[toddshotrods]

After pushing myself to not lose focus on the Inhaler, and finally being that close to feeling it move under its own power, it's time for a little distraction! I can't let you have all the fun Woody - with that darn tractor project!

I started to realize that a lot of the ideas I wanted to do on the Inhaler were basically creative overflow. I have parts from a Camaro project I sold in 2008, that I have been trying to "fit" on the street rod since then (when it still had and ICE powertrain). What I decided to do is start another project to dump all that creative energy into, including those old parts I refuse to give up on. The goal is that this makes my efforts concerning the Inhaler more pure and focused. With all that said, here we go:

A couple notes about the renderings: I have been toying with these parts in various models, usually trying to decide what to do with that bike, for years. What you see here is them rearranged, and mocked-up, to test my idea for this project. I cut the neck out of the frame for a guy to build a (mid) car-engined trike frame for me, but he was full of hot air. I was pretty upset that I had ruined my frame for nothing, but life goes on. I just hung onto it waiting for a better plan. The tank is the only new part and it's just a simple surface with filleted edges to give an idea of what what how the tank would look. The real tank has much more interesting contours. I used a side-view picture of an original tank to trace the basic shape, and pie-sectioned (a few inches out of the back, none from the front - longitudinally) and shortened it, to get the right proportions.

I have owned my first streetbike, a 1972 Kawasaki H1-B, 500cc, oil-burning, smoke-spewing, triple, since 1983. Actually all that's left of the bike is the neck and front forks, but the title for that neck is clear, making me the owner - technically. I hung onto it with the dream of one day building something special from my first streetbike - that day has come! There's one caveat. The neck and forks are still in storage in my old shop, but provided the guy who's purchasing the house/shop hasn't misplaced them I am just a roadtrip away from moving forward. Worse case scenario, I can always turn a new neck and punch the numbers in, but I would rather have the original...

What better than to convert one of the worst polluters in the history of personal transportation into a clean-air, 21st century, wicked-looking toy! Wicked-LOOKING is the key word. This is basically a glorified scooter. I have a problem with not having the instinctive fear that says, "that's enough", in certain situations that keeps people alive. The last time I was on a motorcycle (Suzuki Hayabusa) I was doing triple digits, in traffic, with sunglasses smashed against tear-streaming eyes, and no helmet. The only thing that stopped me was I realized there wasn't enough room between me and the car ahead to hold the throttle open any longer! It wasn't until I had returned the bike to it's owner, and my adrenaline flow began to slow, that I even realized what I had done. So basically if this thing is slow as molasses in January it will help keep me alive a little longer.

The big tire is wasteful, and completely unnecessary, from a practical standpoint - but it makes me smile, and that's the whole point of this project. This is about unwinding, releasing energy, and just having fun. No rules to follow, no marketing angles to consider, no cares in the world - but smiles are mandatory! The front suspension will be a girder setup, based on the original Kawasaki sliders (lower aluminum sections). The idea is to make them look like the old forks, but be as low as they can possibly be. I will set the geometry for enjoyable cruising and stable, predictable, handling. The other original-appearing element will be the gas tank, which will just be a shell covering the controller, etc. The girder fork and tank will give the bike its identity as a 72 Kawasaki 500.

The name Scratch has a few meanings. Of course, one is because most of the bike will be scratch-built. I seriously considered just purchasing a motorcycle and converting it, but that wouldn't meet my goals and objectives. Another is because building this project scratches several "itches", like I have always wanted to bring my first bike back to life, and have wanted a 300mm rear tire since I first saw one. I actually had a car-tired streetbike in the works years ago but never finished it. That was what we used before those big chopper tires were born. Most important, is this project is like a scratch pad where I can just "sketch" freely, and that should help the Inhaler be more focused.

On that note: one of the goals that converting a regualar bike wouldn't meet is to keep this project moving so slow that it doesn't interfere with the Inhaler's progress. The Inhaler is a couple motor mounts, a driveshaft, and some electrical assistance, away from moving under its own power. The controller that will make it move will eventually be passed down to its little brother Scratch. If I had a complete bike with the electric motor in place, I would be tempted to steal the controller now and make it move first. I want Scratch to be a bunch of ideas and mocked-up parts until the Inhaler is much further down the road. I will most likely be working on it in my spare bedroom. I use it as a personal design studio for projects like clay modeling, etc.

You guys didn't think I would build a "normal" bike did you?

[toddshotrods]

As mentioned, the controller from the Inhaler will eventually be passed down to little brother Scratch, making it the first official part of the project. I had this in mind from the time I purchased it, because it's only 48v/300amps. I was actually thinking about doing an E-bike before the Inhaler, but decided on it for marketing purposes. JRP3 has seen renderings and models of e-bikes in PMs, and answered a million questions, while I found my way. The dream lives.

Scratch's second part has been secured and is sitting in my office (actually the master bedroom - I don't have an actual bed or bedroom - don't need them to work ) with me now.






It's a 6.7" diameter, series-wound, GE. Rated for 36 volts, but I plan to advance it and make my way to 72 eventually. It's not a performance/race motor, by any means, and that is a purposed plan of action - to keep me on Earth a bit longer (see comments about that in the first post). This is a functional toy, a ride-able art project. Whatever speed it's capable of is fine with me. If all it will ever do is 25mph, I'll just trailer it to parks and events and ride it like a bicycle.

