Art & Inspiration O/T "SUHR Bicycles" prewar build

As some of you may know, I built BMX bicycles before
I got so heavily into cars. I recently had about a
week or so between finishing one project and getting
back to another. So I decided why not fool with these
old bicycles I bought a while back. After doing some
research I found that I had a pair of 1938 Colson made
frames marketed by Roamer & Trusport. My initial plan
was to restore one bike and leave one as a "barn find",
I guess you would call it.
Well..................Apparently I cant restore anything.
This is what i ended up with.
A new home made frame, lower, longer, raked, etc.
This is supposed to resemble a board track motorcycle
of the early 20's but with the lines of a "Firestone Flying Ace"
bicycle.

The tubing is all bent between 2 tree's in my yard then
welded together. Once i find some more "nicer" parts I
plan to dissassemble it and braze all the joints and file
smooth to look more period correct.

For the time being, here it is.
Thought someone might enjoy seeing it.

heres my 2 bikes i started with
Roamer

this Trusport was used for the parts to build mine


initial drawing idea created from a Flying Ace advertizement with my bicycle logo added

seeing if i can actually ride it!

converted to dimensional drawing for configuring frame jig

getting started

front half done

quick assembly

etched headtube badge (needs painted in still)

painted and ready to ride.....for now!




some other designs im working on for possibly future project or for other people


this is designed for Chuckspeed who bought a car from me last year and is looking at having me build this frame for him, it will be period postWWI



Zach

 

wow man, WOW>.. if i could afford one i would get one in a HEART BEAT!

VERY cool

 

Nice custom there, doesn't look too far from a old balloon stocker.

my only issues with the boardtrack style...is riding them around...very uncomfortable..but wouldn't it be fun to take it on a velodrome?

b

 

those are bitchin!

 

nice eye for the bikes SUHR..
do you know much about one called a "Roadmaster"
i have one, its kinda old..im thinking early 60's maybe..dont have a picture or i would put it up here.
maybe when i get in tonight i will try and remember to shoot one and find this thread

 

thanks guys
this is actually pretty confortable to ride....i was suprized!

i dont know too much about roadmasters but try posting on www.thecabe.com on the forums and im sure someone can help you

Zach

 

Cool bikes! I mess around with vintage Schwinns when I have the time.

 

SUHR,

Great work as always- love the one you're doing for Chuckspeed! Can't wait to see an update!

 

Nice!!

when does it get a motor?

 

thats fucking cool, I built something similar out of my Elgin, going to for the same race track feel with drop bars

 

thanks....
it'll get a motor as soon as i find one i can afford....
Whizzers are pricey and im not sure the cheap chineese engines look correct or have enough horsepower

 

Pretty cool, good to see some vintage leg powered action chopped up! Here's a pic of my board track:



And me on it



I just scored a racing bike on Freecycle to do a real low slung frame but it turned out to be a pro-framed Reynolds 531 and I can't bring myself to chop it up

Quick back of the ciggie packet sketch was going to look like this:

 

You are unstoppable! Nice welds too! Did you have the name plate etched, or did you do it yourself? You graphics are awesome.

 

cool jonny,
heres one i built about 4 years ago all from aluminum
it eventually got painted, pinstriped, whitewall tires and sold

this is the only picture i have of it though unfortunately as i sold it pretty quick after a bike show i entered it in


chad, i made the name plate...i cant afford outside work!
only have about $75 in the whole bike with tubing paint and buying the old bike!

 

Those are so Rad! I really enjoy seeing any of the work that you put out. Viva La SUHR!

 

I didnt know you were a framebuilder!? Nice jig, I hope to build mine soon!

 

Those are pretty bitchin Zach!

 

thanks
T-man, i bought this jig about 6 years ago i think...its pretty simple
but i think if your building one, a vertical type would be better as its hard to get in the back of the tubes to tack them
ive always wanted to just use this to tack the bike then have a vertical support type jig to do the final welding

 

I'd like to see more pics of your frame fixture.

 

here you go roothawg
this is the only other shot i have here at work



just holds all the tubes 3" off the face plate, the chainstay mount slides as does the headtube along with angling and everything can be put anywhere on the plate to do most any size frame

 

I was thinking of building a "bent" bike for commuting to work. I just can't afford a real one.

 

Cool bike Zach! Love the vintage look of them. How did you construct the badge that is going on the front? Was that done with the same technique that was described a few months back?

Anyway, really cool.

—MRAK

 

roothawg,
nothing to it, but to do it!

mrak,
pretty much the same technique
i just cheated and used vinyl instead of PNP

 

You are very talented dude, you have a good eye! From the logo to the overall bike.

I'll tell you, your knees don't feel too spiffy after riding a bike like that, but they sure do look cool.

 

Zacky is Wacky......that jig is pretty cool, I wasn't sure what to expect before I opened this post, cool stuff.

 

thanks guys!
i havent ridden it too awful far yet. i kinda live in the mountains so not alot of level area to cruise around

joe, im glad you werent dissapointed!

i think this is where its going....????....
these motors aren't great i guess....but with this bike being small it doesnt look too out of place? (this is just photoshopped obviously)

 

Awesome Bike.

 

cool bike. go with an engine & let us know how it turns out

 

I want the boardtracker!!!!!