Austin Speed Shop

Dropped by one of my favorite shops, the Austin Speed Shop.

Rocco that runs the front of the shop is always super friendly and good for a chat.

They always seem to have plenty of great projects in the works. It's nice to be inspired by great craftsmanship and get excited again about my own projects.

Austin Taco Tour

Breakfast tacos with spinach from the Counter Cafe.

Then hit up Tacos for lunch. Can't go wrong with the fried avocado taco and the Dirty Sanchez with egg, fried poblano pepper and pickled carrots.

I'm really gonna miss the amazing food when I head back to Salt Lake.

75 Degree Tday

Where the rubber meets the road

Porsche Love

Got to sit behind the wheel of my dream car.

Porsche GT3RS

Couldn't drive it but still starting it up and sitting behind the wheel was enough to put a big smile on my face.

Biz Card

Whipped up this biz card for Tyler before the Dice Magazine party this weekend. He owes me one.

Shop Tuesday

Work continues on the rear tank mount.

Got the tank prepped and welded so I can weld in the new mount.

Welded the new mount front and back.

Triumph Updates

Just taking stock of what's been accomplished on the Triumph since moving shops in mid Sept.

-New handle bars installed and cut down 1.5"
-Hand controls installed
-Clutch lever cut and shortened 1.5"
-Gas tank, reinstalled tunnel, patches filled and all welded up.
-Seat spring acquired, torn down and blasted
-Frame drilled for the seat spring mounts
-Custom seat spring mounting bungs fabbed and welded into the frame
-Designed custom two piece seat pan
-Laser cut custom seat pan from 11g steel
-Bead blasted custom points cover and oil feed
-Hand filed oil feed to remove all 'machining' marks
-Polished custom bronze finned points cover
-Welded rear fender brace to inner fender
-Fabbed the new rear upper fender mount
-Designed and fabbed new rear tank mount which is integrated into the seat spring mount

Next up

-Weld in new rear tank mount
-Weld in new front tank mounts
-Weld in new fuel petcock bungs
-Weld in the new rear fender frame crossover
-Weld in the new rear fender upper mount
-Mount new seat pan
-Mount and weld the new oil tank
-Fabricate new rear brake stay
-Fabricate new rear brake rod and mounts
-Install custom rear motor mounts
-Install foot controls
-Install chain
-Design and fab the new exhaust pipes
-Design and fab new headlight mount
-Design and fab new rear license plate and tail light mount
-Shave front forks
-Wiring/electrical
-Fire it up!
-Tear it down for Paint, Polish and Plating

I feel like I've crossed the half way point but you just never know how many more hours to go.

Monday Night Shop

Work continues on the tank mount.

Had to score the tab with a cut wheel so I could bend it.

I have a little welding to do to finish it but the hard part is done.

Tank Mount V.2

I wasn't happy with the symmetry of the first tank mount so I decided to start over. If it doesn't meet the standard there's no point in continuing with it.

Work work

I got a little work on the Triumph done today. I finished forming the curve in what will be the new rear fender mount. Then I made a template for the new rear tank mount and got it traced out on 1/8" steel. I just got the shape roughed in and still need to file it to perfection and bend the 90 degree flip.

Fender

Working on the rear fender tonight. Finished shaping the 3/16" x 3/4" center support brace and got it welded in. I am adding the center brace so I don't have to run rear fender strut braces like most bikes have. I want to keep the profile line of the bike as clean as possible.

I've been practicing my TIG skills and showing improvement but still have a long way to go.