Hi there, Here is another of the bikes I have made. It was made just before I left Australia to come over to America. Thanks once again for putting my other bikes in the gallery. . Thanks once again |
Alan McKay: Orange Chopper and Purple Kiddy Cruiser |
Hi there, Here is another of the bikes I have made. It was made just before I left Australia to come over to America. Thanks once again for putting my other bikes in the gallery. . Thanks once again |
From the picture of Billy ' custom chopper called 'Kingpin', I sketched up a design for a wild custom bicycle with ideas like belt drive, disc brake and motorcycle springer style front suspension. Alas the lack of disposable income and having to have it all finished in 6 weeks left me little option but to build it as seen here. Chain drive, caliper brakes and no suspension. . With the donation of a 24 inch mountain bike frame, a 16 inch BMX crank set and front brake, and a pair of 48 spoke 20 inch BMX wheels we were under way. |
Fabricating the rear of the frame out of 1 inch tubing and some 4mm plate took some patience and care. Mating this to the front half of the mountain bike frame (with some altering of angles between tubes required) is a single 1 inch top tube and a bit of 16 inch '70's bike frame. The mountain bike also donated it's seat post and kick stand bracket. After three goes and a lot of trial and error the frame was getting there. . The front end of the machine required a long rake to give the bike the right look. It ended up almost by accident to have no caster, which I was worried about. Needlessly so as I found out on the test ride. The major hiccup being the gear ratio and not being able to ride up any sort of incline. Changing of the front chain ring from 36 teeth to 32 , along with the rears 18, gave a good ratio for a slow cruise (to let everyone have a good look) and the ability to go up gradients (although you need good strong legs on longer climbs). , Finishing off this radical custom is a bright hue of orange. A bit of alloy, in the pedals, stem and kick stand adds contrast to the chrome elsewhere on the bike. |
Purple Resurrection. . Lying out the back of the house, left propped against the shed wall. Lost, lonely & forgotten, from a childhood long ago, when it was liberally spray painted by a teenager for her baby brother. . With a love for anything with a banana seat, this forgotten little old 16 inch girls bike caught my eye. After dismantling and assessing the bike, I spent hours using elbow grease to strip the spray paint off every part of it. Thus revealing the reason behind the spray job no boy wants to be seen riding a pink bike. With it completely blown apart I needed to find a new set of pedals, two tires, handle bars and chain. With a fresh shine on all the chrome work I needed a flash paint job to make it sparkle. Looking once again to custom car circles I selected a two tone purple with a silver stripe between. Following old school rodding a black pin stripe highlights the silver. |
Having done all the basics I needed the missing safety items to be replaced, a chain guard and reflectors. Feeling it needed a little dressing up, I found an old fashioned bugle horn. Finishing off the wheels is a pair of cobra valve caps. The final item added for the new bike rider was the pair of training wheels. . This classic little purple cruiser has been resurrected and is ready to hit the pavement. A nice little bike that went to a new home with a young girl to put it to good use. |
. |
