1951 Panhead build thread

[[JP]]

Hi all.
As I had explained on a previous thread, the good old 51 Panhead survivor long chop is no more.
Roller been sold and I kept all the drive train.

The first part of the build turned up today! and what a beauty!

It's a VG 1951 replica frame. Made in Germany by VG motorcycles they are hand built to your spec. so you say 1951 and they make it with all the bits it should have had.
They hold the original molds so even the casting has numbers on it.

So.. here's the start of the build. the frame!

[HD48FL]

Nice frame, looking forward to the build.

What's the plans for this one?

[rhysmort]

That's a great looking frame man!

[[JP]]

Originally Posted by HD48FL

Nice frame, looking forward to the build.

What's the plans for this one?

Well... one thing I know for sure. It will have a K&Q.

When I told my little girl that the long chop was going and I'd build a new one first thing she said was "but are you putting 2 seats so I can go?"

so there. definitely a K&Q.
the rest... well... will probably look the same as all other bikes. They all look the same these days, different colours, different shape sissy bars, whatever..
they are all "rad man", "awesome", "wow great build man"

but they all look exactly the same.

[JAWS]

Will it be longer than stock?

[[JP]]

Haha no my friend... It will be stock. Stock frame.

[hammerweight]

“They all look the same these days”
You have to break through that kinda thinking man!
Brain to the grind stone!
Nice start....

[Ratso]

No, I think it's *nose* to the grindstone, *back* to the wall.

[[JP]]

Originally Posted by hammerweight

“They all look the same these days”
You have to break through that kinda thinking man!
Brain to the grind stone!
Nice start....

Yeh... I know.
it's kinda hard though, because I want it classic build, so the things that can be changed, which I can make whatever way I want is like sissy bar, handlebars, risers..
the rest is all the same. Engine, tranny, wheels, brakes.. they are all the same on this style really. not much difference.

the difference will be on the lines across seat/tank/handlebars. that's the area that usually does it for me on a bike. it's where it flows or not.

[JAWS]

Please dont Terd style the sissy...

[Ratso]

JP, pardon my ignorance please. In your third pic: what function is/was served by the two small pieces of strap stuck to the front downtubes?

[[JP]]

Originally Posted by Ratso

JP, pardon my ignorance please. In your third pic: what function is/was served by the two small pieces of strap stuck to the front downtubes?

From what I've been told 1951 frames had those tabs there as they had a bracket for a horn.
I'm not sure if I should leave it or not.... if they actually had this then I'll leave it, but if not I'm taking it off.
but these guys at VG build them to be exactly like they'd have come out of factory, but I haven't asked around yet to confirm for sure this thing about being for a horn.

[[JP]]

Originally Posted by JAWS

Please dont Terd style the sissy...

Terd style?

[JAWS]

Lol yes... Terd Style. Lets see who remembers.....

[Ratso]

EeeeRECT!

[Just Passin' Thru...]

I remember. Really nice frame man.

[Geezer5481]

Originally Posted by [JP]

From what I've been told 1951 frames had those tabs there as they had a bracket for a horn.
I'm not sure if I should leave it or not.... if they actually had this then I'll leave it, but if not I'm taking it off.
but these guys at VG build them to be exactly like they'd have come out of factory, but I haven't asked around yet to confirm for sure this thing about being for a horn.

Yep, horn mounts. Started in '49 IIRC.

[HD48FL]

Originally Posted by Geezer5481

Yep, horn mounts. Started in '49 IIRC.

Yep.

[[JP]]

thanks for confirming! good to know it's accurate.

no progress on build. will probably only start in September. too busy this month and most of August i'm in the motherland for summer holidays.

Been thinking about colour though...
the easier is black frame. but all my bikes have a black frame.
I also find that with a black frame you don't really see the contours and shapes of all the castings, so I'm debating doing colour.

maybe a blue.. metallic blue... or a green.
but then I think, once you get a coloured frame, then your tanks options etc are not so wide. On a black frame any colour tank works...

[Ratso]

Lots of bikes' frames are utilitarianly homely, but yours sure isn't. That being so, I say: Make it all one (garish) color!