Bikernet Bonneville 2006 Effort, Part 5
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Bikernet Bonneville 2006 Effort Part 4
In the last segment the crew of U.S. Choppers straightened the Bonne Belle, 1940 45 frame, but I asked Rick Krost, da boss, if he felt any gusseting was necessary. He pointed out all the strong factory gusseting in the front and even on the single down tube, but suggested that we gusset the rear
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Bikernet Bonneville Effort Part 3
We’re rockin’ with this project. I’ve never built two bikes at once, Bonneville aside, but we’re having a blast. Both projects are hustling and this report will bring you up to date. The CCI V-Bike Panhead is still a roller and we’re waiting on the drive-line elements so we can mock-up the pipes before shipping
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Bikernet Bonneville Effort 2006–Salt Shaker 1
This shows the proper JIMS guide on top of the swingarm bearing. The H-D manual shows two guides, one for the left and one for the right. Another mystery. Larry had one press guide. Next, we decide to balance the act by installing the swingarm. We dug out all the parts including: Harley-Davidson swingarm bushings/bearings,
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Bikernet Bonneville Effort 2006–Salt Shaker 1
Scramble some eggs, make some coffee and sit back. This is the first segment in the 2006 Bikernet Bonneville effort and 10th Anniversary Bikernet Run to the Salt Flats, September 3-7, to the Bub’s International Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Currently we’re building two bikes (what a relief, at one point we
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BIKERNET BONNEVILLE 2006 FILES
Here’s our secret Bonneville 2006 file. It‘s going to rapidly fill up with Bonneville racing info, notes, suggestions from experts, performance tips and lies. Check it out from time to time. It’s already interesting.–Bandit TIPS FROM AL UNSER’S CREWBack in the late 70's and early 80's I had the occasion to do work on Al
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5-Ball Factory Racer Build for 2009-2
Moving right along, I overcame the Wilmington Mung and slipped back into the shop. It’s like self-induced Christmas for the homebuilder each week when UPS arrives or I score something at the bike swap meet. Ya plan, save small bags of gold and reach out to vendors to make deals, then wait. I got all
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5-Ball Factory Racer Build for 2009-1
Hey, it's the start of the official Sturgis 2009 project bike, the 5-Ball Factory Racer. For decades guys have built vintage- looking scooters with late model drive-trains. Hell, I built another one at Strokers Dallas in the '90s. Before I dreamed of it, Arlen Ness built a '20s vintage scooter and sidecar around a Sportster
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Root Beer Float Part 2
Building bikes was simple until Harley-Davidson threw in a myriad of models, new engine configurations and now the axles are larger, which fucked with the bearings, sprockets, rotors, frames, etc. At one time we all built rigids, using the same frames and components. That lasted for 20 years. I digress. It ain't so no mo'.
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Root Beer Float Part 1–2008 Bikernet Project Bike
We love a visual stimulation, mystic guide to stimulate any bike project. We're fortunate to know several inspiring biker artists, including Tim Conder who created this eye-candy to kick us off the mark and get us started on the mini-bob. I was also inspired by Sin Wu's diminutive size and the former Russ Tom's artistry
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Root Beer Float Part 3 Plus Extras
Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil When the package arrived with the new BDL belt drive system in it we had a little problem. Unfortunately when our hell hound doesn't get the chance to chase the delivery truck he takes it out on the cardboard. Fortunately none of the contents were damaged (this time) so
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Root Beer Float Part 4
Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil The build up for the Root Beer Bobber designed specifically for our own Nyla Olsen has been painstakingly stretched out over the past two years. Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, delays have hung their weary shadow upon the build causing the queen of Bikernet to sit back patiently…tapping
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Le Pera Seats Break-Out
Big wheels, big paint and classic drag-bike attitude meet modern refinement. Then we stuff it brimful with raw power. What do you bet, next year with the new M-8 engine. Nothing like a fistful of American street muscle. Feast your eyes on the Breakout. Its profile is low, stretched out and undeniably aggressive. We top
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Bonneville 2006–Salt Shaker/Bonne Bell 2
We’re building two bikes to take to Bonneville for the Bubs International Speed Trials, September 3-7th, 2006. So each segment we publish may contain elements of both, the 1940, 45-cubic inch flathead and the first ever Sportbike Panhead designed by John Reed of Custom Chrome. It’s his V-Bike and we’re dropping a 120-inch Accurate built
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Bonneville 2006–Salt Shaker/Bonne Bell 2
We’re building two bikes to take to Bonneville for the Bubs International Speed Trials, September 3-7th, 2006. So each segment we publish may contain elements of both, the 1940, 45-cubic inch flathead and the first ever Sportbike Panhead designed by John Reed of Custom Chrome. It’s his V-Bike and we’re dropping a 120-inch Accurate built
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Spare Parts Custom
The bike started out as a Sumax frame that was sitting around for years. I found an H-D Evo motor and tranny, fresh out of the box a few years back. We used Boyd’s Mid-Glide 41mm trees and fat boy lower legs turned down on the lathe. Top caps were made to match. A swap
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Sportster Performance Solutions
Many of us madmen started with Sportsters. Not long ago, there wasn’t much a guy could do with his Sportster to make it sing, but now there is. So we went after a complete list of parts and recommendations for a strong, better handling Sportster. We started with Bartels’ Harley-Davidson. Bartels’ is a family organization
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Transform Your Shovelhead Into An Evo
Deacon, the master, taking a break. Photo by Chris T. I ran across a master mechanic, in Oahu, Hawaii, at ProStreet, who recently produced the first Choppers Only Show in Wakiki.He explained the differences between the Evolution configuration andthe Shovelhead and how you can alter your Shovel for reliability andbetter performance. I was intrigued, grabbed
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Makin’ Custom Wheel Spacers
Wheel spacing is an important part of any ground-up bike building project.It also must be addressed when customizing an existing bike.With the vast selection of frames and wheels available today, there is noway any manufacturer can fit every different wheel combo to their frame andprovide exact fitting wheel spacers. Some frame manufacturers provide a wheel
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Scooter’s Softail Custom Project Bike
Let me lay out the background for this project. Scooter is anattorney. Maybe that makes him a yuppie, who the fuck cares? He’s acriminal attorney of the highest order, in fact recently herepresented a prostitute and we will have a full report on thatepisode. In this case, he was representing a jealous Bouncer from a
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Digital’s Rigid – Part IV (Continued 3)
Sponsored By Once the engine was back in place, the bolts were placed and the tape was removed. Then it was on to the area where the transmission was to be placed. The transmission plate from Custom Chrome and the rear fender mounts were put into place and bolted down. The transmission was
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Digital’s Rigid – Part IV (Continued 5)
Sponsored By At this point I needed to make sure the front and rear pulleys were even at their outer edges. This was to make sure the belt does not rub on the pulley rim. A long level or other straight edge can be used to do this. If you need to move the front
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Digital’s Rigid – Part IV (Continued 4)
Sponsored By This project uses a BDL open drive system to drive the tranny, so the motor plate was put into place and bolted down while the engine bolts and transmission bolts were still loose. Make sure to use Loctite 242 and to torque the bolts to spec per the instruction sheet provided with the
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Digital’s Rigid – Part IV (Continued 6)
Sponsored By Now here’s the test. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that I DIDN’T put on the secondary belt before we put on the motor plate! Just remember to do this and save yourself the removal of the assembly to fix this mistake. With everything in place, I put the friction plate back
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