Max Metal Custom Motorcycles

The work load in the shop is good with more jobs than last year, and I am continuing to gather parts for the “New Economy Cycle”.   There is a previous post about this bike.

The bike is to be dependable and comfortable for both the operator and passenger.   Dependable means a multi-week 5000+ mile cruise and  not sitting beside the road hoping someone stops to help.  If repairs are necessary during the trip,  most of the critical parts will be HD factory and easier to locate than if specialty parts are used.  

A set of 1992 HD 13 spoke mag wheels with new Avon tires, several sets of hand controls, primary cover, handle bars, a choice of several ignition systems, and several exhaust systems have been added to the selection.  Because most of the parts are “good used” and the chrome shows signs of wear,  the bike may end up being a blackout bike.  Paint is cheaper than repairing chrome.  Besides that, black is a color easy to match.

G.T. at Pullmax

The throttle cables, clutch cable, and brake lines will be new.  Buying new is cheap compared to the possibility of a roadside breakdown.    

Oh…by the way…the Avon tires are white wall.  A blackout bike with wide white sidewalls……

11/3/08
I heard one of those “overpaid smart experts” blathering away on TV the other night saying that “…what we are going through is nothing more than a New Economy Cycle and nobody could predict what it was going to look like. It is pretty much of a mystery.”

“Finally!!”, I thought, “Somebody has said something that makes sense.” The next day I went to the shop and started taking inventory. This is what I found.

A Paughco softail style frame.
A set of new 2″ over fork tubes with lowers which had been scratched during a previous build.
One new HD softail seat.
A set of 1991 HD 13 spoke mag wheels in good condition, a 16″ rear and a 19″  front.
A 3 ohm DYNA ignition coil.
A Compufire ignition module.
A take-off HD fishtail exhaust.
A set of Performance machine hand controls.
Several unattached drive belts.
Several choices for handlebars, mirrors, signal lights etc.
Various cables, brake lines, etc.
Enough 16 gauge stainless, 16 and 14 gauge cold rolled steel, and 3/32 aluminum sheet to make lots of stuff.

There is one thing common to all these parts. They have a desperate need to become part of something bigger. They need to become a part of the “New Economy Cycle”.

This is what I am going to do. I am going to build the “New Economy Cycle”. I have some ideas but, I agree with the TV expert. What the final outcome will look like is still pretty much of a mystery.

I hope to be done by September 2009. My wife and I have a big ride planned and I would like to ride the “New Economy Cycle”. To complete this bike in time is going to depend on time, parts, and money. The focus will be on building a dependable and comfortable long distance cruiser on a definate low-buck budget.

From time to time, this will be updated with new developments and pictures so stay tuned for more.

G. T. Henry