Python's Hard Tail Custom Build Up

[Python]

After years of recycling / restoring old junk, I decided to build a "new" bike from scratch. So far I bought a replica frame from eBay. Since there are so many stock A's that I find'em kinda boring, I added a China-fork + a (no China) Brembo brake + low racing handlebars and dropped in 12" Falcon style wheels with 110/60-12 rubber. The seat will be lowered so it sits directly on the frame and I plan to fit some aluminum rearsets...











I am still unsure which style to go for, I am planning for a themed bike: either old Honda racer style like the CR110 with a huge 8 liter Gorilla tank













or a Red Baron theme bike (not affiliated with the parts dealer) with a modified WW2 steel helmet as tank















Thanks to photoshop today we can try stuff out before we put hours of work into it

[PlanetMinis.com]

[olyelr]

Cool little project. Keep us up to date!



Whats in the plans for a motor?

[Python]

Although the frame is about an inch longer than stock Honda, I don't think a large displacement engine will fit with the big wheels. And since I have a couple of old Honda engines on the shelf, I will start with a souped up 50cc version: a ST50 block, with high compression piston, cylinder and head from a SS50, plus the SS50 cam ... should deliver somewhere between 4 and 5 bhp. Keeping in mind that with the low tires, racing handle bar and rearsets this bike wont be a comfortable ride - I have other bikes for that

[RobbMeex]

Gorilla tank.

[rikyric]

Wow that looks sweet! Can I ask where you purchased the forks and wheel/tire combo at? Was it an online store?

[Python]

1325959262[/url]' post='1749500]

Wow that looks sweet! Can I ask where you purchased the forks and wheel/tire combo at? Was it an online store?

I have no idea which US shop would carry these parts, sorry ! The fork is from Skyteam, a chinese monkey bike replica manufacturer...

[geezer]

I really love the Red Baron idea. The forks look just like ZB50.

[trtr013]

skyteam makes the zb replica as a st125 or something but i thought had diff forks.

[malmen]

or a Red Baron theme bike (not affiliated with the parts dealer) with a modified WW2 steel helmet as tank

I dig the idea of a WW2 steel helmet as a tank, how ever, the Red Baron was a pilot during WWI. Wouldn't it be more suitable if you had a Pickelhaube instead, and maybe added som pilot glasses up front?



Anyway, cool build, keep it up!

[Python]

I dig the idea of a WW2 steel helmet as a tank, how ever, the Red Baron was a pilot during WWI. Wouldn't it be more suitable if you had a Pickelhaube instead, and maybe added som pilot glasses up front?



Anyway, cool build, keep it up!

Absolutely correct ! Though the shape of the helmet is very similar and my idea was that the tank filler would resemble the "pickel" on the "haube". A genuine or replica WW1 helmet is virtually impossible to come by for a reasonable price - meaning less than I intend to pay for the whole rest of the bike WW2 helmets are much easier to obtain, because some german fire-brigades use that style helmet until present...

[malmen]

Gotcha! That's actually a really cool idea, I hope you stick to it! And I'm aware of the prices, here in Sweden it's even more expensive.

[Python]

The engine is slowly coming around. Part of my plan was to do something usefull with all the parts piling up in the garage and with everybody building more monster engines - this one is strictly 50cc

[Python]

After solving my DOHC troubles I found some more time for my hardtail:

[Brodie]

After solving my DOHC troubles I found some more time for my hardtail:

Looking good Python. I like the idea of the WWII style tank but I think it may look out of place. That engine looks bloody beautiful.

[bronco bobby]

I also like the helmet idea, but wouldn't be large enough to look right? Give us an update. What did you decide?

[Python]

I also like the helmet idea, but wouldn't be large enough to look right? Give us an update. What did you decide?

You were right there. With the engine mounted the helmet suddenly looked tiny


So I think I will fit the Gorilla tank to the frame and remodel the seat to match. But to do that I have to wait for the third intake to arrive, with the first two the 19mm carb did not clear the frame.

[Python]

Finally mounted the rearsets and whittled a prototype for the tank mount. Somehow the fork seems quite long now, although it is a 54cm standard length monkey fork. Is the hardtail fork shorter ? Could anyone measure a original fork for me ?

[Brodie]

Looks good Python. Ok for the forks I mesured my K1 and they are 50cm from the top of the triple to the end of the leg. Hope that helps.

[Python]

Hmmm, that would explain the stance. My measurement of 54cm is from the bottom of the top bridge to the center of the axle

[Python]

Finally mounted the tank - I decided it was easier to raise the rear of the tank, than to lower the forks
Then I found some Honda headlight brackets that I bought in Belgium last year that fit nicely after some cutting and grinding: