TOPIC:

I'm crazy for doing this but I have the chance to put together a real shop to build some bikes with a friend who has the room and the equipment/cash to get the equipment. We have approx 40'x40' and we want to buy frames, store them and build 4 to 6 bikes a year for the next 10 or 20 years. My question is, and without getting crazy, what equipment should we buy? We have hand tools and widgets galore so I dont really need help there so much as big stuff. Here is list of stuff I think we need.

Air compressor/compressor system, accessories
Bike lifts
Welder, accessories
Media blast cabinet, accessories
Parts washer
Tubing bender
Chop saw
Grinders
Clamps,and more clamps
Vices
Engine stands
Work benches
Id like to be able to make fenders and tanks but have NO CLUE what equipment I need.
Ventilation
Brooms and bucket and mops and dust control etc
Safety equipment


We would out source all painting, powder coat, plating and machine work, all of which are available within 2 miles of our space. The space we will use is in an existing and successful light manufacturing facility. Electrical power is readily available. Did I miss anything? I'm used to working in shops, but not bike shops.

Thanks for checking out my post. I hope I get some good ideas of how to start this thing right.


SG

sounds like youve pretty much covered it,ive got most of the same for my shop im starting just waiting for the lady with commercial bay 5 blocks from here to call me back!

I know someone who may still have an English wheel for sale. If you really wanna go all out making fenders. PM me if you're interested, and I'll give him a call. You'd have to ship it from N.C., just so you know.

what kind of bikes are you wanting to build? im going to try and concentrate on the rebuilt/restored parts end of the buisness(spell check! )
im also going to sell antique and hot rod car/truck parts from the 20s-70s and drag boat parts from 60s-early 80s just so dont get bored,also gives me an excuse to hang out at swap meets buying/selling old car/truck stuff!

We will be focusing on 70's japanese bikes (do other motorcycles exist?)... Building cafe racers and restoring bikes to stock, I would build choppers and bobbers if the right design came into my head. I personally love KZ'z and CB's, but we wont shy away from anything that seems project worthy. The goal is to expand the thing into also restoring / manufacturing repros of hard to find parts. My buddy has 25 years of manufacturing experience to draw on.

good luck with your endeavor, I like the " gives me an excuse to hang out at swap meets buying/selling old car/truck stuff" idea.

rubber down
SG

yeah after 1980 my interest in bikes really drops,well hell after 1978 when they quit putting wire wheels on kz1000s is the begining of the end for me!
if i was to start doing frame up complete bikes id really be in trouble cuz i wouldnt want to sell anything,its a lot harder to become attached to parts than a complete bike!

You'll definately need a metal lathe and possibly a Bridgeport. Your welding outfit should be able to handle aluminum so look into a TIG or a MIG with spool attachment. You'll need measuring tools like dial bore gauges, micrometers, etc and a truing stand for wheels and crankshafts. some sort of press either hyd or arbor. I wouldn't go too crazy right now, let your shop grow with your business. You'll save a ton of money painting yourself, so you should practice, it's not hard.

Here's my lathe, nothing special but I would never own a shop without one. You can find a decent lathe with some tooling for about a grand. I only spent $100 on this old hag.

really good radio that gets those good no comercial college/public stations...microwave....

two person fold out couch and color t.v for when the wives find out what you two are spending all the money on.........

first aid kits...eye wash station...fire extinguishers.....

porno mag centerfolds to put on the walls to cover the holes.

I have set my shop up for many of the tools you are talking about.

Welder-go 220. And go with a big name that parts are available for.
Tube bender- jd2. I have a model 32 full hydro. Excellent tool!
Drill press
Band saw. You can get by with a chop saw but band saws better.
Plasma torch- go big so it cuts the small stuff easily
Bending brakes - sheet metal work and brackets
Slip roll-sheet metal
English wheel
Planishing hammer
Oxyacetylene torch


Lots more tools but these are the Important ones that come to mind.

The # 1 tool I used the most in my restorations was a quality bench grinder with a wire wheel and the ability to change to a different stage alloy polishing attachment.

0Z.Z1R Mk2 wrote: The # 1 tool I used the most in my restorations was a quality bench grinder with a wire wheel and the ability to change to a different stage alloy polishing attachment.

X2 I have a 8" bench grinder. The wire wheels are expensive but last a long time. I have a piece of angle iron that lines up with the side of my wheel to square up pieces I have made. Not recommended by the safety folks.