 MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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OP
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her are some pic's of my custom bike with a girder front end    ther are a few more pic's in my member galleries the bike not only has a cool front but also home made pipes open all the way i am also running Mikuni "TM" Flat Slide 36mm carbs on it hope you guys like it ...
BIKER
Last edited by biker; 05/15/2006 3:41 PM.
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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You can't leave us hanging without giving some details.....
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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the front end was made by me and a good friend of mine i did welding he did all the machine work so it is a one of a kind i took it for a test ride to day and man it handled great very smooth and did very well in the corner's the new carbs i have on 36mm flat side also worked very well but still need more tuning to get them right i will tell you more later to night and answer any more ??? that people have
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Very cool, biker!  Now, ladies and gentlemen, here's a guy who KNOWS his Triumph history. The Coventry made Triumph Speed Twins(pre-war...before those darn Krauts bombed the factory there during "The Blitz") had girder front-ends similar to this, NOT "springers", as were on Harleys of the day. So this type of retro front end is more "correct" and in keeping with the "tradition" of this brand. Cheers, Dwight (but biker, PLEASE don't tell me you're considerin' a "sprung rear hub" next, dude?[early attempts at rear suspension on early '50s Triumphs)....those babies were notorious for quickly wearing out their bushings and causing a sloppy and wobbly rear wheel)   
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Looks nice Ed! That the same front tire you were running last year? My mountain bike has a girder front end on it too
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Niiiice! I like that a lot.
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Ed, that looks GREAT!!! When is it going into production? Maybe you could license it to Brent?
Charlie
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Looking good, Ed. On crisp, clear mornings I swear I can hear those pipes all the way down here in SC.
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Fantastic. I'd lose those turn signal pumpkins though.
Al
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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OP
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first thank for all the great comments. yes benny that is a biger front tire it's a 130/80/18 and so far i am really happy with this front end. took alot of time to make but in the end it was worth it. and it really looks great on the bike..
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Right on. I dig it. 
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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thanks greg and man don't you just love my pipe's lol
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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ss i thought about going with some small ones but the biger one's go with the look i am after..late 60's early 70's
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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COOL! In the bottom photo, did you photoshop the faces on the cam cover?
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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just wondering how does it handle?
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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It's about time you posted this stuff. I was gonna explode keeping it a secret for so long.
Looks very nice, I'll be over later to check it out.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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thanks dwight.that is one resone i went with the girder over the springer. and also when i am out on the bike i see a bunch of springer's but no girder's. as for the"sprung rear hub" your very right on that one and i will not be trying that..lol
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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OP
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Quote:
just wondering how does it handle?
i took it for a test ride about 30 miles and in "true brit form it was in the rain" lol it handle very well..it has timken bearing in the top and bottom of the neck and also timken bearing in the link's or rocker's this make's every thing very smooth and as far as i can tell in the ride i did it was just like out stock front end but i did not ride it very hard as this was my first test ride with this set up..
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Ed,
Nice, real nice. Can't wait to see her this September. I can still hear her.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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biker, I was wondering, do you know off hand, if there's much of a difference in unsprung-weight between the stock telescopic folks and those VERY COOL custom-made girders of yours? And regarding the two shocks on your girder...are they adjustable for "rebound", so you won't get any hopping of the front wheel over an irregular surface? Cheers, Dwight (BTW...I'm GLAD to hear you're not goin' the sprung-rear-hub route, dude!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Adjunct
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WOW, yikes. What measurements did you take to make the girder front end? It seems a little long. Looks like you may have a dangerous negative trail there.
You defintely have to lower the bike, it sits way too high all around with the new front end. It looks like a trail hopper, especially with those bars. Definitely lose the triple light bar. Stay with a single headlight, cleans and simplifies the front end.
You are headed in the right direction. I like the girder front end but it needs to be a lot shorter. I like the ingenuity and imagination but the direction maybe a bit skewed. I am trying to see what kind of look you are going for. Right now it looks like 3 different styles - chopper, dresser, trails bike. I think with a few more mods, I think you can get it looking really good.
Keep up the good work
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Fryguy,
Okay! I just "eyeballed" my bike sitting in the garage, and visually compared it to biker's girders...and ya know what? I'd say his girder front-end is very similar in geometry AND length as the stock telescopic forks. There appears to be little difference, if any, in the distance from the top of his tire and his bottom triple-clamp(tree) compared to the difference between my bike's.
I think that that abbreviated front fender of his makes those girders SEEM longer than they actually are, and that the ground-clearance under the engine is probably about the same as stock, too.
I'm sure biker will give the details as to his messurements, very soon.
Cheers,
Dwight
(I guess I never really noticed before how loooooong the forks are on our bikes)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
(I guess I never really noticed before how loooooong the forks are on our bikes)
That's why I have a tool bag installed on my bike all the time on the lower tree, because it really cuts down on the space between the lower tree and the fender. Every time I take the bag off to wash the bike, that space really sticks out. Well, that and I need the bag to carry a bungie cord, cell phone, leatherman, extra glasses, and a cigar or 3. 
