It’s been a minute since I’ve featured a bike build, that’s for sure. This one was sent in by Grant, and is chock full of highly detailed and very intricate home-built fabrication. The owner mixes a great amount of DIY fab work, from sand casting to CAD, and even creates a wooden forming die to bend stainless steel. I’ll admit, most of it goes way over my head, but it looks damn cool and I’m jealous as hell of the bucketload of talent on show. If you like machining, welding and lots of shiny metal, you best get in here.
Tag: bike
Builder Spotlight – It’s Ben Modified [videos]
![Builder Spotlight – It’s Ben Modified [videos]](http://build-threads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/14138102_509281699280191_8824660612048496077_o.jpg)
Hailing from our very own Build Threads Communal Garage is a very creative chap who runs a channel called It’s Ben Modified. The ‘about’ page says “Anything with Wheels and a Motor”, and to be honest I can’t think of a better way to describe the types of automobiles being pieced together in this shop. The projects range from (but aren’t limited to) 400 Hp V8 VW Truck, an electric conversion of a VW Bus, a pedal electric motorcycle and even an Autobianchi Bianchina being converted to bike-power. Long-term readers might remember one of these unique creations from a previous post, the Hayabusa Reverse Trike. Don’t forget to join the discussion group if you haven’t already, you never know what you might find or who you might meet in there!
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What I’m Watching: Hackaweek TV
Do you dis-like short, fluffy videos that are low on content and high on hype? Sick of slow motion panning shots of ran drizzling over glossy panels? Are you just crying out for highly technical videos that explain every tidbit of mechanical symphony? Well then let me introduce you to Hackaweek TV! While there are many projects going on in the Hackaweek stable – including robotics, carpentry and electronics – what I’m most interested in is the CB750 Cafe Racer build. Most of the videos (18 so far) are somewhere between 15 minutes and half an hour, so you’d be wise to grab a hot or cold drink (depending on where you are in the world) and get comfortable while you peruse the playlists.
The world of Sakurama
Since building my own garage, I’ve been hanging around The Garage Journal a lot more, which has made me re-discover some threads that I had breezed over back when I was a casual visitor. Amongst all the amazing (and huge!) garages on the forum, I became reacquainted with a great thread that showcased not only a garage, but the renovation of the whole architect-designed mid-century home attached to it. I made myself sit down and read it from start to finish, taking in all of the gorgeous photography (did I mention the owner is a photographer?), various materials, construction techniques and bespoke joinery. As the page count increased, I realised that apart from the renovation of the gorgeous home and garage, the thread is also peppered with links to Gregor’s other passion, restoring and modifying motorbikes. For this reason I decided to make this post a builder spotlight, where you’ll find links to all of the visually delightful projects at the bottom of the page.
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Check out Gregor’s personal website here.
Jet-powered land-speed motorbike
Just when I think I’ve seen it all, when I think I can’t possibly be surprised at what pops up in my inbox, along comes Anders with his gas-turbined powered motorbike. When I actually figured out what I was looking at, all I could do is sit back and laugh in amazement. I consider myself so lucky that people like Anders want to email me their amazing projects, built using techniques that I can’t even begin to comprehend. To get to the point, I’ll let him explain what he’s got cooking…
I just found your website and thought I should show you my little project that has been going for 4 years and counting, it is a scratch built gas turbine motorcycle with which I aim to set a land speed record in the APS/Omega class at Bonneville Speed Week.
The turboshaft gas turbine is built by myself around a Garrett TV94 rotor with everything cast, turned and milled on my manual tools at home, I´ve spent three years on it and now I am about to test it for the second time in the bike frame. It should be capable of producing somewhere between 150-180hp on the rear wheel once everything is tuned in.
If you like milling, machining, lathes, jets, flames, welding, casting…hell, if you like anything mechanical, you’re going to love this. Don’t forget to check out the test video at the end of the post, and another bonus video of something else Anders and his crazy Swedish mates have added jet propulsion to. All hail the Scandinavians.
Project Hoonda – Turbo CBR900RR [video build]
![Project Hoonda – Turbo CBR900RR [video build]](http://build-threads.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/145927925.Ov2zvyfK.IMG_9593.jpg)
If you’ve been a reader of Build Threads since the beginning, then you might remember the BladeRod feature from back in 2009. It’s owner, Mark, the man behind the very entertaining automotive YouTube channel, HoonTV, is a bit of a CBR900 nutter, as he explains in detail in this video. One of the bikes from his fleet of CBR’s is this ’98 model currently in the build at Extreme Creations. Being built in a Street Fighter style it features a heap of custom parts such as a half machined/ half hand-formed plenum, an Aprilia swing arm, billet wheels, oh and did I mention the Garret T28 turbocharger?
Make sure to check out the HoonTV channel for more build videos, feature cars, factory tours, event coverage, and much more.
Click here for more bike builds.
Suzuki GT750
A man on a mission, that’s how I’d describe Rassie, the guy behind this latest build. After owning no less than 4 of these bikes over the years, he decides to give it another crack and build his idea of the ultimate GT750. To achieve this he rectifies the handling issues of this older model by bolting on a set of Hayabusa front forks/brakes and a modified Katana swingarm. All of these improvements to the underpinnings are paired with a delectable oldschool exterior. I love the idea of buying a model of car or bike you used to own and then creating the ultimate version that you always wanted, I often have ideas like this about all of my previous cars.
Thanks to Jake for the link. Click here for more bike builds.
Steampunk Honda CB350
I remember hearing the word “Steampunk” a while ago, maybe a year or two back, and I had to turn to trusty old Google to see what it was all about. All I found was a bunch of Photoshop’s and renderings featuring lots of brass, chains, cogs, gears, and other vintage industrialist type decorations. I wasn’t sure if this was a real thing or just a fantasy subculture, that was until this very interestingly customised and beautifully photographed Honda CB350 made it’s way into my inbox…
Thanks to Chason for submitting.
Custom built Streetfighter
In my years of ogling over bike builds, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a sportbike with a custom made frame. I’ve seen plenty of choppers and bobbers fitted with fabricated tube-frames, or stock frames paired with hard-tail rear sections, but this streetfighter is the first time I’ve seen a modern bike with a 1-off aluminium frame hugging the driveline. There is some discussion within the thread regarding the choice of material and techniques for building the frame. I’m not qualified to comment on that stuff, all I know is it’s fun to watch things being fabricated from metal!
Thanks to Dante for submitting.
Fabrication 101: CBR600
When someone emails me and tells me they learnt their skills working at NASA as a machinist and composite fabrication tech, you can bet your torque wrench that I’m gonna sit up and take notice. Not only has Chris used aerospace grade aluminium and carbon fiber on this highly customised CBR, but he also puts his talents to good use making non motor-powered parts, namely knives.
Click here for more bike builds.