Progress on my 67 Triumph LSR bike "WFO"

Today I hit the shop and started doing some frame modifications while I am waiting on my engine parts, oil tank, wheels, and front end. Our personal shop area is getting pretty crowded now with Tyler's projects and mine! I started with a stock unmolested 67 Triumph T120 front frame loop.
I then proceeded to lop off all the excess tabs and mounts. I know someone out there is dying reading this right now!
And the finished loop. I may modify the neck more but not until I have the front forks mounted up. It will go off to sandblasting too, I have stripped enough frames by hand, messy and not fun!
Here is the frame with the David Bird hardtail bolted up. 4" stretch, 2.5" drop. It should give just the right stance and height for the bike.
And for giggles I mounted up one of our Lowbrow Customs Alien tanks and a 7Metal West fender to get an idea of what the finished product will look like. I'll post more updates later this week! Cheers Kyle

Working on my '55 Triumph LSR frame

Got out in the shop a couple hours yesterday evening and finished cutting and welding up all the stock lugs and such I wasn't using. I actually like the cast lugs and on my street bike leave much of it, but on this bike if it isn't being used I cut it off to keep it nice and smooth and drop the little bit of weight.

Some of the welding was a bitch around the neck, I guess there is brazing all up inside of there as I was welding it up it liked to sputter and pop up onto my tungsten. I still have to finish sand some of this stuff, do a little filing, but I think I am going to prime the frame first to keep it from rusting and to see it a bit better

Tyler

Triumph LSR Bike Gets A Beefy New Fork Stop

Cut off the fork stop tab I had welded up before that was only about 1/8" steel, and made a new one out of 1/4". To see the set up I came up with to mate different forks / frame, check out the Custom Motorcycle Fork Stops article I did on it in the Lowbrow Customs DIY Tech Tips section.

This will limit fork travel quite a bit, and in tandem with the hydraulic steering damper I am going to use should stop me from getting any tank slappers and balling up.

My TIG welding is getting better, and that makes me happy.

Tyler

A thing of beauty... Lucas K2FC Magneto

My Lucas K2FC competition magneto, freshly rebuilt and working perfectly. This magneto was a step up from the standard Lucas K2F magneto fitted to Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons. The competition magneto was an upgrade for racing, and apparently is more precise and delivers a hotter spark. These magnetos are great, way to go Lucas, you did something really well!

Yes UPS ships motors!

Today I packaged up and shipped out my cases and covers to Wes over at Four Aces Cycles for some machine work. I also ordered in my megacycle cams and valve springs. I am pretty stoked about this project. Looking forward to doing some frame work this weekend!

We'll just call this project WFO.....

1967 Triumph Bonneville T-120

I have alot of work ahead of me, but the cases are spilt and the engine is fully torn down and the frame is ready to receive a bit of attention. Wes, got some machine work coming your way. I am going home to eat some dinner now and hit the hay. G'nite!

English 102 Triumph Tune & Service DVD

The follow up to English 101 is being edited now! It should be available shortly so stay tuned. This DVD goes in depth on wiring and all sorts of electrical set ups on your Triumph, as well as rebuilding your front end, carburetor info and more..

Special '79 Triumph in Progress

Jay Roche over at Special '79 is building a Triumph that is being covered in Iron Horse Magazine. Jay makes really cool stuff, and has great fabrication videos on his site as well. If you haven't seen Special '79 yet check it out.

A little inspiration ...

For Salt Flat nuts

For sale....anyone interested?

I'm putting my 1954 Oldsmobile Supper 88 up for sale, I love this car but time to make more room in the garage. Check it out here!

Mike D.'s dream bike.....

I snapped this photo at the V Twin expo....I think you can tell that Mike D. is all about this bike.

Good Stuff.

Took another test ride today!

Well I have been fighting a cold off all week, but felt decent enough to take my bike for a spin today and I think it is all tuned in and ready to ride for the summer!
While I was working on it this week I shot a new DIY tech article on wrapping your headers, not difficult to do but functional and cool looking. Check it out here!

Vintage Triumphs and Sunshine

I was out in SoCal last month staying with Wes from Four Aces and working on a new project. Got to meet some amazing people and see some really cool stuff as well. Here we are hanging with Fritz and his son at their place in Fallbrook. Fritz has been racing on the Salt for 40 years, he and his wife rule.

new Trumpet Brass Exhaust Tips from Lowbrow Customs

I am really stoked on the way these turned out so I figured I would throw a photo up here on the blog. We did up these brass Trumpet exhaust tips that will fit any 1-3/4" exhaust pipes like HD, Sportster, and many aftermarket Triumph and BSA exhausts.

Stainless hardware for mounting is included, you can see a how to on mounting here in our DIY Tech Tips section. We are planning on doing some of these to fit 1-1/2" exhaust next, such as stock Triumph, BSA, xs650 etc.

