New Improved Felt Red Barron.

I got bored so I rebuilt the death trap... here is the new and improved red barron.

Most notable improvements include a brand new Grubee 66cc engine, kill switch delete w/new grips, sick bikes front mount, sick bikes expansion chamber, an HD flywheel from sick bikes, an 11 tooth sbk sprocket for the jackshaft, and a better fuel tank mounting arrangement that allows me to lower my seat to a comfortable position.

My comments on the new sick bike parts... the expansion chamber is AWESOME!!!! It lets you rev a couple thousand higher in the rpm range giving you access to the additional torque. The only thing I can compare it to is real 3 lobe Honda vtec, ( as in an rsx type s or 99 civic si). If you add the nuvinci hub, 11 tooth sprocket, and air filter what you get is an amazing machine that starts to approach the performance of an actual motorcycle. It really is amazing. The pipe gives you the revs... the revs give you torque... and the nuvinci hub with bigger sprocket lets you effectively use the torque to get speed. I have fallen in love with the red barron all over again. I think the next upgrade is a rock solid head. I will keep you guys posted.

A couple of fabrication tips for anybody building something like this...

I couldn't get the sbp expansion chamber to fit so I fabbed up my own down tube and hanger... very easy to do and it works well with the felt frame. If it looks familiar... thats because it is; I used the stock exhaust and just cut the muffler off leaving the downtube. I used JB weld and the brass pipe fittings that came with the sbp kit to attach the resonance chamber. I cut the silicone tubing and wrapped it around the whole area and hose clamped it tight while the epoxy was still wet. It has cured pretty tight and doesn't leak AT ALL. To hang it I just used a wire coat hanger and bent it to shape, then used the mounting hole and bolt originally intended for the rear fender to hang it. The gas tank mounted easily with some old tire rubber I found on the road and some 5000 lb epoxy. I cut 4 squares using the existing tread pattern on the tire scrap and glued it under the 4 corners of the tank to keep it from rattling. A pair of VERY heavy duty zip ties holds the tank to the rack. I deleted the kill switch using the throttle piece from dax. The thread pitch and hole size were too small so be prepared to drill out and tap a new thread pitch for the throttle cable.

As you will see... still no brakes. I think I am starting to like riding it that way.

Anyways, here are some pics. All comments welcome, hope you enjoy.

rb6.jpg


rb3.jpg


rb3-1.jpg


rb4.jpg


rb1.jpg


rb9.jpg


rb10.jpg
 
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WOW! I think your bike is the nicest one going. Tasteful, impeccable workmanship and overlook the pedals, looks like a lovely small custom motorcycle. Congrats!
 
Realllly nice! You have the best frame out there to make a top tube tank. Why haven't you done it? A front brake really is necessary too, a drum would only enhance the look. Maybe in a few months when you forget how much money you'v already dropped on it (that's how I keep pouring cash into mine). I'm sure the wife wouldn't even argue about investing in brakes.
 
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Realllly nice! You have the best frame out there to make a top tube tank. Why haven't you done it? A front brake really is necessary too, a drum would only enhance the look. Maybe in a few months when you forget how much money you'v already dropped on it (that's how I keep pouring cash into mine). I'm sure the wife wouldn't even argue about investing in brakes.

I wanted to do the top tank conversion but didnt want to mess with the paint and I wanted to weld the holes properly with a tig welder. I am going to build another one somewhere down the road using a blank felt frame, I will do the tank conversion on that one.... along with a rear-disc-brake caliper mount, and engine mounting reinforcements.
 
The bike looks great but you have a death wish if you ride with no brakes. It looks like you have plenty of money to fix it, so please do. Esp for your kid!

Where do you get the large sizes of silicone tubing? Please PM a link.

Why would you take the killswitch off? Do you have a key switch, then?

I can see cutting short the common throttle twist handle grip and using it like a gripshift with regular grips, but why remove the kill switch? This just seems strange.
 
