[Closed] Homemade, CNC'd balance bike - much progress!

Just weighed the bars and stem which came in at a svelte 235g 🙂

I'm also starting to like the raw finish...

You're not going to want to paint over that. It looks gorgeous as it is.

Bars and stem back from the anodisers:

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Just brilliant 🙂

And more progress but I'm not showing any pics yet 😉
Got the forks cut to length and started making the dropouts. Did a quite assembly with forks in place and it looks good!
I think you'll like them (hopefully)..

Double post, sorry..

Can you make me one? 😀

More progress - taking shape now 😀

Forks finished, just need to glue the lowers in place. Front end all fits nicely and feels solid.

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Yes, I know the tyre's on back to front...

You have one lucky daughter. That looks amazing. Can't wait to see the whole bike assembled.

Thank you for sharing.

Well, she'd better be grateful when she does get it 'cos there's lots of mtbers on here who wish their Dads had made them one.

I like the end caps on the forks. Did you use a 5 axis?

She'd better be grateful or it'll be on the classifieds 😉

Yes Larry, Bridgeport 5th axis. Makes this sort of stuff nice and easy 🙂

Very very nice!

It's lovely but probably about 500% stronger than any childs bike has any right to be. would like to see how the weight compares to an off the shelf model.

This is a thing of beauty 🙂

Love how you've adapted my stanchions; the white paint job looks really smart. You need some top caps in the forks now. 😉

Thanks guys. @Edd, yeah, really pleased with the forks. They came out better than I thought as I thought they'd be a bit big but they look great.

Finished machining the slots for the swingarm and seatube so have assembled using the plasticine weld method. I'm pretty stoked with it to be honest...just need a proper weld, saddle and spray job.

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That is fantastic. Looking forward to seeing it finished now !!

Superb. Would love one of those for my kids. How much for a production version 😀

PS: I think you are using the term 'homemade' a little loosely though! 😆

Jaw has dropped.

Excellent

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_spares/likeabike_jumper_saddle.php

Good saddle here

Liking that a lot, and feeling so glad I gave you those bars rather than the other ones I found. Any chance of getting some welding done?

WOW!

fair play - that is amazing

Excellent.

[img] [/img]

That looks bloody fantastic - good job 🙂

*puts stevied on pedestal next to mcmoonter*

Truly amazing! Great use of your skills stevied

Thanks for all the comments guys. @aracer: have FB'd you 😉
Unfortunately my boss won't let me make any more 🙁
One more pic from the side:
[IMG] [/IMG]
Can't wait to get it finished now. Saddle should be here Monday, eBay bargain..

thats nicer than my bike! 🙁

Best thread evvvveerrrrr......

Unfortunately my boss won't let me make any more

I reckon the boss should seriously look at working out what they could be made for (cost) and create a new niche market. Those forks look the BIZ!! I bet there is a small market for "custom made" balance bikes especially for some of the so called "riders" in London who quite happily splash 10k on their first road bike without a second thought.

Saddle arrived and fitted. Welder has been off sick so still waiting for the back end to be welded.
Needed a seat tube clamp so resigned the Hope on to this and bought I nice Thomson one for my bike. It's the most expensive piece on this..[IMG] [/IMG]

All the other kids in the playground are going to have serious bike envy!

I've been following this thread with total admiration. Lovely work and great skills all round. 😀

seriously, what would this cost to produce a run of say 20 of em?

I would have one.

Now we need a " name this bike" thread 💡 😆

As above boss should consider a production run......

That is a true thing of beauty - well played. 🙂

Sweeeeeeet!

Well done, good job.

[u][b]If it ever comes up for sale, I want 1st dibs please[/b][/u] 🙂

needs a reverb.....

Thanks everyone for the nice comments.
Once it's done I'll have a chat with the boss to see if he'd be interested in doing a run of them.
Would take a bit of work as I'd have to source tyres, wheels etc and would need to re-work the fork as buying a load of CSU's would be expensive...
How much do you think people would pay for one?

I'd be a bit wary of getting too into the idea of making a few of them without firm commitment - easy for people to say on here they'd buy one, may be a different story when it actually comes down to it!

Good point. I'd probably go the route of asking for a deposit 1st..but need to see what the boss man says

Looks fantastic, a top effort and serious man points to stevied.
I hate be a killjoy but I imagine there would be all sorts of CE marking and product liability hoops to jump through before offering a general sale version. This would possibly make a small production run unrealistic.

Excellent. We will all look forward to a review of the first ride.