2 strokes on the brain

Cool RD stolen from Motorcyclepictureoftheday.



Couple taken from Cafe Racer TV's viewer's bikes.

Searching

I'm looking for a manual/parts list for my recent acquisition of a Dake/MEP Condor 350 cold saw. I've contacted Dake directly and now I'm reaching out to the masses. Any info besides the saws specs would be appreciated.

z-bars on stilts

Wanted to do something a little different than the bars I've been making lately and I had a section of previously mitered/welded pieces of stainless to play with. Slug them into a lower z-bar section and and some detailed stilts and we're good to go.

These bars are sold but I'll be making some different variations of these in the near future.

The future is now

Going to pick this up Friday. I can't tell you how happy this piece of equipment will make me.

hot tig

It's time to get a chiller for my tig, the torch gets hot when I'm trying to crank orders out.

Bars for sale

Two sets of customer's bars that I screwed up by not drilling the crossbar for wiring... so now they are for sale. Someday I'll get my head straight.

1st set is sold.




2nd set are some tv-bars with a bit of forward sweep, 9.5" tall.




e-mail me at roche.special.79@gmail.com for further specs and price.

Understand

In my everyday cycle of working with metal in the shop I often struggle between creating handmade, thoughtful pieces and how to place value on such things. I'm not speaking about motorcycle parts specifically, just work in general. If I were to use the normal formula of figuring out the monetary value of work (materials+consumables+time=price) my work would be really pricey. I may not be getting rich doing what I do but for now I'm just grateful to the customers that support my small company and feel lucky that I have the use of my hands and mind. I was reminded of Picasso's napkin story by a good friend of mine that made me think and smile. The story goes like this...

Picasso was sitting in a Paris café when an admirer went up to him and asked if he would do a quick sketch for him on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, did a quick sketch and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a rather large amount of money. The admirer was horrified: “How can you ask so much? It only took you a minute to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years”

Biomega

Cool shaft drive city ride.

Visit with GG

Shawn and I stopped in to hang out with my good friend Mr. Greenwood of Dataharvest fame. It's always great to see Gregg and get a peek at what his mind/eyes/hands are creating. Always inspirational stuff, thanks for the crash pad GG.

47 Industries

Made the trip to Jersey to see some friends and bring a couple bikes to the 47 Industries unfinished bike show. I should've taken more pics but I was too busy talking to people I don't get to see much. Big thanks to Mike and the boys for putting together such a fun show.

really tech

Did a really technical rust patch on the van today. Getting ready to go on a road trip and didn't want my crappy van to look crappy.

cha, cha, changes

Pie cut Wassell type tank, take 2.

Where I'm from

I came home the other day to find a painting that my wife had bought at an art show run by the Worcester Roller Derby League. The painting created by Scott Holloway is called "November", and is of an actual barn in my hometown of Sterling, MA. The painting brought back all the old memories of climbing around in old barns, exploring, running around the apple orchards, poaching free apples along the way. As a kid I hated growing up in the sticks, miles away from any bmx track, arcade, or decent cement drainage ditches to skate in. It's easy to want what you don't have and many times hard to appreciate what's all around you. This painting reminded me of how good I had it growing up in a small town with nothing to do but make up fun shit to keep us busy. Thank you for the beautiful work, Scott.

So long... for now.

I'm halting the production of my stainless t-z bars until I can figure out a way of streamlining their production. Maybe they'll be back, maybe not, may be a little more expensive. With the way the economy is, I really don't want it to be the latter.

Bars going out

Got a chunk of bars finished up and ready to ship to customers, thanks for being patient.


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today's process

Brendan's oif

Tackled Brendan's Triumph oif with a David Bird weld on unit. Aside from not having the lower sheetmetal pieces that come with the hardtail, everything went smooth as silk.