Hello liked minded people!
My name is Noah, im 31 years old...and Ive got the travel bug.

My parents were missionaries and Ive been traveling since I could walk!
Done quite a few road trips around east africa and through eastern europe and asia, but always in cagers.

Been planing a bike trip for the past year now to do the pan-american top to bottom. Hopefully it all comes together!
I have a mortgage and am currently remodeling the house, putting an apt above the garage to move my gear into and hopefully rent out the house to help pay the mortgage! (im a carpenter by trade)

Target date for kicking off the trip is summer 2012 if the $ is there.

And now, since I know you guys love pics, I'll post some of me bike!
I am currently enduroless, but have built my own machine which is a crotch rocket..my first one..lots of fun while you have to be in one place, but im missing the dual sport bikes i must admit...onto the photos!




I started with this..a 1987 Yamaha FZ700..behold her majesty!








Started tearing her down after I had a massive accident...(i put her down at just over 100mph)








And started designing something unique for very little cash.

I found a single sided swingarm for cheap








Need to change the shock mount







Little bit of lathe work and the swingarm fit in the frame and was bolted up







I went with a 17inch car wheel in the back







And was able to fit a newer set of forks up front







Here she is on her own two wheels again







Bought a newer tank







And was able to get her to fit..took a bit of work!







Then I started looking for a seat.
Have you guys ever seen those little bikes..i think they call them pocket bikes? they are so small with weedeater engines?
Well I saw one of those one day and thought...i like that seat!








I was able to pick one up for $10







She looked a bit ugly and needed some trimming and paint
But a little elbow grease and she was coming together







I traded a fella in Seattle a bit of work on his apt for a KTM Duke Headlight







The lines flowed pretty good







I read about building a lightweight battery from A123 cells and had to give it a go.









She worked the trick and was very small and lightweight. You guys should build some of these! Very easy and dont cost too much. I started my little car with it. works great!






I took the bike to a show at the local fair grounds just for fun, I knew it would mostly be Harleys and other cruisers.







A bit out of place







I ended up being given a plaque! Matching the theme of the event which was "Magic in the Air" I was very surprised because my bike was so out of place!




I still need to finish a bit of wiring for the signals and horn and I need to finish the brake system. The plan is to ride this bike the first half of the 2011 season and then sell her to buy the bike for the trip on the pan-american.
Hopefully someone will be interested...custom bikes have appeal to only a few folks!

Anyway thats a bit about me and what im about.
Looking forward to a bit of fun here on the board..Ive been lurking for quite some time now! Thought I had better start posting

Warm Regards to You All!
Noah M

Hello Noah, and to the fold. Nice pics and interesting projects you've got on your hands. Good luck on your 2012 South America trip .

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

Thanks Thomas! I just read your thread over on ADVrider..great trip with the Misses!

Hello, and welcome to the board!

Congratulations for your bike, really nice!!!!

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

Welcome to the site, nice good putting that bike together. Do you have a name for her other than "her majesty"

haha..nope i never named her.
just "the project"

I just finished my keyless ignition with the RFID, mounted the signals and got the horn working..now im attaching an acewell and am waiting for my $60 temp sensor to show up from Australia.

Going to look at a dual sport bike this weekend.
I just sold my motorhome so its time to start looking for the next bike