Want to know how we made that thang? Building Kandiru |
Above: The prototype of the Wizard Bros Z4 frame in preliminary road-testing mode, before fitting the bike's spandex/epoxy/foam bodywork. This frame differs from the production frame in several ways. We have since changed the dropouts slightly, for a smoother look on an uncovered frame. In this frame, the seat tube is perpendicular to the upper stay; in the production version, the seat tube is perpendicular to the lower stay, for more tire clearance with a conventional saddle. The repop Schwinn-style springer fork we acquired for this machine has a shorter than Schwinn-length steer tube, so the head tube is 4.75: long, rather than the Schwinn standard 5.5" head tube length of our production frame. Kandiru is the first of four machines we are building using the Z4 frame. In progress at the moment is a kustom "woody" version, to be followed by a bare-frame "street rod" and a motorized version powered by a Honda 250cc 2-stroke engine. After these machines are finished, we are considering production of a limited number of replica frames for sale. Jim Wilson |
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Kandiru is a kustom-bodied roadster based on the prototype of a new frame design. The Wizard Bros Z4 frame is of .brazed 030 CrMo tubing. The incredible lightness of the frame (6.5 pounds) means that, even with the considerably weightier bodywork fitted (12.5 pounds) it hardly weighs any more than a normal cruiser bicycle. This is good, as Kandiru is not a show bike; it is built for promenading on the street. The overall length of the bike is slightly less than 8 feet, which gives it a fairly large turning radius. However, it is still capable of making a U-turn within the width of a residential street. As Baton Rouge :LA, the machine's stomping ground, is flat as a pancake, we felt that a single-speed coaster brake-fitted rear was sufficient to its needs. Aside from its length and semi-recumbent layout, the bike provides a very smooth and conventional ride. As Kandiru's "wedgie" seat is only 24" from the pavement, it feels very stable. |
Above: The prototype of the Wizard Bros Z4 frame in preliminary road-testing mode, before fitting the bike's spandex/epoxy/foam bodywork. This frame differs from the production frame in several ways. We have since changed the dropouts slightly, for a smoother look on an uncovered frame. In this frame, the seat tube is perpendicular to the upper stay; in the production version, the seat tube is perpendicular to the lower stay, for more tire clearance with a conventional saddle. The repop Schwinn-style springer fork we acquired for this machine has a shorter than Schwinn-length steer tube, so the head tube is 4.75: long, rather than the Schwinn standard 5.5" head tube length of our production frame. Kandiru is the first of four machines we are building using the Z4 frame. In progress at the moment is a kustom "woody" version, to be followed by a bare-frame "street rod" and a motorized version powered by a Honda 250cc 2-stroke engine. After these machines are finished, we are considering production of a limited number of replica frames for sale. Jim Wilson |
C O M P O N E N T S : Handlebars: Dyno Apehangers, Stem: Mongoose polished alloy. Pedals: GT polished alloy, Polished Alloy chainring and guard by Phat, Wheels are steel with Wizard Bros' stretched composite Aerodisc skins. Paint: PPG Omni Toreador Red with PPG 2 pac clearcoat, DupliColor Pewter, Lighting: halogen head, LED tail. |
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Want to know how we made that thang? Building Kandiru |
