Beginning the design process
Harley Motorcycle ProjectsDiscuss Beginning the design process in the Motorcycles forums; OK, I'm starting to plan my next bike out so when the new sporty is paid off I can begin with a good game plan and a well formed parts ...
OK, I'm starting to plan my next bike out so when the new sporty is paid off I can begin with a good game plan and a well formed parts list. Here's what I've got in mind.
I'm thinking a wishbone frame from between 49 and 52, pan motor of similar vintage, springer front forks, 21 inch 40 spoke front wheel, 16 inch 40 spoke rear wheel, disk rear brake for extra stopping power, not planning on a front brake, want it to be as clean and old school as possible, bobtail rear fender, vintage style tall sissy bar with the seat as tall as the bar, peanut tank, 42* rake, 16 inch apes, minimal extra equipment, basically I'm wanting a chopper that looks to be straight from 69. bare bones and clean. I'm putting the emphasis on chrome and lots of it. Basically my design is the captain american with different paint, springer front forks, and a bobtail fender. so I guess it'd be a customized Capt. America.
Here is where I'm having my trouble, I know where to get an early 50's wishbone frame, but no clue what I'm gonna have to do to get the 42* rake angle I want, I don't want to modify the frame any more than absolutely necessary, and looking at pics of the captain america and comparing them with the frame I've found there shouldn't really be much modification necessary as far as cut and stretch is concerned, I'm just looking for some old hands in the chopper field for some assistance.
Kevin
Man that sounds like a sweet project. Good luck with that.
I really wish I was an old chopper guru but that isnt the case but Ive seen triple trees that can change your rake angle quite a bit. I'm not sure if your specific model has one available.
I built my 93" shovel in a '52 Wishbone frame in the 70's.. It came with a 30* rake as will any you come across..
I've installed several diff rear disc set-ups on it over the years..
If you're really not going to install a front brake please send me your full name, age, and preferrably SS# so I can take out a hearty life insurance policy on you,,,, heck, I need a wind-fall and you'll do just fine..
I promise to remember you with a tall one on the anniversary of your, ah, well, you know..
Oh yeah,, if you cut up a vintage 1952 Wishbone frame to get a silly 42* rake I'll make sure to collect early.... Jeeeeze.....
Seriously-- old timers and folks that know a lil something about building sickles will not respect that.. Do it with a phoney replica maybe..
Good luck-- In my experience, building your own sickle is perhaps one of the most gratifing things you can do in the motorsickle life..
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
hey frisco, The early 50's frame I found is from Vtwin, it is supposed to be an exact replica of the original right down to the sidecar tabs. I'm still in debate over the whole front brake thing, it is still to be determined, lots of testing to do yet. I've been considering between a factory pan and one of the pandemonium motors from s&s... time will tell i suppose.
Good man. I could Kiss y, uh, never mind...... A factory Pan Motor,, you can still get them from the factory,,??????????
Ok Buzz, that's interesting, I've wondered about the V-Twin frames..
The V-Twin Wheel I ordered from them a fews years ago was visibly flawed and the run-out both radial and lateral were bad.. Lateral was .001" under maximun tolerance and radial was exactly on max tolerance.. The weld that held it together had a large gap in it,, kinda like a shark bite..
Sent it back and got a refund but because neither of the run-outs were PAST tolerance and the poor weld was just a COSMETIC flaw (to them) I lost both directions of shipping.. Needless to say I do NO business with them anymore..
__________________ "Fill your hands you son of a bitch"
Rooster Cogburn
Beginning the design process 
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