Full sheetmetal fabricated frame

[VonMoldy]

I would love to see a bike built like Jesse James new CFL-II built out of fabricated sheet metal and very little tubing. Apparently the rear is so stiff the tubular uprights aren't even needed. I love the look of this bike and not having to buy a tubing bender might be beneficial.

 

[Bunbury]

I don't think he's banging these out with a hammer and dolly, there's some serious engineering and tooling involved. A tubing bender would be a cheaper and easier route in my opinion, I'm a traditionalist...

 

[VonMoldy]

well...ya Jesse used a CNC metal brake that had never been done before. lots of stuff never been done before on it. But for a bicycle it would be a lot less chalenging to build I was thinking of just using a regular sheet metal brake and possible welding the stuff that couldn't be bent.

 

[Bunbury]

Go for it! I recall seeing a few old bikes that were made out of stamped sheet metal and they looked very cool. I think you'll have a difficult time creating something with rigidity comparable to a tube frame, but you'll never know unless you try...

 

[briancustoms]

A decent "handyman" type of tube bender would be cheaper than a good sheetmetal brake and press that you would need to bend and press some of those lines like that frame has.

 

[VonMoldy]

cheapness is not the point guys. a brake may be cheaper or more expensive or even the same cost as a tube bender. the point it i think it looks cool and would be a different approach to building a bike. it could even be done with hammer forms if tool cost is an issue.

 

[nogoodnic42]

If you build it they will come. I'd like to see this done, it sounds cool as heck...Kelly