The Svelte Spyder- NEW 6/6 new headlight idea

[Fisch]

UPDATE 6/2!- Nixed the triple trees for something more creative.

OK so you guys are inspiring me to finish a rat I that has been sitting as ideas for too long. The build off might be just the pressure I need. This is a bit regurgitated from my stalled start. But here we go.

It started with this little nugget right here. Picked up for $35 bones. '69 Sears Spyder 5-speed.


Love the bike, stripped it and primed it with a rust inhibitor primer w/ a foam brush. But the problem I had with the original design is that the sissy bar broke up the flow of this bike. Especially the line created from the chainguard to the fender. So using an old car rim as a form I bent the h*** out of that sissy!



I liked the lines that created, but worried about it bending under my weight, so I need to anchor the front nose of the seat, using the original post as a fulcrum. At the moment the thing I like most is the drum brake shoe from my 1971 Datsun! It should be plenty strong. You can see foamcore where I plan on cutting the shoe.

I think the seat looks pretty cool now Though it will need some prettying up!

I am also thinking it would be wicked to mount the 5-speed stick shift to the 'hump' in the middle of the brake shoe!

Pics!


I was surprised how well the bent sissy bolted in front of that back wheel! I used long bolts with rubber hoses on them for protection (top one isn't all the way in there yet!) Still have lots of room for the twin brake calipers.



Long way to go but you guys are inspiring me to take it to the finishline.

[bighit]

i am digging it.

[Strings_and_steam]

Very honestly sir, this is the first muscle bike I've ever seen that hasn't made me cringe. I'm not a fan of that astheric, but the way you re-routed the sissy bar has done WONDERS for this machine, and I've never seen that done before. Truly excellent, bravo!

[herr_rudolf]

Not too shure about that brake-shoe thingie but I absolutely love the way you're using the sissybar!! You've not only created a nice flow, but it kinda fits the unique and original frametube feature.
Way to go!
Good luck and have fun.

[ballroomwrecker]

Oh I like this... And I'm not even in to musclebikes

[Fisch]

Thanks for the comments guys!

I am glad some of the non muscle-dudes are digging on it too. And I understand what you are saying as my tastes are usually more to beefy bikes than muscle. But I like that this is a 24" bicycle! And I dig the dual rear brake.

(Just wish I could fit some 24x3 rubber in there easily!)

Speaking of rubber, I could use a tatty 24X2.125 whitewall for the back if any one has one they want to sell cheap. Doesn't have to be pretty. In fact preferable old and a bit stained to match the front better.

Made some progress. Tried on some new forks. And was thrilled that the original 5-speed rear cluster threaded on to a modern aluminum (7-speed) rim yesterday. The original rim was thrashed, and I like the weight reduction! (And as I understand it, better braking power, especially since this will not have a front brake!)

I need to take a new snap of the mock-up. It is a pretty big bike!

[Fisch]

Pics of Progress.

Beefing it up a bit by trying tome triple trees.

Bought a beep Camp Flashlight at a flea market with a cool little star motif happening. (Can't take credit for this idea as another member turned me on to this light. Psyched I found one though!) Actually there is another build I was saving this light for so I will see if it stays on the Svelte Spyder.

Threaded the original 5-speed cluster on a modern rim. Lightener and better braking I hear (plus my original would have need a full respoke!)

I will be hitting Brimfield Antique fair (one of the biggest in the country) this week so who knows what goodies will totally change this thing!

[Fisch]

I decided 'Nah' on the triple tree fork. In the end I didn't think it helped the flow of the bike. I thought I'd get creative and try to mimic what I did on the rear sissy bar up front.

Using the original fork I bent another sissy into sort of a truss setup. The bend echos the rear sissy.




Grabbing a weird set of handle bars I had (they use to have brake levers welded on) I flipped them and immediately dug the repeating horse shoe shape that started happening.




Then I had a rusted out antique westing house vacuum. I gutted it and ripped the motor out of this housing which I used as a light fixture.


A cool thing happened when I realized how close the bent sissy was to the bars. I could use a Moto-cross bracing bar (black) attach it to the handlebars and run it through two holes on the motor housing! This tied the bars and the sissy together.


I am digging this vibe more. And I am starting to think I want a shorter polo banana seat. It feels a little bulky for the streamline thing I am after here. I may cut this one too, we shall see!

[slow rider]

it difrent and kind growing on me. yup think I like it kinda cool.

[g-ratter]

Way better looking!!!!

[ScurryMurray]

I'm really liking that new front end set-up! Good ideas.

[KOTA]

I'm "liking" this bike!...Totally different concepts. I especially like the symmetry with the bends and the arches, keep going...I'd like to see it in person someday.

[Oneuglybike]

This a terrific build, I wish I had a ounce of the creative imagination you guys have! Keep it up!

[herr_rudolf]

I knew we had to watch you.
This is turning out to be one heck of a build! I really like where this is going (or already is...) The frontend set-up is kinda what I had in mind although mine is much simpler with the mini-sissy bar and all. Yours is just perfect! Everthing is really well ballanced and has a thought-out look (if that is correct english). And the frontend is again perfect for the rest of the bike.

Very creative and out of the box thinking without the use of strange add-ons that look out of place.
Really cool, this build, and HIGHLY original while maintaining a vibe of authenticity.

[Skipton]

Oh YEAH! great bike!! keep it coming!