Prelude to the Valk bobber project bike

[Momz]

A bobber is a custom motorcycle that usually may had the front fender removed, the rear fender "bobbed" or made smaller, and all superfluous parts removed to make it lighter.

The bobber was the earliest simple and stripped down custom motorcycle hand-built by individuals with mechanical skills, and was often part of the early biker clubs scene before there were any such things as choppers. This style of custom motorcycle, which took shape in the 1940s and 50s, is generally thought to have been started by returning WW II American servicemen working on ex-military motorcycles, and inspired by lighter European motorcycles they had seen and ridden.

The principal difference between a bobber and chopper is that bobbers are typically built around unmodified frames. Chopper frames are often cut and welded into shape. Bobbers also often lack most of the chopper's aesthetic characteristics such as chromed parts and elongated forks. Thus, bobbers are fairly easy to create from stock motorcycles and are generally hand built.

Pictures of my completed bobber will be posted by the end of the week.
As I said before, we need to keep our Valks running. There are people parting out bikes that can or should be saved. And the VRCC vendors/members can be the biggest source of parts and experience in the entire world.

I propose that if someone has a wrecked or neglected Valk,....please let our members know before making rash decisions.

[Momz]

OK,....I f*cked up today.  

I walked into the garage today a smelled gasoline. I found a small puddle on the top of the motor; I thought I had turned off the "Pingell" petcock, but I did not. So being curious I unbolted the tank and tilted it so that I could inspect the tightness of the hose clamps, and as soon as the clamp from the petcock came loose the tank started to teeter and by the time I could react, it fell to the floor. The damage was pretty severe, and I'm absolutley sick to my stomach.  

The hose clamps did not seem to be tight enough. but I really screwed up because I did not have my reading glasses on when I installed the petcock, so I really never turned off the petcock. But this is definiately a lesson learned and may be a disaster averted (don't want to catch fire while riding).  

My wife says to just put the tank back on and ride it like that (suggested that it adds character). And I may do that for a while untill I'm comfortable that everthing and all systems are OK. After all I did tear this bike down to inspect, repair, make parts, desmog, build an exhaust, repair/rejet the carbs, rebuild the master cylinders, paint the frame, and much much more.    

[Jabba]

Man Momz... it's ALWAYS something.

Glad you caught it before it created a catastrophe.  What happened sucks though.

Hang in there.  I am looking forward to pics.

Jabba

[JDW365]

George that sounds exactly like something I would do! I always seem to mess up more than I fix. Can't wait to see the pictures. Missed seeing you at InZane.

JDW