L open belt drive and polished Revtech 5 speed gearbox will line up correctly, it’s all placed in position, measured, checked and then whipped out again so that we can crack on with fabricating the finishing touches to turn this stock sportster frame into a Santee style rigid.

First off we had to line-up the top engine mount to the engine and frame, make and prepare the new top mount bracing tube, offer this up to the headstock and tack weld in position, once the dimensions are jigged and lined up correctly this is seam welded into position; then we fabricate the oil tank cross member ready for tomorrows seat unit and oil tank install.

Next we begin getting that iconic Old skool hardtail rear end sorted, the new tubes are cut and Snowy bends the new bottom tubes to ensure correct ride height, low and lean, that’s the look we need, again the measurements are double checked before welding in to position, you don’t want to get this wrong or the build won’t be completed on time.

I should mention that if you are thinking “How do I win this bike then?” the answer is simple; all you need to do is get a motorcycle quote* from the lovely people at Carole Nash, easy eh? Get ringing then dude on 0800 804 7952!

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Work plan for day four - Sunday

• Fabricate seat mount and rear oil tank mount as one unit
• Fit oil tank
• Sportster tank widened
• Build wheels
• Prepare frame for paint overnight, this will be baked in time for Monday morning
• Oil tank paint
• Fabricate rear mudguard