Second reply VTec, I fell so hard for your bike, went to feltracing.com and after drooling over all the goodies, printed off the Felt "1903". It just oozes retro. I won't be able to resist. Never thought I'd even consider that kinda money for a bicycle but WTF you only live once! Again SWEET ride you got there!:D
 
The bike looks great but you have a death wish if you ride with no brakes. It looks like you have plenty of money to fix it, so please do. Esp for your kid!

Where do you get the large sizes of silicone tubing? Please PM a link.

Why would you take the killswitch off? Do you have a key switch, then?

I can see cutting short the common throttle twist handle grip and using it like a gripshift with regular grips, but why remove the kill switch? This just seems strange.

no death wish... I work from home so I get to ride when everybody else is at school and work. I just put around my neighborhood and local streets... we have very wide, empty streets here so it is quite safe barring some major mechanical malfunction. When I need to go somewhere or I am going to go outside my immediate area I take the GEBE townie (complete with both front and rear brakes).

the silicone tubing came with the expansion chamber....

I took the kill switch off because it is cheap, hideously ugly, prone to breaking, and generally doesn't work... I just use the choke to kill it or close the petcock down the street and coast in to my driveway... depending on whether I remember to close the petcock in time.
 
Second reply VTec, I fell so hard for your bike, went to feltracing.com and after drooling over all the goodies, printed off the Felt "1903". It just oozes retro. I won't be able to resist. Never thought I'd even consider that kinda money for a bicycle but WTF you only live once! Again SWEET ride you got there!:D

thank you for the kind words... I really like the 1903 as well... either that or the el guapo.

If you dont want to spend that much cash at once, felt makes a blank frame you can build from scratch... its only like $375. You could build it piece at a time and convert the top tube to a fuel tank before you paint it.

I will say this about the felt... it is one of the most solid, well built cruisers I have ever ridden. The quality in the metal, welds, bearings, wheels, tires, and everything else is the best. It is ubber comfortable/stable at high speeds and well worth the money. You will most definitely get what you pay for. If you need proof go test ride one and then test ride a wal-mart Schwinn.... night and day.

and you are most definitely right... you only live once. Enjoy the ride.
 
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I agree, IMO the graphics on your RB are sharper than the current. As to the quality, I noticed the nice welds, etc. on the Felt from your pics. I've built 3 Huffy/HT's in the last 4 mos. and have already had fender issues. Sold the first. But, still feel like it was a great place to start out. I've ridden road motorcycles off & on most my life. Too many near misses w/ cars. Gave it up. Next up is a Sun Cruiser and grubee gen 4/HS kit build. Also, ordered another bike, a Micargi, since Huffy No. 2 is probably sold too. This hobby has really grabbed hold hard. Building 'em is almost as fun as riding. I need to keep three going to ride w/ my kids( both about your age) and just gave my 16 mo. old granddaughter a ride in the InStep on Thanksgiving. She loved it! Sooo... w/ the two new HT's squirreled back( you too?) I need to slow down spending money on 'em right now. At least 'til after Christmas. That 1903 will be mine! The forums are great too. I'm humbled by the fabulous stuff you and others are doing here.
 
Thanks for the reply. I like my kill switch. I see it as a safety precaution (throttle hangup, emergency stop, angry neighbors, unhappy cops).

I would never ride a bike without brakes because falling off or crashing even at 10mph can hurt pretty bad.

no death wish... I work from home so I get to ride when everybody else is at school and work. I just put around my neighborhood and local streets... we have very wide, empty streets here so it is quite safe barring some major mechanical malfunction. When I need to go somewhere or I am going to go outside my immediate area I take the GEBE townie (complete with both front and rear brakes).

the silicone tubing came with the expansion chamber....

I took the kill switch off because it is cheap, hideously ugly, prone to breaking, and generally doesn't work... I just use the choke to kill it or close the petcock down the street and coast in to my driveway... depending on whether I remember to close the petcock in time.
 
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