Manky Monkey Motors

My first venture into the wonderful world of customising. Built way back in the swirling mists of time in ...ooh, must've been very early 80s.
Triumph Bonny. Bolt on hardtail conversion, Triumph Hurricane forks, (slightly longer than standard ones), conical hub wheels, apehangers, mustang tank, hexagonal oil tank/battery box, bendy banana saddle, tombstone rear light, Halfords aerosol paintjob. No access to welding gear, (& no idea how to use it -some things don't change), so everything drilled & bolted together. Gained my first workshop injury on this one too. Stabbed myself in the leg with a needle file during a particularly enthusiastic hole filing session. Had to drive to A & E with it embedded two inches into my thigh. You'd think I'd have learnt by now wouldn't you. If evolution acted quicker I'd be extinct by now.
In keeping with the tradition of first customs, it was an absolute deathtrap -shook, rattled but didn't roll very far. On it's maiden voyage, (a winter rally near Coventry I think), someone said "Nice ratbike mate". I was mortified & swore the next attempt would be better. Still trying.

BLOODY NICE BIKE THAT IS. DOESNT LOOK LIKE A 1ST BUILD. LOOKS TO GOOD. IF YOUR ROUND TYSELY B,HAM WEEKEND LET US KNOW. WOULD LIKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT. EVEN IF YOUR JUST RIDING PAST. I,L BE OPOSITE BONE SHAKER CHOPPERS (LEARNING TO SPELL). ;D

 ;D You're not keeping up with the plot here are you mate.
First of many chops & trikes. That would have been back in the early 80s. A few cut-down Japs after that then this Uncle Bunt framed hardtail XS650. Gas flowed, Dellorto carbs -as I've said somewhere here before, went like a rocket & sounded like a Lancaster bomber. Featured in BSH back in ...ooh, '87 I think.

My first hardtail chop was a desparate dan framed GPZ900, in bright yellow >:(

Now building a Z400 hardtail, but it's taking a while :D

www.freewebs.com/urbanschop/

Checked your link. A lot of work to do but that'll look cool when it's done. Is that the one you're doing in satin black with flames?
All custom projects take twice as long as you plan & cost three times as much don't they?!
Flap, how long's your first trike taken so far? ;D

Yep, that'll get the satin black and flames paint job ;)

Really want this headlamp for it:

http://www.steelthundercc.com/lighting.html

Heh heh. I like the Paul Yaffe flush mount LED Maltese tail lamp at the bottom of the page with built in indicators.

Don't like the price though :o :o

Is it the maltese cross headlamp you like?  I'm amazed it says DOT approved!  Looks good tho.

Didn't look at the price, but if it's got Yaffe's name on it it ain't gonna be cheap.

Wonder what sort of beam pattern it gives.

Don't care ;D

Spoken like a true customiser! Ride slowly & carry a big torch.

Wouldn't even ride slowly  :o














Just not at night ;D ;D ;D

"Practical" & "custom" just don't belong in the same sentence do they!

Well they can do, all my bikes are customised, just not very clean ;D ;D

Nothing wrong with that. I'd rather see a grubby but well used chop than a pristine trailered one.

Ok, their not all customised, some are just abused ;D ;D

(http://ratbike.org/photos2/y694puch.jpg)

 ;D

Interesting!  What is it?