and then...

I put the roller together and mocked up some parts and got really dissapointed.

here's where I'm at, we set the rake to 30 degrees which should make the bike handle well which was the initial aim, this bike is meant to be a useable bike but in my honest opinion it just looks wrong... terribly wrong.

so, yes, i can bring the rake in a considerable amount and cure the aesthetics, that will tuck the front wheel in tighter to the frame and make the whole bike tighter and give the look of a twenties bike, that's what I set out to build but is Joe Public going to be happy riding around on a tight raked bike with quick steering? will they even notice the rake?

Do I leave it as it is?

it's always going to be difficult to make it look right with the little motor and wheels.. the motor I can live with.. this isn't a replica.. it is a bike with the feel of a veteran motorcycle.

But this brings me on to the wheels... on the plus side, the little honda comes with 18" wheels as stock, they will work well and the bike will handle well, plus there is a multitude of tyres available for 18" wheels, I already have the tyres in the shop.

keeping hold of the 18" wheels will keep the initial build cost down and therefore keep the retail price of the bike down.

but do I like them now the bike is rolling? NO, I don't. they look tiny, yes they would look better with the older pattern tyres I have.

some clincher rims would be ideal but the cost and the idea of running 28" button tread tyres on todays road is a bit too iffy.

what would I do? I would relace the wheel hubs to 21" inches and run some really cool vintage tyres.

but what are the options for 21" rear tyres? pretty non exisitent which means running two front tyres, this is something I'd be happy to do, I've done it with no issues.

granted, I wouldn't want to be running down the motorway on skinny 21's front and back but that's not what this bike is about.

and of course, rebuilt wheels cost money.. and how much can we ask for the completed bike?

so I am having a dilema, am I being anal about the whole thing? I'm used to building bikes that have to look and work perfectly and this is a whole different ball game.

do I have to be in love with the final product? does it have to be perfect in my eyes? or does it have to just be a useable bike sticking to the original aim?

could I finish the bike as it is? yes I could, maybe I would still derake it though.

would I be proud of the fnished bike with the current lines? no I don't think I would.

does it really matter what I think? oh, I don't know.