PROJECT SR: Shifter Re-Design

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I'm currently enrolled in fabrication classes at a local tech school after hours. The amount of amazing machinery I have at my disposal is worth the money alone, but on top of that I have an instructor with 40+ years of experience and all free materials. The past couple of weeks I decided to start a new class project: re-designing the foot controls.

I started out sketching up some ideas. They're mostly just for aesthetic purposes. This build won't be a cafe, so rear-sets aren't necessary. Below is the first half of my shifter redesign progress.

I had used a mill before in college, but had since forgotten how fun it was. This made the interior hole a cake walk.

Carbide de-burring tool. Pretty neat.

The form starts to take shape. The design I'm going with is just under the binding. Stock shifter to the right.


The bends are matched and I started roughly adding a bevel to the outer edge with a bench grinder.

Cleaned up the bevels with a file.
There, now it's on the internet so I have to try extra hard not to F it up next class.

Iron & Air: Website Now Live!

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If you're one of the 22,000 people that follow them on Facebook, or one of the 949 people who follow their Instagram, you may have already gotten the tip, but the much anticipated Iron & Air website is now live.

Their social media kick off yielded unbelievably strong results within just the first month, landing over 13k subscribers on Facebook. It turns out people really love a constant flow of awesome bike inspiration, which they turn out on the daily. Their website surely does not disappoint, turning it up a few notches, straight to sensory overload. I got the tip that the site went live last night. I then proceeded to waste 45min of my welding class glued to my tiny phone screen, sifting through the plethora of content already embedded into the site.

On there you can find an interview I did with Adam Fitzgerald, one of the sites contributors. I'm pretty stoked to be a part of their launch. I can see these guys blowing up pretty quick and sticking around for a long time. I'm excited to see what's in store.


WANT: CD / CL Gas Tank

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I'm still on the search for a Honda CD / CL gas tank, specifically the units below.
The one with the chrome sides is from a 70's CD175. Without the chrome sides came on various CL models.

If you've got one or know of one available please let me know. I'm on eBay and Craigslist daily looking, but nothing that fits just yet. Either too denty or they want more then the price of the SR in running condition...

Thanks,
Dave



DAILY INSPIRATION: Wrenchmonkees BMW R100RS Scrambler

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Endless knock-outs from the dudes at Wrenchmonkees.

BMW Offroad!
BMW R100RS

"BMW R100RS with modified rear frame, R60 tank, powder coated R80 hubs with shouldered 18" rims, knobby tires, R80GS redone exhaust system with one off mufler, Bitubo rear shocks, bigger aluminum oil cooler, One off Tarozzi rearsets, renovated engine, New seat and many more details to come!"









PROJECT SR: Case Cleaning

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Last weekend was spent cracking open the motor and assessing wear. With only 10k miles on the clock, everything was still looking pretty fresh, besides a couple of leaky gaskets. Cylinder walls were clean of any scoring and still had visible honing marks. With everything looking good enough to keep, we moved on to aesthetics. First in line would be the casings. The theme of this build will be mainly honest materials and finishes, so instead of paint or plating, we decided to go with a brushed finish.

Looking pretty fresh after 10k.

The first pass was done with a wire brush and drill. There was quite a bit of corrosion to get through.


Old and busted. New hotness.



Kara getting her hands dirty.

Viola.