Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Triumph Bobber project

I ran across a guy that's building a Triumph bobber using a 2004 Bonneville engine. Here's a pic of the bike in progress.



He posted about it on triumphrat.net, and he has a complete gallery of build pics at chopperweb.net. That url won't work for you until you register at chopperweb.net. If you don't want to join there, Bitter End Choppers, who did the frame, has a 4 pic overview of the build progress. At chopperweb.net, MIDGET11 has posted 2 pages of build pics so it's worth joining if you're interested.

I've invited him over here to tell us more about it, and to share his experience as he puts everything together. Hopefully he'll show up sometime soon.

For a pic of the bare frame go to http://www.bitterendchoppers.com/FrameSales.html and go to the bottom of the page. I can answer any questions about this frame as I am the builder. In addition, we are doing quite a bit of machining and fabrication to make it all fit together, so can answer questions there also. [image]http://www.bitterendchoppers.com/FrameSales.html[/image]

Thanks for dropping by Al, and welcome to our humble little Triumph corner of the net. I hope you don't mind me lifting the pic to show the guys around here what you're up to. You know how it is...nobody believes you until you show them a pic. There's been a few people around here asking about frames, so maybe they'll chime in with some questions for you.

Holy crap. That thing RULES!!!!

I've got serious wood!!!

What is the availability on that frame? Turnaround time?

WOW!

You want to see some bad*** Triumph frames, check out Willyj's He makes some wild Bobbers and Choppers with Triumph motors
http://www.willyj.com/project.htm

Fryguy

SalMaglie,

Isn't that Midget's bike from the TriumphRAT.net board?

Yes it is Paul. I invited the guy over here who posted about it, and we were lucky enough to get the frame builder and fabricator to drop by. There's more interest for this sort of thing here than at triumphrat.net. For some of the guys around here who have asked about what it takes to get a frame, this is a golden opportunity to throw out questions to someone who's built one specifically for the new motor.

SalMaglie-Big Daddy dropped me a line and said ya'll were talking about the bike build-progress is being made as we speak and I should be able to post some more pics sat-I will be happy to detail the build from start to finish if your interested-until then-Later-Midget11

Welcome to the site Kevin, and thanks for dropping by. If it isn't too much trouble for you, you could start your own pic gallery here. Clicking on this link will take you to a post detailing instructions on how to set up your own gallery and upload pics. The ones you posted at chopperweb.net are great.

Although we've seen a few choppers in here, we haven't really seen a detailed build from start to finish with the new motor on a different frame. Should be quite a ride as you take us through your experience.

gona be cool midget !!

i'm an old time bobber fan. lookin forwaed to updates.

Check this out! new pic [image]http://www.chopperweb.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4691&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1[/image]

Hey Kevin/Midget11,

Maybe you can give us an overview of what's going into your project. How about a rundown on the major add ons to the bike. Aren't you putting in an internal throttle? Checked out the pics at chopperweb.net, and I like the clean install of the forward controls. Much nicer than what we have on our stock bikes.

Very nice! Do you do any Wishbone frames with goosed necks? Thats my favorite look. I am a big fan of the old skool drag bikes. Keep the pics coming.


Fryguy

We build all of our frames to order so we can pretty much do anything that is possible (and something's that maybe aren't considered possible).

Thanks for all the feedback! The project started out with me wanting an affordable old school bobber using modern tech and to me that required the use of a modern Triumph. I found a 03 T100 with 3000 miles for $4800 I then stripped it down and sold off leftover parts to bella corsa and newbonneville leaving a net cost for engine-wheels-brakes-igntion-wiring harness-fuel tank-fork tubes-axles-oil cooler-of around $3500 which to me is a real bargain when you consider a 6 speed tranny for a v twin can run almost as much. I began this journey with Johnny Goodson of Insane Custom Cycles who has some great photos of a real cool Triumph on his web page. He could not schedule enough time for a complete build but agreed to shaping original tank and provide a set of really cool triple trees. Finding the frame builder was an exhausting task at 1st many of these so-called providers of Triumph frames proved to be less than professional-no returned emails-phone calls-etc. Determined I finally found what has turned out to be a very professional builder in Al Wilkerson aka Big Daddy @ Bitter End Old School Choppers. From the start of our conversation he has been great-willing to listen to my ideas and to provide excellent info and all at a reasonable price, always returning phone calls and email promptly. Here are just a few of the items we used in this build-keep in mind this is a one of with every part custom fabricated for the proper fit. The frame-I wanted a curved backbone to follow the lines of the tank-I wanted the seat dropped 2" the backbone stretched 2" and the neck dropped 2" so many triumph frames seemed too short in length-too tall in height-and the seat seemed like your perched on the bike instead of a part of the bike.We then turned our attention to the front end using Johhny's super clean trees-wide glide set up-we shortened the tubes 2" using the stock brakes and axles Big Daddy had to fab spacers and custom machine mounts-as for the rake 32 degrees somehow seemed correct this will provide a very good handling bike as well as the proper stance. If you have been to Big Daddys web page or looked @ chopperweb.net galleries you have by now noticed how the curved theme and the use of the Triumph eyebrow logo is prominent in both the frame and metalwork. As for the rear of the bike a close fitting rear fender with the proper radius was purchased-[custom chrome]-original wheel is used w/avon 160 rain/race tire[I liked the dirt track look of it] original brake[I loved the Triumph logos] w/custom rod/heim brake stop.Big Daddy has fabbed up some great fender mounts along w/stoplight and a clean tag bracket. The seat is from Chica custom mounted clean under it is a faux oil tank that will be used to hide all the electrics,coils,wiring harness,etc. the oil dipstick will be attatched in the tank to the ignition switch-Very Cool-the starter button will be hidden in the tank using an Arlen Ness button-Below that Big Daddy has custom mounted a gel battery on its side-we will run as much of the wiring and brake lines as possible through the frame. Check out the custom mounts for the stock but modified pipes.The kickstand is Matt Hotch's. Moving farther forward the controls are a XOPRODOX softtail in black ano-Big Daddy has mounted them so clean they almost seem to float! Looking up at the bars[sorry no photos yet] we are using the Triumph risers[love that logo!] with 16" fat apes by v factor-internal throttle-PM black controls-more to come stay tuned-until then -Later!

