the Speed Shop Moon Lander

Lots going on at the moment 

but still able to make slow but sure progress on the Mooneyes bike.  

Shaved 39mm sliders.

Not easy to fit a drum brake on narrow triple trees.

After machining a one-off axle for the metric hub it fit just fine,

 

not a fraction to spare!

A donation from an early CB350, thank you!

Running Firestone ribbed tires front and rear.  The bike is going to have a bit of that old school chopper look with a slight forward slope up to the bottom of the frame.

This thing is a monster but is going to give a nice comfy ride for me and my lovely passenger ;)

Will need to extend the swing arm about an inch.

Stubble

Sophie is looking a bit skeptical about this one...

One set of two tripples

Got my first metal pieces made here in Tokyo, EDM cut steel tripple trees.  That EDM stuff is crazy clean, I love it!

Left me with a bunch of cutting but the price was right ;)

6 inches on center for 39mm with indexed bar mounts.

a little secret...

One of those details no one will ever notice

but I will know its there :)

The most amazing day of my life!

Our wedding day!

Clothing Optional...

A little early morning restoration.

Whats better than being able to work in your underwear ;)

Nothing is safe from chopping!

Pretty sure I'm going to upset a few Beemer guys with the tank on my Panhead build ;)

I am loving it!!!

The Speed Shop Triton

  a BLAST to ride!

the Little Duc

She is waiting patiently for me back in the States....  I miss her :(

All gussied up and welded...

Just need to add the steering stop and some texture.

Made it through the round about...

Made some good progress on the pan project yesterday.

Figuring out how to fabricate this little roundy round piece had me scratching my head for a little bit but I'm super happy with how it turned out. 

The entire head tube structure will get textured before paint to look more like a casting.

I get more excited by this build every chance I get to work on it.

Thank you Kurosu San!!!!

Making headway!

Using a late style neck with the cups built in because I love the sexy taper as well as the wonderful texture and casting seam.

American Made in Japan

So let it begin!

After scoring a free swing arm frame and with some encouragement from Kurosu San and my amazing wife I have started my first Speed Shop Design motorcycle build here in Tokyo.  The goal is Mooneyes 2013 so I have some time but a crap load of work.  I am so fortunate to be working along side such amazing craftsman at Cherry's Company because I am learning so much about vintage Harleys, something I have never been able to do before.

The plan for the bike is somewhat out of the ordinary but I dont think people will be surprised by a statement like that coming from me...  When have I ever done ordinary!?

Pan head motor, frame will be de-raked and stretched up about three inches.  The rear fender is going to have a few tricks up its sleeve and the tank will be a work of art if all goes as planned.  Hand shift, foot clutch, front brake for the hills, awesome tire selection and hats about all I care to share at the moment.

As far as Kurosu San and I know I am the only Gaijin building motorcycles in Japan which is both super exciting but intimidating at the same time.  Guess this is my chance to show them that I can in fact hang with the boys here.

Stay tuned for more....

Turning Japanese

The last two months have been amazing!  We finished up the two bikes in time for Mooneyes HRCS and we kicked ass winning best of show.

 It was a trip being up on stage in another country winning an award like this with the guys. Thanks to Kurosu San and Masa San for taking me in and making me one of the team, its a great family!

Yuki's bike was one of my favorites at the show but then again I am a bit bias ;)

Since Mooneyes we have been busy making all the finishing little details to get the bikes road legal including safety and registration inspections which I have discovered are rather serious here.  Lots of magazine photo shoots are occurring while new projects are being started.

Obviously there is so much more happening in my life other than motorcycles...  Junko and I have been loving our adventures in Tokyo the past couple of months as we prepare to have my family over this April for our traditional Japanese wedding ceremony.  My family has never been to Asia so it's going to be an eye opening experience for them and being chaperone will be so much fun.  One of the tasks Junko and I have had to undertake for the preparations is trying out new restaurants for the formal reception and the after party and its been so fun going on hot dates with my wife and eating great food...  everything's almost all figured out!