Sunny Day the Boss will play....

So most days if you can't get us by phone it's because we're just a two man shop more or less and the phone is always ringing....this afternoon if it went to voice mail it may have been because I was leaving after a 6 hr day since I have the flu and Tyler was sneaking out the back garage on his dirtbike! And yes....I am jealous!

American Motordrome at Barber Vintage Festival 2009

Tyler and I filmed some of the American Motor Drome Company's performances at the 2009 Barber Vintage Festival, a great show by the way! Tyler finally downloaded some of the cool pics and video off the camera and he edited up this video. Gives you a taste of the experience, but if you ever get a chance to see it in person!

Some serious shop time today

After a morning of work and shipping orders out Tyler and I spent some time working on our projects. The rain today gave us a good reason to spend a little time in the shop, after the last week of very spring-ish weather we are pumped up for summer! Tyler set up his engine reassembly "clean area"....I am not allowed to touch this space evidently. I guess I have a habit of making a mess wherever I work and stealing tools. Slightly anal retentive but a good clean well lit place to rebuild an engine is a very good thing.
Tyler took the old springer off his BSA and starting to revamp and get this ready to ride.
I put some new shocks on my bike, welded the holes up from removing the passenger peg supports and did some frame painting. Re-jetted my carbs and did a bunch of general maintenance. Come on sunny day!
Starting to look like what is in my head finally. Those MAS Engineering number plates look bad ass too. Thanks again to BellaCorse.

Triumph gearbox cases back from the tumbler..

Sent my cases out to Wes at Four Aces Cycle to get tumbled, here are my gearbox cases back and ready for reassembly. He also did my crank cases and rocker boxes, makes for a really nice motor. Wes also does machining for your vintage Triumph or British motorcycle, head work, cylinder boring, crank grinding and balancing and more.

Dining room table "bling"

Jeff from VA sent me this picture of his unit motor on the dining room table. That's a hell of a pretty centerpiece if you ask me! Martha Stewart's got nothing on that! I see a few familiar parts there too. Good work man, send a picture once it's in a frame!

Cycles That Scream on the Salt......

How could I resist posting this one? Four pages out of July 1960's Hot Rod magazine featuring the Bonneville Salt Flats, vintage iron, streamliners, double engined cycles and an awesome title. This whole article is really worth reading.

Skate and Destroy...well not paint this pretty!

Jaymes over at Blue Moon Kustoms Painted these wicked decks for Tyler and myself. I think one is going in the shop and one in my living room! These are pieces of art! If you haven't checked out his work, you better go take a look!

Gloss Black Gen. 2 Biltwell Helmets Now Available!!!

Available NOW at Lowbrow Customs!

"This is the next generation of Biltwell helmets. It's the same lightweight and comfortable shell but with a few significant upgrades. Vintage style chrome strip around the opening is pure class and only available on a Biltwell. The new liner now has detail stitching and contrasting ventilated panels in the top. The embossed goggle strap has a new shape and an improved snap."

New Lowbrow Customs DIY tech tip - How to Remove a Triumph Sludge Trap Tube

Tyler spent some time in the shop working on his pre-unit project and we snapped a few pics showing how to remove the Triumph sludge trap tube. It is a pretty important but often overlooked part of an engine rebuild. Check it out Here.

Some more time at the drill press, and a beat up brake plate out of my junk box turned out pretty nice. Removed the thinner stamped steel edge that normally is tack welded on. Still have to finish sand it and decide on finish, paint, powdercoat, chrome etc.

Johnson Motors circa 1960

Steamlining....

No not the kind of streamlining you would think.....In the ongoing effort to streamline our shop and work in general we put in a taller computer table so I don't have to sit and stand every time I print a packaging label out. I asked Tyler to pick up a stool and this is what he came back with. A stainless steel stool....no padding....I guess he really doesn't want me sitting down!

Everyone on the east coast should be on this run! The Revenge Run, check it out here.

It's always good to see your friends pull up with a trailer....

Our buddy Todd came over with a bunch of parts he needed welded up so we cleared some room, and got to work. Pulled some extra bungs and tabs off the shelf and fabbed up his fuel tank, oil tank mounts, fender brackets and struts and some strapping for his cool old battery box. A few hours can make a huge difference.

Cool old Wassel banana tank.
That piece makes the bike if you ask me.

I got the spring fever...

After spending the last 4 years in AZ I forgot all about the "spring fever". I was spoiled with my hot rods and bikes year round, but after being cooped up for months and injured as well, we had a sunny 40 degree day. Not exactly spring weather but dry roads and sun! And I feel the fever!
I did a rush job just getting everything ready to go for a short spin, it may not be done or pretty but it was a blast to be on a bike again! I'm excited to get wrenching this weekend and get this bike ready for some miles!