First motorcycle build! i'm stoked!

M

medmunds

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Hello all,
My name is Matt, and I hail from Knoxville, Tennessee. So this is my first attempt at a custom build (and my second motorcycle ever haha!). It started life as a 150 dollar barn bike, and I am trying to sexy it up. I am going for kind of cafe/rat rod in a blender. I have some before and process pics, but I am far from finished. Please let me know what you guys think. By the way, I lurked around for a bit before registering, and you have provided a wealth of information for a total newbie. The second pic is my divine inspiration (I want one...)! Thanks!
 

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Last edited:
Looks good so far. I have to ask, as a $150 barn find, Do you have a title?
Getting one may be tough.
Leo
 
It came with a bill of sale and an application for title (florida '82). Apparently, that was the last time that it was registered. I had kinda wondered about how to solve that problem myself....
 
I actually just finished researching it. In my state I can apply for a certification of ownership that would then allow me to apply for a lost title. Essentially, I have to make a documented reasonable effort to find the last person that had the title (ad in circulated publication), and if no one responds in 30 days, the bike becomes mine (after weeks of paperwork haha!). I would then be able to apply for a "replacement" title as the official owner.


On a total side note, does anyone know what the outlet hole that comes out of the plate behind the starter cover is? It had a line connecting it to the stock airbox. does that mean i have to put a filter on it, and if so, where would i find one on the cheap?
 
welcome to the site Med.

looks like your onto a good build there! keep the pics coming

that's a crank breather, put a small filter on it about £3 in UK
 
thanks drewpy! By the way, your tracker is SICK! i was researching this bike right after i cleaned out all of the wasp nests, etc. on the web, and saw a pic of your build and said to my buddies:.....some day, it will be mine!
 
Good luck on your build but make to get that title in your name before you do very much. Till then the previous title holder could just show up and take the bike and all your hard work.
 
fair enough. i will say that east tennessee (appalachia) is pretty laid back about this kind of stuff...lots of barn bikes, hot rods, trucks, etc,....we are all rednecks on some level or another....and love to fix up broken ass old stuff.

so i am hoping that this weekend that i can build a pan to fit between/under the frame rails (under the seat) that is about an inch or inch and a half deep in order to hide all the electrics. I also want to bend a custom (sub frame, rear end, piece of pipe to connect the frame rails at the back??) using the charcoal grill and wood frame method that i found out about. Any tips?

I am so happy about the frame mods. this gives me an excuse to buy a welder that the girlfriend will accept hahahahahaha!
 
by the way all, ......I think the last title holder is in a nursing home.... i think i found him, but if he is who he says he is, i doubt he gives one little shit about a moto title from 30 years ago....

would it be bad form to hassle him about it???
 
People get bored in nursing homes and have few visitors. I say try it; he'll probably be more interested than you think.
 
Yes, be a bit nice and if he was the last titled owner he might just get a replacement title, then sign it over to you. You pay any fees of course.
He might even want to see the bike, could bring back good memories.
Leo
 

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