Hi all, my Savage has been laid up at my "trusty old" mechanic for a long time now (so I'm either either driving or... riding another bike) and I've my mind set up to try transform the Savage into anything that either resembles a 1950s bile (either a Panhead such as the one below)
or perhaps something from the 1930's, such as this magnificient Brough Superior Police
-
My aim is to create a replica of something you don't see everyday, definitely vintage, yet with all the reliability of a modern piece of machinery.
My two "griefs" are the excessive cost of a springer front fork (even the cheapest cost $800 new, and almost as much to ship overseas and get out of Customs)
and the availability of a front GOOD drum brake.
I've been looking at enduro front forks (I need a 38mm fork) their drums are on the small size, but efficiency can't be any worse than the original disc brake...
I've already started collecting bits&bobs here and there, starting with a 4gal.
tank off a HD Dyna (twin counterscrew filler caps
) but this will require a LOT of work to grind and weld and adapt to the standard frame.
I plan to keep the original
seat, although a sprung seat would definitely look the part.
The
front fender will be replaced with a chrome fender with the numberplate (as in the Brough pics)
The
rear fender will be replaced with a full length chrome fender which I intend to have come down low (Panhead style) with all the lights and trimmings (including a rear fog light)
Handleb
ars... that's one problem... I'm looking at 1" bars and all I can find are either pullbacks or apehangers of different sizes...
Instrumentation will definitely come OFF the tank and onto the bars, and I'll probably use the typical 3" items you can source off fleabay...
...although the Smiths replicas really look the part...
Now... what have I left out ?
I know !
Front tire !
The current 90/90x19 just doesn't look right. I was considering replacing it with something that would look more... vintage, such as a 3.50x18 or metric equivalent (100/90x18? or even 110/90x18)
Where can I find a M/C tire comparison chart ?
Any ideas ?