That is actually the reason I have wanted an e-bike so bad. I had a mountain bike and riding it brought some of the most peaceful times I have ever had in life. Hearing nothing but a slight breeze in your ears, rocks crunching under the tires, birds chirping, etc, is surreal. It's back to nature in the most incredible way. I experienced something like it on my motorcycles, but they were loud - really loud - so the peace and tranquility was only there at triple digits when the wind noise kind of turns everything into an auditory blur. It's during those times that you can seem to hear yourself think, and life is truly blissful. Now, imagine how much time I spent at triple digits, enjoying life! As I tell people, there wasn't a day that went by for years (in good weather) that I didn't cruise at 100+. I believe an e-bike can bring the same sensation amidst sane circumstances...

[Woodsmith]

Originally Posted by toddshotrods

After pushing myself to not lose focus on the Inhaler, and finally being that close to feeling it move under its own power, it's time for a little distraction! I can't let you have all the fun Woody - with that darn tractor project!

Huh! You make it out like it is my fault!

This is looking good. I like bikes but don't have the balance to ride confidently, not helped by having a new Harley Davidson FXSTB Night Train as my first bike. It was a dud from the factory and put my life at risk more then a few times. Harley Davidson, or their dealer, wasn't interested in talking to me either so I gave up on it, paid to have it all fixed and safe, and sold it on to fund my workshop.

That motor is about the same size and power as the one on my tractor, 3.1hp at 48v. At 72v I can only imagine that it will be 'sufficient'.

What is the cylindrical thing with the 'gear stick' poking out of it?

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

Huh! You make it out like it is my fault!

This is looking good...

Thanks. Let's just say you were the catalyst. It was already bubbling in my brain, but seeing how much fun that tractor project has been brought my little dream to a boil!

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

...That motor is about the same size and power as the one on my tractor, 3.1hp at 48v. At 72v I can only imagine that it will be 'sufficient'. ...

I was worried about whether it would have enough power to make it enjoyable until you started slamming that tractor into your work bench! I wasn't positive, but figured the motor's were similar. I think I'll have a little fun with it!

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

...What is the cylindrical thing with the 'gear stick' poking out of it?

On the Camaro project it came from, it was a custom ratchet shifter for the automatic transmission. It's one of the parts I have been trying to force-fit on the Inhaler since early 2008. I was trying to make it a mode selector, since going EV - forward, neutral (pot box deactivated), reverse. Since the bike won't have reverse, I am not sure what it's going to be but it will be force-fit onto this project! It might just end up being the main on/off switch. That reminds me, I haven't posted pics of those parts...

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by Woodsmith

...What is the cylindrical thing with the 'gear stick' poking out of it?

I just realized that I didn't answer your question completely. The cylinder is a mock-up of the motor - size and length correct, no details, no shaft yet. The shifter is just near it out of curiosity. Trying to figure out where I want to force it onto the project. The idea is an artistic interpretation of an old-style motorcycle suicide shifter. This bike will be half-chopper/half-dragbike...

[Woodsmith]

Suicide shifter. I like it.

Position seems a little far back for my tastes but I like the feet forward, arms forward stance and the shifter would be behind my butt!

This is a trike that I really like the look of. I love the clean lines.
Exile trike

I do like the look of this too:



This is what I made when I was 12

[toddshotrods]

That Exile trike is one of my favorites. I was watching the show when they were building it, and loving every second of it! You're bike looks like a serious wheelie machine!

I'm not sure what the riding position is going to be yet. I have always been a fan of the crouched style (arms forward and low, feet tucked in tight under you) of the modern sportbikes, but that was because I was racing. It's the ultimate control position for taking the bike to/beyond its limits. For street-legal dragbikes, with no wheelie bar, this was perfect. The real drag race position is hands forward and down (but not as low as the sportbike) and feet well behind you, so you're kind of laying on the bike at speed.

The clip-on bars in the model were on the bike the last time I rode it, and that's how I would normally position them. The problem is where do I my feet. The bike is too low for the sporkbike position - feet can't tuck in under me. The bars are too low for the cruiser (hands and feet forward) position or I would be physically folded in half! The (lay-down) dragbike position is impractical and uncomfortable on the street. I could just let my feet flop around, or sit Yoga style on the seat!

[electromet]

Todd,

Enough of the Scratch musings! Some of us need our daily Inhaler fix. Seriously, though, if you and Woody keep coming up with these side projects, none of us are going to get anything done.

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by electromet

Todd,

Enough of the Scratch musings! Some of us need our daily Inhaler fix. Seriously, though, if you and Woody keep coming up with these side projects, none of us are going to get anything done.

Ahahaha! We're having a blast leading you all astray!

Seriously though, this is really helping the Inhaler be better, because I'm getting to unwind a little. I can't really do a lot right now anyway until the programming is finished on the rear mount, and the cutting starts. Even then, I will be a camera-wielding spectator - but at least I should have fun stuff to share. Being race-oriented, I don't want to do anything else on the vehicle until the motor is in place, since that's the most important element.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled distraction...

[Woodsmith]

Originally Posted by toddshotrods

You're bike looks like a serious wheelie machine!

I couldn't wheelie it. It is difficult to see in the old b&w photo but it has drop bars behind that fairing.

Originally Posted by electromet

Todd,

Enough of the Scratch musings! Some of us need our daily Inhaler fix. Seriously, though, if you and Woody keep coming up with these side projects, none of us are going to get anything done.

It's the same here. had I not started the tractor I would have got rid of the MR2 as a bad job as 'it woz doin' me 'ed in!' not being able to sort out the factory electrics.

The tractor does seem to have taken over though hence the avatar change.