Featherbed project, here goes nothing....

bwolfie

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Well I went and did it now. I purchased a frame to build into a Norley. This will be a long term project, I have the wheels and forks left from the monoshock iteneration of my commando. Immediate goal is a rolling frame and add bits as finances allow. I will build up a swingarm, going monoshock on this one, it will be easier than the commando. Heck I might eaven use the swingarm I was building up. Here is a link to the frame.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/290651217124?ss ... 1423.l2649
 
I saw the harley wheels on my "project" thread, they are lovely.

What will you power it with?

Glen
 
The wheels are the whole reason I am doing it. As for power it wil be a Buell 1200cc V-twin of some type. Around 100HP on tap to shread those lovely tires. Plus a 5 speed and electric start. I realise the HP and RPM limitations of my commando, and since the wife works for "The Motor Company" I dont feel too bad using their product. Plus parts are plentiful and sometimes cheap. Now I need to find a wrecked Buel lightning or similar to fill the giant hole in the frame.
 
Of course not, that would make too much sense. It will be done in the spring in time for the thaw.
 
I envy you. I've seen a few Buels that were of the older more simpler look & that made me want one. I think a one off personaly built bike like this will be nice. How about nickel plating the frame?
 
Nickle plating is an option, it will all depend on cost and availibility. I called arount to get my hardware plated on my alloy project, out of the 7 places I called, only 2 would do it, and both came in $100 cheaper than me buying replacments in stainless. I went with stainless. I understand there is great cost in the process, but come on you have to price it conciderably less than the replacment part costs. And nothing I have or do is unavailable for purchase.
 
Frame is done and will ship out Monday, I will have it by Friday. Then to get it into a roller. And finish the 3 bikes before it. If i could only sell the Dunstall stuff, that would finish 2 bikes off.
 
I have spent about 3 hours today looking at engines. Any sugestions? I have ruled out boxer BMW's and Guzzi's for obvious shaft drive reasons, and any liquid cooled inline four. I have thought about 650cc singles and various v twins. The ducati monster 620 looks promising. What does the forum think. I am open to Ideas, I was set on a buell or sportster 1200, but finding one in my price range is difficult. So I was looking for creative and different options.

Fire away....
 
bwolfie said:
I have spent about 3 hours today looking at engines. Any sugestions? I have ruled out boxer BMW's and Guzzi's for obvious shaft drive reasons, and any liquid cooled inline four. I have thought about 650cc singles and various v twins. The ducati monster 620 looks promising. What does the forum think. I am open to Ideas, I was set on a buell or sportster 1200, but finding one in my price range is difficult. So I was looking for creative and different options.

Fire away....
Click to expand...

I don't think a Ducati engine would look right in that frame....but have seen modern Triumph twins in featherbeds that look like they were made to fit at the factory....might not be any cheaper than a Sporster but waaay less vibration and they can make serious power with some work (and $$$)

BTW, might be too far away to ship but there is a Buell engine on CL for $1200 in CA... http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2770238504.html

Featherbed project, here goes nothing....
 
Well an FXR engine (whatever that actually is) does not fit in a featherbed frame, Im guessing that the Buell engine will be too tall as well, it might also be interesting to know if the Buell used a different balance factor as it is a rubber mounted engine, similar to the Commando but it uses hiem joints to locate the engine/gearbox/swingarm laterally

Featherbed project, here goes nothing....
 
bwolfie said:
The wheels are the whole reason I am doing it. As for power it wil be a Buell 1200cc V-twin of some type. Around 100HP on tap to shread those lovely tires. Plus a 5 speed and electric start. I realise the HP and RPM limitations of my commando, and since the wife works for "The Motor Company" I dont feel too bad using their product. Plus parts are plentiful and sometimes cheap. Now I need to find a wrecked Buel lightning or similar to fill the giant hole in the frame.
Click to expand...
 
The NEW Triton above which Bluto posted is my build, the New engine will not fit in to a Featherbed frame, the frame for this particular bike was made by me specifically for this engine, I used to manufacture Slimline frames.
there are "Featherbed" frames available fot the NEW engine, on the bike above I made a section of the frame above the engine removeable to allow top end access, not a good idea to remove the engine to get the cam covers off.
 
no, it wont make any difference, the problem is not at the top of the frame rails, its the bottom rails, they have to be spread to allow the NEW engine to drop down in, I know one guy that i sell parts to modified a standard frame for the NEW engine but I'm not sure what he had to do. of coulse it would be easier to fabricate and fit new lower frame rails than make a new frame, there is many other issues besides this that needs addressing.
 
madass140 said:
The NEW Triton above which Bluto posted is my build, the New engine will not fit in to a Featherbed frame, the frame for this particular bike was made by me specifically for this engine, I used to manufacture Slimline frames.
there are "Featherbed" frames available fot the NEW engine, on the bike above I made a section of the frame above the engine removeable to allow top end access, not a good idea to remove the engine to get the cam covers off.
Click to expand...


hmm, so that is why it fits so well!....thanks for the clarification and that is a beautifully built bike
 
The Norley is the latest sea all the lemmings are running to.

As has been thrown up in other threads with the title "Super Sportster", Harley has such a long and rich competition history to draw from, including some of the slickest road racers the sixties ever saw, it is a shame that it gets largely ignored by builders of specials.....
 
beng said:
The Norley is the latest sea all the lemmings are running to.
Click to expand...

The trouble with such things is that they tend to have not a good resale value, as more than a few builders have noticed - compared to the cost of the components going into them.
Even factory bikes, in the past...

Some of the frames look a little light for the lump of engine going into them too ?
 
As I have no plans to sell the bike, resale is not an issue. As for the frame, it is new construction built from thicker tubing. The BUell/Harley choice was made for a few reasons. My wife works for the motor company, Buell motors are good for 80-100 HP out of the box, Parts are plentiful and affordable, They are air cooled and don't look out of place. They have a 5 speed and electric start. And several other reasons.
 
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