big wheels

so I'm feeling a bit happier about the whole thing today, I nicked acouple of 21" wheels out of some other bikes and mocked them up, that void for the tank was throwing my eye out so a carboard one was hastily put together to give the bike some solidity and now the bike is starting to form. I think the 21's have saved the day

I even like that front tyre tread!

So, it's just that rake now, half of me is thinking it isnt a replica of anything and with a little more rake it looks a bit sleeker, and the other half of me thinks it's got to come right in

plus although I can derake it easily we have already made a fixed jig so that's a bit of a bugger.

also think those bars are wrong, way to wide.

inspiration

and now I keep comming back to this bike and thinking how great it looks

My Racer

I built this Racer a few years back, once again this had a 30 degree which I was never totally happy with but it worked, plus with using the springers it didn't look bad.

The girders on the 125 give the impression of more rake and I think that's what's playing with my mind.

This racer also ran 21" front and back. I think this is what we need on the 125.

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.

Started off well today

well, today started off well, the new headstock stem works a treat with the 1" taper roller bearings and now the forks fit perfectly to our headstock.

colour choices

i've been having a bit of a think about colours.

The main frame, forks,wheels and mudguards are going to be black.

maybe a bit of nickle plating here and there.

I'm liking this green for the tank but I'm sure that will change at some point

Frame

So I went to check on the frame today, it seems a little has been lost in translation but nothing that can't be turned around,

with the engine being so small it has been difficult to design a proportional frame.

the back end was a little too long so we are going to shorten it by 2".

The top tube was meant to be horizontal so that is going to be dropped down level and the tube below will be dropped by 2" too, hopefully that should bring everything in tighter and get the look we are going for.... Reg's workshop is so small i couldn't get a side on shot. we are getting there though, exciting stuff to see it on wheels!