Slow week here....

Sorry folks, been a slow week here. I'm seeing the far side of this bug though which is welcome as I've got things that must be done. And soon.
In the mean time between hurling and laying around moaning pitifully I ran across an unusual bike creation...thing. I rather like it.

Found on the always interesting Slightly Different Specials, dunno what it is but it's mean looking. Actually it looks like one of the mutant rides from the Mad Max series...with a bit more polish. Do you know anything about it? If so I'd love to know more!

Be good humans....

I'm fighting a bug and feel like hammered dogshit so nothing at all happening of note. I did however run across this and thought it was pretty neat and about effing time!
http://singularityhub.com/2012/02/27/ekso-bionics-sells-its-first-set-of-robot-legs-allowing-paraplegics-to-walk/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/10/berkeley-bionics-elegs/

Wouldn't be worth much if they couldn't navigate basic obstacles like a set of stairs....

That is the looks of pure joy! I can't imagine(thankfully my legs are plenty functional) how happy they must be!

I am not a good blogger......

 I am not a good blogger.
I tend to come here, dump something on the page really quickly and blast off again. I don't linger much, nor do I read other blogs all that often unless something really catches my eye. In this case, I've also neglected adding some to my follow list....an easily rectified problem.

Most notably of recent is Bubblevisor.
I scoot thru Lenny's joint at least once a week sussing inspiration for my own builds and of course pictures to add to my collection. So go check his joint out if you haven't...and IF you haven't yet then get out from under that rock.

Here's some pictures I just stole...err....borrowed from Lenny:

The hammer and dolly work alone make this worth staring at til your eyeballs dry out....

Oh those sexy pipes!

O.M.effing G!

So much to love here, the hydro-formed megas are simply more on the list....

I believe I've found the air-filter solution for the VX I have been pondering. I've considered tank cutouts before but I think this has pushed me over the edge. Fantastic!

Anyone who knows me knows of my burning lust for Vincent motorcycles; OG, Irving and HRD.....dunna matter to me. I will not lie, it's this same lust that made me want the XV920 I purchased a while back. One day I'll own an actual Vinnie!

Another bike I will always have a soft spot for is the humble XS750/850 Yamaha. I got my 850 when I was 18 and have had the thing since. It carried my large self for many MANY happy miles and underwent far too many modifications to be posted with any useful brevity....something perhaps I already lack? I've built several engines for it and am pretty confident in my ability to make the 120* triple bellow like an enraged bull elephant. 1030cc is do-able, 4v heads can be had...made...adapted...well, it can be done, chain drive as well!

Here's yet another drool worthy example of the breed, also found on Bubblevisor:

Be good humans!

Gods rode in anger......

You want to know how to go fast, you want to know how to be the best?

Plates and Stems

They were doing this crap a long time ago but this one if fairly recent I think. How cool though? A techie, totally unique frame for your next scoot, cut out of flat stock with your skillsaw!

TZ250. USD forks well before they were in fashion. I randomly happened upon this pic, wish I knew more about them.
Update: More from the ever helpful Richard aka Teazer on this front end:
"The USD forks on your blog are SMAC as are the mag wheels.  Eric Offenstadt (sp?) made them when he was Moto GP racing." 

A little 411 on Mr.Offenstadt:
http://8w.forix.com/offenstadt.html

Isle of Nan TT

Little old lady from Pasadena she ain't......

20 minute seat pan, 2 hour seat pad......

Ok so the pan was really easy and quick. the pad...well it was easy too but a wee bit more time consuming. I'd planned a single layer of 1" black 'race foam' with maybe some extra in certain areas. Turns out someone who'll remain anonymous acquired my stash of the stuff and didn't inform me. I had some scraps available and as I thought a bit I remembered a blue camping pad I found when I was cleaning out the garage. Ok, it's got the right density, there's loads of it and it 'works' well with the tools at hand. The thinner layers also allow me to sculpt a bit more so I'll take it!
   

Ok so I added the high density black foam pieces to strategically add contour. This stuff has a decent adhesive already on it, just peel and stick. What you can't see is that this is in roughly 30 degree temps.....fookin' cold mates! I took my angle grinder to it first, equipped with a 60 grit sanding wheel. In retrospect I should used the 220 grit wheel just to make it a little easier to control. But, I got it shaped. Not too bad, a little butt-cupping out back and a wee bit more loft up front. 

First layer of camping pad glued on with 3M '77' series aerosol contact cement.

This stuff works well and holds up, I've got things stuck together with it that are going on 15 years.

Sorry for the blurry pic, did I mention it is cold as Hades to go along with the seeping damp here in Portland? Yeah...well good then. Whilst butt testing this first layer on the bike I finally figured out what's been bugging me so much. The bike is low and slender but the seat was a bit wide making her look like she has a big butt. That won't do! Out comes Mr.Sawzall for a little off the sides. I won't bore you with the retest pic, you'll see it later....

Now it's starting to look like a proper ass-perch! I took after the edges to blend it a bit, used a rough rasp file and a wire brush of all things! Since this is going to be under quilted leather I won't worry about the fuzzy bits, just check the shape it's taking on!

