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Absurd idea that could be cool. - Updated 11/22

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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So today on the way to work I passed one of those old wood sided station wagons, and the gears in my head started turning.

It seems like it'd be fairly easy to fab up wooden side panels to replace the existing ones. Flat, thin teak or something similarly element-proof would probably do quite nicely, and whatever it is I'd varnish the bejesus out of it.

I got thinking harder and why stop there? If I fab a couple side panels, it wouldn't be overly hard to do some wooden hardbags. It'd be heavier than plastic/leather, but it would sure look unique and incredible with a good, thick, shiny varnish.

Is this feasible? Are there factors with wood in relation to the bike I'm not considering?
 
like this?

p1010025.jpg


Hap
 
Guh! It looks even better in real life than my imagination! Yeah, like that!
 
Wow, I'm trying to figure out the proceedure for wrapping the tank in wood.
 
He says on the page he's a custom woodcrafter, so I suspect it's fantastically complex involving molding and tools... *boggle*

I'll start small with the panels and Bags but MAN that thing is absolutely gorgeous.
 
I believe that bike is the one where the tank is made completely out of wood. It isn't a wrap. If not there is one like that. I saw it on TV.
 
Well, I emailed the guy and he says he uses bent wood paneling and some insane glue that's normally used for attaching plasti-windows to convertible roofs. I suspected something of the sort, and luckily for me a friend has a wood bending setup he makes fishing nets with. I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to do the tank with his help.

For the moment, I'll start on the side panels and hardcases. Baby steps.
 
If he has a steambox you can make some nice bends. Teak would be great for what you want to do.
 
you could do a wood shell and fab a steel tank underneath? lots of work but you are in the netherworld with this one m8.

good luck on the proj.
 
WOW! That looks beautiful! That guy sure knows how to use his brain...
he could sooooo capitalize off of that idea. i mean...shhhh!~
 
Am I the only one whose first thought was "Wow... wood. Flamable."?

8O
 
I thought of that too, but it occurred to me that ignition temperature is a lot higher than the temp that would cook the plastic and wiring. I've ordered myself a couple of books on fiddly woodworking techniques.

My father, a wooden boat fanatic, is convinced I'm insane. This is the guy whose job on my college applications was listed as "Bum, works on boat"
 
I do a lot of woodworking, and the veneering techniques aren't that hard. Cutting the veneer that thin is the tricky part, but it can be done on a good tablesaw or a decently set up bandsaw. The table saw is the better option for thin, not so wide, strips that are more easily bent. Buying the veneer is another option.
Narrow, thin strips are the simplest to workwith, and epoxy is normally used for this kind of application. However, epoxy comes undone with the heat of the engine under the tank.

Harrison
 
You can get clear ceramic fortified paint in a can that withstands heat. I used it on my exhaust canister and it's held up well. Not sure how gas proof it would be.
 
with some 1/32 and 1/16" ply and balsa building a set of veryvery light saddlebags. I dunno how they would handle stuff like planecrazy carries without some padding. Hmmmm That;s something I can try while I'm still disabled :-)

As for the wood pannels on that bike...I;m sure it involved a steam box :-)
 
Ok, so last night I was inspired. I have the measurements made up for the sidepanels, and I'm just waiting for the opportunity/motivation to build them. (Bike is laid up for the winter with a foot of snow outside the garage. Bloody altitude.)

My quandry was, what to do with the tank? Full wood is WAY outside my powers, impressive though they are.

Then I remembered something I'd rode around in as a child. My parents called it "Moby":

wpe10.jpg


Monstrous, isn't it?

But sort of retro-cool. So that's the one then. The plan is to have a buick powder blue top with a strip of veneer, trimmed with shiny door trim stuff I found in another post.

I'm debating painting the white strip trimming with silver on the side panels and putting a small "Buick" emblem in it, because it'd be hilarious. If I'm digging it I can do the fenders up also. Apart from the side panels, the whole operation is a pretty basic solid color spray and epoxy-on finish.

I could also put a small dummy in a rear-facing seat attached to the luggage rack when I wanted to really show off... hehehe

Yes, when taking me out of this car back in the day my parents did drop me on my head, how did you know?
 
Use the glue in a well ventilated area :D :D :D
Suzuki's Gs in particular are beautiful crafted machines, not barges.

Try makeing a tank and sell it to someone else, not on the Suzuk :D
 
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