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Our first big build at Clubman Cycles

15K views 64 replies 22 participants last post by  Number13 
#1 ·
Hi all. After looking at all your beautiful bikes it's an honor to be here. We are a new co. out of Queens NYC and a team of 4. I am the founder and designer on these cafes/brats. The first pic is the bike I built that inspired me to open a shop out here purely based on my obsession with vintage hondas and other makes and the others pics are and will be the build we're working on. So far we've spent about $5k on top of the donor bikes cost of $1000. The paint alone by Mike Wambold in PA was around $1500. He specializes in museum quality restos so the bike is no joke. We started on March 20th and have this week the frame is in powdercoat (gloss black). Included are the spec sheets and building plans. I don't want to give away any of our ideas but I am also so very grateful to this particular forum for the information, if this helps anyone with their build I'd be happy :) Enjoy - Joshua at ClubmanCycles.com
 

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#14 ·
I assume there are no air filters, other than a possible window screen on the velocity stacks?

I never understood a street bike designed with no air filter, just a rock filter.

The bikes look nice, for sure, but velocity stacks aren't really ideal for street riding. Fine for a track day or museum piece, but not ideal for real riding.....Guess if the owner is looking for a centerpiece, and not a rider, the stacks are fine.

I like your initiative and energy, I hope you evolve into a builder that not only makes a good looking bike, but one that is truly a functional bike for riding.....Too many builders are building bikes for a look only, with no regard for functionality.
 
#36 ·
Agreed. The stacks are more of an aesthetic but you do pull more air which equates to more HP but you run the risk of pulling in dirt and whatnot into the cylinder so we've created our own 3 stage filters that tuck inside the stacks securely and use a tiny bit of tacky RC Nitro filter oil . When we tuned our carbs to the custom intake they perform as velocity stacks were designed to perform without risking motor degradation. It's different but fits our needs. Thank you for the encouragement.
 
#15 ·
It's great that you have found a way to do what you love!!
Good luck
lOOKS LIKE A COOL SHOP
 
#18 ·
Artisticly he's fine....
It's the mechanical/structural/engineering design flaws in his drawings and in the bike pictures that would likely get somebody hurt.....JMHO....
 
#20 ·
man, I don't mean to get on your case. I'm in brooklyn. I know the builder of the triumph on your site , and it's not you.
Tighten it up. make a name for yourself with a few bikes, but I have to say , from what we've already seen, you maye be jumping the gun a tad launching a brand. I am, however , glad you haven't named it something like "wrenches 'n rust" .
 
#21 · (Edited)
We did the paint on the triumph which is exactly what I say we did on it. I never claimed to have built it but I will continue to showcase it on our site since we did the paint. I don't think it's unethical to show the bike we painted on our web site, right? I'm not jumping the gun at all. Our paint guy is amazing. Our mechanic has owned a bike shop in queens for over 40 years. As a designer I've designed artwork for al green, joss stone, maroon 5, and hundreds of clients around the world. Our fabricator has worked on hundreds of bikes and we're all excited about CMC. I stand by the company and the men who I am blessed to be working with. I am confused why most everyone here wants to see a startup motorcycle company fail? I sure don't wish you the same ill will. I wish you all the best bro.
 
#22 ·
I hadn't read this thread before...

I posted on the other CMC thread a few days ago that I didn't understand why the triumph on their site was so good and the two Honda's so bad.

just read on this thread that they didn't even build the Triumph...now it makes sense.

I'm all for new shops opening up...I really wish there was one around me. all I've got near me is a shop that tricks out "'busas" with stretched swingarms, neon lights, fur, studs, and airbrushed art scenes.

the problem Josh is having with his shop is that his marketing activities don't match his products or abililties. my suggestion would be for Josh to focus on what he can do, which is painting, and stop trying to pretend he is the WestCoastChoppers of the Brooklyn Café Scene.

He lacks fabrication skills (inserting LEDs into a saltshaker doesn't count unless you are 5 years old)
He lacks mechanical understanding which is dangerous (enough has been said about the rear brake on the other post)
He lacks even basic tune up understanding (thinking the "flappy doggy door thingy majiggr'" on the choke butterfly is why his engine won't run properly)

There's nothing wrong with not knowing these things and looking for help. We were all there once our selves.

