the stretch

[old skool]

hello

i started a new project a week ago
i always wanted a long bike to cruise on but they are not realy cheap
so i am making one myself, this could be a long project because i dont have much money to spend(i am only 14)
i want something in this style with the springer fork and candy paint

and here is the progess i made so far

and some bad welds

hope you like it

micheal

 

[Unchained]

Cool! Good luck, stretches are loads of fun. And the welds can be cleaned up without body filler if you don't mind lots of grinding, re-welding, and hand filing.

 

[elvis51]

looks like your off to a great start! be sure to post more progress pics!!!

Easy E

 

[Bigcam59]

good luck, fellow stretch fan!

 

[Unchained]

Sorry to jack the thread for a minute- but is that frame chrome? ^

 

[old skool]

thx for the comments

i am looking for a cheap springer fork
suusbikeshop has them for 65 euro(about 90dollar)
but i have a budget of 100 euro and i also need some tires and paint

 

[brutus]

nice project.

you can also look at http://www.apartefietsen.nl for that springer vork.

where are you from in the netherlands. i'm from around eindhoven.

maby i can help if you need some.

this is my project.

 

[old skool]

nice project.

you can also look at http://www.apartefietsen.nl for that springer vork.

where are you from in the netherlands. i'm from around eindhoven.

maby i can help if you need some.

this is my project.

i live in meppel(drenthe)
that is around 170 km away from you
so i think that is a litle to far for me but thx for the help
i asked all bike shops near me for that fork but no one has them
and for the tires i am thinking of the schwalbe fat franks or the electra whitewalls :? .

micheal

 

[dragsterIII]

I know how you feel about funds, I am 15 and it is hard to fix a bike the way you want to

but you are doing great heck I cant even weld :mrgreen:

 

[old skool]

i did a litle proges on the bike
i found a donor batavus beach cruiser for the wheels
and i fixed the welds and started filling and sanding
here some pics

now i need some money to buy the other parts

 

[IronSpadeCycles]

I give you Props little brother for even trying at your age to take on such a big project. My father was a construction worker when I was a kid and he also had worked as a mechanic. When I was old enough to understand he started teaching me how to turn a wrench and how to build stuff. I'm 41 now and some would say I'm a master fabricator. All I can say is keep at it! Welding is an art that takes years of practice to fully master, so your welds will only improve with time.

OK so your 14, you've gotten a really nice start. But don't stop there, your passion could very easily become a career. My advice is never stop learning both from books and DVD's but also from your mistakes. Your going to have mistakes and failures, whatever you do, don't let them discourage you! Everything in life is a learning process. A lot of people are impressed with my work but practice makes perfect. I've build over 60 complete chopper motorcycles as well as about 30 bicycles. By now they had better look good or I'm in the wrong business.

Good idea #1 is get yourself a note book and start a journal. Put all your sketches and ideas on bike designs in it. Don't worry about your drawing skills cause your the only one who will ever see it, except maybe your kids but that will be many years from now, Also write down your notes on how certain ideas and design performed, how they rode, was it hard to pedal that kind of thing. Over time you might be impressed with yourself on how your skills have improved both with drawing and with your design awareness. Most top motorcycle and car designers didn't just go to school and came out pros. They started the same way you are!

So I say good luck and keep trying new things and new ideas.

Later Travis

 

[old skool]

I give you Props little brother for even trying at your age to take on such a big project. My father was a construction worker when I was a kid and he also had worked as a mechanic. When I was old enough to understand he started teaching me how to turn a wrench and how to build stuff. I'm 41 now and some would say I'm a master fabricator. All I can say is keep at it! Welding is an art that takes years of practice to fully master, so your welds will only improve with time.

OK so your 14, you've gotten a really nice start. But don't stop there, your passion could very easily become a career. My advice is never stop learning both from books and DVD's but also from your mistakes. Your going to have mistakes and failures, whatever you do, don't let them discourage you! Everything in life is a learning process. A lot of people are impressed with my work but practice makes perfect. I've build over 60 complete chopper motorcycles as well as about 30 bicycles. By now they had better look good or I'm in the wrong business.

Good idea #1 is get yourself a note book and start a journal. Put all your sketches and ideas on bike designs in it. Don't worry about your drawing skills cause your the only one who will ever see it, except maybe your kids but that will be many years from now, Also write down your notes on how certain ideas and design performed, how they rode, was it hard to pedal that kind of thing. Over time you might be impressed with yourself on how your skills have improved both with drawing and with your design awareness. Most top motorcycle and car designers didn't just go to school and came out pros. They started the same way you are!

So I say good luck and keep trying new things and new ideas.

Later Travis

i realy like building bikes and other stuff
i am learning for car mechanic(but with all that electric,plastic cars i want to change it to metal fabricator)
i dont have much room to work or have good tools
but i am sure i dont stop with making things

micheal

 

[AussieJester]

+1 to what Travis said very very very wise words...I was fortunate enough to have grown up in a house
with a fully equipped workshop myself and started young like you, im 40 now and still learn new things you
never stop learning, keep up the excellent work, start collecting tools now as you can afford them
buy the best you can afford tools will last you a lifetime.

Shall continue to follw with interest.


KiM

P.S To the person from Eindhoven...my ex-wife is from there Dutch chickie babes are the bomb hehehe

 

[crackedpiston]

start collecting tools now as you can afford them
buy the best you can afford tools will last you a lifetime.

.... straight. Always by the best, the better the tools, the better the job in my experience. :wink:

 

[old skool]

here a litle update
i made the bike rolling so i can test it a litle bit, and i started making a gear shifter
here some pics

i have to weld some things again and than i can start filling and sanding

micheal

 

[stretch]

well another stretch! i like it!

 

[old skool]

today i did some work on the fork
the tube were the steer is inside was to wide so i cutted it of and welded the original on it
i have to make it smooth and then i ask a expert if its strong enough

my welds are getting a litle bit nicer everytime

micheal

 

[old skool]

i did some work on the bike again
its almost finished(only needs a gear and break cable)
but i got the bike for sale till i got some money for parts
here some pics

hope you like it
and comments are welcome

micheal