Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Bronze Age

I dropped off my rear fender and tank for powdercoating today. I've been waffling between flat black, gloss black and red metalflake. When I got there, I was checking out all the color sample swatches and samples of finished parts. I ended up settling on a color called Warm Bronze.

It's a semi-flat color, with a texture similar to 600 grit sandpaper. The way the sunlight hits it, it sort of has a metalflake look to it, but indoors (or at night) it looks much flatter. I can't explain why, but the color just popped for me and I can't say I've ever seen a bike painted this color before. I think it will look great with the chrome dash, badges and satin black chassis parts.

The big question in my mind is how the red metalflake seat will look on the bike? I guess I'll know pretty soon.

OH! I wanna see that!! Definitely post some pics when you get it done. Hoping it shows as you describe in the photos.

Little confused though about the texture thing.... you mean it LOOKS like 600 paper or actually FEELS that way? I can't imagine it would have anything other that a perfectly smooth finish to it after the melting/baking thing. Reminds me of the textured finishs on appliances to cut down on fingerprints and generally looking dirty... how cool would that be?

Glazer,

It both looks and feels like 600 wet-dry sandpaper. It must have something to do with the particulites in the pigment. There were all kinds of finishes with various textures. One in particular is used on pick-up truck running boards for added foot traction. It really popped with a sparkling finish. The hammered finishes are cool too, but I've seen that used before.

I think this Bronze color will look great with some red & white pinstripping.

PICS!!!

I just picked up the tank and fender from the powdercoater today. I was told by the shop that customers were complementing them all day. I've got an extremely busy couple of weeks ahead of me with taxes due, the Woodward Dream Cruise and I'm selling my racecar. But I do have my priorities, so I'll do my best to get this beast pieced together and photographed ASAP.

I still have some details to work out. Keen eyes will notice the lack of a clutch cable. I still have to lengthen the switchgear wires and it's easier for me to work on the clutch side with the lever housing off. I still have to figure-out what I'm going to do for a tail light. Either side mount or a fender-mounted Sparto. I left the stock seat locking pin in-place as I like the idea of being able to switch between a solo and dual seat. It's a bit overcast today so the sparkles in the paint don't show so well.

I need your opinion guys & gals. Exhaust: Left it as is, chromed. Wrap the heatshield-less head pipes in black wrap with chrome mufflers or go all black with wrapped pipes and painted mufflers? Tank: Leave as is or add knee pads.

Mike

I like the idea of black pipes and black wrap. Knee pads for sure.
Looks nice mike, keep at it.

Two words: Internal Bar Wiring!

Looks pretty cool man, can't wait to see some sparkle. I think you'll get a TON of opinions on the pipes, but I think they looks good against the black engine now! Tank pads.... Hmmm tough one. Maybe you can have someone hold a set up to the tank so you can see? As for the tail light.. Side mount might look cool with that bobbed fender

By the way, you got anymore standard bonnie sprocket covers laying around?

Great Lookin' bike! As for the knee pads-they are a must-wrap the head pipe and leave the muffs chrome-clutch cable? We don't need no stinkin' clutch cable! Foot clutch! Jockey shift![thats what I will do to mine sooner or later] an internal throttle is not hard to do, based on my exp only use an Exile product. Internal wiring is a clean look and not hard just time consuming, Tail light-fender mount sparto is always cool.

Sweeeet! Looks great Mike, ya got me thinking now.... I never really checked into powdercoating too much and never thought of it any other way than the ultra smooth baked on shiny stuff. I was thinking of painting my bike flat black and do a somewhat shinier snakeskin pattern on it but definitely going to look into some of the powdercoat options now.
As far as your exhaust.... two thoughts come to mind. Black out the mufflers but wrap the headers. Use the white wrap and they have a dye/paint for the wrapping that I hear is about as permanent as you can get and do that in red. Other thought would be to black out the entire exhaust, headers and mufflers but add some chrome accents to them like small bolt on heat shields. Maybe drill the heat shields with a series of holes.... something like that anyway.

OOH OOH....Edit, Edit, scratch the red on the exhaust wrap. How about COPPER instead and here's some heat shields as well.

That looks GREAT!

How did you attach the sprung seat? Any welding required?

A hinge plate attaches to the tank bolt. The springs attach to a fabricated plate that bolts to the frame using the two rear fender bolts. Under the seat is a sliding mounting arm so you can fine-tune the position. Those are 2" spings, however taller ones can be used too. I can't weld, and I'm always trying new ideas, so I look for bolt-on solutions whenever possible.

Mike

Wow, you did good man. Wrap the pipes, keep the muffs chrome. I like the tank as it is.

Those who know me know I live for external affirmation. So I'm particularly proud to report that at my eBobber's first competitive showing, it took 1st Place in Open Class (non V-twin). The bike show was at Boomer's in Waterford, MI. There were over 100 bikes in the show, maybe 2 dozen non V-twins. I received a very nice beer mug trophy and some additional swag.

Too-small T-shirt: $10. Embroidered ball cap: $17.50. Props from a bar full of drunken Harley-riding bikers: Priceless.

