Building a bike from frame

[Mudskipper]

I've decided I want to do a long term (2-3+ years) project and build a hybrid, unique bike, on a budget, starting from a frame & V5 upwards.

I can't afford the outlay for a project bike or rolling chassis, so decided it would be much more rewarding and challenging to start with a frame and buy parts bit by bit as the bargains turn up, like no-bid collection only bits off ebay, salvage yards/autojumbles etc. Modifying and possibly even making bits as needed.

I also don't have a garage/shed or similar covered space to store/work in.

So, I'm trying to do a bit of a project plan and hoping the good people on BCF will help me out with a few initial ideas and suggestions.

Firstly, I've not entirely nailed down what I want from this bike yet. Rally/show bike? On/off roader? Touring bike?

I do know that I want it to be a hybrid, so in choosing a frame I'm looking for something that is fairly compatible with a decent range of common bikes to give me plenty of choice. I guess I'm looking for a reasonably light frame because of my height/build.

Don't think anything 2T would fit what I'm wanting, nor overly complicated/odd engine setups.

Anyone done anything similar before? What route did you go down, anything you'd recommend? Things you'd do differently/avoid? Problems encountered?

I'm wanting to keep costs to a minimum but do things properly and hopefully end up with a nice looking bike that is uniquely mine, not a seller.

I'm just throwing thoughts and ideas around my own head right now, so any input would be gratefully received.

Possible parameters at the moment:

Fairly light
Not too tall
Probably 500cc+
Accessible to work on (no spark plugs/oil filters hidden behind the frame, weird swingarm setups etc)
Decent handling
Availablity of consumables

I've avoided specifying things like good mpg, reliable etc, cause that's wanting the moon on a stick, and tbh they won't be that important for this!

What yas reckon?
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Itchy]

I'd probably say get something which has a basic box section frame sort of like a Hornet in that there is plenty of space under the frame to hang whatever engine you like in it, while sports bike twin spar frames and trelis frames based around the same designs but done with tubes have the same problem.

I think a bandit frame is a good candidate as although its got a frame all the way around the engine the old GSX lump that occupies the middle of it is pretty huge and thus will probably (maybe) fit anything you should choose to put into the frame.


Also I wouldn't buy just a frame the frame might be cheap , but there are 100s if not 1000s of little washers bits of rubber here and there that cost 50p ~ £ 1 each , and bump the costs up considerably. This is when even though I think about doing it I end up buying complete bikes to save on costs.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[neatbik]

Ive thought about doing something like this, im busy cracking on with my cg bobber project at the mo so it'll be a fair while i reckon.

Im thinking about building a frame myself, that way i can design it so everything fits.
Obviously thats a lot of work though.

[Itchy]

Oh and btw join 100% biker forum there usually averages about 2 frames given away a month for the 7 months I've been on that forum.

Oh the Fazer 1000 frame looks promising too.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[NSR Mick]

Choosing any Yamaha FZ/FZR/thunderace 750 / 1000 frame instantly gives you the choice of all the engines that share the same or very similar cases as they all pretty much bolt in.

That lets you use anything from an FZ750 right through to a Thunderace with very little or no modification.
____________________
If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Kal]

Army tent in the garden as a workshop. Planning permision is not required for temporary structures.

Trying to do any sort of long term work without a covered workspace just means you will spend twice as long on it cleaning away your tools every time a rain cloud goes over.

Having a garage has made all the difference in the world to me.*





* It now dosn't matter when I am a lazy fuck and do anything for ages
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Barry_M2]

As mentioned above, go for something like FZR/FZ, or even CBR6. Parts are plenty available and cheap.

I gave away a ZXR750 chassis a couple of years ago. Just charged the guy a fiver for delivery.


____________________
ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4332

[MarJay]

Mudskipper.

At the weekend I am buying a 350 powervalve that I am going to strip for spares. I would be happy to sell you a frame and engine, maybe a tank and stuff as well. I don't think I'd want a lot of money for it and I think I may need the space once it is stripped. The bike doesn't run and had a top end seizure, but the rest of it is OK.

