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Mini Chopper Build

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:00 am
by battlelava
Hey, been a member here for a little and finally got a chance to post my first build. (warning pic heavy) When I started my project I initially had a sketch up of this.
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But then on a visit to a friends to get some dimension idea's I ended up with this for free.
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It has alot in it already, and I think its safe to say it was a chinese mini bike that was gutted. Still has some things like hydraulic disk breaks, drum rear break with foot pedal, throttle with a rusty cable, and I got a free 3/16 plate pre cut to fit the frame :thumbsup:
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Frames a little rusted, handlebars and forks were chrome plated, but have pitted, has a 18" (I think that was the size) rear tire and has hydraulic fork shocks.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:01 am
by battlelava
Continued...
The next day I ran to harbor freight and bought a 212 cc 6.5hp engine to throw in there only to find it was to big. So after returning it for a smaller engine 99cc now there was still a few big problems.

After grinding parts that were cut off somewhat down I had to reweld this section, which wasn't fun to do with a stick welder, but its not coming apart now.
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I then had to make a custom exhaust because with the muffler on it would dump exhaust in my lap, so I ran to home depot and bought some black pipe (this is a small budget build) and made a "ghetto" exhaust (What i've called it since that's what all my friends nicknamed it)
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Then I took it to my friends shop so I could mig weld the engine plate on.
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Fits the frame nice so there's no giant empty spaces, but left enough room for a battery and some electrical components I plan to install later.
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Its all somewhat polished up and gave it a coat of auto primer. I was going to make it a red but I bought black primer by mistake.
Just received the clutch, 5/8 Bore 12 tooth #35 chain, 10' of #35 chain and a new throttle cable.
Tired to hook up the chain and ran into a big roadblock, rear sprocket is for #25 chain :censure:. Took the sprocket to a nearby store to see if they one, they did but with wrong wrong sections and instead of drilling through, (they are extremely overpriced $30 for the sprocket or 12$ at Northern-tool) I had to return it.
In the meantime I've installed a return spring, and started my attempt on hooking up the throttle cable. (pics to be coming soon). I've also started on thinking out the lights I was going to place on it, especially since the handbrake has a break light switch it in.

What do you guys think, any criticism welcome. First time building anything of the sort.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:42 pm
by Gun Freak
Looks like it's gonna be a fun project! Nice work so far!

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:51 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Brian will love this, nice job!

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:12 pm
by Jimmy K
Gotta love those predator engines. I built this one last summer using a similar engine:
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:52 pm
by battlelava
Jimmy K wrote:Gotta love those predator engines. I built this one last summer using a similar engine:
[youtube][/youtube]
:evil: Thats the exact one i wanted to build :censure: :mumum: Makes me kind of mad lol

Edit: Will be done soon all i need is a new rear sprocket and it will be completed, rest will be cosmetic

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:15 pm
by RJB INDUSTRIES
You only miss a cannon on the front 8)


RJB INDUSTRIES

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:23 pm
by battlelava
RJB INDUSTRIES wrote:You only miss a cannon on the front 8)


RJB INDUSTRIES
Very Tempting.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:32 pm
by Jimmy K
battlelava wrote: :evil: Thats the exact one i wanted to build :censure: :mumum: Makes me kind of mad lol
Haha that's kind of ironic..

But to be honest, even though mine was really well powered and looked cool (to me, at least), I did an awful job building it.

I've since sold it.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:38 pm
by battlelava
I was going to build my frame from 1.5" galvanized pipe. Ill blow holes in anything with my arc welder

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:43 am
by Crna Legija
battlelava wrote:I was going to build my frame from 1.5" galvanized pipe. Ill blow holes in anything with my arc welder
lol are your leads backwards? you shouldn't have a problem welding galvanized pipe the pre threaded type im thinking off.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:17 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
RJB INDUSTRIES wrote:You only miss a cannon on the front 8)
:D

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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:45 am
by Brian the brain
I sure love a chopper project.
Although I wonder why you would want a gutted chinese minibike as your base.

For the pricetag of that engine you could have bought a complete bike..

Just add up the cost of the cables, carb, airfilter, sprockets chain,battery, wiring, lights end various other stuff.

In my country you can get these bikes from 50 euro's and up.
I'd do it only if you can get the stuff for free or if you can fabricate it.
If not, see what a complete non-runner would cost you locally...

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:19 am
by battlelava
Crna Legija wrote:
battlelava wrote:I was going to build my frame from 1.5" galvanized pipe. Ill blow holes in anything with my arc welder
lol are your leads backwards? you shouldn't have a problem welding galvanized pipe the pre threaded type im thinking off.
My mistake, I meant to say anything thinner.

Brian the brain wrote:I sure love a chopper project.
Although I wonder why you would want a gutted chinese minibike as your base.

For the pricetag of that engine you could have bought a complete bike..

Just add up the cost of the cables, carb, airfilter, sprockets chain,battery, wiring, lights end various other stuff.

In my country you can get these bikes from 50 euro's and up.
I'd do it only if you can get the stuff for free or if you can fabricate it.
If not, see what a complete non-runner would cost you locally...
I agree with you 100% but this was a free frame (already gutted) that was going to be scrapped, so I grabbed it. Came with a bunch of parts arleady such as breaks(front and rear), seat, wheels, Engine plate.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:44 am
by Brian the brain
I agree with you 100% but this was a free frame (already gutted) that was going to be scrapped, so I grabbed it. Came with a bunch of parts arleady such as breaks(front and rear), seat, wheels, Engine plate.
The nice thing about this particular Chinese bike is that it has perfect proportions.
If you would put some apehangers on it and a sprung seat it would be a perfect scaled down bobber bike.
Much better than the standard "chopper"look IMHO..
Maybe just a matter of taste.

The downside to what you have now is that it needs too many parts that, alltogether, will cost you more than the complete thing.
The scale will make it hard to find the right tank too I imagine.
In fact...that might be the main issue,....the tank.

BUT:
If you were planning to build one anyway..at least you now have a frame that looks the part.
I look forward to seeing it come together..