Made a rat rod bike.
#1
Made a rat rod bike.
Started out as a stock Shwin womens frame. Living in Indiana you have atleast 2 junk biles behind your 4 barns. So I had plenty of scrap bike for parts and pieces.
I had another set of forks from a Schwinn of similar styling. so I cut off and spliced a section into the fork to lengthen it. You must lengthen the fork when you pitch it because you cant really go any lower on a bike, or the pedals will hit the ground. By lengthening the bike it makes it appear lower. I wanted strength so I simply slid the fork into the other one and did a weld around. Its pretty damn strong.
Next I went to pitch it. I cut the two top bars first, and cuts out a small section. I then cut a V slit out of the bottom bar, so I could bend it back to the two top bars to get the desired pitch. Once I got it where I wanted, and took it all apart, cleaned it and fit it. Then tacked it in place. I made the cut for the bottom bar far back because I didn't want to risk warping the bearing housing.
Now im going to move the seat back further on the frame. I will do this by chopping out the original seat post, and welding in a curved piece of tube from and old BMX fork. Then I will be able to sit back further, and lower (pretty much on the tire.)
Moved the seat post back, and bent a piece of ree bar for the top piece.
And painted and put together. She rides like a champ on the comfort scale, Little hard to get used to the new caster angle. Also need some new tubes, and a chain.
Only thing left to do is get a set of chopper handle bars. Gonna hit up some garage sales this week see if I cant find some with some tassles!
I had another set of forks from a Schwinn of similar styling. so I cut off and spliced a section into the fork to lengthen it. You must lengthen the fork when you pitch it because you cant really go any lower on a bike, or the pedals will hit the ground. By lengthening the bike it makes it appear lower. I wanted strength so I simply slid the fork into the other one and did a weld around. Its pretty damn strong.
Next I went to pitch it. I cut the two top bars first, and cuts out a small section. I then cut a V slit out of the bottom bar, so I could bend it back to the two top bars to get the desired pitch. Once I got it where I wanted, and took it all apart, cleaned it and fit it. Then tacked it in place. I made the cut for the bottom bar far back because I didn't want to risk warping the bearing housing.
Now im going to move the seat back further on the frame. I will do this by chopping out the original seat post, and welding in a curved piece of tube from and old BMX fork. Then I will be able to sit back further, and lower (pretty much on the tire.)
Moved the seat post back, and bent a piece of ree bar for the top piece.
And painted and put together. She rides like a champ on the comfort scale, Little hard to get used to the new caster angle. Also need some new tubes, and a chain.
Only thing left to do is get a set of chopper handle bars. Gonna hit up some garage sales this week see if I cant find some with some tassles!
#3
Re: Made a rat rod bike.
#4
Re: Made a rat rod bike.
That's a pretty zanie looking bike. Are you like twelve feet tall or do you have to bend over alot to ride it? It just seem with the banana seat and the on a larger frame like that you'd be sitting back. Not to metion my wrist hurt just looking at bars and the seating position. But hey, if it works for you then that's all that matters. Props for fab work. It needs a metallic paint job like the old Schwinns used to have and some fatter tires.
#6
Re: Made a rat rod bike.
Originally Posted by stillnoturbo
That's a pretty zanie looking bike. Are you like twelve feet tall or do you have to bend over alot to ride it? It just seem with the banana seat and the on a larger frame like that you'd be sitting back. Not to metion my wrist hurt just looking at bars and the seating position. But hey, if it works for you then that's all that matters. Props for fab work. It needs a metallic paint job like the old Schwinns used to have and some fatter tires.
I painted it flat black because I didnt feel like doing any filler work or grinding 30 year old paint off. My welds are good so I left them be and flat blacked the bitch.
#7
Re: Made a rat rod bike.
just a quick question what do you ise to do your flat black. is that rattle can or sprayed from a gun. i always use the flat black from a duplicolor rattle can and every six months or so it is back to looking all faded and ugly
#8
Re: Made a rat rod bike.
Originally Posted by txdohczc
just a quick question what do you ise to do your flat black. is that rattle can or sprayed from a gun. i always use the flat black from a duplicolor rattle can and every six months or so it is back to looking all faded and ugly
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