And well deserved recognition no matter what the cost...BTW Englishman @ The Horse e-mailed, they want an article on my bobber. I hope this will inspire more people to use the T1oo,BA,SA etc. as a platform for future projects. Congrats on the Win! Until then-Later!

Hey where did you get the bolt on sprung seat? Love that look, tough and smooth.

Sebastian

Seabass,

That's a Le Pera solo seat done in red metalflake bar stool material. There's a matching pillion pad as well. They've got 6 or 7 different colors available and solid black of course. I used 2" barrel springs. I fabbed a front hinge that attaches to the tank's bolt and the rear has a plate that bolts to the frame using the rear fender's bolts. If there is an interest in these, I can look into producing a kit.

I think the red metalflake upholstery would look great in your Lola.

Mike, Nice job! Knee pads for sure. Too bad you can't get the knee pads in red though. Powder coating. hum. Why wrap the headers? Powder coat them.

Moe,

I plan on cutting off the heat shields from the head pipes. That would expose some not-so-pleasant to look at welds and seams. The high temp wrap would conceal them and give the bike that Hotrod look I'm going after.

Since the last photos, I've added a 4" lollypop mirror on the left side, hung -under- the control housing. Next up is adding some super mini turn indicators (cops are anal about having them). I plan to drop the forks about 15mm... just enough to add these teardrop-shaped 41mm fork tube indicator mounts I've got. The rears will replace the rear-most fender strut bolts. Satin black of course.

SSAAWWWEEEEEEEEEET

cool seat, is that a justified defiance seat?

Really love your bobber. I'm at the beginning of a similar project. Priority items are:
*swap out the 'orrible front wheel for a spoked wheel (America, T'bird or T'bird Sport - if anyone has one lying around let me know);
*source a mini speedo to fit in the tank (who needs a tacho); and
*get me a sprung saddle.

So I notice you have a nice sprung saddle. Any chance of you making aup a "kit" I could purchase? It doesn't have to be the same colour as yours - I would like a more restrained brown leather, I think.

Whitewalls might look nice.

Cheers,

Chris

I have a slightly dented spoked wheel....

Hey Benny,

Not to be ungrateful, but I want to hold out for an undented wheel until I run out of options. Thanks though,

Chris

No sweat, just wanted to let you know.... I ended up getting an entirely new one anyway, because the dent is so small, just fiddling with the spokes can't fix it. Maybe a wheel show could straighten it, or if nothing els,e the hub is good. But, if you want dual discs, a Tbird sport rim is probably the way to go anyway. Just wanted to let you know. Where are you located anyway?

I'm a few hundred miles north of you in Ottawa, Canada. I passed thru NY on my way to pick the bike up in south Penna.

If you don't mind me asking- how much did you pay for a new wheel? I suppose that's always an option.

Chris

My wheel is actually a Thunderbird wheel I got off Mick Maguire on Triumphrat.net... Paid a couple hundred for it, used, WAY better condition than my old one, and it has a tire on it, Avon no less... I think I really lucked out!! The dealer quoted me like 6 bills for a new wheel, and almost 400 for JUST the rim! I guess that's an option if you know how to lace a spoked rim, find one and find a hub...

Well, I have a Thunderbird. I wonder if I could just swap the wheels between the bikes? I guess I would have to swap rotors too, as the T'bird is 320mm while the S'master is 310 IIRC. I had read in one of these forums that the T'bird, T'bird Sport and America and S'master wheels are interchangable, but when I contacted Triumphant in the UK about used wheels, they said the spindle (axle?) is different between the T'bird and America/Speedmaster. Are you saying its a straignt swap?

And if you think this is beating a dead horse, wait till I start looking for info on installing a mini speedo where the tach is!!

Cheers,

Chris

Well I used my America axle... But yeah, straight swap. I went back and forth via E-mail with Mick many times before deciding to buy it. He measured it, took pics, etc. The hubs are identical. Swapping a rotor is a PAIN! I'd look into a second wheel, but you could use it to check fit first!

I like the bike a ton. Any thoughts about other style of bars?
I'm not a big ape hanger kind of guy, but would like to do something other than stock, maybe beach bars? Has anyone ever done that? Any other thoughts?

Tiki,

Excuse the delay in responding... haven't been around lately. As for bars, I wanted apehangers because I was going for a particular look. I've got to admit that I feel like a ****** idiot riding around with them, but the overwhelming positive feedback I've gotten has me thinking I'll keep them on. I built this bike to sell, and as soon as I'm done experimenting with some new parts, I will sell it.

I'm not a fan of beach bars. I find them difficult to use in slow speed situations such as parking lots. I did run the bike a short time with my Western bars and those worked out great. Really, to each their own. There isn't any -wrong- bars to use.

Any further thoughts regarding the sprung seat kit for our bikes. The more i think about it the more i like the idea.

I would be interested in the brackets and springs so I could have a custom solo seat made.

Nuthin,

It's fairly low on my priority list. Sorry. Maybe next Spring (no pun intended).

Nice ride! How about wrapped header pipes and black chrome pipes? Ride safe.

The roll of header pipe wrap is sitting on my workbench. The bike however is in cold storage until next Spring.