The reason Josh has met with overwhelming criticism is that he portends to be expert at all these things but doesn't even know enough to understand the problems pointed out to him by the members here.

He tries to argue that "the brake arm was just pointing up in that picture" which illustrates he has no understanding that a properly (safely) designed brake needs to have a positive stop that prevents it from rotating beyond the articulation range.

I could go on but it wouldn't do any good.
 
#23 ·
OK guys enough fun. I know some are trying to help, which is the great part of this forum, but some of the fun is just heaping it on too much.

Joshua, hope you understand that a lot of the criticism is intended to be constructive. I hope you stick around to show your build and learn along like the rest of us.

Once I get on my Pc I'll clean this, and the other threads, up so you can continue on.
 
#24 ·
Ok, I just finished cleaning up this thread, as well as the other two. I fully understand why everyone jumped in on these threads (including myself) but it was quickly turning into a **** slinging match where no one was going to benefit. I have removed anything that was not really centered around the initial goal of the threads but purposely left in the constructive criticism as I feel it is very important not just for Joshua but for anyone reading these threads. If its one thing this forum does well, its hold safety as being vitally important, and I don't want that to change.

Also, Joshua you may have a hard time believing this but this is not a mean forum. This behavior is not typical of the conversations that occur here. So with the slate being wiped clean I hope we can all learn from this and move on.
 
#26 ·
Joshua,
You don't seem to understand that we are hoping you succeed and are NOT trying to be derogatory or negative..... I wish you well with your business venture.....

When we discuss the "weak" points of your builds, it is so you can correct them, not to "down" you...(As a business, I'm sure you realize that your liability for each creation does not end with its sale)....

I find your drawings quite interesting despite the fact that they emphasize your lack of mechanical expertise...You are a good conceptual artist, and your drawings show a good deal of creativity....
(However, Just because you can draw parts in a certain configuration does not mean they will function appropriately or SAFELY when set-up that way)
While a good mechanic and fabricator can adapt your "vision" to a structurally and mechanically sound version, it WILL vary from your concept drawings...
As your mechanical and structural knowledge about these machines grows, there will be less and less need to vary from your concept because you will begin to understand how the various parts function in relationship to each other and to the bike as a whole, and your drawings will approach a possible/practical/feasable reality......
You are talented, but in reference to motorcycles, to call yourself a "designer" at this early stage of your understanding is somewhat pre-emptive and contrary to the facts.....

Now, PLEASE install a cotter or hairpin clip in the rear torque-stay bolt on your bike before we lose another talented visionary......
 
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#27 ·
Hi,

In Germany they have the TUV (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein, English: Technical Inspection Association). Every change you make on your bike from original has to be proven by a technical specialist. If not approved, the bike is not aloud on the road. Believe it or not, this is also the case when you want to put other types of tires on your bike. Germany is pushing these rules into Europe, and they will succeed when enough people are injured or killed riding a bike which is not in good technical condition.

The market for after market parts is hit hard in germany, many parts like small winkers, small mirrors are forbidden. When you are involved in an accident and your bike isn't up to TUV regulations you are in big trouble.

Of course you are aloud to change something on your bike in Germany, but every time you do, the bike has to be brought to TUV office for inspection, and it's not free....

This way a Goverment gets rid of the Cafe bikes and builders, and protects it's own motorcycle and car parts business, and lives will be saved..... (in a country where you can ride as fast as you like)
 
#30 ·
We've got a similar setup here in NZ , all lights need an E mark, any frame modification ( this includes cutting lugs needs an engineers report and certification & you can't get one after the fact) any bike built after 1990 needs a brake cert ( luckily this doesn't apply to anything I own :D . To get a vintage cert and therefore cheaper registration you need the bike signed off by a vintage car/bike club and then everything mechanical is checked every 6months to say its road worthy

oh and the open road speed limit is 100kph not unlimited like Germany
 
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