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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I have seen his bike in person (pre-girder) and it looks so tall because of the pipes. Seems silly, but the pipes are narrower, and expose air space in front of the rear tire/under the swingarm. Gives the illusion of riding higher.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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OP
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thanks fryguy but i took a pic to show you the diffrence.. and trust me every thing on this girder was and is done right.. Quote:
WOW, yikes. What measurements did you take to make the girder front end? It seems a little long. Looks like you may have a dangerous negative trail there.
here is a pic of the girder with a stock fork staped to it  as you can there is not very much diff in length the stock triumph fork is 34 and3/8 from axle center to top of fork the girder is 34 3/4
so the diff is 3/8 of a inch and my trail is just fine as long as it is between 4 inch's and 6.5 inch's "and it is" so it's just fine.. Quote:
Definitely lose the triple light bar. Stay with a single headlight, cleans and simplifies the front end.
i love the look of the light bar.. and with the light bar with 3 light i find i am seen easer in the day time.. and i live in big time deer county so the added light at night is a great thing to have.. i hope this help show you some better light on this girder..
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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DWIGHT well i know they feel about the same in weight.. but the next time i have them off i will put them each on the scale and do the math and see what i come up with.. so far i find it to be very smooth and very easy to handle on the road.and yes the shocks are adjustable and so far no hop on any surface..
BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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What kind of shocks are they? Looks like stock rear shocks from here...
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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biker,
One more question....
Have you noticed any less front brake dive with your girders. My guess, that with forces being exerted more parallel to the road, that you might sense less dive. Have you found that to be the case?
You know, BWMs new take on this old design, which they use on their latest K-bikes, supposedly dive less than conventional forks do, and so I was wondering about this.
Cheers,
Dwight
(once again....great job, man)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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OP
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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yes i have.over all i find this girder to be well handleing also
biker
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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i dig it! how heavy is it?
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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I am looking at the picture comparing the stock front end to the girder. I am hoping you compensated for the weight of the bike on the stock telescopic front end. To me, the girder front end should be shorter than a telescopic front end. Telescopics traditionally have a lot more travel and hence need more room for travel. A girders strength is generated from its length relative to the thickness of the girder. Looks like you used 1 inch steel for the girder legs which should be thick enough. But we know the springs don't have as much give as the telescopic front end.
I like girder front ends, I really do. I like your imagination. I give you props. Heck 99% of the people here would never do it. For me, I ride too fast and hard for springers or girders.
Keep me updated with test rides as you take longer and longer trips. Keep up the good work
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
......I like your imagination. I give you props. Heck 99% of the people here would never do it. For me, I ride too fast and hard for springers or girders.
Keep me updated with test rides as you take longer and longer trips. Keep up the good work
Fryguy
I agree, that takes some balls to complete that kind of mod on a new bike.
Paul: sent you a PM with those bike links, the return was kind of strange, just making sure you rec'd the info? Never heard back from the dude with the '68.
Al
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Al, didn't receive a PM. I don't know if my box is full. Send me an email - Pfryguy19@netzero.netPaul
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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thanks JOKER but i did not weight it..the next time i have it all a part i will weight it.and also weight the stock front end.. and compare..
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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hi FRYGUY.. Quote:
I am hoping you compensated for the weight of the bike on the stock telescopic front end.
well we just got a pair of shock's made for a bike of 500LBS and started there.they are 11 inch long with 5 different settings for spring load..and are nitrogen charged
to help dampening. yes they are a cheaper pair but if this set up works out well i will get a better pair.. Quote:
Looks like you used 1 inch steel for the girder legs
the legs are made out of 1/2 by 5/8 thick steel and the gusset's are made out of 3/8 thick steel 1 inch would be way to heavy.. Quote:
To me, the girder front end should be shorter than a telescopic front end. Telescopics traditionally have a lot more travel and hence need more room for travel.
travel is based on the lenght of the spring's used and then what ever is used to hold the spring in place..yes you are right that telescopic front end have more travel..but any one who has put that Progressive Suspension Fork Springs Lowering Kit on there bike has just about the same travel i do with my girder front end.. Quote:
But we know the springs don't have as much give as the telescopic front end.
thats all that in the fork tubes is just long spring and fork oil..
i very glad that you like it it took much longer to make then i wanted it too and also cost much more then i thought it would the man that did most of the work on this front end did a great job his name is tom robinson he is also the man who showed me all about triump's he use to race them and was also a triumph dealer hear..back in the late 60's early 70's..he has build many custom bike's over the years and know what he is doing..and also is a good friend that would not let me put anything on my bike that was not safe.
and with all the time it took to get this front end done we really did not get to finish the bike the way i wanted to it now time to ride and finish it when the snow fly's
thanks you for your comment's i hope to see you at the noreast meet and you can look at this bike close up..
thanks BIKER
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Biker, I sent you a Private Message, check it out.
Mikemm03
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Re: MY CUSTOM/GIRDER FRONT END
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