Frankenbike

Norcoastal · Jun 13, 2020

Hortons Norton said:
About the JPN, Maybe they were not able to use the name due to legal reasons. But I also remember them being referred to as such?

Yeah I agree, I’ve seen them discussed and referred to as JPN. Regardless, they are unique and cool bikes.

Norcoastal · Jun 18, 2020

Not that I would spend $500 on this...well if I had it maybe...

This is on eBay from Spain.

Looks pretty cool.

Below the picture is a yellow Norton with this seat and the same tank and fairing as mine. It would look good in white with red and blue accents.

Norcoastal · Jun 18, 2020

Most likely I’ll do this (below) and do more of a Norman White replica opposed to a JPN replica and spend what money I have on getting my engine together.

Mine will have a black frame and steel wheels, but the spirit will be there!

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

I hope I don’t regret this, but I’m dumping the Proddy racer for a Gus Kuhn racer which actually makes sense since I have an original Gus Kuhn tank.

Anyway I did it. I bought the JPN seat and I’m buying an original Gus Kuhn fairing.

I’m pretty excited. Something was never right in my eye with the proddy reproductions.

Here’s what I’m getting.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

And since I decided to get these new parts, I spent the 4th of July on stripping paint on the side cover that I painted red and repainted it black.

Norcoastal · Jul 4, 2020

And hours wet sanding and priming. I used the SprayMax 2K primer. This stuff is probably the best you can get to body shop primer. It’s an epoxy so you have mix the two in a can. Pretty smart.

Anyway the tank and fender are ready for white!

gortnipper · Jul 4, 2020

Looking sweet. you going to keep the cool sticker patina of the fairing and seat, or strip and paint?

Fast Eddie · Jul 5, 2020

You’re gonna have to choose your white carefully to try and blend in with your seat and fairing as best you can...

Norcoastal · Jul 5, 2020

gortnipper said:
Looking sweet. you going to keep the cool sticker patina of the fairing and seat, or strip and paint?

I’m going to keep it the way it is. May remove some stickers. But I’m not sure

Norcoastal · Jul 5, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
You’re gonna have to choose your white carefully to try and blend in with your seat and fairing as best you can...

Yes I was thinking about that. There are so many shades of white. I’ll probably test a bunch before I paint the tank.

Fast Eddie · Jul 5, 2020

I used the words ‘blend in’ rather than ‘match’ deliberately, as your seat and faring may already be different to each other...

Norcoastal · Jul 5, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
I used the words ‘blend in’ rather than ‘match’ deliberately, as your seat and faring may already be different to each other...

I can bet 100% that they don’t match, but they both seem to be in the ‘70’s decade so maybe they’ll be close?

Norcoastal · Jul 5, 2020

I actually like the primer better than the red already.

It’s funny how often you change your mind during the build process. If I wanted a straight standard Commando, my life would have been a lot easier.

Norcoastal · Jul 6, 2020

I’m totally getting cold feet. I already bought the seat which I’m happy about. But the fairing will be over $700 shipped.

I may pass. Not sure what to do. It’s a lot of money and I’m not really sure exactly what it is???

What should I do???

grandpaul · Jul 6, 2020

I could have warned you about shipping costs on a JPN fairing...

"been there, done that"

Norcoastal · Jul 6, 2020

grandpaul said:
I could have warned you about shipping costs on a JPN fairing...

"been there, done that"

Yeah, it’s a lot. May just stick with what I got...

NPeteN · Jul 6, 2020

Yeah...
Checks all the boxes.
Big, delicate, cross country.

Norcoastal · Jul 6, 2020

NPeteN said:
Yeah...
Checks all the boxes.
Big, delicate, cross country.

Yep and I’m not 100% sure what it is.

That’s a lot of dough for an unknown.

Back to the drawing board...again...

Conrad · Jul 6, 2020

I haven't been watching this thread... but am subscribing now. I found a picture of that original fairing/configuration (a couple of days ago, forgot where I saw that now and although I think that fairing is worth the dollars, the bummer is the lower fairing is missing and windscreen will have to be recreated. You'd have to recreate those. I was looking at that fairing thinking it would go great high-speed long distance bike configuration, so the rear seat would have to be much more comfortable obviously. But then realized this is the top half and removed it from my watched list.

Norcoastal · Jul 6, 2020

Conrad said:
I haven't been watching this thread... but am subscribing now. I found a picture of that original fairing/configuration (a couple of days ago, forgot where I saw that now and although I think that fairing is worth the dollars, the bummer is the lower fairing is missing and windscreen will have to be recreated. You'd have to recreate those. I was looking at that fairing thinking it would go great high-speed long distance bike configuration, so the rear seat would have to be much more comfortable obviously. But then realized this is the top half and removed it from my watched list.

Great point. I’ve been looking at a lot of GK racers and the majority of them have the smaller Dunstal fairings.

The windscreen I have may work, but the lower half is missing.

I’m actually more concerned with the brackets. They will be hard to reproduce

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