Des Moines Vintage Bike Night | Events

Posted: May 02, 2021 by noahyamen Des Moines Vintage Bike Night We're back! This year's first event will be kicking off at Captain Roy's, located at 1900 Saylor Rd, Des Moines, IA 50313. Food and drinks are available from Captain Roy's with ample parking for all w...

Lotus CB750 Pretty Much Wrapped Up | Lotus CB750

Posted: October 29, 2019 by noahyamen Lotus CB750 Pretty Much Wrapped Up It's been a while since my last post on this bike! A lot has happened since then. The wiring and electronics have been updated. It's all hidden underneath the gas tank, per usual on my bikes. Installe...

CB750 monoshock and subframe complete | Lotus CB750

Posted: April 24, 2019 by noahyamen CB750 monoshock and subframe complete The monoshock is mounted and everything supporting it is fabricated. As well as the subframe / seat support. Pretty happy with how the lines turned out. A lot of apposing 45º angles. Up next will be t...

CB750 Monoshock Fabrication Complete | Lotus CB750

Posted: February 02, 2019 by noahyamen CB750 Monoshock Fabrication Complete Making good progress on this 1980 CB750 DOHC. The monoshock is now complete and functioning. I'm going with a fairly aggressive stance on this bike. The shock is from an XV750 Virago, and includes the...

Tear-Down & Monoshock Build | Lotus CB750

Posted: December 15, 2018 by noahyamen Tear-Down & Monoshock Build Began the construction on this 1980 Honda CB750 this week. Started with tearing down some of the unnecessary components, as well as cutting off the rear frame. This opened the way to start fabricating...

Wrapping up the XV750 | Virago VX750

Posted: November 15, 2018 by noahyamen Wrapping up the XV750 It's been quite a while since I've done any posts, particularly about this XV750 Virago. But a lot of progress has been made since that last post. It's at a point now where its just a matter of tying ...

Tank Polishing | CB750 DOHC

Posted: July 27, 2018 by noahyamen Tank Polishing After several hours of sanding on top of several more hours of sanding, I managed to get through multiple layers of paint and putty to reach the bare metal. Then, after even more sanding, I got the me...

Tank paint stripping | Virago VX750

Posted: July 25, 2018 by noahyamen Tank paint stripping After being inactive on here for a while I finally made some time to post some new stuff. This weeks post has me getting some updates to Cade’s virago underway. Using my favorite stuff for stripping p...

Facelift Part-2 | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: October 10, 2017 by noahyamen Facelift Part-2 I've covered some ground with the facelift for the GL1000. After lots and lots of sanding and polishing, I've got a nice shiny finish on the gas tanks. Now that the redkote has dried and sealed inside...

Facelift for my bobber | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: August 16, 2017 by noahyamen Facelift for my bobber I've finally had some time to start work on a number of facelift items that I've been wanting to do for a while on my bike. Originally I would have loved to start with a bare metal tank, polish it up ...

CB750 Running & First Ride | Flamer CB750F

Posted: July 28, 2017 by noahyamen CB750 Running & First Ride This 1974 SOHC Honda CB750four was gifted to me by a friend. No title, not running, been sitting for a few years. This week I made some time to start poking around at it. A couple nights ago I took th...

Started the tear down | Virago VX750

Posted: July 17, 2017 by noahyamen Started the tear down The process has begun for a friend's build; 1986 Yamaha Virago VX750. Got started with the initial tear-down to see what I have to work with. I've been excited to start this project because of how the...

Made some velocity stacks | Stinger CB350F

Posted: July 17, 2017 by noahyamen Made some velocity stacks Thought I'd make some velocity stacks this weekend. This bike needs some more copper accents and this definitely helps....

Stinger is all wrapped up, the leather that is... | Stinger CB350F

Posted: July 12, 2017 by noahyamen Stinger is all wrapped up, the leather that is... Not a whole lot to say this time. This bike is pretty much done for now. Picked up the seat last night, as the upholsterer was able to finish it. Then Tia was able to ride the bike for the first time....

Lighting & Wiring Completed | Stinger CB350F

Posted: June 28, 2017 by noahyamen Lighting & Wiring Completed Just wrapped up the last of the wiring and lighting. Installed front and rear turn signals, and a side-mount taillight and license plate bracket. Also wired up new front and rear brake light switches....

Copper Fuel Lines and Painted Frame | Stinger CB350F

Posted: June 22, 2017 by noahyamen Copper Fuel Lines and Painted Frame The tinkering never ends! Last night I played around with forming some copper fuel overflow lines that follow the shape of the motor's curves. And I did a quick spray can job on the modified areas of ...