It won't be ready immediately as I need to strip it and decide what parts I want and what parts I don't want, but apparently I'm getting a spare bottom end with it as well as a few other odds and sods.

If you're interested then let me know. A 350 powervalve is a good reliable two stroke. Comfy with a good range and a fun power delivery. The main advantage that I can see however is that it is total childs play to work on. The engine has easy access and can be almost entirely rebuilt without removing it from the frame. Removing it from the frame is supposed to be about an hours work anyway.

Hybrid RD350's are quite a popular build and so there is loads of info out there on how to bodge on different forks, swingarm, wheels etc (which are mainly the bits I need - but I also need the seat, bodywork and tank.) There are loads of spares available on ebay etc, so replacement barrels and heads should be available.

As I said, PM Me if you're interested.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[b-f-c]

Got most of a Z400/4 if you're interested - all engine, electrics etc and most of the running gear

[Mudskipper]

Thanks for all the input

Marjay, fjrat - both very good (and EXTREMELY tempting) offers but I need to be realistic in my budget. I don't even have 100 quid spare at the moment. Plus I should really limit my collection distance.

But definite food for thought.

Kal, great suggestion. As soon as my landlords clear the fridge, sofa, bed, bits of garage, two wheelbarrows full of solid concrete and various other shite (none of which is mine) from my garden, I may just do that.

Itchy, you make a good point about the little bits n bobs that all add up, I might need to save up and at least get a rolling chassis.

I shall continue to plot and plan... Thanks again all
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Fireblade 900 frame?

Or a Harris Magnum frame.
____________________
My Flickr

[Mudskipper]

[Blau Zedong]

Sound a right load of fannying about TBH.

Although that's coming from someone who had a hissy fit earlier because the GSXR needed it's seat lock and cable lubricating
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Mudskipper]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Ichy]

If I was going cheap I'd probably start with a early '80s GS. Very basic frame layout making it suitable for loads of engines, millions of spares, and stupidly cheap even as a complete running bikes. Guess I'm biased but I think the same could be said for the old GSXF except the frame is hard to modify and it weighs a ton. Still, I've brought two running engines with starter, alternator etc for less than a tenner.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[wizzzard]

A great idea and one that would be very interesting to follow if it graced the hallowed pages of show and tell.

I have no advice to offer on the subject sadly, but if you manage to find a frame and need some transport i can always make sure the vans available for the day.
____________________
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[hmmmnz]

i would go with any old oil cooled suzuki frame either the gs or gsxr series bikes, gs if you want a nice simple easy to mod steel frame or gsxr if you want a lighter alloy frame
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Kal]

[stevo as b4]

It still might be worth looking into how much frame kits are for popular special's that have readily available access to compatible parts from a number of suitable bikes.

I'd personally budget allowing rarther start with a specific but basic frame kit that use's alot of parts from a suitable doner bike usually all from one manufactuer. This would allow you to just buy little bits at a time, and what you would save in time and searching for suitable or compatible parts would be time you could spend working on it. The cost of having stuff engineered, machined and welded to make suitable parts and to get random stuff to fit is probably just as much overall or more than getting a frame kit where all the hard work has been done, and all you need is a suitable donor bike/parts, assembly, paintjob, and finishing touches to complete.

Being realistic this is the only way id ever get such a project finished, as id just run out of time, money or patience with a full one off totally custom build, and i don't have the skills or resources to take one such a job really.

Things like a Rickman, Harris, Norman Hyde frame kit would appeal to me, as you could buy the most basic frame kit and slowly build up a bike, knowing what parts from which bikes you need to find, and knowing that things will fit or otherwise just need slight modifications and no major hassle or expense. It would be very similar to building up a kit car i would imagine, but bike parts are easier to work with and take less work to recondition than say a car engine and transmission etc.

The idea of buying something like an FZ600 frame and trying to get an XJR1300 engine fitted into it sounds like fun, but if i did ever manage something like that, the end result would almost definately be not particulary good to ride, un-reliable, and just a bastardized load of crap, compared to a bike that is properly designed and built to work well and be actually decent to ride at the end.

[Kickstart]

[NSR Mick]

[Kickstart]

[Mudskipper]

[NSR Mick]