NOW AS WE GET CLOSER I HAVE HAD TO CALL THE BUTLER AND START TO DISCUSS WHAT HE CAN EXPECT WHEN I BRING HER OVER TO HIM TO DO HIS MAGIC. LIVING 5 HOURS AWAY, IT USED TO BE HARD TO DISCUSS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING AND WHAT I HAD IN MIND. NOW WITH THE WONDERS OF THE INTERNET WE CAN EXCHANGE PICTURES AND DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHATS GOING ON OVER HERE WHILE HE PREPARES HIMSELF FOR WHATS TO COME. WELL HERES THE REAR FENDER TIP BUTLER...HA HA!!
NOW WE ALSO HAVE THE ROUND STOCK WELDED SOLIDLY TO THE TANK TOP AND BOTTOM. AS YOU SEE IT WILL GIVE IT A VERY SMOOTH EFFECT WHEN IT IS ALL MOLDED IN AND SMOOTHED OUT. THESE SMALL TOUCHES, WHILE REQUIRING A LOT OF WORK, WILL MAKE A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE WHEN IT IS DONE. IT WILL SURELY MAKE PEOPLE, AT FIRST GLANCE LOOKING AT THE TANK, SAY..."THAT AIN'T NORMAL!!" AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS THE WHOLE POINT!!
AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN YOU BUY YOUR TANKS THEY SOMETIMES FIT RIGHT, NOT ALWAYS, BUT YOU ALWAYS END UP WITH A HUGE HOLE IN THE FRONT WHERE THE FRAME BACKBONE GOES DOWN. THIS IS ...UNACCEPTABLE ON A TRUE CUSTOM BIKE. HERE YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE ADDED A PIECE TO THE TOP , ABOVE THE FRAME, ON THE TANK. WE ALSO HAVE PUT A SOLID SECTION, ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE FRAME, AND DRILLED HOLES AND PUT IN RUBBER GROMETTS FOR THE WIRING TO RUN THROUGH. PRESTO...NO MORE BIG UGLY GAP!!
HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH FOR THE SADDLEBAG MOUNTS. THESE ARE BOLTED DIRECTLY TO THE STRUTS, STILL HIDDEN UNDER THE FENDER, AND ARE VERY STRONG. BEING WRAPPED BY SMALL ROD GIVES THEM THE FRENCHED IN LOOK AND WILL ALSO SAVE ANY CHANCE OF THE PAINT BEING DAMAGED WHEN THE BAGS SUPPORTS ARE BOLTED ON. THE NEXT STEP IS TO BUILD THE ACTUAL SUPPORTS THEMSELVES WHICH WILL BOLT TO THE ALUMINIUM SIDE PLATES. ALSO YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECT THAT IS BECOMING APPARANT WITH THE SMALL RODS NOW WELDED IN PLACE ALL AROUD THE EDGE OF THE FENDER.
...Just a bit more to go now!!