Seat, Tank, and another Sold!

I'll start with the sold part first.....it's my most exciting news and if you know me you know that I love that green paper!  I finally dialed in on the "Brat's" engine and did a 60 mile journey last week.  I loved every minute of the sunny ride.  I only wished that Marie could join me, but unfortunately I removed the passenger pegs....so this ride is a one person machine.  After my ride I did a little polishing and took some pictures.  I wrote a detailed Craigslist posting and less than 24 hours later money was in my hand.  A real nice person from Seattle purchased it.

Before my hands touched her....

what a machine....one of my favorites.

For my next build......"Ellie".  I left off with making a rear hoop for the frame and a seat pan.  I purchased some leather from our local glove factory and took the pan and leather to my upholster.  He created a beatiful seat...using a vintage tuck and roll design.  I love it!

Why is her name Ellie?  Ellie is short for Elsinore.  The Honda Elsinore (named after Lake Elsinore, California) was Honda's first built from scratch motocross bike....built in the  1960's.  It was a 250cc 2-stroked engine.  The Honda Elsinore is the Grandaddy of all dirt bikes.  So, I'm taking this 500cc 4-stroked street bike and giving it a motocross look. 

black leather...so smooth.

smells so good too.....

I have been working on the fuel tank for a few weeks now.  I striped the old paint, spread body filler on some uneven surfaces, primed, painted, added a decal, and clear coated for a gloss finish.

nasty stripper....

primed....

Metallic silver....getting masked off for striping.  That German Pils is a damn good brew too!

starting to look like something....

vintage decal.....now off to clear coating....

ready to paint the frame...

The bike is all mocked up.  Now it's in a million pieces ready to be painted.  The frame will be glossy black.