Can a weld ever be beautiful?

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Recently I've been looking at new bicycle frames. The modern aluminium ones have exposed welds instead of the brazing and lugs on old Reynolds 531 frames. I've also read about the beautiful welds on the new Norton V4 SS and other motorcycles, but to me even the most consistent weld looks a bit ugly. Can a weld ever be truly beautiful?

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I think so.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/fe/09/b6fe098016cc998c9e2db7ba7816b4bb.jpg
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Kal]

As an aside if after all these years you dont look like Kenny Everett I am going to be massively disappointed

https://canyouactually.com/wp-content/uploads/4220.jpg

This is so beautiful I want to have a deeply committed relationship with it.
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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

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[V2]

[Shaft]

Many years ago, I used to sell dropside and tipper body trucks - we would supply chassis cabs to a company called Sparshatts, who would add on the hand TIG welded ally bodies.

Sadly, I can't find any pictures, but they were, if anything, better than the robot welded stuff of today and an absolute joy to behold.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[CaNsA]

https://i.imgur.com/jijVCdll.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TS7c9cQl.jpg

[Pete.]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I've seen structural welds that are invisible after dressing, I'm fairly sure that's not what you're after though.
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[ThatDippyTwat]

Yes, you can make pretty welds that work. Not usually in a production environment, you're going too fast, and welds that are functional are what matter. When you get into pipe welding in power stations, pretty usually follows functional, those welds get x-ray'd to pieces for obvious reasons. If it's a good weld, it's usually aesthetically pleasing with a regular, repeating pattern, or "stacked dimes" as the yanks have called it.

Source:- Me, I'm a qualified and former coded welder.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[kgm]

https://images.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/15-repsol-honda-1.jpg


RC213 exhaust.

[Pjay]

Machines weld the best.

https://img.ifcdn.com/images/bade490646efa5fd1f7234d1dc828e52b92ad03f735dbc036c70382fc3e87b08_1.jpg

[stevo as b4]

Does a weld ever need to be beautiful though for a bike to sell?
Or have I massively missed the point?

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Teflon-Mike]

[TheInternet]

[Kal]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Well, looking at the posted examples I have to agree that welds can be beautiful! What I was thinking was, when I'm invited to appreciate the beauty of an expensive product I wonder why they didn't put a fairing over the join or smooth the weld since they are never as beautiful as the examples here.

I've just realised that the weld on the Norton was under the cowling. Here's a weld on a pricey Raleigh bicycle and whilst it might be well-executed and structurally sound my eye would be drawn to it like a scar. I'm not so fussy that it would put me off, mind.

[ThatDippyTwat]

If it's structurally sound, I couldn't give a fuck what it looks like - as long as I didn't weld it.

If I'm welding a frame, swingarm etc, I'm way too picky, but I know they'll be on show, and I'll know if I goof it. Anyone else remember the trend with 'fighters in the mid/late 90's to have flush/invisible welds on box frames?
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Kickstart]

[Pete.]

Why does a weld need to be 'beautiful'. It's not usually a first consideration.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[ThatDippyTwat]

[lilredmachine]

Beautiful tigging is not difficult to come across.

Purchase a cheapy dan-moto can and you will see some of the most wonderful tig-welding you have seen.

Had my first go at it the other night, came out quite well.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[Kickstart]