New Exhaust, Coming Together Nicely | Stinger CB350F

Posted: June 12, 2017 by noahyamen New Exhaust, Coming Together Nicely The progress has been good and steady over the last couple of months and now it's really coming together nicely. This month I'll be able to see phase-1 of the bike complete. I want Tia to be able to e...

New Product Available - Cable Plugs! | News

Posted: June 02, 2017 by noahyamen New Product Available - Cable Plugs! These cable plugs fill in the holes left behind after removing your tachometer and/or speedometer cables. They fit most Honda bikes.  Orders come with a set of 2 cable plugs. They're made from a high-...

Seat Base Finished | Stinger CB350F

Posted: May 30, 2017 by noahyamen Seat Base Finished Over the long weekend I was able to finish making the seat base and mounting brackets. Welded the sheet metal to the seat base frame on both sides. Once the foam arrives in the mail I can shape it and...

Working On The Seat | Stinger CB350F

Posted: May 25, 2017 by noahyamen Working On The Seat Now that the ignition and carb's are all set, I can get back to the fun cosmetic stuff. The other day I was able to whip up a nice base frame for the seat. Here you'll see the frame of the seat base i...

The Stinger Lives! | Stinger CB350F

Posted: May 25, 2017 by noahyamen The Stinger Lives! Last weekend I spent some time rebuilding a new set of old carburetors for this bike. They had definitely been sitting for quite some time. One of the sliding pistons was stuck, and each bowl had buil...

New Paint Job for 2008 Honda Shadow | Commissions

Posted: May 09, 2017 by noahyamen New Paint Job for 2008 Honda Shadow My good friend Justin Clark came to me to do a paint job for his 2008 Honda Shadow. He wanted to go with an army green color to give it a more classic and vintage look. So he dropped his bike off with...

Battery and Electronics Tray | Stinger CB350F

Posted: April 10, 2017 by noahyamen Battery and Electronics Tray With the stinger tail out of the way, I could finally start moving on to some other things on the bike. In this round I was able to make the electronic components tray. After shaping the box, I then w...

Stinger Tail Hoop: DONE! | Stinger CB350F

Posted: January 24, 2017 by noahyamen Stinger Tail Hoop: DONE! I've managed to finish bending and shaping the stinger tail for my wife's CB350f. It took a couple of tries, but I finally got it right. Now it's welded on and contoured with the frame. ...

Updating the stinger tail | Stinger CB350F

Posted: November 30, 2016 by noahyamen Updating the stinger tail Each time I went back out to the shop and looked at it, I felt like I could do a better job than I did. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the first "stinger" tail I did so I thought I'd give it another go....

Stinger tail hoop wrapped up | Stinger CB350F

Posted: November 25, 2016 by noahyamen Stinger tail hoop wrapped up Found some time today to wrap up the "stinger" tail hoop for the CB350f. Very slowly, I would heat up a portion of each side of it and bend it slightly. Then, little by little, I was able to get the s...

Stinger Tail | Stinger CB350F

Posted: November 15, 2016 by noahyamen Stinger Tail Since the last post for this bike, I've installed the Dyna S electronic ignition and we've completed the tank. I've picked up a new set of carbs as well, since I found the original ones had several st...

One-Off Bike Nite | Photos and Videos | Events

Posted: September 02, 2016 by noahyamen One-Off Bike Nite | Photos and Videos The One-Off Bike Nite has come and gone! It was a lot of fun, and great to have everybody there. This was the last bike nite of the year, and it was our largest turn-out yet. We had contests, "brap li...

One-Off Bike Nite - Sep 1st, 2016 (DMVBN) | Events

Posted: August 21, 2016 by noahyamen One-Off Bike Nite - Sep 1st, 2016 (DMVBN) Join us September 1st for the ONE-OFFS night! Enter your unique creations for a chance to win prizes and challenge your friends in our field games! Free admission and participation. 'Brap Life” T-Shir...

Painted tank, cowl, radiator shrouds, and headlight frame | Flying Brick K75

Posted: August 05, 2016 by noahyamen Painted tank, cowl, radiator shrouds, and headlight frame For the body parts, I opted for a slight off-white paint. I think it bounces against the gold frame and black engine nicely. I was able to find a set of radiator shrouds online, thankfully. I think th...

Powder-coated frame and wheels | Flying Brick K75

Posted: July 26, 2016 by noahyamen Powder-coated frame and wheels I went with a bolder choice this time around and went with a faded gold for the wheels and frame. Gotta say, I love how they turned out. I think it will bounce against the black engine and white body ...

