Bringing it back from the dead, GWC68? LOL

This got me laughing:





Dave

 

With apes(solid risers) the amount of input I gave the handlebars and the bike's turning characteristic did not seem to match up very well at all. Too much wonky leverage I suppose.

I much prefer the T bars.

 

Shortest T-bars known to man?

 

Those Carlinis are really nice. I think they're perfect on your bike. They go really nicely with the overall look, they don't mimic any fads, they look like they offer really solid control... Perfect on a bike that is completely unique and offers usable performance as well as personal style.

 

Super short riser tubes and 1.5" throughout, so they're stiff as hell. Too heavy, probably. Would love to see some in Carbon. Regardless, combined with the solid bushings and 49mm front end, there's almost no flex in the front end. None I can feel anyway. I'll probably still add a fork brace eventually. Just to help keep axle flex and fork twist at a minimum. Want to find (or make) one that integrates cleanly with a small splash guard/fender. I like the no-fender look but eating gravel and spray can get old.

 

My first experience building a custom bike was in 1987, when I worked part time (after my real job) in a small independent bike shop which did a lot of custom fabrication. This started as a '79 Sportster which was built to show in Daytona that year, although I rode it a lot too. I've never used a CNC machine, but back then I got pretty proficient with an old school Bridgeport mill and a lathe (unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to use either for a few decades now). One of the things I built (with input from the shop owner) was a fork brace, designed to replace the front fender. It was basically two pieces of aluminum bolted to the fender bosses on each lower, with four large diameter lengths of aluminum rod connecting the two halves. The third rod back from the front, I drilled through the center making it hollow and tapped each end for brake fittings, with a third fitting installed on the top of the rod in the center. The fork brace now became a brace, a fender replacement, and the front brake tee. I'll have to look through some ancient (actual paper) photos to see if I have a detail shot of it, but you can kind of see it in this picture:

 

Very nice build, T!

 

I'm running lucky Dave's t bars. 14". They make the bike feel way more solid. Also, it makes my bike feel like a dirt bike.