Now THAT'S how to share some info!

Can't wait to see more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Kevin, that's just the kind of info some of these guys are looking for. Although this thread hasn't gotten the kind of posting traffic that I thought it would, anything you pass along will be pointed to when somebody thinks about doing a build as indepth as yours is.

I know you've PMed me asking about posting photos here, and I've sent along all the info. If you're having too much trouble doing it, I could always copy what you have over at chopperweb.net and set up an offsite album that I can link to with a post in here. Let me know if it's okay with you. I don't want to go around stealing photos if it's not.

Hey Sal, only 17 post, but 517 views!! Not bad traffic really!! Keep it up. Love to see any and all "in progress" shots!

SalMaglie-that would be great-I am not as comp skilled as some so any help setting up a photo album would be helpful-thanks again-Midget11

Hey Midget, go to the "forums help" section, I'm pretty sure someone asked for help in there once and there should be some good directions. It's pretty simple once you do it once. Only thing is to make sure the file size of the pics are small enough!

Finally got as many photos as I could fit into my free galleries at Webshots. Click here to see them all.

I dig the stop light.

SalMaglie-thanks for the help with the pics-I'm sure everyone who checks it out will be thankful also for the extra effort!

Kevin/midget11 pointed me towards hsi newest build photos on chopperweb.net. Here's one of the bike in a rolling chassis.

yeah, that taillight setup is neat!

Thanks for the feedback on the taillight boss. Somethin I jus pulled out of my butt - as usual.

FYI - we just started offering a motor mount jig/motor dummy for this motor/bike - will dramatically speed up a frame build for this type of bike - anybody that has had to lift that motor/trann combo in and out of a jig a few times will know what I mean [image]http://http://www.bitterendchoppers.com/Jig2.html[/image] . Check it out at http://www.bitterendchoppers.com/Jig2.html

Kevin sent some pics along and he's getting close to finishing. Waiting on paint and has more wiring to do. I've added about 5 more pics to this photogallery at Webshots.com

Here's how it looks now.

The tank is on!

Too fuggin cool!

I want one.

I was hoping to see that bike at the Bitter End booth at the SmokeOut, but alas....

Sorry I didn't have the bike ready for the smoke out-Big Daddy and crew were there with display-did you get to see his latest creation? We are currently waiting on a pick-up coil-my wiring guru put 12 volts where it didn't belong and fried both the igniter and pick-up! I have since contacted Bill Gately with bonneville performance and he provided me with the correct wiring diagram=THANKS BILL! until then-Later!

i haven't been following this build but good god almighty is this for real?? i mean this is how it should be done!!!

Last night I spent a few hours re-wiring my project and hooking up new coils,pick-up,and igniter. I then carefully put 2 gallons of fuel in the beast, armed my wife with the fire extinguisher, switched on power, gently hit starter button,and..........ITS ALIVE! I will do a nut and bolt,go over every detail, clean up and prepare for the first ride-stay tuned-until then-Later!

Kevin sent me more pics of his bike. He sould be along at some point to to tell us about what the bike is like out on the road.



For more pics, see this album I have setup at Webshots.

Looks sweet!! Love the tank paint too. Just curious, is the angle of the tank a "bobber thing"? Or just personal preference?

I made the huge mistake of posting the same pic on the NTB Forum. Some of those boys just don't get it. Man, I love this bike.

Mike

I just like how it fit-and to me it has an Indian Larry look to it. Bobber Style!

Thanks for posting it on NTB I found out where Jojje hangs out, plus I am getting more feedback both pos and neg which is always fun!

Dude, that bike is SHARP. Seriously. What'd you start wtih? Bonneville or America? Shes' a beaute.

--Jaeger

******.

THAT is SWEET!!!