3D printed gauge cluster | Flying Brick K75

Posted: July 25, 2016 by noahyamen 3D printed gauge cluster I have to say my favorite toy is my 3D printer. Being able to 3D model the things that don't exist makes it a whole lot easier to make the parts I need. In this case, there wasn't anything solid enoug...

First phase of paint | Flying Brick K75

Posted: July 10, 2016 by noahyamen First phase of paint After finally degreasing the motor and throttle body I was able to paint the entire block, swing arm, and valve cover.The valve cover could stand to be replaced, since it has road rash on it. But unti...

Stripping down and cleaning up | Flying Brick K75

Posted: July 01, 2016 by noahyamen Stripping down and cleaning up Right, down to business then. After taking it apart it was mind blowing to think it even ran. There were up to 2 inches of dirt and grime caked on top of the motor in some areas. Let alone how nasty j...

New Project: 1987 BMW K75 C | Flying Brick K75

Posted: June 25, 2016 by noahyamen New Project: 1987 BMW K75 C Picked up another fun new project now. A 1987 BMW K75 C. It was time to get a bike that could carry both myself and my wife together, for traveling. Up until now, we've only had single seater bikes.Th...

Weber IDF 40 carbs, clip-ons, and controls | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: May 25, 2016 by noahyamen Weber IDF 40 carbs, clip-ons, and controls For several years I wanted to attempt setting up dual Weber IDF 40 carbs on this. It's such a beautiful look, and an improvement in power. This year I finally pulled the trigger and bought the carbs. ...

New Project: My wife's Honda CB350four | Stinger CB350F

Posted: December 01, 2014 by noahyamen New Project: My wife's Honda CB350four Before we even started seeing each other, my wife had a bike of her own. She bought a 1972 Honda CB350four from a local guy for $400. Needed some work, (and still does) but it's complete. I've bought ...

Reassembling the GB500 | Little Wing GB500

Posted: November 04, 2014 by noahyamen Reassembling the GB500 Finally, after replacing virtually everything, rebuilding just about every component, the GB500 is ready to ride. Here's a number of the things that were done: The fuel tank was full of rust, so to cl...

Restoring the shiny bits | Little Wing GB500

Posted: October 27, 2014 by noahyamen Restoring the shiny bits This poor thing was littered with spots and surface rust. Fortunately, with the chrome parts, there's a pretty cool trick for getting rid of the light surface rust; take the shiny side of aluminum foi...

Rebuilding Master Cylinder / Caliper | Little Wing GB500

Posted: October 26, 2014 by noahyamen Rebuilding Master Cylinder / Caliper Among the MANY things that needed rebuilding on this, was the master cylinder and brake caliper. After opening up the MC, I found that whatever brake fluid was in there had turned into a solid gel.So ...

Carb Rebuild | Little Wing GB500

Posted: October 22, 2014 by noahyamen Carb Rebuild I wasted no time digging into this bike. With all the fond memories I've had on these I wanted to get it running as soon as possible.First order of business was pulling the carb for cleaning and rebui...

New restoration project! | Little Wing GB500

Posted: October 21, 2014 by noahyamen New restoration project! Back when I lived in New Zealand, I had a couple of GB400 Honda's. Some of the fondest memories I have are hooning around there on them. So when a GB500 happened to show up for sale on Craigslist loca...

Coming Together | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: May 15, 2013 by noahyamen Coming Together A number of things changed since the last update. The painted motor ended up having some problems. So eventually I replaced it with a good one I had acquired. This time I left the motor unpainted, and...

Painting things | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: April 16, 2013 by noahyamen Painting things Got around to sand-blasting and painting the majority of parts black: Engine block, frame, swing arm and wheels....

Split Tanks | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: March 08, 2013 by noahyamen Split Tanks I used a set of split tanks off of an old Harley for this one. Some modification had to be done to make this work though. The bottom of the tanks needed to be reshaped in order to fit around the elect...

Building the seat | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: March 05, 2013 by noahyamen Building the seat The setup for the seat is pretty simple. I'm just running a single square tube from the neck back, and angled it down to follow the lines of the monoshock.Here you'll see I've made a pan seat, which y...

Neck Support, Airbox, Electronics | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: December 20, 2012 by noahyamen Neck Support, Airbox, Electronics One of the largest hurdles from doing a monoshock setup on a vintage Goldwing is the relocation of the fuel tank. Normally, the tank is located under the seat. But with the monoshock this obviously wo...

Monoshock Fabrication | Deathwing GL1000

Posted: December 15, 2012 by noahyamen Monoshock Fabrication Here's the start of a new project: 1976 Honda GL1000 Goldwing Bobber. Everyone's always laughed when i tell them how long I've wanted to do a Goldwing bobber. It sounds ridiculous, because it kind of ...

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