A red bike but not like anything else

Can you build a bobber from Steed and say something new? My motorcycle is the answer to this question.

Touched by life and bad roads, Honda Steed 600 appeared in my workshop almost by accident and with an unknown purpose. It was bought by the ad and when I came to see it, the bike was standing in a damp garage and water was dripping from a leaky roof. The motorcycle was on the move, but the price was not high. Just another donor without a special charisma, reliable and unpretentious. For a year and a half it waited for its time X, when the hand of the master will touch it and give a new life.

I decided to do this project thoroughly, completely remaking the frame, and not just saw off the rear (leaving ugly stubs under the seat) and pulling a Sportster tank on the frame. From the steering column to the pendulum supports a new frame with a single ridge is made. The geometry is left native, because it is very good. The lateral pipes were specially bent under the glove boxes from the Pannonia (they had been calling for eyes for a long time, it was necessary to apply them somewhere). The pendulum received a new upper part, symmetrical, in contrast to the stock.
In the course of experiments with various forks and wheels, I decided to stop on the springer from the vls model and the wheel about 16 inches. The rear wing is made of native anterior, by the method of welding. The gas tank (cataloged, dusted on the shelf for a couple of years) with minor digestion found its place on the new frame ridge. The headlight based on the tractor, mufflers made of stainless steel have built-in flutes of very cunning design, the sound is pleasant and noble. The base of the saddle was tapped from a steel sheet 2.5 mm thick.
A new radiator casing is made. The engine got rid of Honda's inscriptions and got new steel covers of valve covers, it looked unusual. The handlebars are bent in 5 minutes out of the tube. The fork was tipped off extra and took a modified wheel for its brake.

And this is almost ready bobber in the metal. But something is wrong. I decided not to paint a motorcycle at all, let nature do it. Everything was dismantled, all the seams were licked, all the iron polished almost in the mirror, including the frame. In this way my Red began to be born. Not like anything else. Many experiments with rust types gave an excellent result, in which hydrochloric acid, ferric chloride and soy sauce (!) took part.
The chrome was mercilessly torn off by the Bulgarians, the scratches of which were left on purpose (this too has its own beauty, the true beauty of metal, its textures and colors). Look at all these multicolored stains. No paint can compare with this. Most importantly, we managed to find a suitable varnish to preserve all this multicolor.

All the wiring was extremely simplified and rewound with a cloth tape, while attaching it to the frame with a knitting wire. The footrests are made of chains, a stop from the bell (straight corporate style already). By the way, only the tank and turn signals have catalog origin on the motorcycle, and then, they were bought long ago, not for this project and thoroughly refined before installation. Brass parts have become an excellent addition to the red color, some are polished, some deliberately left with production scratches. In the finish there are shells from rifles of different calibers, a bull head with unknown origin, leather belts with brass buckles, a mirror from a fossil scooter T200.
One of the main things is the seat. I've wanted to do this for a long time. It is not easy to "make" a tire)). A nostalgic glove compartment from the bicycle is hung to the seat, which matches well color and size.

The motorcycle is completely adapted for driving, therefore the native consoles are left. The suspension works fine, the brakes are good. It's really comfortable to sit. Dynamics is good and really pleases, despite one carburetor with homemade air. It's nice to ride!!

This is not a rat bike in any way, it is too high-quality and thoughtful. It is not from here at all and looks alien in the usual landscapes. My red bike, not like anything else. And let get some wind im my red beard when I'm on it ...