Right tools for the job and all that stuff! HAH!

Another layer with contact cement tacking up, almost ready to mash'm together.

Next layer added and gently shaped to suit. The front bit is smoother too,,,missed the shot...

A nice profile shot shows that it's taking on a really attractive shape and should be lovely when done!

A somewhat deceptive shot, hints at the blend and contours but not nearly well enough.

Almost there.....just one more layer and some more blending to go...

Svelt after a quick trim, no?

Looks nice on the bike, and once it's covered it's going to really work great. It 'sits' well; feels like a very high end, expensive solo seat. The layers of padding are thin looking but the material is extremely supportive and since this won't be a hard tail it'll work out just dandy.

 The only tool I didn't show was my Dewalt orbital sander that I used on the foam to smooth out all the rough spots and fuzzies left by the file&wire brushing. This was far FAR easier than I'd thought and the end result is extremely gratifying. 

I have some rear 'mounting bits' to machine up that will incorporate a couple other functions too, that oughta be cool but is for another installment. I'm gonna go finish thawing out now, be good humans!

Capable Women

Let's be honest with ourselves for just a bit this morning. Man + motorcycle is kind of a given; motorcycles are historically known to be visceral, dangerous and fulfilling in ways that only great sex, great booze and great music can be. Before all two of you females out there get all in a bundle, this is for you....

Something I like even more than wearing the chicken strips off my tires are women who ride. Really RIDE. It's one thing to get your hipster on and moped your way to the local used vinyl shop or coffee hang....it's another thing entirely to own it.

There's something greatly attractive to me about a woman who can go from slinky sexy, dressed to the nines... to greasy, scuffed and noisy in a turn. I want to know what makes her tick, what makes her set aside the heels and silk to throw on big stompy boots and a helmet to tear it up in a 'Man's World' like motorcycling. 

I find capable women immensely sexy.

This is Jada and her CL175 (fixed just for you ) Bruiser, they look like a perfect match! Photo by the talented and moto-endowed Lanakila MacNaughton

 
Since I started this stupid blog I wanted to do the occasional interview, present something interesting to you lot of barbarians. I may have hit on it.....we'll see.

20 minute seat pan

I have exactly 20 minutes into this seat pan, once it's upholstered it'll look great and it's shaped enough to actually feel fairly comfy just as it is. It's destined to be wrapped in nice quilted leather over 1" 45-55d black foam. I mad this because I wanted something that wouldn't be confused with the now ubiquitous 'Brat Style'.
(Read as: 'Played the fuck out')

In truth it took about 30 minutes to make a couple tools and kludge together my setup as I can't locate either my nylon body hammers or my shot bag....damnitalltohell! 

20 minute seat pan sounds cooler than 50 minute seat pan too.

This may or may not be cut from an old street sign, but if you were to use an old street sign they're made from good .110" aluminum sheet. I based it's shape off the goofy cardboard pattern I made, traced it in sharpy, once with each side of the pattern facing up so as to ensure it is kinda symmetrical......more or less. The raggedy-ass notch I cut tore out of the front with my teeth is there to allow the front bit to pinch inward as the center is stretched. No...really.....

One slug of 2" diameter delrin will do in the pinch for a soft face for the brass bonking tool I'll be using to do primary damage. Bore to fit snug onto the hammer's head, clean up the back and round out the front.......

I made this 2.2lb brass headed hammer for a project several years ago and haven't used it again until this morning...

Ta-daaaa!

Started beating on it but decided it could use annealing to make the process a little less aggressive. Annealing softens the aluminum by removing age tempering or previous heat treating. I've screwed the blank pan down to the bench with 3/4"x1.5" wood strips under it so the metal has room to displace. Normally this process would take place on my leather shot bag (16"x16" leather pillow filled with BBs or sand etc) placed on a wood stump but I can't find the godsdamned thing. So I faked it. With the air cavity underneath, pounding sounded a lot like repeated 12gauge shots...enough so that the neighbor came over to see if I was killing someone. He's got courage I'll give him that.

I also used a couple regular old hammery type bashing sticks because I wanted to. You can see the work area displacing downward and the front lifting and pinching together here..

Getting there...

Let's add some up-sweep in the back so the massive squirrel power of the angry motorcycle won't toss you off the back!

This actually was fairly challenging because I don't have a sheet roller, so I had to fake it.

Sorry for the off center shot, it's pretty symmetrical in truth.....really! It's easier to see the loft in the front/center and the two forward bits pinched in together. Note" I further gouged out the notch because the two halves overlapped....fuckers...

Now we're talking ass cupping goodness!

 

A couple test fits and a little trimming lets the front 'tabs' tuck under the frame and pan to settle over the rails nicely.

I think it'll work! I have plans for the back of the seat rails that entail all sorts of fabrication, electricity and shiny majik bits.....stay tuned!

The page-view untility that Blogger gives me says that days with boobies posted get the most traffic.




Pervs.....

HOSSACK!

A lovely tech-fest from the always interesting Slightly Different Specials

....you lot thought I forgot about you.....